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What uniquely qualifies you to be a baby planning expert?
As a mom of three wonderful kids under the age of four, Shannan is a “frugal mom” who has spent the last four years researching and testing many of the baby gear items available on the market today and finding some of the best deals on those items.
After struggling to conceive her son, every choice Lisa made for him seemed so much more important. Lisa spent hours upon hours searching products and reviews online, reading books and testing gear in stores. This continues as his needs change and develop.
What qualities should an ideal baby planner have?
The most important quality for a baby planner to have is to understand that every family is different. Products that might be ideal for one family may not work for another. An ideal baby planner needs to take the time to understand the expecting family’s lifestyle and needs.
What are your specialties as a baby planner?
We love to help families find the products that will work best for them. Shannan is a “frugal mom” who understands that babies are expensive and will make sure that parents aren’t spending more than they have to. Lisa believes that we can make small changes and informed choices to make our homes healthier for our kids and ourselves while reducing our impact on the environment.
Tell us a little bit about your background.
Both Lisa and Shannan have a background in accounting but their experience as moms is what has made them great resources as baby planners. No one knows what works and what doesn’t as well as someone who has been there and done that. Since Shannan has been either pregnant or nursing for the past 5 years, she is well versed on the latest and greatest products out there.
What is your biggest piece of advice for a new parent?
When everyone is offering up unsolicited advice, listen. Sometimes the craziest sounding tips are the most useful. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for and accept help. Being a new parent is a huge adjustment and a lot of work.
Our favorite piece of advice is “Don’t be afraid to “spoil” your baby. Enjoy every minute with them!”
What is the nicest thing a client has ever said about your business?
Heather Mankes
Expectant Mommy
I am expecting my first baby in September. This is both exciting and a little nerve wracking at the same time. There is so much stuff to buy, research, and learn about that I didn’t even know where to start. Bottles to Britches have been my saving grace through my pregnancy and my planning and organizing for the soon arrival of baby Abigail. They have given me advice and suggestions on baby products, organization, and have been available to ask pregnancy related questions, which you can only ask someone who has been there. I would recommend Bottles to Britches to any expecting mother. They are a wealth of knowledge and resources; and only an email or phone call away.
How do you stay current on trends in the baby and child industry?
We keep up with pregnancy and parenting publications plus many social media outlets which prove to be the most valuable sources of information. In addition, we keep in touch with the other baby planners in our company and throughout the industry as well as manufacturers of prenatal and baby products. We also test as many of the new products as possible and always test something before recommending it.
Of course, first-hand experience is a huge benefit, and we have a lot of it!
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What uniquely qualifies you to be a baby planning expert?
I’m an experienced NYC mom of two kids (two years apart), who had zero support or guidance when I became a mother. I had no friends or family with babies nearby, so I spent my entire first pregnancy researching every aspect of new motherhood. I read and insane number of books, interviewed moms in baby mega-stores and on the street about the products they bought, and attended every class I could, to prepare me for becoming a mother. What I found was an abundance of conflicting advice and information about just about everything. As a woman who’s experienced fertility issues, difficulty with childbirth and breastfeeding, severe postpartum depression, and every aspect of the new mom lifestyle options (full-time work, part-time work, stay-at-home and work-at-home mom), I have a genuine passion for helping new moms throughout the journey to motherhood. I am also a dynamic part of a diverse community of wellness and service providers throughout NYC, and I’m good at matching clients with the right professionals and products that work with their lifestyles.
What qualities should an ideal baby planner have?
The ability to listen is key, and the number one quality a baby planner should possess. I believe that a good baby planner should listen more than they speak, and ultimately be a non-judgmental sounding board for an expectant couple. A baby planner should empower new parents with information that speaks to their values, and help them make their own decisions, to gain confidence about their intuitive parenting skills, versus being told what is “right” and “wrong”. A baby planner’s job should be to facilitate and gently guide new parents, and to help with whatever they need, whether it’s a book or product recommendation, physically showing new moms how to use a breast pump, or delivering a home-cooked meal after the baby is born.
What are your specialties as a baby planner?
I love to research, and my specialty is taking the information I learn from an initial consultation, and transferring it into an actionable monthly plan, including a short list of recommended books, childbirth education and fitness classes that are convenient for my clients, and matching them with the right wellness and service providers. I also love researching products and shopping for the best prices. I’m a big fan of online shopping and free shipping (crucial for New Yorkers!), and I love saving my clients valuable time and money by recommending the top 1-3 products for them (including where to purchase), to allow them to choose from a short rather than long, overwhelming list of products available.
