Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower a Big Hit with East Coast Baby Planners
If you live in NYC or likely in the tri-state area, you know all about Big City Moms. For those outside this area, an introduction: Big City Moms is the destination for moms, moms to be and families and the premiere social event group in NYC. Big City Moms was founded by sisters Risa Goldberg and Leslie Venokur six years ago.
Big City Moms and the Bump Founders
Now with over 30,000 members, an online community and events like seminars, family fun days, mommy and me classes, expectant events held every day, BCM is the place to be all over the city. Their “flagship” event is the twice- annual Biggest Baby Shower where moms-to-be can meet and greet roughly one hundred national vendors and local service providers in a couple of hours and which boasts of new mommy seminars and most talked about, highly coveted gift bags. It’s become so popular that it outgrew its original location at the American Girl Place and this was the first time it was held at the Park East Ballroom.
The event draws lots of moms, press and, this year, baby planners! Several International Baby Planner Association members were there: Premier Baby Concierge, Sweet Pea Baby Planners, Jamie the Baby Guy, and Bottles to Britches. While we speak often on conference calls and via emails, it was great to meet face-to-face, an opportunity that is usually reserved for IBPA’s annual meeting at the ABC Kids Show in Vegas!
The seminars were well-attended, the food was great, the gift bags were bursting! All in all, Big City Moms “delivered!” It was a pleasure for me to sit in on the “New York City Mom Survival Guide” seminar by the Knot and the Bump founder, Carley Roney, and to meet her afterwards. There was an excitement in the air; and it was a success for both moms and vendors. I would definitely suggest this event to all moms-to-be, as well as baby planners and vendors, who are in NYC or can make the trip.
Want to see more? Click here to check out the Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower April 2010 Video!
Ah, the gift bags!
Sweet Pea NYC and Premier Baby Concierge at BCM
Bump Founder Carely Roney and Shannon Choe (PBC)
Finding fever faster- a guide to thermometers by Desiree Miller
No need to wake a sleeping baby for a temporal, or forehead, temperature measurement.
Written By IBPA Member – Desiree Miller of Bottles to Britches
With flu fears flying around and cold season upon us, everyone is watching for symptoms like fever, especially in children. These days, there are dozens of different kinds of thermometers on store shelves, so how do you know which one is the best fit for your family? For Canton mom Therese Delashmutt, it was more a process of elimination. Her toddler Gabe doesn’t care much for the traditional thermometers. Delashmutt explains, “There was no way he’d keep a thermometer under his tongue, or his arm for that matter.” So each time Gabe got sick, Therese tried a different kind of thermometer. And she had many, many options to try, with so many on the market.
The National Institutes of Health is currently conducting a study comparing the accuracy of oral, ear and forehead, or temporal, thermometers. The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends the old-fashioned mercury models for environmental reasons. But, according to Atlanta pediatrician and AAP Spokesperson Dr. Jennifer Shu, “When it comes to digital devices, choosing one has more to do with the age of the child than the type of thermometers.”
So what works? Dr. Shu explains, “For babies under six months, the most accurate way to do it is through a rectal thermometer. A lot of parents don’t want to do that on a regular basis if the baby might not be that sick, so it’s perfectly fine to do an underarm thermometer.” However, Dr. Shu suggests you double-check an underarm reading over 99 with a rectal reading before heading off to the doctor.
If the child is older than six months you can try an ear thermometer or the temporal type. How does that work? Dr. Shu says it’s simple. “Swipe it across the child’s forehead and behind the ear and that tends to be very reliable. It’s very easy because the child doesn’t have to sit still for very long and it’s incredibly fast and painless.” That’s what worked for Therese. When he got sick recently with a stomach bug, Gabe not only sat still for the temporal reading, but according to Therese, “he even helped hold his hair up for us”.
There are other options, too. Some are strips that sit on the forehead or pacifier type models. There are even some that light up red, yellow or green for easy readings in the dark. The AAP says don’t worry if one type is a degree or two off from another method. The important part is to tell the pediatrician how the measurement was taken, with what device. Dr. Shu suggests, “Try not to do any adding or subtracting at home and we’ll just take the whole picture into account.”
