Working with babies: Babies at Work Program – BADGER

Nurses Who Work with Babies: A Closer Look at Your Options

Whether you’re already a parent or you’re just the type who can’t help but fawn over the babies you pass at the supermarket, you’ve probably known for a while now that working with little ones is your preferred calling.

Outside of a career in early childhood education, becoming a nurse is one of the most viable paths to working with babies and young children. That’s great news for anyone who wants pair their passion for working with kids with a rock-solid healthcare career path.

But what type of nursing path should you pursue? There are a variety of different types of nurses who work with babies and, from an outsider’s perspective, the differences between them can seem a little fuzzy. We’re here to help you develop a better understanding of the potential paths.

4 Jobs for aspiring nurses who want to work with babies

If you have a passion for working in the medical field with the hopes of helping infants thrive, you’ve come to the right place. We compiled the details of four common nursing careers with the hope that this guide will help you choose the right path for you.

1. Labor and delivery nurses

Job description:Labor and delivery nurses help welcome new babies into the world. They care for women during labor and childbirth and monitor the infant and mother during the process. They also help coach mothers and assist doctors throughout the stages of giving birth by administering medicine, aiding in inducing labor and timing contractions.

These types of nurses can be found working in hospitals and physician’s offices, as well as in community clinics.

Important skills and characteristics: Just like any other nurse, it’s important for a labor and delivery nurse to be detailed, thorough and organized. These types of nurses must be quick on their feet, stay calm during high-stress situations and tout an extra dose of empathy. Since giving birth can be an extremely emotional experience, it’s important that labor and delivery nurses can soothe and calm while staying firm when the going gets rough.

Education and training: Labor and delivery nurses, like all registered nurses, must graduate with either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN) and satisfy all requirements for state licensure.

While it’s possible to find a position as a labor and delivery nurse right out of college, employers may prefer candidates with nursing experience. Additionally, pursuing a nursing certification like the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB®) certification through the National Certification Corporation is another way to show employers your interest in this role.

2. Neonatal nurses

Job description: Neonatal nurses are typically the next specialized group to enter the picture of infant care after labor and delivery nurses. This type of nurse specializes in the care of newborn infants. Within this area of nursing are several subspecialties. They may care for perfectly healthy infants, provide more focused care for premature or ill babies, or work specifically with one seriously ill infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Some babies have respiratory problems or serious nutritional needs that can be life threatening, and a neonatal nurse can care for these types of infants around the clock.

These types of nurses often work in high dependency and special care infant units in hospitals while other nurses work in the community with families whose babies have recently been discharged from the hospital.

Important skills and characteristics: Since neonatal nurses work with high-risk patients, it’s important that they’re able to think of their feet and make quick decisions if they notice a sudden change. This role also requires frequently working with specialized equipment such as neonatal ventilators and incubators. As with all nursing roles, it’s important they stay calm during an emergency, have an excellent eye for detail and have the ability to communicate compassionately.

Education and training: After completing the required steps to becoming a registered nurse, would-be neonatal nurses can give their resume a boost by first accumulating a year or two of nursing experience. Additionally, it may benefit neonatal nurses to pursue the CCRN® (Neonatal) credential from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) or the RNC Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC®).

3. Pediatric nurses

Job description: Once babies are discharged and begin living and developing at home, pediatric nurses provide care for them as they grow into adolescents. They provide routine primary care services, such as health maintenance and exams, developmental screenings, and vaccinations. They also treat illness or injuries when they occur in children.

Important skills and characteristics: As with all jobs for which working with children is the primary duty, it’s important to be able to roll with the punches, improvise and keep kids calm. Aside from all the organizational and relational skills required of RNs, a special emphasis on communicating with children, and helping them feel safe and cared for is always a plus.

Education and training: In addition to meeting the requirements for becoming an RN, nurses interested in pediatrics can choose to pursue the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN®).

4. Antepartum and postpartum nurses 

Job description: While this job is more baby-adjacent than the ones we’ve covered so far, antepartum and postpartum nurses care for mothers during pregnancy and directly after. 

Antepartum nurses most commonly work on hospital units for pregnant patients who are having complications with their pregnancy, like preeclampsia, hyperemesis gravidarum or gestational diabetes. Antepartum nurses continuously evaluate their patients, their vital signs, fetus health and any status changes for either the mother or the child. They give medications, prepare patients for procedures or imaging, and work with healthcare providers to create care plans and carry them out. 

