FAQ

About Our Services
What is a night doula?

A night doula is a trained professional who provides overnight newborn care while you sleep. We work through the night (typically 10pm-6am or 8pm-8am) handling all feedings, diaper changes, and soothing so you can get the sleep you need to recover from birth and be your best self during the day. We also help establish healthy sleep foundations and age-appropriate sleep routines for your baby.

How does night doula support differ from a baby nurse?

While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, night doulas focus on supporting the whole family, not just caring for the baby. We provide newborn care expertise while also educating parents on safe sleep practices, establishing routines, and building your confidence. Our goal is to empower you, not create dependency.

What areas do you serve?

We serve the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, North Bay, and parts of the East Bay. Contact us to confirm we serve your specific location. 

Do you have references? 

Yes! We have glowing references from past clients available upon request. 

Scheduling & Availability

How far in advance should I book?

We recommend booking during your second or third trimester to ensure availability, especially for the newborn period when overnight support is most valuable. However, we understand that needs can arise unexpectedly (sleep regression, exhaustion, returning to work), and we'll do our best to accommodate requests based on our doulas' availability.

Can I meet my doula before my baby arrives?

Absolutely! We encourage a prenatal meeting (virtual or in-person) so you can get to know your doula, discuss your sleep goals and preferences, review your baby's sleep environment, and ask questions. This helps build rapport and allows us to create a customized sleep plan before your support begins.

What are your minimum booking requirements?

There's no minimum requirement, though we've found that 3-5 nights per week for the first 2 months gives babies the consistency needed to establish solid sleep routines. Many of our families start with 7 nights per week during the newborn period, then scale back as sleep improves. We'll help you design a schedule that works for your family and supports your sleep goals

Working with Your Night Doula

What happens during a typical night?

Your doula arrives at your agreed-upon time (typically 10pm or earlier for longer shifts). You'll hand off the baby and go to sleep! Your doula handles all nighttime care - feeds (bottle or bringing baby to you for nursing if preferred), diaper changes, burping, soothing, and resettling. If you're breastfeeding, we can bring baby to you for feeds and handle everything else, or you can pump and we'll do all bottle feeds. In the morning, we'll provide a detailed overnight report including feeds, diapers, sleep stretches, and any observations.

What if I'm breastfeeding? Can I still use a night doula?

Absolutely! Many of our breastfeeding families use night doula support. We can bring baby to you for feeds (you sleep between feedings), or you can pump before bed and we'll handle all bottle feeds overnight. We support your feeding goals while maximizing your sleep. Some families do a combination - breastfeed at bedtime and morning, bottles overnight.

How do you communicate overnight?

We keep noise and disruption to a minimum so you can sleep! We typically provide a written overnight report in the morning with all details. If something urgent arises, we'll wake you, but our goal is uninterrupted sleep for you. Some families prefer text updates; we'll customize communication to your preferences.

Sleep Training & Education

When should I start sleep training?

The best time to start is from birth! Early intervention - establishing routines, appropriate awake windows, and independent sleep skills from the newborn stage - makes the biggest difference. Our approach focuses on consistent, gentle methods started early. If you didn't start in the newborn period, it's never too late - we can help establish healthy sleep patterns at any age. The methods we use will depend on your baby's current age and what foundation has already been built.

How long does sleep training take?

Every baby is different, but most families see significant improvement within 3-7 days of consistent implementation, with continued progress over 2-4 weeks. Newborn sleep foundation work is more gradual. The key is consistency, which is why having night doula support during the process can be so effective - we implement your plan the same way every night.

Can you help with sleep regressions?

Absolutely! Sleep regressions (common around 4 months, 8-10 months, 12 months, 18 months) can be exhausting. We can provide intensive support during these periods to help you get through them while maintaining healthy sleep habits. Often just a few nights of consistent support can get everyone back on track.

What if sleep training doesn't work?

Sleep is rarely linear! We'll troubleshoot together - adjusting schedules, trying different soothing techniques, or identifying issues like reflux, teething, or developmental leaps. Sometimes babies need a different approach or just aren't quite ready yet. We provide ongoing support and adjustments until you see the progress you're hoping for.