Newborn Care Specialist/Baby Nurse Certification Course

In this lesson, you'll learn what it means to be a Newborn Care Specialist and how your support can help families transition smoothly into life with a newborn. You'll explore the foundational duties of an NCS, from establishing routines to offering emotional reassurance during the early postpartum weeks.

This lesson outlines what tasks fall within the scope of an NCS and which ones do not. You'll gain clarity on supporting sleep, feeding, and basic newborn care—while understanding the importance of referring medical or doula-specific concerns to the appropriate professionals.

Being an NCS requires more than skills—it demands integrity and professionalism. In this lesson, you'll explore key ethical principles such as confidentiality, setting boundaries, and maintaining a professional presence in the client's home.

This lesson introduces you to the physical traits, sensory responses, and typical behaviors of newborns. You’ll also explore basic developmental milestones and learn how to recognize and respond to a newborn’s unique cues and needs with confidence and care.

Learn the essentials of supporting families with bottle feeding, including preparing and sanitizing feeding equipment. This lesson also addresses how to handle common feeding difficulties and offers practical tips to make feeding a smoother experience for both baby and caregiver.

Discover key strategies for helping newborns develop healthy sleep habits and learn gentle techniques to soothe fussiness or overstimulation. You’ll also review essential safety guidelines to ensure best practices in all aspects of newborn care, especially during sleep.

Being prepared for emergencies is critical in newborn care. In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to urgent situations such as breathing difficulties or maternal distress, identify red flags, and perform essential skills like infant CPR with confidence and calm.

Early detection can make all the difference. This lesson helps you identify symptoms of common newborn issues—like jaundice, dehydration, or feeding difficulties—and teaches you how to communicate concerns and guide families toward appropriate medical help.

Proper handling ensures both safety and comfort for the baby. This lesson covers fundamental care skills such as bathing, diapering, and hygiene routines, emphasizing best practices that prevent injury and promote trust between caregiver and infant.

Teaching is a core skill for any Newborn Care Specialist. In this lesson, you'll develop techniques to empower families with the knowledge and confidence they need to care for their baby independently, helping them feel more secure in their parenting journey.

An organized, nurturing space is essential for newborn care. This lesson focuses on guiding families in setting up safe, efficient environments for feeding, sleeping, and diapering—making daily routines smoother and more manageable for everyone involved.

Effective, respectful communication builds trust. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to connect meaningfully with families from diverse cultural backgrounds, adjust your approach to meet individual needs, and promote inclusive, compassionate care practices.

This lesson provides a roadmap for launching your Newborn Care Specialist business. You'll explore essential steps like registering your practice, organizing your workflow, and building professional systems to manage day-to-day operations smoothly.

Gain the tools to create strong, legally sound contracts and set transparent, competitive pricing. This lesson also guides you in managing client expectations and relationships with professionalism, clarity, and confidence.

To grow your business, visibility matters. This lesson teaches effective marketing techniques and networking strategies to help you build your reputation, connect with referral sources, and attract new clients through both online and in-person outreach.

Assess practical competence in managing common newborn care situations, supporting family routines, and addressing challenges such as feeding, sleep, and creating a safe and nurturing environment.

As part of the Newborn Care Specialist certification process, you are required to conduct two recorded interviews—one with a certified Newborn Care Specialist and another with a parent or caregiver who has recently cared for a newborn (within the last three years). These interviews are designed to deepen your understanding of newborn care practices, family needs, and effective communication, while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to ethical guidelines.

No connections? No problem. The Optional Guided Interview Pathway pairs you with two experienced mentors in your field through warm introductions arranged by our team. You’ll get the chance to learn real-world skills, ask meaningful questions, and practice professional communication in a supportive setting. These guided interviews count toward your certification requirement and give you the confidence and connections to grow in your career.

You’ll submit one Interview Critique Form completed by the professional you interviewed. This form provides constructive feedback on your strengths, identifies areas for growth, and confirms your professionalism and communication skills during the interview process.

For the Newborn Care Specialist certification, you must submit two recommendation letters from individuals who can attest to your integrity, reliability, and suitability, such as employers, mentors, colleagues, clients, friends, or family.