Postpartum nurses, on the other hand, care for patients in the days following delivery, whether by C-section or a vaginal birth. These are often emotional and challenging days for the parents and the child. Not only do postpartum nurses monitor the vital signs and status of the parents and child as well as create and carry out care plans, they also teach new parents important skills, like how to change diapers and how to feed the baby. 

Important skills and characteristics: Pregnancy and postpartum care can be fraught with emotions, especially if the patient is having serious medical issues. The very best antepartum and postpartum nurses are compassionate, patient and understanding. They should be able to comfort patients having emotional distress as well as have the coping mechanisms to help themselves deal with the stress too.

Education and training: First, you’ll need to become an RN. While there’s no specific antepartum or postpartum certifications at this time, it can help to shadow a nurse in antepartum or postpartum care or take additional continuing education coursework in subjects related to OB/GYN or labor and delivery.

How will you make your impact?

You now have a basic understanding of some of the common types of nurses who work with babies. After familiarizing yourself with each, do you have a better idea of where you’d like to focus your nursing career?

If you’re looking for more information on the specifics of these nursing career paths, consider learning more about how to become a labor and delivery nurse, researching what it’s like being a neonatal nurse, or reading up on the ins and outs of pediatric nursing. While these specialized roles have their differences in their day-to-day duties, they do have one thing in common beyond working with babies: the need for becoming a registered nurse. Learn more about your options for becoming a registered nurse by visiting the Rasmussen University Professional Nursing degree page.

RNC-OB and RNC-NIC are registered trademarks of the National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties.
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) is a registered trademark of Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Inc.
CCRN is a registered trademark of the AACN Certification Board, Inc.

Working From Home With a Baby or Toddler

If you’re working from home, you might be wondering how you can keep your children entertained while you stay productive yourself.

It is possible to work from home while caring for your little ones, but you may find it helpful to create a rough schedule and plan some fun indoor activities ahead of time so you have the supplies you’ll need on hand. Caring for a child (or children) under 36 months also means you’ll likely get the bulk of your work done in short bursts, so you’ll need to prioritize with this in mind.

To help you juggle both responsibilities, we’ve collated some great tips on working from home while looking after your children. It may feel overwhelming at times but you’ve got this!

How to Stay Productive While Working From Home

Here are some tips for working from home with a child or children under 3 years of age:

• Work while your child sleeps. Take advantage of your children’s naps to tackle the most pressing tasks. If your children have a fairly predictable sleep routine, you may be able to knock off important phone calls or focus intensely on a project when they are likely to be snoozing. Working before they wake up or after they go to sleep is another good idea, especially if your job allows this kind of flexibility.

• Share the load. If both you and your partner are home, you might like to take turns with one of you feeding or playing with your children while the other gets the chance to work. By taking “shifts,” you can both get things done while your little ones are tended to.

• Plan out your day and week as best you can. Schedule when you will wake up and what you will do each day. Having a plan and a list of tasks will help you focus on the most critical items in the face of distractions.

• Work while you breastfeed or pump milk. If you pump breast milk, you may like to use a hands-free breast pump so that you can continue with working or a phone call. If you’re breastfeeding your little one, you may be able to take phone calls or read reports as you do.

• Dress for work. You may find it helpful to dress professionally so that you feel you are “at work” during work hours, and then change into more casual clothes in the evening. This also helps break up the day and may help you get into the mindset for both work and leisure. On the flipside, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity to work in the comfort of your leggings and T-shirt.

• Working while your children play. You may be able to get short bursts of work done while your children occupy themselves. If possible, the kind of work you attempt while your children are up should be the kind that can be interrupted, as your little ones will likely be trying to get your attention.

• Take advantage of the weekends. For example, you might like to cook on Saturdays or Sundays so that you have lunches and snacks ready to go for the week ahead. Another good choice for the weekend is to research some indoor activities for your baby or toddler so that you don’t get stuck mid-week.

• Remove other distractions. You already have enough on your plate with your little one. If you can, remove other “time-wasters” like social media. There are apps you can use that block your access to social media during work hours, for example. It might also help to schedule half an hour each day for chores so that you’re not constantly wanting to get up and put things away.