Tell us a little bit about your background.
After five years of traveling abroad and a short career in documentary TV and film journalism, I worked as a travel consultant for a luxury tour operator in NYC. For 13 years, I planned once-in-a-lifetime, privately-guided tours to exotic locales in Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and South America. It was oddly very similar to baby planning in that I traveled frequently to keep up with luxury travel trends, listened carefully to clients requests, and then advised them (based on their interests and my first-hand knowledge of the destinations and hotels), what I recommended for them, as well as orchestrated the details so all they had to do was show up at the airport with their passports!
What is your biggest piece of advice for a new parent?
The two most important pieces of advice I can offer new parents are to ACCEPT help from friends, family and professionals, in every way possible before, during and after their babies arrive, and to make it clear to all the helpers that the new mom needs caring for first and foremost. Many well-meaning friends and family will offer to “help with the baby,” but many of them forget that the new mom needs caring for more than the baby. A new mom needs someone to put food under her face and do laundry more than she needs someone to hold her baby!
What is the nicest thing a client has ever said about your business?
“I don’t know what we would have done without you.” This is the reason I do what I do.
How do you stay current on trends in the baby and child industry?
I subscribe to every baby and parenting publication (online and print), and I consistently meet with other service providers in the industry, to keep my fingers on the pulse of what’s happening in NYC. Social media is another way I keep abreast of what’s going on with products, services and trends in the baby and child industry. I’m an active member of several expectant and new mom groups (both nationally and locally), so I am in daily contact with what other new moms are experiencing, what products they love, hate, etc. In addition to reading an insane amount of product user reviews online, I frequent smaller maternity, baby and nursing boutiques in NYC, to source unique products beyond the Skip Hop, Baby Bjorn and other mainstream products.
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Photo courtesy of Jennifer Blackwell Photography
This month’s IBPA Featured Baby Planner is Amanda Ogle of Cherished Expectations.
What uniquely qualifies you to be a baby planning expert?
As a mother of two, I have personally experienced the joys of my first pregnancy, the heartbreak of miscarriage, and the joys and stress of a “high risk” second pregnancy. Each have taught me about life, love, and the ups and downs that go into pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. With experience as “The Corporate Mom” as well as the “Work at Home Mom”, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities that both roles offer a family.
What qualities should an ideal baby planner have?
It’s important to have the ability to truly listen and absorb what your client is saying or asking for. For many people the birth of a child is as exciting and eventful as planning a wedding. Another vital quality is being intuitive of each client’s family dynamic.
Understanding the roles that each family member plays, can make or break a baby planner. Stepping on a spouse / Partner / Grandmother’s toes can bring things to a halt quickly. It is easy to offer opinion and advice, the secret is to tailor it to custom-fit your audience.
What are your specialties as a baby planner?
My specialty is finding the highest quality, top rated products and services at the best price possible. I love searching for the best deals without compromising on quality or safety. It’s what I do for my family, and I wouldn’t offer anything less for my clients.
What is the nicest thing a client has ever said about your business?
Las Vegas is one of those ever growing cities. Most of the time I hear clients say that they have no family or close friends here, and it’s nice to have someone they can call. I’ve been in their shoes, and I know exactly how it feels to be pregnant in a new city…away from the comfort of family and friends. Being trusted by them is the greatest compliment.
How do you stay current on trends in the baby and child industry?
Being a member of the International Baby Planner Association is a great way to stay on top of new issues and new trends in the industry. We have a diverse membership, and each person brings wonderful perspective and insight to the table.
I do tons and tons of research online, from recalls to new products on the horizon. When something hits the store shelves, I get my hands on it to see what it’s all about.
Every parenting magazine that exists lands in my mailbox, and is scoured with a fine-tooth comb so that I can get a pulse check on trends. I receive information on boutique items and specialty products regularly as they come out and have tested some prototypes before they have hit the retail market. I also stay current with the American Academy of Pediatrics, keeping my eyes and ears open for any new topics that can benefit my clients today and in the future.
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Join IBPA for our first official “Twitter Tea Party” May 18th from 7-8PM PST
(and no we’re not referring to that political “Tea Party”- it’s all about safety & babies)
Grab your cup of tea or favorite beverage and log into IBPA’s first Safety Soiree ~ where we’ll discuss
“Car Seat Safety and How to Choose One” with special guests and industry experts JPMA and Britax.
