International Baby Planners

Supporting Baby Planners Across the World

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FAQ

Quite often, we are asked some very good questions about IBPA so we decided to share some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) here. We have also provided IBPA’s business standards , the definition of a baby planner, limitations and our position on certification programs.

Interested in Becoming a Baby Planner?

If you’re interested in becoming a baby planner there are a few IBPA approved companies who can provide you with expert training, consulting and products. Please contact becomeababyplanner@gmail.com for more info.

If you have other questions not reflected on this page please email us at: info@internationalbabyplanners.com.

IBPA’s Business Standards

The core of International Baby Planners Association’s (IBPA) business operations includes partnering with baby planners from across the world in their journey of supporting new parents throughout the process of pregnancy, birth, and ultimately, parenthood as a whole.  International Baby Planners Association™ intends to:

  • Continually maintain up to date information on juvenile product safety guidelines
  • Network with a community of professional baby planning businesses on a global level
  • Partner with key national experts and educators

The vision for International Baby Planners Association™ is rooted in the fundamental principles of building strong core values, embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, and supporting professional consultants in the baby planning industry.  Through this, we will increase the value of our business and global portfolio, with the goal of continually leading the market as the most reliable and effective baby planning trade association.

IBPA’s Baby Planner Description

A baby planner will provide an expectant or new parent the best guidance possible tailored to their personal needs, lifestyle and budget. A baby planner will also provide the most current information and resources available, which can include but is not limited to:

  • Baby gear, furniture, and product consultation
  • Sourcing and qualifying the best pre- and post-natal care
  • Finding and pre-screening the most appropriate “credentialed” lactation consultants, doulas, midwives, childcare providers, nutritionists and other professionals
  • Birth planning
  • Nursery design
  • Assessing home environments for childproofing purposes

IBPA and Baby Planner Limitations

Unless proven documentation showing licensing or certification in a medical specialty is provided, we or any of our baby planners will not claim to be medical professionals and will not seek to provide medical advice to clients.   While some baby planners choose to specialize in certain areas where their skills and experience are most suited, others outsource where they do not have experience or credentials to complete the task themselves.

Baby Planner Certification

Because IBPA intends its certification program to be worthy of national and international recognition, it will only be launched once we are confident it accurately represents what baby planners should know as professionals.  It is important to note that IBPA believes any certification program must be validated by well known key industry experts and approved by a nationally known standards body. We are happy to report over the last four years as the first baby planning trade association, IBPA has played an integral part in providing exposure of the importance of the baby planning profession.  We will continually seek to earn the recognition our industry deserves with the goal of propelling the baby planning profession to the forefront of the business world.

FAQ #1 – Why was IBPA created?

 

IBPA was established to set industry standards, share best practices, be current on juvenile product safety guidelines and network amongst a community of professional baby planning businesses globally.  It was also created to bring exposure to a growing profession who’s primary focus is to help new families prepare for their baby’s arrival and beyond. Additionally, IBPA has also partnered with key national experts (via our Trusted Advisors Board) as well as educators to share their valuable knowledge with our members thus providing professional development opportunities.

FAQ #2 – Who Can Apply for IBPA Membership? How much does it cost to join IBPA? What do my annual fees pay for?

IBPA accepts applications from already established Baby Planning businesses. At minimum, we require that your business be in existence for at least 2-3 months and that you have a professional website in place before applying for membership. These minimum requirements helps IBPA make sure you’ve already launched your business successfully and are ready to network with our established network of professional baby planners globally.

The cost is only $50 annually to join as a Premier Member (as a Premier Member, you must be 100% focused on baby planning in what your company offers). Your fees pay for our overhead costs to run the association, marketing expenses and includes the administrative work to help run our programs. IBPA was not set up as a profit center and we charge minimum fees just to pay for basic costs in order to keep the association running. Our goal is to sustain a growing association within this new industry so that we can offer valuable benefits and resources to our members at a very affordable cost.

FAQ #3 – What Benefits to IBPA Members Receive?

The primary goal of the IBPA is to provide you with access and exposure to fellow Baby Planners, current industry trends, industry experts and media outlets. Additionally, IBPA features our members on the membership page, as Baby Planner Business of the Month and on Social Media. IBPA also believes it is critical to provide our members with professional development opportunities to be the best Baby Planner you can be through informational seminars, training and exposure to best practices from nationally recognized experts and educators. IBPA also believes it is vital that baby planners provide the correct and most current information to their customers especially when it affects child safety. So, we’re committed to bringing in the most appropriate education to our members so we can arm them with the knowledge and tools they need to be most successful.

FAQ #4 – How are IBPA Officers Chosen?

IBPA was created as an LLC and officers are employees. IBPA is not a non-profit organization. Our officers have a set term which can be renewed at the end of contract. We are extremely grateful that all of our officers are committed to growing IBPA on their own time and investment. Our officers have helped the baby planning industry to get significant professional exposure over the last four years. They have also dedicated their time to run IBPA’s programs despite their already busy schedules as moms, wives and entrepreneurs.

FAQ #5 – How Does IBPA Handle Media Inquiries?

All media inquiries normally go through the President or Vice President of IBPA as it is the natural process for the media representative to contact the head of any business. IBPA always encourages access to any of our Baby Planning members for media interviews. Quite frequently, media representatives will ask IBPA for region specific baby planners as they are interested in doing a story that reflects how the industry is growing in a certain city. We happily represent our entire baby planning businesses equally and share media opportunities as they arrive.

FAQ #6 – If I’m a manufacturer or service provider how can I join the Manufacturer Relations Program (MAR)?

MAR is a great way to access our directory of baby planners and their specialties to help market as well as promote their products or services. Companies can reach out to our baby planners to perform product reviews, participate in promotional events and help in their marketing efforts. See our Affiliate program here: http://internationalbabyplanners.com/affiliates/.

FAQ #7 – Do you have a certification program or training available for Baby Planners?

IBPA takes creating a certification program extremely seriously and will only launch it once we feel completely confident that it is representative of what we believe baby planners should know as professionals. IBPA wants our program to be truly worthy of national and international recognition. Currently, IBPA believes that the baby planning industry is still so new and it will take some time before baby planners truly get recognition for the important work we do. However, we’re happy to report over the last four years that IBPA has played an integral part in giving the baby planning profession significant exposure and we’ll continue to do so to keep earning the recognition our industry deserves.

FAQ #8 – If I want to become a Baby Planner how can IBPA help me?

Yes, there are some IBPA members who can help you launch your baby planning business or you can apply to be a baby planner for a specific company. As an example, our members Bottles to Britches, Itsabelly Baby Planners and Sweet Pea Baby Planners offer several options to help you become a baby planner. However, we encourage you to do your research of the baby planning industry thoroughly to help you determine which resources fit your needs best in launching your business successfully!

FAQ #9 – Is there a baby planner already in my city? How many baby planners make up your membership?

This information is included in this section of our website: Members Page

FAQ #10 – I’m not 100% dedicated to offering baby planning as part of my services as I’m mainly employed in a different profession. (Example: I’m a doula who’s business works on baby planning only 30% of the time.) Can I still join IBPA?

Yes, we’re honored that you would join IBPA! Since IBPA’s inception we have received many inquiries from businesses outside of the baby planning field that are interested in joining our great network and want to reap in its benefits. Therefore we’ve created a membership category just for you, the Associate Membership. You can check our policy here on how to apply for Associate Membership.