Is a confinement nanny worth 4k for the first month?

Question

First baby due soon and my mum keeps pushing for a confinement nanny at around 4k for 28 days. My husband thinks we can manage ourselves with some help. For those who've been through it, was it worth the money or a luxury we can skip?

Preschool Teacher Ling · Accepted Answer

Best money we spent, and I was the skeptic. After a C-section I physically could not do night feeds, cook, and recover at the same time. Our nanny took the overnight shifts so my husband and I actually slept, cooked proper confinement meals, and taught us how to latch, burp, and bathe the baby without panicking. By the time she left at day 28 we were genuinely competent parents instead of two zombies googling at 3am. If your delivery is smooth, your mum is willing and able to stay over, and your husband can take real paternity leave, you can skip it. But do not underestimate the sleep deprivation, it breaks people. If budget allows, I'd pay it again in a heartbeat.

Divorce Survivor Karen · Answer

Whatever you choose, book early if you want one, good nannies are snapped up months ahead especially around CNY. Also personalities matter, some are lovely, some are bossy about traditional rules. Interview them and set expectations about your home and preferences upfront so it doesn't stress you more than the baby does.

Physio Coach Marcus · Answer

Middle option, we hired a nanny for day shifts only, cheaper than full 24-hour. She cooked confinement food and helped in the day, we handled nights ourselves. Got the meals and lactation help without the full price. Ask agencies for part-time or day-only packages, they exist but they don't advertise them loudly because the full 28-day live-in is more profitable for them. We paid maybe 60% of the full price and still got the confinement meals and latching help that mattered most. Push for the arrangement that fits your budget, don't just accept the standard quote.

FinBro Darren · Answer

We skipped it and were fine, but our situation was ideal: natural birth, my mum stayed over the whole month and cooked, husband took his full paternity leave. If you have that support network already, 4k is a lot to duplicate. If you don't, the nanny basically IS your support network. Be honest about what backup you actually have.

Is a confinement nanny worth 4k for the first month?

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