See the featured article in Expecting Mother’s Guide written by Kellie Mejia, Baby Planner, Inc. Vice President
Baby Planner Basics
by Kellie Mejia
As an expectant parent, you are putting time and energy into countless decisions regarding your baby. Selecting a Baby Planner is no different.
A baby planner is a personal consultant to new and expectant families, who offers support and knowledge in the journey of parenthood. You want someone who will spend time with you and share in the very personal aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. The primary service that identifies a baby planner is offering custom baby gear and registry consulting services. Baby planners provide research and extensive knowledge about baby gear and can recommend products that will fit a family’s lifestyle. They allow families to focus on what they truly need and want, while helping them save money by not buying or registering for products they will rarely use. Some offer services up through the birth, while others offer support all the way through the toddler years.
Most companies offer a la cart or bundled services. In addition to product research and consultations, baby planners can provide registry assistance, eco-friendly preparations, nursery organization and design, childproofing, daddy training, childcare plans, and hiring support services (lactation consultants, doulas, nannies.) The products and services that families choose to utilize is a very personal choice, and the consultant will consider lifestyle, values, and taste preferences to determine which products fit best for the baby and for the family. There are also many other considerations that families can request the baby planner consider, such as cost and local availability.
Baby planning is a relatively new industry, so the duration of employment as a baby planner is not always indicative of a consultant’s ability. Several baby planners report that they informally consulted friends, family members, and neighbors for years before they turned consulting into a career. Conducting interviews with potential baby planners can provide families with the information necessary to move forward in planning. Some important questions you might ask include: READ MORE…
