Meet Our Newborn Care Specialists (NCS)

Meet the experienced and compassionate specialists behind L&S Newborn Care and Beyond.

Lupe Hernandez

Director of Newborn Care & NCS Trainer, Co-Founder

With over 15 years of professional childcare experience—and more than 12 of those dedicated exclusively to newborn care—Lupe Hernandez is a trusted leader, mentor, and caregiver in the field of infant support. As the Director of Newborn Care and Lead NCS Trainer at L&S Newborn Care and Beyond, Lupe brings both expertise and heart to every family and caregiver she supports.

Lupe began her journey as a hands-on Newborn Care Specialist (NCS), quickly gaining recognition in the Los Angeles area for her calm demeanor, deep knowledge, and nurturing presence. As her reputation grew, so did her mission: to guide not only families but also the next generation of NCS professionals. Today, she leads caregiver placements and personally trains newborn care specialists to uphold the highest standards in the industry.

Certifications & Specializations:

Certified Newborn Care Specialist (NCS)
Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR Certified
CAPPA - Postpartum Doula
Certified Sleep Training Specialist
Lactation Education Specialist
Trained in Working with Multiples
RIE Nurturing Nanny™ Course

Lupe’s approach is a unique blend of evidence-based care and compassionate support. Whether she’s walking new parents through the early stages of parenthood or equipping caregivers with the tools to succeed, Lupe offers unmatched dedication, knowledge, and warmth every step of the way.

Shella Gamero

Newborn Care Specialist, Co-Founder

Shella Gamero is an experienced and nurturing Newborn Care Specialist with over 20 years of caring for infants and guiding new parents. Based in Redondo Beach, CA, she offers expert support with sleep training, feeding routines, developmental milestones, and overall newborn care.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Shella incorporates deeply intuitive caregiving rooted in science and love. From helping babies establish healthy habits to building confidence in new parents, Shella’s calm presence, deep knowledge, and dedication make her a trusted choice for families during the precious early stages of parenting.

Ines Maribel Miller

Travel Newborn Care Specialist & Bilingual Nanny

Ines Maribel Miller is a Certified Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) with over 10 years of experience supporting families with newborns and growing children. Based in Woodland Hills, CA, she is CPR and First Aid certified and specializes in both local and travel NCS placements.

Fluent in Spanish and English, Maribel creates nurturing developmentally appropriate environments tailored to each child’s needs. Her background in child development and love for art and creativity allow her to engage children through play, learning, and emotional support.

Known for her calm presence, strong communication, and flexibility, Maribel is a trusted caregiver for families seeking expert newborn care—at home or on the go.

Mana Leticia De Leon

Newborn Care Specialist

With over 20 years of childcare experience, Leticia De Leon is a compassionate and reliable caregiver specializing in newborn and infant care. She brings a calm, supportive presence to families during the postpartum period and creates structured, nurturing routines tailored to each child's needs.

Certifications:

Newborn Care Specialist (NCS)
Infant Massage
Child Behavior & Positive Discipline
CPR & First Aid Certified

Known for her patience, reliability, and ability to connect with both children and parents, Leticia has earned strong references and a reputation for excellence through her long-term family placements. Fluent in Spanish and highly experienced with both newborns and toddlers, she is a trusted professional families can count on for high quality, personalized care.

Araceli Hernandez

Nanny & Newborn Care Specialist / Sleep Trainer

With over 10 years of professional childcare experience, Araceli Hernandez is a warm, dependable, and knowledgeable Nanny and Newborn Care Specialist who is passionate about supporting families through every stage of their child's growth.

Araceli has extensive experience caring for newborns, twins, and toddlers, and is known for her gentle approach, patience, and ability to create a calm and nurturing environment. Her background includes sleep training, newborn care, and helping families establish healthy routines that foster consistency and confidence.

She is CPR and First Aid certified, fluent in Spanish, comfortable communicating in English, and offers excellent communication with parents.

Araceli is also trustworthy, reliable, and professional, with a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Families describe Araceli as loving, attentive, and truly dedicated to providing exceptional care, always bringing warmth, structure, and peace of mind to every household she joins.

Marisol Morales

Newborn Care Specialist & Postpartum Doula

Marisol Morales is a highly experienced Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) and Certified Postpartum Doula, bringing more than 10 years of dedicated newborn and postpartum support experience, complemented by over two decades as a professional nanny. Her lifelong passion for caregiving and her deep commitment to family-centered support have shaped her into a trusted and nurturing presence during one of the most important transitions in a family's life.