• Be realistic. You may need to be more flexible in how you work and more creative in how you use the hours you have at your disposal. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do everything, or can’t do everything perfectly—no one can! A more reasonable goal for a working parent is to be efficient and productive, which you can do by trying some of the tips in this article.

• Take time for yourself, if you can. It’s natural to get cabin fever if you’re working from home for an extended stretch while also caring for your child. If you can, during their daytime nap or once your children are asleep, take some time to do something for yourself like watching a series, having a pampering bath, or doing some exercise.

Read on for specific tips on working with a newborn, older baby, or toddler in the house.

Working at Home With Your Newborn

Your newborn will likely be sleeping in three- to four-hour stretches all through the day, so you may be able to get solid blocks of time to work during her daytime sleep periods. Keep in mind that you’ll also be waking up for feedings, even if you’re splitting these with your partner, so be prepared to feel a little groggier during the day.

As you work, you might like to “wear” your newborn in a baby carrier, sling, or wrap so your newborn can enjoy feeling close to you while you get things done.

Although it’s just a nice-to-have extra, a bassinet can be helpful for a work-at-home parent, as it can easily be moved to be right by your desk or table, allowing you to remain close to your newborn as you work.

Of course, if the width of your doorways allows it, you can also move your little one’s crib from room to room. Keep in mind that for your baby’s safety she should sleep only in her crib or bassinet.

Staying Productive While You’re Home With an Older Baby

As your baby will want to be near you, and you’ll want to keep an eye on her, place a few toys or an activity center on a play mat or in a playpen that you place right by you. This way you might be able to squeeze in some work while your little one plays next to you.

If your baby enjoys it and you have one, she can also spend short stints in a baby swing, glider, or bouncer. This way, you may be able to have some peace and quiet to work as your baby entertains herself.

Your baby likely has two naps a day—one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon—so take advantage of these opportunities to get some work done.

Working From Home While Caring for Your Toddler

Working from home with a toddler has its upsides and downsides. The positives are that your toddler may be able to entertain herself for short periods and may still take one or two naps a day, during which you can work. The challenge is that when your toddler is up she may want more of your attention.

It’s OK to expect your older toddler to entertain herself for short intervals on occasion. You may need to be firm in telling her she has toys to play with and that for the next 30 minutes she needs to play quietly. To help your child understand the independent play time has an end in sight, consider setting a timer on your phone or microwave. Reassure them once the timer goes off, you’ll be able to take a break and spend some time with them – like play their favorite game or read a few books. Remember, independent play and being able to use her imagination and stave off boredom is an important skill to learn.

To help support her solo play, create a safe space for your toddler to play in. It might be that you thoroughly childproof the living room and let your toddler play freely in that area while you work nearby from the kitchen counter or dining room table.

Reward your toddler for playing nicely by herself by praising her and showing interest in what she was up to.

Another option is to get your older toddler set up with her own “workstation” at the other end of the table to you. She could be busy “working” on a drawing, while you’re busy writing emails, for example. You could tell her that she’s a big kid now and that you’ll both be working for 30 minutes before you can take a break together.

Example of a Daily Schedule When Working From Home

Although you’ll need to work out a routine that works for you and your family, here’s a sample of what a day could look like while working from home while caring for your children:

Coping With Tantrums, Fights, and Other Behavior

If you are cooped up with a toddler, or have more than one child in the house, you may encounter issues that make working from home challenging—such as temper tantrums and sibling squabbles (which often lead to temper tantrums). Here are some ways to help curb and possibly even eliminate tantrums and other unwanted behavior:

• Avoid saying “no” where possible. You don’t have to give in to every demand, but you can try to deflect certain requests, redirect behavior, or provide an alternative. For example, if your preschooler and toddler want to race around on the floorboards that you don’t want to be scratched, you could encourage them to shift to a carpeted area instead. Of course, if they’re doing something unsafe, you should say “No, that’s dangerous” and refocus their attention elsewhere.

• Notice good behavior. When your child does something you’d like her to do (especially something that’s been difficult in the past), reward her with praise: “You did such a good job brushing your teeth” (or playing with your brother, or picking up your socks). This tactic can go a long way in boosting your child’s self-esteem and keeping the atmosphere calm and cheerful.

• Say yes to small wins. Go ahead and give in when the stakes aren’t high. For example, if your children want to have breakfast in their PJs, let them. It might also help you conserve some energy to dodge battles about relatively minor things.

