Find a Newborn Care Specialist Near Me in Des Plaines, IL

My name is Danyale Washington. I graduated with my B.S. in Psychology from Concordia University Chicago. After working for over a decade in various facets of childcare and education —as well as having two children of my own— I have seen countless times, as well as witnessed myself as a parent, the lack of support and resources. My passion for helping others and dedication to children and their families reaching their full potential has always been a big part of who I am. It has continuously fueled me to pursue a career in doing just that–offering my insight and expertise to help those I serve feel confident and well-equipped to foster healthy development in children. My philosophy is rooted in empowerment, positivism, and compassion. It is at the core of all my services. My approach is strength-based and client-centered. It focuses on being an aid to those I provide support to in using the tools and skills they already possess to foster optimal growth and development in children. I believe in empowering individuals as they navigate the more challenging components of childrearing. My role is to be in your corner—cheering you on—guiding and supporting you while utilizing your strengths to achieve your goals. You are the driver; I am simply the map!

Hello Friend, my name is Brittany Hourston. I am a Postpartum Doula located in the Chicagoland area. The facets of encouraging, educating, and caring for newborns and their moms. I'm always curious to learn more about how I can be a great asset to the pair. Coming from an educational and nonprofit background, I believe the growth of a child starts at the beginning stages of early childhood, and establishing a positive atmosphere with great strategies will help to get there. My agency works to establish a judgment-free zone for all parents seeking informational and emotional support.

I am alex (they/them) a Full Spectrum Doula based in Oak Park. I realized i wanted to be a doula after the birth of my first child. I learned the words "doula" and "midwife" for the first time while reading one of the many pregnancy books i stumbled across at a thrift store. Because of this book, i learned what birth (and parenting!) could look like with autonomy and empowerment. I knew i had to help make this support accessible to more people. I have taken multiple doula trainings and have acquired a wide range of skills. It is important to me that i continue to learn and practice ways to be an inclusive reproductive specialist, supporting all pregnant, birthing and lactating people throughout their journey. - Madriella Doula Training - Daisy CHAIN Full Spectrum Doula Certified - The Matrona Holistic Doula Certified - Community Doula Project Birth Doula Certified - LER Certified Lactation Specialist I am a Full Spectrum Doula and i am passionate about being present for folks through their postpartum experience; whenever and however their pregnancy may end. I believe all people deserve non-judgemental, compassionate support centered around their individual needs.

Hello! I’m a birth doula serving Chicago and surrounding areas. I specify in supporting clients through unmedicated births at birth centers, home births, and midwife-led hospital births. I am also a VBAC certified doula.

Trained postpartum doula with experience in supporting and caring for newborns. Previously nannied for five years and worked at an early childhood center in the enfant room for four years. Love to support and care for parents postpartum and find best ways to create systems of support for parents postpartum.

My goal is to support mama in feeling rested, confident, and cared for during the postpartum season. I take my role as a caregiver seriously, providing attentive, nurturing support for both baby and mama. From newborn care and feeding support to light household help and intentional care for you, my services are designed to create more space for rest, balance, and meaningful me time.

Hi! I’m a responsible and nurturing nanny with a background in Art Education and five years of experience as an elementary art teacher. For the past year, I’ve cared for a newborn and a four-year-old, supporting daily routines and early development. I’m now transitioning into overnight care, bringing a calm, attentive approach to help families get the rest they need. I’m CPR certified, comfortable with infant care and sleep routines, and open to additional training. References available upon request.

Hi! I'm Kristen. I am a graduate of Chamberlain University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My nursing degree has taken me down a path I was destined to be on. I always knew I wanted to work with mothers and babies, and after graduation, I began working as a private nurse for postpartum families. I would be their support system during their personal postpartum journey while educating their entire family on how to navigate the new territory of bringing their baby (or babies!) home. It was during this time I learned how motherhood is such a beautiful experience, yet also one of the most difficult without the proper support system. I began to specialize in infant sleep and obtained my Pediatric Sleep Consultant certification through the Family Sleep Institute. I have worked with countless families in Chicago, as well as virtually, to help them find the rest their whole family needs in a way that works for them. I had a baby of my own last year, and being a mother myself has brought even more empathy and compassion into my work.

