By Elaine Allegrini
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

Becky and Bob Coletta of Pembroke had a little help getting through night-time feedings after their first child was born.

That help came in the form of a “night nanny,” an overnight babysitter who fed and cared for newborn Luca - who, his mom said, had “feeding issues” - while his parents slept.

“It’s meant a little bit of sanity in the sense that at least a couple of nights a week, I can catch up on sleep and be a better mom during the day,” said Becky Coletta, who was 42 when Luca was born.

Night nannies can be a big help, especially for first-time parents or parents of multiples, says Sheila Marcelo, whose web site, care.com, lists child-care services.

“It’s harder to do feeding, changing diapers and all those kind of things when you’re learning it for the first time and you’re lacking sleep,” Marcelo said.

Growing interest in overnight care for newborns prompted her to add night nannies to her web site.

In this region, the concept is not as popular in the south suburbs as it is in the metropolitan Boston area, said Sharon Roy of Bridgewater, an independent night nanny.

The mother of four school-aged children, including triplets, Roy is considered by Coletta to be a natural for the job.

“I had done day care my whole life,” Roy said. After she became a mom, she realized, “I like to get up and feed babies. I really don’t like to put pacifiers in.”

So, now, she’s doing what she likes - seven nights a week.

The schedule, typically 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., fits in with her parenting time. Her husband is home while she’s working. And she’s there to see her children off to school and greet them when they return.

“The kids don’t even know I’m gone, so it doesn’t affect them,” she said. “It’s a perfect job for me.”

The cost of the service ranges from $10 to $20 or more an hour for one child, $15 to $25 for twins, Marcelo said.

For new parents, a night nanny may be an alternate to day-time care, if that is being considered.

For the Colettas, the cost is about $320 a week.

“It’s expensive, but I feel like it’s a necessity,” Becky Coletta said. When she thought about stopping, she reconsidered and continued the service for several months.

“I’ll empty the retirement account if I have to,” Coletta said.

According to Cindy Campbell, spokeswoman for the state Department of Early Education and Child Care, an overnight caregiver in the family home does not need a license. Agency policy states that a license is required “for anyone who regularly cares for children up through age 12 who are unrelated to the caregiver, when the care does not take place in the children’s own home.” The agency can be reached at 617-988-6600.