Marisol's work is rooted in warmth, respect, and adaptability. She prides herself on creating a peaceful environment where parents feel confident and supported, and where newborns can thrive. Her approach blends evidence-based newborn care practices with emotional support, ensuring that each family receives personalized guidance tailored to their unique needs and parenting style. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marisol is also available to travel, offering flexibility and continuous support to families who need it.

Professional Expertise

Throughout her career, Marisol has provided comprehensive newborn care that includes:

Overnight newborn support
Guidance in breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
Establishing healthy sleep routines
Infant soothing techniques and developmentally appropriate care
Safe sleep education
Support for postpartum recovery
Light household assistance to maintain a calm, organized environment

Her extensive hands-on experience allows her to work confidently with newborns of various needs, including preemies, breastfed babies, and infants requiring specialized developmental support.

Certifications & Specialized Training

Marisol is committed to maintaining the highest standard of newborn and postpartum care. Her certifications include:

Certified Postpartum Doula
Certified Newborn Care Specialist
Certified in Infant Sleep and Development
Certified Lactation Intensive - Doulas and Newborn Care
Certified in Newborn Massage Techniques
"Thriving Beyond the NICU" - Specialized Preemie Care Training
Certified in Baby-Led Weaning & Introduction to Complementary Foods
CPR, First Aid & AED Certified (Infants, Children & Adults)

These qualifications reflect her dedication to continuous education and her ability to support families with the most up-to-date, safe, and effective newborn care practices.

Education

Angela Jurado

Newborn Care Specialist & Doula

Angela Jurado is a highly experienced and compassionate Newborn Care Specialist and Doula with over 20 years of hands-on experience supporting families from the earliest newborn days through toddlerhood. She is dedicated to helping parents feel confident, supported, and well-rested during one of life's most important transitions.

Angela brings extensive experience in overnight newborn care, feeding support (breastfeeding and bottle feeding), sleep conditioning, premature infants, multiples, and establishing healthy newborn routines. She is known for creating calm, nurturing environments that promote restful sleep and strong early development from the very beginning.

She has supported families throughout Los Angeles and surrounding areas and is flexible for domestic and international travel. Angela adapts seamlessly to each family's parenting style while providing both professional expertise and reassuring emotional support during the postpartum period

Accreditations & Professional Training

TrustLine Registered
International Nanny Training Day Graduate
Postpartum Doula Certified
CPR Certified
Infant Sleep Specialist Certified
Newborn Sleep Conditioning Certified
Lactation Intensive Training

Maria Lopez

Newborn Care Specialist & Professional Nanny

María López

Newborn Care Specialist & Professional Nanny

María López is a dedicated Newborn Care Specialist and professional nanny with over 10 years of childcare experience supporting families with newborns, infants, toddlers, and young children. She has extensive experience in both day and night NCS roles, offering knowledgeable, calm, and compassionate care during the postpartum period and beyond.

Maria specializes in creating customized feeding and sleep routines, supporting breastfeeding families, and providing developmentally appropriate care based on each child's age and needs. She is highly attentive, organized, and discreet, maintaining a safe, clean, and nurturing environment at all times.

Her experience includes working with newborns, twins, and multiple-child households.

She is bilingual in Spanish and English and is currently continuing her education in Child Development.

Certifications & Training

CPR / AED / First Aid (Adult, Infant & Child)
Newborn Care Specialist Training
Infant Sleep Training
Infant Massage Certification
Breastfeeding & Lactation Family Support
Pediatric Speech & Language Development
International Nanny Training Day (INTD)
Water Safety Certification
TrustLine Registered & Background Checked
Experience Working With Multiples

Gloria Meritano

Newborn Care Specialist & Nanny

Gloria Meritano is a dedicated Newborn Care Specialist and Nanny with extensive experience supporting newborns, infants, and young children. With more than a decade of hands-on work in family homes across Los Angeles, Gloria is known for her calm presence, strong work ethic, and deep commitment to helping babies and parents thrive during the earliest stages of life.

Her professional journey began in Mexico, where she completed her Registered Nurse Certificate of Completion at Mariano Navares Nursing School in Saltillo, Coahuila. This medical foundation gave her a strong understanding of infant health, safety, and developmental needs. After moving to the United States, Gloria continued expanding her expertise through advanced newborn and postpartum education.

Throughout her career, she has supported families with newborns, toddlers, and multi-child households, guiding parents through feeding routines, sleep shaping, developmental milestones, and the emotional transitions that come with welcoming a new baby. She is known for her gentle communication, reliability, and ability to create a comforting, structured environment for every family she serves.