As a mother myself, I know first hand the value of kind and informed assistant in the days following the birth of a baby. I was blessed to have experienced support following the births of my now grown three children and know how valuable it is. I have provided support as a lactation consultant, doula and postpartum doula to many families. It is an honor to provide new parents with the help they need while adjusting to parenting a new born.

I have been a nanny/ ncs for the last 12 years. During my career I have worked with all ages of children. To families I am known as the perfect helping hand. I have worked with children on the spectrum which has helped me further my education to help parents. Recently I have been working with newborns. With my experience with working with many children, I have compassion, empathy, respect and I am very responsible. From helping the mother breast feed to cleaning pump parts. I am a well rounded nanny.

Hey! I’m Darnicia, a full-spectrum doula, birth mindset educator, and reproductive justice advocate. TL;DR From organizing protests and fighting for social justice to shutting down systemic abuse, violence, and oppression in the medicalized perinatal care system. My passion? Teaching incredible birthing people — like you — how to trust your intuition❤️‍🔥 and advocate for your autonomy,🗣️ so you feel ✨empowered to be the authority of all your reproductive experiences✨ — fertility to postpartum (or not being pregnant at all). 👀 A little more info… To me, birthwork is inherently linked to social justice and activism. Birthwork is advocacy, and advocacy follows you through every aspect of your life. Therefore, advocacy isn’t something you learn; it’s who you are. I’ve taken what I’ve learned in my years as a social justice organizer and have applied it to birthwork. Sometimes, the fight for my clients to have the reproductive outcomes they desire mirrors the intensity I’ve seen when organizing for human rights. When necessary, I use the same energy it takes to shut down streets and apply it to protect my clients’ experience. What does this mean for you? I have the heart and the skills to fight for your dream birth or whatever support you need. But no worries, I’ll only fight to whatever extent you need or are comfortable with. ☺️ The foundation of the doula role is about the person you are. I am an advocate. Fun facts: I’m a wife and Mom of two. I’m a HUGE Marvel/MCU fan. I L😍VE Thai Iced Tea and mushroom coffee 🍄☕.

I’ve been in the world of nannying, infant night nursing, and extended stays for the previous 7 years. I have a passion for the early newborn stages, helping create healthy sleep routines that create easy night time transitions for baby, mom, and family! I have advanced training in SIDS Prevention, Infant Safe Sleep, CPR, and Basic First Aid. I use my degree in Childhood Psychology and my experience working on Labor and Delivery as well as volunteering in the NICU at Children’s Hospital to guide my approach to provide research based care. Excited to meet you and your little!

My name is Kara, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as an Advanced Newborn Care Specialist, CAPPA trained Labor and Postpartum Doula, Lactation Educator, Baby-wearing Educator, and Certified Childbirth Educator. With over two decades of dedicated experience nurturing children, I've found immense joy in providing exceptional care to families like yours. My approach revolves around delivering not just outstanding care, but also fostering a supportive, judgment-free environment. My goal is to empower and guide parents, ensuring they feel refreshed and confident as they embark on the early stages of parenthood. Knowing your newborn is in safe hands allows for a sense of ease and security during this precious time. Before specializing in newborn care, I spent thirteen years in daycares and as a nanny, caring for infants to school-age children. This diverse background has equipped me to handle a wide spectrum of needs, including preemies, singletons, and multiples. It's a privilege to support families as they navigate the exciting journey of new parenthood, always tailoring my approach to meet individual needs and expectations.

Hi, I’m Clare VanderWeele, an ICEA-trained birth doula in Chicagoland's western suburbs. I believe in the beauty of birth and supporting families with calm, connected care. As your doula, I’m here to support you from pregnancy through postpartum with calm, encouraging care. I believe in your body’s wisdom and advocate for the birth experience you want, whether that’s at home, in a birth center, or hospital.