But do be careful of things that will impact the information you get. For example, if your child just ate something cold or hot, the number will reflect that. Also allow for outdoor interference, especially if you use an ear thermometer right away. “Wait for about 15 minutes and let the child’s temperature warm up to the regular body temperature and the room temperature, as well,” Dr. Shu recommends.
Also keep in mind that fever doesn’t say everything when your child is sick. Take into account their changes in mood, alertness and sleeping and eating habits when you decide if your child needs a doctor.
Therese is thrilled to have an easier time of taking her son’s temperature after being sick of the added frustration of the fight to find out if he had a fever in the past. “When your kid is sick, you’re running around cleaning up after them. One less thing to worry about is awesome.”
Becoming a Baby Planner – Free Information Call on Jan. 14th, 6:30 PST
The International Baby Planner Association will be hosting a free information call for those interested in becoming a baby planner. Baby Planning is an exciting industry which serves and meets the needs of expecting and new families. We will discuss the most common questions about becoming a baby planner as well as IBPA member benefits, industry trends, manufacturer relations, baby planner certifications and have time for questions and answers. Specific topics include, but will not be limited to:
-
What is a Baby Planner?
-
History of Baby Planning and the projected future of the industry.
-
What is the IBPA/NBPA and how can they support my baby planning business?
-
What specific benefits can IBPA/NBPA give me if I become a member?
-
IBPA requirements for baby planning businesses
-
IBPA’s industry leading affiliates and partners
-
IBPA Baby Planner Certification Program
-
IBPA Manufacturer Relations Program
-
IBPA Member On-line Forum
-
How to get started
When: THURSDAY, JANUARY 14th 6:30 pm PST/9:30 pm EST
If you would like to be a part of this call, please email us.
Melissa Moog & April Beach
The GROWTH of Baby Planners & the Need for NBPA
By Melissa Moog, President of NBPA
NOTE: There is a Dec. 2nd “How to Become a Baby Planner” Information Session being hosted by NBPA. See post here for more info.
Birthing a New Industry
First, thank you for coming to NBPA’s website and reading our blog. I know if you’re reading this right now you are either interested in becoming a Baby Planner, want to get involved in networking with our Baby Planners or just curious about this new niche. As President/Founder of NBPA I decided to write this entry because I believe our audience needs to understand how far we’ve come over the last four years in growing a new niche and realize the individual, tireless efforts businesses have put into building a brand new industry overall. Because of NBPA, 2009 was a big year for Baby Planning as we reached significant milestones in the growth of our industry some of which I’ll out line in my post below. It has been a truly amazing experience as an entrepreneur to see this whole industry grow from scratch!
Before anyone came onto the map in creating an official baby planning business there were people who were already helping their family members and friends with preparing for their baby’s arrival. So, let’s make it clear that “baby planning” is not something totally new. There were just a few key people in the US and abroad several years ago who found it a perfect time to take a leap of faith first by creating an actual business plan and invested resources into birthing their individual “baby planning” companies.
As word caught on about baby planning there were more businesses launched and now we see approximately 60 businesses in the US and abroad growing baby planning. These companies, many of them you will see are members of NBPA here: http://www.nationalbabyplannerassociation.com/members.html have worked very hard to spread the word and have done well in branding their own companies as professional baby planning businesses.
Our members have compared baby planning to wedding planning which has been the easiest way to explain what we do. Instead of focusing on wedding details, baby planners are focused on all of the preparation details to help expecting couples. Some of us even focus on providing services beyond baby’s birth like baby proofing and nanny sourcing.
We can assume that back in the day wedding planning was unheard of to the average consumer. It wasn’t a mainstream service that the market demanded and now you see couples hiring wedding planners for even the smallest task like choosing the best florist or caterer. We see baby planning following that same pattern as it has taken several years for this concept to finally get noticed! Now, as we explain to our audience what we do, we often hear moms say “I wish I would of had a Baby Planner when I was pregnant. What a great idea, it would have helped me immensely!” So, the word is definitely spreading!
