Arlene Excell · Baby nurse · New York & beyond

Calm, loving hands for your baby's first weeks home.

I'm Arlene, a baby nurse since 2016. I've lived with and cared for newborns in more than 30 families, and every one of them found me through someone they trust. While I look after your baby, you get to rest, heal, and settle into being a family.

(646) 966-3168 Send a text

Glad to talk anytime, including before your due date.

30+families cared for
since 2016

10 yearscaring for newborns

30+families since 2016

Infant CPRtrained & certified

100%referral-based, no agency

Meet Arlene

The youngest of twelve, and a baby person from the start.

Arlene holding a smiling baby in a nursery

I grew up in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the youngest of twelve children. That meant nieces and nephews everywhere, and I was helping take care of them from a very young age.

Back home I was a customer service supervisor at a company serving Fortune 500 clients. When I moved to New York, I needed work right away, and a family hired me for the summer of 2016. By the end of it, their relatives were already calling to ask if I'd come back.

I did, and I've never wanted to go back to corporate life. Some families I've cared for as brand-new parents. Others have called me back for their second baby, and their third.

Newborns are pure innocence. I love their scent, and I love seeing them change a little every single day. They can tell when they're loved, too. You see it in the way they look at you.

It's my gratification, just seeing the look when they look at me. You'd have to experience it for yourself to know what I'm talking about. Arlene

What I take care of

Everything your baby needs, and a little room for you.

A newborn mostly eats, sleeps, and needs changing. Doing all of that well, around the clock, while the family catches its breath: that's my job.

Arlene cuddling a sleeping newborn cheek to cheek

Feeding & sleep

Bottle or breast, I make sure your baby eats well and sleeps well. If you're nursing, I'll help you build enough milk supply that you can step out while your baby stays fed.

Changing & bathing

Every diaper, day and night. Baths, cord care, and gentle aftercare following a circumcision, including the gauze and dressing changes.

Bottles, pump parts & laundry

Washing and sterilizing bottles, pump parts, and baby containers, plus all of your baby's laundry. It all stays handled.

A watchful eye

If something seems off with your baby, I'll tell you and help you decide calmly whether it's time to call the pediatrician. Staying calm is how good decisions get made.

Teaching new parents

First baby? I'll show you everything I can, from swaddling to reading hunger cues, so you feel confident long after I've gone home.

Rest for Mom and Dad

A new baby can be overwhelming, for both parents. Part of my job is making sure Mom has time to recover and both of you get real sleep.

Twins welcome

I have experience caring for twins, and I'm comfortable with first babies and busy households with older siblings alike.

Just so we're clear

My focus is your baby. General housekeeping isn't part of the service. If I see something I can pitch in on, I often will, but it's not a promise.

Arlene smiling cheek to cheek with a baby

Arlene with a baby resting on her shoulder by a window

Arlene kissing a sleeping newborn's head

From a family

Arlene was a pleasure to work with. She guided us every step of the way, and we hope to have her in our home again for the next one.

Matthew & Kaylin KhorsandiLos Angeles, CA

Families I serve

At home in your home, and your traditions.

Most of the families I've worked with are Jewish, both Orthodox and Reform, and from many different backgrounds and nationalities. I understand the customs and sensitivities of observant households, and I know how to care for a baby in the days after a bris.

Families tell me I become part of the household, and that's how it feels to me, too. We work as a team.

First-time parents Returning families Orthodox households Reform households Twins Live-in care

Where I've worked

Based in New York for the past 10 years. Happy to travel.

Manhattan
Queens
Long Island
The Hamptons
Westchester
Eastchester
Upstate New York
New Jersey
Connecticut
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Florida
Los Angeles, CA

Within the city I'll take the train or a car. For locations farther out, families usually arrange transportation.

How it works

Simple, personal, and built on trust.

I've never worked through an agency. Every family comes to me through someone they know: a friend, a coworker, a grandparent, an in-law. We take it from there.

Say hello

Send a text or call. We'll set up a time to talk.

Video call

We meet face to face on video. Ask me anything: my experience, my rates, how I care for a newborn.

References

I'm happy to put you in touch with several families I've worked with. A second call is fine too if you'd like one.

Confirm your dates

We confirm your dates by text. Until the baby comes, send me pregnancy updates, questions, anything at all. I love hearing from my families.

Baby comes home

Send me a picture of your baby (my favorite part). I arrive on discharge day, bag packed and ready.

My word is my bond

No contracts. No deposits.

I don't ask families for a non-refundable deposit. A pregnancy is a gift from God, and sometimes it doesn't go the way anyone planned. I would never want a family to worry about money at a time like that. My word is my bread and butter. Everything I have built comes from families trusting it and recommending me to the next one.

Health & safety

Prepared, protected, and calm.

Newborns are fragile, and you should know exactly who's holding yours. Here's what I keep current.

Arlene in green scrubs pushing a smiling baby on a park swing

Infant CPR

Trained and certified in infant CPR.

Flu shot

Every year, before flu season starts.

COVID-19

Vaccinated. My card is always in my purse.

Tetanus booster

Up to date, renewed every 10 years.

Questions parents ask

Good questions. Honest answers.

Don't see yours here? Ask me on our call. There's no such thing as a silly question about your baby.

What are your rates?

Rates depend on your dates, location, and what your family needs. Call or text me and we'll talk it through.

How long do you usually stay with a family?

Anywhere from two weeks to three months, and sometimes longer. We'll decide together what makes sense for you.

Can I speak with families you've worked with?

Yes. I'm glad to share several references, and you're welcome to call every one of them.

Are you vaccinated?

Yes. I get a flu shot every year, I'm vaccinated for COVID-19 (I keep my card with me), and my tetanus booster is current.

Do you have a contract or ask for a deposit?

No. We agree on your dates and confirm by text. I don't ask for a non-refundable deposit, because no family should have to think about that if a pregnancy doesn't go as planned.

How do breaks work if you live in?

I take a six-hour break each day, and I'm very flexible about when. Even if we set a time, we can change it whenever the day calls for it. Babies don't follow schedules.

Do you clean the house?

General housekeeping isn't part of my service. Everything for the baby is: bottles, pump parts, and baby laundry included. If I see something I can help with around the house, I often will, but I don't promise it.

Will you travel?

Yes. I've worked all over New York, plus New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, and California. For places outside the city, families usually arrange transportation.

Do you have experience with twins?

I do. Twins, first babies, third babies. I've cared for them all.

Let's talk

Expecting? I'd love to meet you.

Call, text, or email me to set up a video call. Tell me about your family and your due date, and ask me anything you like.

(646) 966-3168

Call Arlene Send a text

Prefer email? [email protected]