I am a childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula and Owner of Cloud Nine Birth Services. My experience level (10 years and over 800 families supported) meets my level of passion and enthusiasm for this important work. I believe that every client and every birth is unique, that our bodies were made to welcome new life and that each family deserves true informed consent and proper physical and emotional care prenatally, during birth and in the postpartum period. My support is unwavering and unbiased. I am a calm presence, a wealth of knowledge on labor and birth, and not afraid to get my hands “dirty” by being physically active with every comfort measure you could dream of! ♥️

I am a Certified Postpartum Doula with a strong background in newborn and infant care. I currently work with Chicago Family Doulas, providing overnight newborn support to families during the early postpartum period. My experience includes bottle feeding, diapering, sleep monitoring, soothing, newborn routines, bottle cleaning, baby laundry, and creating a calm overnight environment for both baby and parents. Before becoming a postpartum doula, I worked for several years in childcare settings as an infant and toddler teacher, where I gained hands-on experience supporting children’s development, routines, emotional needs, and early milestones. My care style is gentle, dependable, and family centered. I believe in respecting each family’s preferences while offering gentle, professional support that helps parents feel more confident, rested, and cared for.

Hi I am Maggie, a registered nurse with NICU experience for last two years! I love working with newborns and their families to help them with their journey in parenthood!

I’m Seyi. I have over 15 years of childcare experience in a variety of settings such as a babysitter, nanny, teacher, and now birth and postpartum doula. I am passionate about the field of birth work. After witnessing and hearing about many of the difficulties and abuse of power in hospital settings, my passion for helping people navigate these settings was ignited. It is impossible to guarantee a “perfect birth” but I believe that you should have the opportunity to be prepared for whatever may or may not happen. This includes being aware of medical interventions, having the best people for you in your birthing space, establishing and enforcing necessary boundaries, and ultimately doing the best for you! Childbirth is a beautiful process that is both natural and spiritual.

My name is Tabresha “Breezy” Posey. I am a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula living in the Chicagoland area. As your doula, it is my practice to create opportunities for birthing people and their family to be informed, emotional and physically supported throughout this intimate experience. My goal is to ensure the birthing person feels safe, empowered, respected, and heard throughout the pregnancy, labor and delivery experience. My background consists of an A.A.S in Early Child Development, B.A Humans Services along with Certified Labor and Delivery certification. I am a student of life and learning; and have a Life Coach certification and I am working on my 200 hr.Wellness, SELA and Yoga certification. In my free time I love to travel, walk in nature and spend as much time as I can with my grandchildren. I also love solitude, reading and daydreaming.

Certified Infant Sleep Specialist | Professional Night Nanny Nkanyezi (“Star”) | 23 Years of Experience | Chicago & Surrounding Suburbs My Philosophy: Helping infants sleep safely and soundly is both a science and an art. With 23 years of experience and certifications in Safe Sleep Infant Training and Child Development: Sleep Training, I bring a structured, nurturing approach to overnight care—ensuring babies rest well and parents wake up reassured. My methods are lasting, gentle, and tailored to each baby’s unique rhythm. How I Support Your Family Overnight: For Your Baby: • Certified Safe Sleep Practices: My training in Safe Sleep Infant Training focuses on SIDS/SUID prevention, ensuring every detail of your baby’s sleep environment aligns with medical safety guidelines. • Developmentally Sound Sleep Plans: My Child Development: Sleep Training certification equips me to understand infant sleep from birth to age 4—including behavioral, medical, and emotional factors that disrupt it—and how to gently correct them. • Consistency & Comfort: Babies thrive with structure and consistency. I maintain and support your baby’s existing routine, so the day flows smoothly after a restful night. From feeding intervals to soothing techniques, I ensure each night supports developmental milestones. • Hands-On Monitoring: I never sleep while the baby sleeps. I observe sleep patterns closely throughout the night, helping identify disruptions and reinforce healthy, lasting sleep habits. • Prepared for the Day Ahead: I prepare bottles for the next day and keep detailed written notes on sleep, feeding, and behavior so parents wake up informed and at ease. If mom is pumping overnight, I label, store, and wash the parts—so she can rest and wake up to clean, ready-to-use equipment. Why Families Trust Me: • Proven Results: My methods are effective through regressions, teething, and transitions—building strong sleep foundations that last. • Trusted by Parents: I have an extensive list of references from families whose babies now sleep soundly thanks to my support. • Professional & Personable: I collaborate closely with parents, respect household values, and always bring a calm, caring presence to the home. Let’s Chat! If you’re seeking a knowledgeable, highly experienced night nanny and Infant Sleep Specialist who leads with care and precision, I’d be honored to support your family. Warmly, Nkanyezi (“Star”)