In a tough economy many of us are doing our best to introduce the concept of baby planners by branding and marketing our own companies so that potential clients will remember who we are when they are ready to secure our services. Ultimately, beyond launching our individual companies, April and I wanted to help grow this niche globally and created NBPA to support those businesses.
Building the Buzz
I’m proud to say that we have truly gotten this new industry of baby planning a ton of great national media exposure via NBPA. Baby planning has been written about by The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Working Mother, Pregnancy Magazine, Parenting and recently NBPA members were interviewed by The Associated Press (this article to soon publish). Additionally, baby planners have been featured on many local TV media and recently on the new Platinum Babies series airing on WeTV. All of these efforts would have not been possible if Baby Planning businesses weren’t out there trying to get the exposure, spending the investment, time and hard work at building this niche. We continue to build the buzz through our media connections for our members and the baby planning industry overall. NBPA members are growing their businesses in recognition of the baby planning niche so that consumers understand who we are and what we can do to help them during the most precious and overwhelming time in their lives, new parenthood.
Validating the Baby Planning Niche
Recently, in September NBPA was able to work with the largest baby tradeshow in the country, ABC Kids Expo by creating “Baby Planning/Baby Planners” as a business category. We were ecstatic to be able to work with ABC’s board members to get our NBPA members access to all four days of the ABC tradeshow. This was a huge step forward for baby planning as an industry and NBPA was integral in doing that.
Strong Expert Partnerships
We have also secured prominent, successful business experts and companies as speakers and partners with NBPA. Because we have strong industry relationships with key baby focused organizations and manufacturers we are able to stay on top of industry trends, laws and policies in the juvenile industry. From our partnership with JPMA (the Juvenile Product Manufacturing Association) to IAFCS (the International Association for Child Safety) we continue to build strong relationships which are key to helping our industry grow overall. Additionally, the issue of safety in children’s products and services is also paramount to NBPA’s mission in making sure we offer the best resources, experts and tools to provide the most current safety information to our members. NBPA is not only totally committed to serving the needs of our members but also dedicated to growing the baby planning niche so that we can validate the need for our services in the market.
Baby Planner Certification
We qualify each of our members through an in depth one on one interview, application and reference checking process which is the first phase of NBPA’s certification process. We are also in the midst of rolling out a more comprehensive Baby Planner certification program which will be available to all professional businesses should they decide to join NBPA.
The need for a complete Baby Planner certification program has always been at the heart of what our association stands for because NBPA wants only the most qualified, experienced and credible baby planners as part of our membership. NBPA feels that we’ve come a long way in helping grow the industry and we finally have enough members to voice their input and help us create a valuable and credible Baby Planner certification program that is truly representative of our industry as a whole. Additionally, with the certification of a Baby Planner’s skills it assists NBPA in protecting all of the expecting and new families that we serve all over the world so that they receive professional, high quality service.
One Common Goal
NBPA’s membership consists of independent businesses in the baby planning field who are all working towards one common business goal to make “baby planning/baby planners” a household name so that we can all be successful, financially thriving businesses. At the same time we place the utmost importance in creating a legitimate and credible industry of Baby Planning professionals who are providing the best service possible to their customers. I have always believed in the statement “a rising tide raises all boats” and that is truly what NBPA is trying to do. We are establishing an industry and raising awareness thereby creating a market need which ultimately raises the tide for Baby Planners so that we can all be successful!
If after reading this post you have questions or feedback about NBPA please email me at: melissa@nationalbabyplannerassociation.com. I would be happy to connect with you! We also have an Introduction to Baby Planning session scheduled Dec. 2nd so if you’re interested in learning more about NBPA please join us. You can email me with your interest in attending.