Gloria has worked with various families across Los Angeles, caring for newborns, infants transitioning into toddlerhood, and providing additional support for older clients as well. Whether she is establishing a routine for a first-time parent or offering long-term care, Gloria approaches her work with compassion, patience, and professionalism.

Certifications & Specialized Training

Registered Nurse - Certificate of Completion
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED - American Heart Association
Health Education Courses - California
Hospital Medical Center Community Benefit Department Training
Newborn Care Specialist Training - Cuidando Angeles NCS LLC
Six Contact Hours of Continuing Education - ACHI Institute
Continuing Education - The Association Childbirth at Home International
Postpartum Doula Training - Fanny Shepperhd Home International
Instructor & Volunteer - Organization for Physically Impaired (OPI)

CPR and First Aid certified, she brings professional expertise and a calm, nurturing presence to every home. As a certified postpartum doula with strong knowledge in infant feeding, Adriana offers guidance on breastfeeding, establishing healthy routines, and creating a safe, soothing environment for babies.

Fluent in Spanish and English, Adriana is available for full-time (40 hours/week) newborn care, with a focus on providing individualized support tailored to each family's needs. She is reliable, respectful, and committed to ensuring parents feel rested, supported, and well-prepared for their parenting journey.

Gloria Piero

Newborn Care Specialist

Gloria Piero is a devoted Newborn Care Specialist known for her calm presence, professionalism, and deep understanding of infant needs. With extensive experience supporting families across Los Angeles, she provides gentle, reliable overnight care, helping parents rest while ensuring their newborns feel safe, comforted, and well-supported

She is skilled in newborn hygiene, feeding, premature infant care, swaddling, sleep routines, bottle sterilization, nursery organization, and maintaining detailed baby logs. Gloria adapts to each family's preferred parenting style, offering guidance that is both respectful and reassuring.

Certifications

Newborn Care Specialist - Newborn Care Training Academy
CPR Certified - Critical Care Training Center

Dedicated, nurturing, and exceptionally patient, Gloria brings confidence and peace of mind to every home she serves.

Adriana Benitez

Newborn Care Specialist | Postpartum Doula | Breastfeeding Support

Adriana Benitez is a highly skilled Newborn Care Specialist with 5 years of hands-on experience supporting families during the newborn stage. Specializing in overnight care, postpartum recovery support, breastfeeding support, and gentle sleep training, Adriana helps parents navigate the early weeks with confidence and peace of mind.

Liliana Rivera

Newborn Care Specialist

With over 20 years of childcare

With over a decade of childcare experience and specialized certification as a Newborn Care Specialist (NCS), Liliana brings a calm, knowledgeable, and nurturing presence to every home she supports. She is highly skilled in newborn care, including establishing healthy sleep routines, providing postpartum assistance, and supporting both breastfeeding and formula-fed infants.

Liliana's approach combines expert care with genuine compassion, ensuring that both babies and parents feel confident, supported, and well-rested. She has extensive hands-on experience with infants from birth onward, including twins and children with unique needs, and is certified in Infant and Child CPR and First Aid.

Fluent in both Spanish and English, Liliana is trusted by families for her professionalism, reliability, and ability to create a warm, safe environment where children can thrive from their very first days.

Hilda Montesinos

Newborn Care Specialist

Hilda Montesinos is a highly experienced Newborn Care Specialist with over 20 years of professional experience supporting newborns and their families. With a warm and calming presence, Hilda has helped hundreds of families across Southern California ease the transition into parenthood—ensuring everyone gets the rest and care they need.

Her work with newborns includes establishing healthy sleep habits, supporting feeding routines (both bottle and breastfeeding), bathing, bonding, swaddling, diapering, and more. Hilda also has deep experience helping families with twins, preemies, and reflux support.

Parents note Hilda’s gift for reading their baby’s cues, her gentle and easygoing personality, and her deep commitment to helping parents thrive. For night shifts or 24-hour care, Hilda is a reliable, professional presence—and a reassuring support to have in your home.

Imelda Mazariego

Newborn Care Specialist & Professional Nanny

Imelda is an experienced nanny with over 15 years of dedicated childcare experience, supporting families with children from newborns through the teenage years. Throughout her career, she has provided compassionate, structured, and reliable care while helping children thrive in safe and nurturing environments.

She has extensive experience with newborn and infant care, including feeding, diapering, swaddling, sleep outines, and milestone development. Imelda has also guided older children through potty training, schoo ransitions, extracurriculars, and daily routines. She has frequently traveled with families, both domesticall and internationally, and is trusted to provide overnight and extended care.

