Frequently Asked Questions.
Where are you located?
Bijou Baby Care is based in Chicago, Illinois. I am available to provide care anywhere in the country or world, and travel with families regularly.
What Service Plans are Available?
Here are some examples of service plans you can choose from;
Live-Out Care
12 hours overnight, 5 nights per week
10 hours overnight, 6 nights per week
Live-In Care
16 hours per day, 5 days per week
18 hours per day, 6 days per week
24 hours per day, 5 days per week
Nursery Organization and Product Consultations; case by case basis.
Virtual Sleep Coaching
See below!
What is Virtual Sleep Coaching?
I virtually sleep coach parents by teaching them how to sleep train their baby/child through weekly virtual parent education meetings. I create customized schedules to follow, teach parents my newborn sleep conditioning techniques, and observe their baby’s sleep 3 nights or days per week via cloud-based monitors, like the Nanit or Google Nest Cam. Virtual Sleep Coaching is priced at $1400 per week.
Do you guarantee?
I do not guarantee that the babies and children I care for will sleep for an uninterrupted 12 hours each night. Every baby is different, and some have greater will power than others! I have a wide variety of techniques that I use that are customized for every baby I work with, but sometimes there are factors outside of my control, therefore I cannot make guarantees.
What sleep conditioning techniques or methods do you use?
I like to care for newborns with an age-appropriate routine beginning the day they are born, and use gentle methods and cues to regulate a baby’s sleep without making them dependent on me to fall asleep. I do not allow newborns to cry for longer than 2 minutes without going to assist them, until they are over 4 months old.
What if I need more than one caregiver?
It is sometimes desired to hire a team of care specialists for the newborn(s) and in these cases, I am happy to work with other professionals in my field to provide congruent care. I am happy to be the lead on a team of caregivers, or be lead by a different professional on a team of caregivers.
What other responsibilities are you comfortable with?
Other than sleep training and caring for the newborn(s), when providing in person care, I can manage nursery inventory and be responsible for ordering all of the supplies that the baby will need while under my care, including purchasing clothing and toys. I am also typically responsible for keeping the nursery and the baby’s items very tidy, clean, and organized, however deep cleaning is not a part of the services.
What are your fees and requirements?
The rate for my newborn care services begins at $38.00/hour for singleton care, when no travel is required. Please Note - Newborn Care Specialist providers are paid at a much higher rate than nannies due to their expertise, long hours, overnight work, and because we work contractually via 1099s and do not require the hiring family to pay via a W2 or provide any benefits.
When living-in with the family I am supporting, I require a meal stipend, all travel expenses covered, a vehicle for my use during time off if located outside of Chicago, a room and bathroom that are considered mine for personal items and rest time, and a flat surface to lay on in the nursery.
How many weeks do you contract for?
Typical contracts run 12 to 16 weeks, and begin on or before the baby’s first day home, and no later than the baby’s fourth week of life. Contracts can be shorter, with the understanding that sleep training will not be fully completed in under 12 weeks. I am open to contracts that are 6 months in length, dependent upon the location and needs of the family.