Do You Want to Be a Baby Planner? Find Out How…
The National Baby Planner Association will be hosting a free information call for those interested in becoming a baby planner. Baby Planning is an exciting industry which serves and meets the needs of expecting and new families. We will discuss the most common questions about becoming a baby planner as well as NBPA member benefits, industry trends, manufacturer relations, baby planner certifications and have time for questions and answers. Specific topics include, but will not be limited to:
-
What is a Baby Planner?
-
History of Baby Planning and the projected future of the industry.
-
What is the NBPA and how can they support my baby planning business?
-
What specific benefits can NBPA give me if I become a member?
-
NBPA requirements for baby planning businesses
-
NBPA’s industry leading affiliates and partners
-
NBPA Baby Planner Certification Program
-
NBPA Manufacturer Relations Program
-
NBPA Member On-line Forum
-
How to get started
When: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2nd 6:00 PST/9:00 EST
If you would like to be a part of this call, please email us.
Melissa Moog & April Beach
Watch us on TV: LizzieBtv Interviews the National Baby Planner Association at ABC Kids Expo
We were very excited about the opportunity to interview with LizzieBtv at ABC Kids Expo and explain how Baby Planning is helping new parents.
LizzieBtv Interviews Nat’l Baby Planners Association from LizzieBtv on Vimeo.
Baby Planners Make a Grand Statement at ABC Kids Expo 2009!
By Melissa Moog, President & Founder of NBPA
It was an exciting time for our NBPA Baby Planners this year at ABC Kids Expo since we were able to attend all four days of the event. Not to mention the category “baby planners” is now an officially recognized profession by ABC which NBPA helped to get approved with ABC’s board. This was a huge step for the baby planning industry because we are now recognized as true professionals by the largest baby product tradeshow in the nation, hooray! With over 30+ credible baby planners in the USA and abroad NBPA continues to grow the baby planning industry as a whole and has set THE standards for our profession since 2007.
While at ABC our Baby Planners blanketed the show floor and met with exhibitors who gave us a personalized demo of their latest products. We also got a peek of new product lines launching in 2010. There was definitely a dominant theme focusing on “child safety” from Brenda Berg’s (Vice Chair of JPMA) safety seminar to Dr. Greene speaking on Raising Baby Green – safety and non-toxic living were top of mind! NBPA Baby Planners were proud to be part of another fantastic ABC Kids Expo and we look forward to 2010!
Miscarriage – The Mourning After
By Kelly Glorioso, Wednesday’s Child Baby Planning
Miscarriage can be a very difficult thing to talk about. Even more, it can be one of the most difficult things a woman has to face. Statistics show that 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage – meaning they terminate before the 20th week. Some experts say that the percentage can be closer to 50% if it includes early miscarriages that happen before a woman realizes she is pregnant.
I know first-hand how difficult a miscarriage can be as I suffered through one almost 2 ½ years ago. Here’s my story: My husband and I arrived at my obstetrician’s office for our first sonogram. We watched the screen. I could see it – my little baby and the little blinking speck that was the heartbeat. No matter how many pregnancies you have I don’t think you ever tire of that miraculous site! I was filled with joy. My joy was soon hampered when my doctor told me that my baby was measuring a bit small for the due date. Being pretty certain of the time of conception this confused me a bit. My doctor said that he wanted us to come back in two weeks to re-measure and see how the baby measures at that time. Two weeks seemed like forever! Thanksgiving was right around the corner and my next sonogram appointment was scheduled for the Tuesday prior to the holiday. On that Tuesday we arrived at the doctor’s office a bit apprehensive and a bit excited. After all, maybe just maybe we could get a glimpse at the gender by now if things were measuring correctly. I went through the routine of discussing my horrible morning sickness, having my blood pressure taken, and my urine checked. Then it was back to the room for the second sonogram. Here we go… I switched back and forth looking from the sonogram screen to my doctor’s face. I kept staring at that darn screen. Why were they having so much trouble finding my baby this time? Where is that little blinking of the heartbeat? I gave another glance to my doctor’s face as he turned