• Provide options to choose from. When your toddler is given a choice about something, she may be more agreeable about the situation. For instance, if you child doesn’t like to get dressed, when you dress her in the morning, you could say, “Do you want to wear the blue shirt or the yellow one?” and let her decide. Offer only two options, though, and always select ones you can live with.

• Give a countdown. If something fun is about to end, instead of saying “TV off,” tell your child she has 15 minutes left. Then tell her again when she has 5 minutes to go. Give lots of praise when she does stop on time and does what you’d like at the pre-agreed time. Setting timers work well for this strategy as toddlers often get excited for the timer to go off, which helps deflect their attention away from the activity that’s going to end.

• Get a giggle going. If you see your toddler might be on the brink of a meltdown, try to get her to laugh before she starts a tantrum. For example, if your toddler doesn’t want to brush her teeth, start a goofy race to the bathroom and see who can make the silliest noise on the way.

• Practice taking turns. To head off a sibling fight over a toy, try to find two toys that both of your children like. Let them play with the toys for a short time (e.g. set a timer), and then have them trade toys. Though it’s a little time intensive for you to supervise, this is a good first step in learning to share, a big challenge for most small children.

If you’re new to working from home and caring for your children at the same time, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. Give yourself time to adjust and figure out what’s most effective for you in terms of routines. With a little trial and error, you’ll soon fall into a groove that works for your family. It might also help to remind yourself about the many positives of working from home, like less time commuting and more time with your family.

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This section presents the top best books and audiobooks on the topic “Working with children”. A complete list of 27 popular books and audiobooks on the topic, ratings and reader reviews. Read books or listen online on the site, download the application for iOS or Android, so as not to part with your favorite books even without the Internet.

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Three leadership lessons you can learn from working with children

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November 09, 2018

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November 09, 2018

Veronica Elkina

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Veronica Elkina

Working with people is not easy. If you have ever been in a leadership role, you know that each person has their own work ethic, habits, preferences, and worldviews. People may miss deadlines, take time off from work, and have conflicts for no apparent reason.

But if you think it’s hard to work with adults, try working with children.

Veronica Elkina

A Different Kind of Leadership

From the very first day you start working with children, one important thing you will notice is that children are full of energy. You will be surprised how so much power fits in such a small body. A child will never tell you: “I’m a little tired, perhaps I’ll take a day off today.” Children are unstoppable. Their energy will drive you crazy. Children will ask you a lot of questions – from general and personal to those relating to the greatest mysteries of life. They will tell you incoherent stories and ask you to repeat the same joke over and over again until you curse the moment it occurred to you. But all this will be only if the children love you. Otherwise… as they say, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.

It is useless to try to fit in with children. Your goal is to direct their energy in the right direction, and for this it is not enough just to tell them what to do. Adults will listen to you because you are their boss, but children will only listen to you if they love and trust you. Therefore, in working with them, you need to use a simple, but not too obvious approach.

Photo: Unsplash

Creating a Playground for Communication

The first step is to begin to take children seriously. Children do not think of themselves as “just a child”. The problem or question of a five-year-old child may seem insignificant to you, but for him they are quite real. Children won’t take you seriously if you treat them condescendingly. Listen to them with full seriousness and respect, and then they will listen to you. When a child understands that he is being taken seriously, he feels that he is accepted, that he is safe and all is well. This rule also works for employees and members of your team.

The next step is keep the children busy. Children are surprisingly accommodating when they are busy with something. But to do this is not so easy. If a task, exercise or game is too simple or easy, children will quickly get bored with it. If the task is too confusing and difficult, they will give up. The ideal activity is like an apple that doesn’t hang too high or too low – it’s not that hard to get it, but it still needs to be reached. In the adult world, the execution of such tasks usually occurs in a state of flow.

Photo: Unsplash

Finally, you need clear rules. Children love to know what is and is not allowed and what rewards and punishments they can receive. When they understand what and how it works, they do not have a feeling of uncertainty. You don’t have to worry about what might happen. You just need to adjust the work to the existing structure. Well-formulated rules do not create restrictions, but, on the contrary, give freedom.

Once you learn how to work with children, working with adults will become child’s play for you. After all, each of us was once a child – and he still lives inside all of us. If you can satisfy the needs and desires of this inner child, you will win the trust of an adult.

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