A List of Questions to Ask Before Booking a Private Maternity Nurse

​​​

Availability & logististics

​

• How long will you commit to a booking (e.g., number of weeks, days, nights)?

• Do you offer live-in, live-out, night shifts, day shifts — or all of these?

• What is your minimum and maximum duration for a booking?

• How many hours per day or per week are included in your role?

• Are there extra charges for weekends, bank holidays, travel time, or on-call periods?

• What travel and accommodation arrangements will we need to provide (if working abroad)?

• What countries can you work in visa-free, or where do you require a work permit for this booking?

• Are you comfortable working in this environment: e.g., on our boat around the Mediterranean, small-plane travel, remote location?

• How much notice do you need for travel, flights, or changes to our schedule?

• ​

About fees & payment

​

• What is your charge rate: per hour, per day, per 24 hours?

• Do your fees include travel, accommodation, meals, insurance, and any extra work (e.g. working during your break)?

• What is your cancellation or postponement policy? Will I still pay if the baby arrives earlier or later?

• Do you require a deposit? When is full payment due?

• Are there additional costs if you are required to stay longer or if hours exceed the contracted ones?

• Do you provide an invoice or receipt, and how do you handle tax, insurance or legal compliance?

 

About qualifications, experience & professional standards

​

• What experience do you have specifically as a maternity nurse (and not just general childcare)?

• How many years have you been working, and in which kinds of settings (home, hospital, nursery, school, on a boat, international countries)?

• Do you hold a government-regulated qualification (for example in the UK: a government recognised maternity nursery nurse qualification, NNEB, CACHE or equivalent) and can you provide certificates?

• Can I check your qualification on the UK government’s official childcare qualification checker, or on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register or The NNEB and Norland Nanny College if applicable?

• Are you insured (professional indemnity/ travel insurance) and can you provide proof of insurance?

• Do you have any additional training relevant to newborns and postnatal care (e.g., infant CPR/first aid, sleep training, neonatal observation certificates)?

• Can you provide references or testimonials from previous families you’ve worked with?

• Have you worked with families in similar situations to ours (e.g., travel, boat/lifestyle, multiples, high-needs newborn, breast and bottle feeding)?

​

About care approach & philosophy

​

• What is your approach to newborn/baby care: strict routines and cry it out methods vs. more on-demand- gentle /attachment parenting?

• How do you support feeding: breast-feeding, bottle-feeding, mixed? Are you comfortable with either?

• What is your philosophy around baby sleep: do you support “cry it out”/scheduled sleep or more responsive/attachment-based methods (or somewhere in between)?

• How do you handle newborn wake/sleep cycles in the night? What is your role vs. the role of the parents?

• How do you support parents: do you coach or guide, or do you take the lead entirely for baby-care?

• Are you able and comfortable working in a home with existing siblings? What is your role with siblings (e.g., helping with older children bond with the baby) if relevant?

• Are you comfortable with pets in the home?

• How would you handle potential “difficult” situations: e.g., colicky baby, multiple feeding struggles, breastfeeding challenges, parental fatigue?

• What are your views on safe sleep practices (UK Lullaby Trust guidelines) and can you ensure you follow them?

• Do you have experience working in diverse families (culture, parenting style, same-sex couples, blended families)?

• Do you have any allergies, dietary requirements or personal preferences we should know about (particularly if you will be living in our home)?

• What do you like to eat / any particular dietary requirements while you are on placement?

​

About travel, environment & special conditions

​

• Are you comfortable flying on small planes, helicopters, remote travel?

• Will you be OK living and working on a boat or yacht, or in our holiday home / remote villa settings?

• Are you willing/able to work abroad or in a different time zone?

• What extra considerations do you have for international travel: e.g., health, visa, vaccinations, travel insurance?

• Are you comfortable working in a household with other staff (housekeeper, chef, nanny) and in different household structures?

​

About duties, boundaries & daily structure

​

• What are your core duties: baby feeding, nappy changes, sleep supervision, monitoring baby’s health, supporting parent(s), maybe some household baby related tasks?

• Are household tasks included (e.g., baby laundry, sterilising bottles, light housework for your room and the nursery) or only baby-care tasks?

• What are your normal working hours: when do you start, when do you finish, will you provide“on-call”?

• How much rest time do you need during a 24-hour live-in placement? What breaks do you expect?

• How do you communicate with parents during your shift (handover, updates, night logs record keeping)?

• Will you provide a written contract outlining your hours, duties, fee, and terms (including health & safety, confidentiality, exit/termination procedures)?

• What happens in an emergency: e.g., baby needs GP /  hospital / paediatrician contact, or if a parent becomes ill?

• Do you have a  back-up or replacement if you are unavailable or become ill?

​

About personal fit & compatibility

​

• What kind of person are you: your personality, how you like to work, your style of communication?

• What do you like to eat? (so we can provide appropriate meals).

• What are your hobbies, interests, and how do you like to spend your downtime during a longer booking?

• What are your expectations of us as parents: what support do you need from us (meals, room, laundry, transportation)?

• Are you comfortable with our home environment (pets, boat, altitude, travel across countries)?

• How do you like to be managed or given feedback? How do you handle conflicts or differences of opinion?

• If things change (baby sleeps differently, parents adjust routine, travel changes) how flexible are you and how do you handle adjustments?

​

About reference & legal/health safety

​

• Do you hold up-to-date valid first aid / infant CPR certification and when was your last renewal?

• Do you have a clear Enhanced DBS on the Update Service / Police Check Certificate / background check (UK) or equivalent for other countries?

• Are you suitably vaccinated (as required for the destination of the booking) and willing to travel internationally (when relevant) in current global health environment?

• Do you have any health conditions we should know about that could affect your ability to travel or work long hours?

• Do you smoke?

• Do you have, or have you ever had, any medical condition or substance dependency (including alcohol or drugs) that could affect your ability to care safely for babies, children, or mothers in your professional role?

• Are you comfortable providing or tracking baby’s growth, feeding logs, sleep logs, records and liaising with the GP, paediatrician, health visitor, visiting midwife or healthcare provider if required?

• What is your approach to confidentiality, privacy, reporting to parents, and handover documentation?