Katie Pettine, a 23-year-old business student
The Nighttime Heroes Helping Parents Sleep: Meet the Night Nurses Going Viral
Imagine someone quietly stepping into your home at night, gently cradling your newborn, feeding, burping, and changing diapers while you get a full night’s sleep. That’s the reality for families who hire night nurses—an increasingly popular profession that’s gaining attention thanks to social media.
Katie Pettine, a 23-year-old business student from Baltimore, recently gave the internet a glimpse into her life as a night nanny. Her TikTok video, showing her eight-hour overnight shift caring for a baby while the parents slept peacefully, sparked curiosity and admiration. Viewers flooded the comments, asking how they could land a job like hers—getting paid to hold babies while others rest.
“This is actually super cool—how do you get into this?” one commenter asked.
For Pettine, the job has been a lifeline. She’s been working as a night nanny for about five years, balancing shifts with her college schedule and other part-time gigs. From July 2024 to July 2025, she’s earned around $30,000 helping 26 families. “It helped me through college,” she said.
Nighttime baby care professionals go by many names—night nanny, doula, newborn care specialist, or night nurse—depending on their training and credentials. While the role has existed in various cultures for centuries, it’s now entering the mainstream, thanks in part to influencers like Pettine. Her TikTok account has nearly 200,000 followers who tune in to watch her journey.
But behind the soothing lullabies and cuddles, night nurses say there’s a lot people don’t understand about the job—and it’s not all baby snuggles and quiet nights.
“A lot of people think it’s rainbows, and it’s not,” said Kristin Smith, executive director of the Newborn Care Specialist Association. “It’s exhausting, hard work.”
Why Night Nurses Are in Demand
One reason for the growing popularity of night nurses is the increasing burnout among new parents. Many families live far from relatives and are juggling demanding jobs. According to Maureen Perry-Jenkins, a psychology professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, night care helps parents avoid sleep deprivation and return to work sooner. Though the cost—typically $35 to $40 an hour—isn’t covered by insurance, many find it worth the investment.
The profession is also attracting a wide range of people looking for flexible income. Courtney Long, director of recruitment at Hush Hush Little Baby Newborn Care, says her agency works with over 350 night care professionals, including medical workers, students, retirees, and even parents themselves.
“It’s a low financial investment to enter the industry,” Long explained. “You can start a new career without spending tens of thousands on education or going into debt.”
Registered nurses are among those making the switch. Cristina Zerda, 29, an RN from Fairfax, Virginia, used to care for multiple moms and babies during hospital shifts. Now, she works directly with families in a more personal setting. Though she earns less than she did in the hospital, she says the reduced stress is worth it.
Others, like Reneé Crooks, 39, found their way into the field after major life changes. Crooks moved from Jamaica to Delaware and realized her banking and finance degree wouldn’t translate. So she got certified in infant CPR and first aid and began working as a newborn care specialist to support herself. She now receives countless messages from people asking how to get started. “I feel like I have more nurses following me than moms,” she joked.
The Reality Behind the Trend
While TikTok has helped shine a light on the profession, it can also create unrealistic expectations. Long warns that the job isn’t as simple as it looks online. “What one person’s ‘night in my life’ looks like isn’t going to be the same for someone else,” she said. “It creates this perception that it’s really easy—and that’s just not the case.”
Training programs cover baby care basics, but they don’t teach the business skills needed to succeed. Smith, who runs Well Supported Family by Nightingales, says her agency grew its staff by 64% in 2024 and now operates in 14 states. They even have a travel team of night specialists who work in remote areas via RV.
“What people don’t understand is that there’s a lot of self-promotion and marketing involved,” Smith said. “It seems like a high-earning industry if you set it up right, but it can also be tough and lead to burnout.”
Long describes the field as “the wild, wild west.” Most night nurses are independent contractors, meaning they don’t get healthcare benefits or retirement plans. They manage their own taxes and certifications. Even after securing a contract, challenges like scheduling conflicts or lifestyle differences can arise.
“When we bring on new people, I tell them, ‘I can’t guarantee you’ll work with us or book a client,’” Long said. “I try to temper their enthusiasm.”
Crooks, who doesn’t work through an agency, recently lost six weeks of income—typically $5,000 to $8,000 a month—because a family wouldn’t allow her to take short naps during her shift. “Of course I’m there to work,” she said. “But you should be able to sit in a chair and close your eyes for 20 minutes.”
Her experience highlights how, as the job becomes more mainstream, previously standard practices are now up for debate. “We’re unprotected,” said Crooks, who has three children of her own. “People think we’re glorified babysitters. But the job goes far beyond just watching babies.”