Her professional training and education include:

Newborn Care Specialist Training
RIE Nurturing Nanny Program
Sleep Training Certificate
CPR & First Aid Certification
Nursing Assistant Certificate
Medical Assistant Diploma - Chaffey College

Families value Imelda for her ability to balance structure and warmth, engaging children in meaningful activities such as Spanish lessons, creative arts, and educational outings. In addition to childcare, she supports households with light housekeeping, laundry, errands, and coordinating with vendors, ensuring smooth daily operations.

Outside of her professional work, Imelda enjoys meditation, reading, photography, music, sports, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Tania Sajche

Newborn Care Specialist

Tania Sajche is a dedicated Newborn Care Specialist with over 15 years of experience supporting families through the most important stages of early childhood. With extensive training and hands-on expertise, she specializes in nurturing newborns, guiding parents through postpartum transitions, and fostering healthy development from day one.

Expertise & Skills

Newborn & Infant Care: Skilled in feeding, swaddling, diapering, umbilical cord/circumcision care, and sleep conditioning.
Sleep Support: Certified in sleep training techniques, with training under Rebecca Hausser and as a Safe Sleep Ambassador.
Postpartum Support: Compassionate assistance to families adjusting after birth, including household organization and emotional support.
Developmental Guidance: Designs age-appropriate activities to help infants and young children reach key milestones.
Health & Safety: CPR/BLS/First Aid certified (adult, child, and infant), maintaining the highest standards of safety and hygiene.
Family Support: Experienced in creating custom feeding/sleep schedules, logging behavior patterns, and supporting parents with routines.

Training & Certifications

Newborn Care Specialist Training - Cuidando Angeles NCS LLC
Safe Sleep Ambassador Training
Child Sleep Training - Rebecca Hausser
BLS/CPR & First Aid - Adult/Infant/Child

Professional Background

Tania has worked as a Newborn Care Specialist, postpartum doula, nanny, and daycare owner/manager, giving her a unique depth of experience in both private homes and structured childeare environments. Her broad expertise allows her to adapt to each family's unique needs while maintaining a calm, nurturing, and professional presence.

Professional Affiliations

Member, US Nanny Association
Member, Newborn Care Specialist Association (NCSA)

Personal Qualities

Families describe Tania as loving, reliable, and organized, with a warm presence that helps parents feel reassured and supported. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, culturally sensitive, and flexible in adapting to the needs of newborns and families alike.

Flora Margarita Santacruz

Newborn Care Specialist

With over a decade of dedicated experience, Flora Maria Santacruz is a highly skilled Newborn Care Specialist (NCS), doula, and NICU/ICU-trained professional who has supported countless families in Los Angeles and beyond. Known for her professionalism, expertise, and dedication, Flora has guided first-time and experienced parents alike through the earliest weeks and months of their baby's life.

Flora's expertise spans a wide range of newborn care needs-including sleep training, breastfeeding support, reflux management, and caring for multiples and preemies. She has provided both day and overnight care for newborns, helped families establish healthy feeding and sleep routines, and offered parents hands-on coaching in essential skills such as bathing, diapering, and soothing. Her background as a Registered Nurse and Medical Assistant adds an extra layer of reassurance for families seeking knowledgeable support with both routine and more complex newborn care, including g-tube and oxygen monitoring.

Flora is also trained as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, bringing compassionate support to mothers as they recover and adjust to new routines. She has extensive experience helping siblings transition into their new roles, creating family-wide harmony during times of change. Her work is characterized by professionalism, warmth, and reliability, ensuring that every baby thrives and every parent feels supported.

Certifications & Training

Registered Nurse - El Salvador
Master's in Nursing - San Salvador
American Registry of Medical Assistants - New Jersey
NICU and ICU Specialist
Advanced Newborn Care Specialist Training
Sleep Training Certified
Doula: Birth & Postpartum
CPR & First Aid Certified
TrustLine Registered

Skills

Breastfeeding & lactation support
Sleep conditioning and training
Infant nutrition & food safety
Specialized care for preemies and reflux babies
Family coaching & milestone development

Araceli M Castillo

Newborn Care Specialist | Professional Nanny

With over 22 years of childcare experience and a lifelong passion for early childhood development, Araceli Castillo brings expertise, empathy, and professionalism to every family she supports. Based in Los Angeles, Araceli has devoted her career to guiding parents through the newborn stage and beyond, helping babies thrive through structure, gentle care, and developmental awareness.

Araceli has worked with numerous families across Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Studio City, providing both daytime and overnight care. Her hands-on experience includes supporting families from birth through the early toddler years, assisting with feeding routines, sleep training, and transitions that nurture healthy sleep habits and confidence in parents.

