About the Role
As a Night Nanny/Overnight Childcare Specialist with Watershed Care Services Ireland, you will provide calm, professional overnight support to families with newborns and young infants. This role is designed to help parents rest and recover while ensuring babies and children are cared for safely, gently, and consistently throughout the night.
You will work in the family home, following agreed routines and best practice for infant care, feeding, and sleep, while maintaining clear communication and accurate handovers for parents.
All Night Nanny/Overnight Childcare Specialist roles are subject to Garda Vetting, reference checks, and role-specific experience requirements. Applicants must have the legal right to work in Ireland.
Key Responsibilities
Overnight Care & Child Wellbeing
Provide attentive, calm, and responsive overnight care for babies, toddlers, or older children, tailored to each child’s age, stage, and needs.
Closely monitor children’s wellbeing, comfort, and safety throughout the night, responding appropriately to waking, distress, illness, or changes in behaviour.
Follow agreed routines while adapting sensitively to each child’s cues and overnight needs.
Feeding & Night-Time Support
Support night feeds in line with family preferences, including breastfeeding support, bottle-feeding, or combination feeding for babies.
Prepare feeds safely and hygienically, including formula preparation where required.
Support toddlers or older children with night-time drinks, reassurance, or comfort as appropriate.
Ensure children are settled calmly after feeds or waking, promoting a smooth return to sleep.
Sleep & Settling Support
Support the establishment or maintenance of age-appropriate sleep routines for babies, toddlers, and older children.
Use gentle, responsive settling techniques, including reassurance, comfort, and consistent routines.
For babies, recognise and respond appropriately to sleep and feeding cues.
For toddlers and older children, provide reassurance, boundary-consistent responses, and support with night waking, transitions, or anxiety as agreed with parents.
Where appropriate, offer gentle sleep guidance to parents in line with their preferences and the child’s developmental stage.
Hygiene & Comfort
Carry out nappy changes and personal care as needed, ensuring children remain clean, comfortable, and settled overnight.
Support toileting needs for toddlers or older children where required.
Maintain high standards of hygiene and infection prevention throughout the shift.
Routine, Communication & Record-Keeping
Maintain clear and accurate overnight records (where requested), including feeds, nappy changes, sleep periods, wake-ups, and notable observations.
Provide a professional handover to parents at the end of the shift, outlining how the night went and any relevant updates.
Communicate promptly with parents and the Watershed support team regarding any concerns, changes, or significant observations.
Child-Related Household Tasks
Prepare, clean, and sterilise bottles, feeding equipment, or night-time supplies as required.
Tidy and organise child care areas used during the shift.
Manage light child-related laundry where agreed (e.g. sleepwear, bibs, baby clothes).
Ensure essential overnight supplies are clean, stocked, and ready for use.
Professional Practice & Standards
Work respectfully, discreetly, and professionally within the family home at all times.
Follow all Watershed Care Services Ireland policies, safeguarding procedures, and health & safety standards.
Maintain strict confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
Represent Watershed with professionalism, reliability, and care in every placement.
Requirements:
Minimum 2 years’ professional childcare experience (private family, creche, agency, or equivalent), with confidence caring for infants, toddlers, and/or children overnight
QQI Level 5 or higher in Early Learning & Care or Childcare or equivalent
Experience with newborns, postnatal care, or overnight nanny roles
Familiarity with infant sleep routines and gentle settling approaches
Children First Safeguarding Training (Tusla e-learning) or willingness to complete prior to placement
Paediatric First Aid or willingness to complete prior to placement
Demonstrated experience working independently and responsibly within a family home/private environment
Strong awareness of safe childcare practices, including safe sleep, night-time supervision, hygiene, and child wellbeing
Excellent communication, organisational, and time-management skills, including clear overnight handovers
A calm, reassuring, and professional approach to overnight childcare
Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries within private family homes
Willingness to provide written references and consent to Garda Vetting by the company
Police clearance required where the applicant has lived outside Ireland for more than 6 consecutive months since the age of 18
Proof of eligibility to work in the EU (no sponsorship provided)
Ability to travel independently to overnight placements across Dublin
A genuine commitment to ongoing learning and professional development
Personal Attributes
Patient, reliable, and emotionally attuned to infants and families
Comfortable working independently overnight
Organised and confident maintaining written logs and routines
Professional, discreet, and respectful within the family home
Desirable (but not essential)
Infant and newborn care experience, including overnight feeds, settling, and sleep routines
Experience supporting toddlers or older children overnight, including night waking, reassurance, and transitions
Knowledge of safe sleep guidance and age-appropriate night-time routines
Experience supporting families with twins or multiples
Basic food hygiene awareness, particularly for bottle preparation and child feeding, or willingness to complete Food Safety training
Experience in related roles such as parent’s help, maternity support, or full-time nannying
Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) awareness, or willingness to complete training prior to placement (training supported where required)
Manual Handling training, where duties involve lifting infants or equipment, or willingness to complete training
Training or experience supporting children with additional needs or tailored routines
Additional training in child development, infant sleep, or behavioural support
Experience maintaining overnight logs, routine notes, or care records for parents
Driving licence (preferred but not essential – must be able to travel independently to placements)
What We Offer
Competitive evening and overnight rate, reflective of experience and role requirements
Flexible overnight placements across Dublin
Job security: Stable, long-term placements with carefully matched families
All roles are employed positions with Watershed Care Services Ireland
Garda Vetting support and structured onboarding
Clear role expectations and professional support from our office team
Opportunities to access additional childcare roles (daytime, part-time, or occasional care)
Ongoing training opportunities aligned to childcare best practice
Enhanced employee benefits including: Bike to Work, Travel Tax Saver Scheme
Up to 22 days of annual leave
Employee gifts: cinema tickets, care packs and so much more
Staff recognition programme: Employee of the Quarter, Employee of the Year
About Watershed Care Services
Watershed Care Services Ireland provides trusted, high-quality in-home childcare to families across Dublin. We employ professional, Garda-vetted childcare practitioners who deliver consistent, nurturing care that supports children’s safety, routines, development, and wellbeing.