to me to say, “We cannot find a heartbeat. You’ve had what we call a failed miscarriage. Your baby died but your body doesn’t know it yet”. My thoughts started whirling. I started crying heavy tears. I wanted to yell, “Look harder! Look again! Don’t stop looking until you find it! It’s there, I know it’s there!” How can this happen and I not be aware of it? The doctor continued and said that he would schedule a D&C for the day after Thanksgiving. Really? The day after Thanksgiving? I can truly say that nothing has ever quite rocked my world like the events of that day and the next couple of days to come. How were we going to share this with our children at home? They were so excited about another baby. How do you explain this kind of thing to such sweet innocent children? Well you do it. You do it because you have no choice. I can’t even remember the exact words that I said to them. I do remember the two older boys crying. I remember the younger of the two of them asking me, “Why did the baby have to die?” I had no answer to that. I had miserable morning sickness all throughout the Thanksgiving dinner. Man, my body really didn’t know what was going on, did it? I went in for the D&C the next morning. Awakening from that procedure knowing the pregnancy was officially over and my baby was officially gone was almost more than I could bear. I went home and rested in the days following. My husband and I cried together a few times. Each day following the loss seemed full of sadness. A few weeks later I had phoned my aunt who is a midwife to ask her how much sadness was “normal”. I told her the extent of my sadness and she assured me that what I was experiencing was the normal grieving process for the loss I had experienced. My heart was broken. I had lost something that was not possible to get back. A child. A baby that I had loved from the first moment of the knowledge of my pregnancy. He was to be a namesake to my father-in-law whom we just lost a month prior as the doctor confirmed that I was carrying a boy. I can’t explain the depth of the pain. I truly feel this is one of those times that unless you go through it you can’t possibly understand it. I chose to openly deal with my grief. I decided that it was okay for me to miss my baby. I also decided that we would take measures to remember the baby that we lost. We went ahead and gave him a name. At Christmas we placed a cross, which had his name painted on it, on the Christmas tree. On my original due date for him I wrote him a letter and placed it in a frame with his first sonogram picture which hangs at the end of our hallway. My family and I decided to remember him lovingly as the son, brother and grandson that he would have been had he come full term. We let ourselves love him and remember him freely. This is how we chose to deal with our grief. It never gets “easier” but loving him freely has helped me get through the grieving process.
I learned a lot during this process that I may have been blind to otherwise that I think would be helpful to share. First of all, a lot of well-meaning people say a lot of things that they believe will make you feel better. These comments may include: “It just wasn’t meant to be”, “at least you have other children”, “It was just nature’s way of dealing with a baby that had a problem”, etc. Unfortunately, none of these comments make you feel better. In fact, they can make you feel angry. There really isn’t a “right” thing to say. Just being there for someone without saying anything is probably best. Also, allow yourself whatever time you need to grieve. You are grieving a loss and the mourning process may not only mean sadness but also anger, guilt, and depression. It is important to stay in touch with your doctor and discuss your feelings with him/her as they may need to give you a referral for therapy or suggest a bereavement group. Also, if you feel commemorating your baby, giving he/she an identity and a memorial of any kind – even if it’s just an ornament on your Christmas tree, do so. Everyone deals with grief differently and that’s okay.
Oh My, So Many Strollers…
By Heather Mackan, 9 Months to Planet (Baby Planning & Gear Specialists)
I’ve owned my share of strollers…22 to be exact. I have owned Graco, Baby Jogger, Inglesina, Zooper, Baby Planet, Mutsy, Maclaren, Phil & Ted’s, and now the Micralite. Some have stayed in my stable for weeks and even months, and others have gone out the same day the UPS man brought them to my doorstep. No, this does not mean that I am crazy, but instead a dedicated Mom trying to find the right stroller that works; just like you! The revolving stroller door in my house has given me the inside track on the do’s and don’ts when it comes to strollers.