Education

Newborn Care Specialist - CAPPA
Infant Development & Sleep Academy (IDSA), 2022
ADHD and Special Kids Symptoms, 2024
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support, 2024
Nutrition and Parent Education Courses
Child Development Studies
CPR & First Aid (current certification)

Araceli is also trained in health, safety, and parent education and is known for her calm and adaptable approach Her knowledge extends to supporting babies with colic, reflux, allergies, and developmental sensitivities, always using evidence-based, nurturing methods.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Araceli connects with diverse families and offers culturally sensitive care that emphasizes communication and trust.

As a mother of two grown daughters, Araceli understands the emotional journey of parenthood. Families describe her as warm, professional, and deeply supportive, a true partner in those first months of adjustment and joy.

Silvia Garcia

Newborn Care Specialist & Postpartum Doula

With over 20 years of childcare experience, Silvia Garcia is a highly dedicated and nurturing professional who has supported families with children of all ages, from newborns to multiples. Her calm presence, reliability, and deep understanding of infant care make her a trusted resource for parents during the most delicate and meaningful stages of family life.

Silvia is a Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) with extensive hands-on experience caring for newborns, including twins. She holds additional professional training and certifications in:

Postpartum Doula (PPD)
Lactation Support (LS)
Infant Development and Sleep
Sleep Training
CPR and First Aid
NICU Support Training

Fluent in both Spanish and English, Silvia easily connects with families from diverse backgrounds. She is skilled in establishing healthy feeding and sleep routines, implementing effective soothing techniques, and supporting parents in creating balanced, structured environments for their babies to thrive.

Known for her strong work ethic, professionalism, and attention to detail, Silvia ensures a safe, clean, and organized home environment. She offers reliable transportation, is open to traveling with families, and brings a positive, dependable attitude to every placement.

Families consistently describe Silvia as warm, patient, and genuinely passionate about helping little ones grow and feel loved, qualities that make her an exceptional addition to any household.

Laura Barrera

Newborn Care Specialist

Laura Barrera is a certified Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) with extensive training and hands-on experience supporting families with their newborns. She is known for her patience, professionalism, and ability to create a calm, nurturing environment for both babies and parents.

Certifications & Training

Newborn Care Specialist Certification - Cuidando Angeles Training (March 2022)
Postpartum Doula Training - Doula University, 20-Hour Course (August 2025)
Lactation Intensive for Doulas & Newborn Care Specialists - Doula Darla (December 2023)
Sleep Training Certificate - Specialized training in healthy infant sleep habits and routines
Adult/Child/Infant CPR & First Aid (AED) - Lifeline Training Resources (Valid through June 2026)
CPR & First Aid Certification - City of Montebello (March 2022)

Skills & Expertise

Specialized in newborn care, including feeding support, soothing techniques, and sleep conditioning/sleep training
Trained in lactation support and guidance for breastfeeding mothers
Experienced in breast milk handling (heating, freezing, storage, and bottle preparation)
Knowledgeable in infant safety standards and allergy-sensitive care using baby-safe practices
Guidance with newborn routines, developmental milestones, and family adjustment during the postpartum period
Bilingual (English/Spanish), excellent communicator, and adaptable to each family's unique needs

Why Families Choose Laura,

With her solid background in newborn care and multiple certifications, Laura brings expertise and peace of mind to families as they welcome their little ones home. Her approach blends professional training with a warm, supportive presence, ensuring that both baby and parents feel cared for and supported every step of the way.

Luz Stella Miranda

Newborn Care Specialist

Luz Stella Miranda is an experienced and dedicated Newborn Care Specialist with over 15 years of professional childcare experience, specializing in newborns through school-age children. She brings a calm, nurturing presence to every family she supports and is deeply committed to providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate newborn care.

Luz has extensive hands-on experience supporting families during the postpartum period, including overnight and daytime newborn care, establishing healthy routines, and providing breastfeeding support. She is highly skilled in all newborn-related tasks such as feeding, sleep guidance, soothing techniques, hygiene, and creating a safe and supportive environment for both baby and parents.

In addition to her newborn expertise, Luz has worked as a full-charge nanny with private and NDA families and is comfortable adapting to different family dynamics, schedules, and travel needs. She is known for being reliable, patient, trustworthy, and compassionate, and consistently builds strong, respectful relationships with the families she serves.

Luz is bilingual in English and Spanish, an excellent driver, and a U.S. citizen with a valid passport, making her flexible and available for both local and travel-based assignments.

Certifications & Education

Newborn Care Specialist Training
CPR & First Aid
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Child Development
Hospital Fire & Life Safety
Postpartum Doula Training