One lucky tweeting participant will win a Britax Advocate Car Seat valued at $369.99.
See below for more details on how to register for the event along with a quick Twitter party overview.
IBPA “Twitter Tea Party” Highlights:
Host: International Baby Planner Association
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time: 7-8 PM PST
Location: TweetGrid.com hashtag, #IBPABabyPlanner
Topic: “Car Seat Safety and How to Choose One”
Prize: Britax Advocate CS Car Seat
RSVP: Please RSVP by May 16th to Melissa@InternationalBabyPlanners.com with email and Twitter ID to attend and be eligible for the prize.
Special Guest Industry Experts:
Britax has been a leader in mobile safety for more than 70 years, with a legacy of leadership in developing innovations that enhance the safety of child car seats and improve their ease of installation and use.
JPMA is a national trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry. JPMA represents 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who manufacture, import and/or distribute infant products such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, and a wide range of accessories and decorative items.
Twitter Party Information:
What is a Twitter Party?
A Twitter party is an online discussion that focuses on a few related topics. It is simple and fun to join in the conversation by posting comments or asking questions via Twitter.
How Do I Participate?
You must register by emailing Melissa@InternationalBabyPlanners.com by May 16th with your Twitter ID. If you do not have a Twitter account you can easily create one in advance by visiting www.Twitter.com.
How Do I Join In and Keep up with the Conversation?
Join the party by using TweetGrid.com and enter the hashtag #IBPABabyPlanner to join the event. A hashtag is simply the sign “#” with a name attached to it. Tweet Grid will automatically include the hashtag on your tweets after you have entered the party. You will be able to follow the tweeting discussions in real-time.
When is the IBPA “Twitter Tea Party?”
The IBPA Twitter Tea Party will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 from 7-8PM PST.
Why Should I Join in on the Fun?
The IBPA Twitter Tea Party will give you the opportunity to network with other parents, expecting couples and industry experts on child car seat safety. It will be a great chance to ask all of the questions you have about car seats and how to choose one. One lucky participant will also win a Britax Car Seat!!!!!!
IBPA “Twitter Tea Party” Rules and Regulations:
1. Be nice to other tweeters in the party! We all have opinions so let’s respect our differences and share advice.
2. This a stress free environment to tweet about important issues – relax and have fun!
3. This Twitter party giveaway is for United States and Canadian residents only.
4. You must register by May 16, 2010 via email to Melissa@Internationalbabyplanners.com with your Twitter ID and actually attend the party to be eligible to win.
5. You must be 18 years or older to participate.
6. There will be one winner randomly drawn after the party is over from the list of registered participants.
7. Winner will be notified via email via the registered email address by May 21, 2010 by a member of the International Baby Planner Association.
What is your biggest piece of advice for a new parent?
My biggest piece of advice for new parents is, they need a lot of rest and breaks. Having a new bundle of joy is so exciting but sometimes new parents new to get away for short breaks and time out to get refreshed. So where there is child minder help and family members to help with childcare they need to jump at the offer. Apart from this the next advice is having a baby is so expensive and every saved penny counts, so new parents need to cut down on unnecessary spending and save the pennies for rainy day. Going to a parenting group has a good effect on new parents, so if there are any parenting groups I advise them to join.
What qualities should an ideal baby planner have?
What qualifies an ideal baby planner is having good communication skills, being a good listener, attentive to details, equipping ones self with all latest baby and mothers news and not the least loving what you do as a baby planner.
What are your specialties as a baby planner?
My specialty as a baby planner is designing the baby rooms; apart from this I love being a personal shopper for my clients.
What is the nicest thing a client has ever said about you/your services/your business?
The nicest thing a client has said about me is am very caring and have a lot of passion in what I do. Clients have said my services are second to none and we go the extra mile for our clients.
As regarding the business in a whole some clients who have used us say they would definitely recommend us to expectant parents who have busy lifestyles.
How do you stay current on trends in the baby and child industry?
I stay current in the baby and child industry by going to all baby shows all over the world. I have been to baby shows in Germany, Spain, Turkey, Las Vegas, and China. Apart from this I read a lot of baby magazines, baby websites and join a lot of U.K baby associations which share a lot of updates on legislations and laws in the baby and child industry.
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