The list of strollers to choose from is endless for new parents. There are lightweight, full-size, all-terrain, joggers, twins/doubles, sit and stands, side by sides, triples, mid-size, tandems, and of course my least favorite travel systems. While the travel system can serve its purpose I feel most new parents buy a travel system simply because they are not given the opportunity to see what is available. And yes, the Graco Metrolite travel system was the first stroller I ever purchased for my son. Looking back…if someone would have pointed out to me that there was a whole world of strollers out there waiting for me to discover instead of the 5 or so brands at my local big box baby retailer; I would and could have purchased something different.
While a travel system may seem like the wonderful happy answer to your prayers it really is just a simple solution for many parents, and you most likely think this is what you should buy. The deal with a travel system is that you get a stroller and an infant car seat with a base for one low price, and that is really where the deal ends. Many new parents get hung up on the big baskets, snack trays, and parent cup holders that come with them when there should be more to your decision making process than that.
One place I think new parents fail to ask themselves when choosing a stroller is how will they actually be using their stroller. Here is a list of some questions you should ask yourself when choosing a stroller:
- What are you going to use the stroller for? Jogging/Running, Walking, Mall Cruising, Outdoor festivals, etc.
- What type of city do you live in? Urban, Suburbs, Country, etc.
- What terrains you will be pushing your child over? Grass, Sidewalks, Cobblestones, etc.
- Are you interested in a bassinet/carrycot option?
- What style stroller are you looking for? Lightweight, All-Terrain, Full-Size, 3-wheeler, Jogger, Twin/Double, Side by Side, Tandem, One that can accommodate a second rider, Snap n’ Go, etc.
- Do you prefer one handed steering?
- What kind of recline?
- What type of wheels? Pneumatic, EVA, Plastic, etc.
- Color? Solids, Patterns, Sporty, Funky, Stylish, Designer
More stroller shopping tips:
- If you are going to jog or run while pushing your stroller it is not recommended that you jog/run with an infant under 6 months of age, and some argue children under 12 months because of the increased risk of Shaken Baby Syndrome. While many swivel wheeled air tire strollers can handle light jogging when the front wheel is locked; I recommend a fixed wheel with at least a 16” size wheel.
- Why use a bassinet or carrycot? The infant car seat was never meant to be used for long periods of time. There is research that shows your baby can develop breathing problems from the angle at which they sit in their infant car seat. It is perfectly safe for them to ride in the seat in the car, but definitely was not intended to be used in place of a crib or for somewhere to stroll around for hours while you shop. A bassinet or carrycot is one of the best options; however, a completely reclined stroller seat with an insert will work well too.
- Keep in mind things like footmuffs, parent consoles, snack trays, cupholders, stroller hooks, and liners can all be purchased separately from many different retailers.
- I am all for helping the environment and recycling, but…If you are buying a pre-owned stroller carefully inspect every inch of the stroller for defects, and check for things like 5 point harnesses, and if there have been any recalls before you purchase.
- If you are on a budget, yet want a fantastic ride for your little one; all kinds of deals can be found by searching Craigslist, Ebay, Consignment Shops, and different stroller groups found on many online resources. And if the sky is the limit don’t forget you can always import a great European Pram too if you can’t find something you like here. So…go online, do your research, be informed, and when all else fails call a Baby Planner!
Below you will find a list of some GREAT Stroller Manufacturers:
Adventure Buggy Company
Baby Jogger
Baby Planet
BebeConfort
BebecarBOB Gear
Bugaboo
Bumbleride
Chicco
EasyWalker
Emmaljunga
GT Baby – I’coo & Rock Star Baby
Inglesina
Kelty Kids
Joovy
Maclaren
Maxi-Cosi
Micralite
Mountain Buggy
Mutsy
Orbit Baby
Peg Perego
Phil & Ted’s
Quinny
Silver Cross America
Stokke
Stroll-Air
Teutonia
UppaBaby
Valco
Baby Planner 101: Post Natal Services
By Shannon Choe, Premier Baby Concierge
If you’re familiar with baby planners, you know that they offer services to expectant parents as they prep for baby’s arrival: Baby Registry, Nursery Design, Personal Shopping, and Nanny Sourcing to name a few. You may not be aware that they offer a variety of help for after delivery as well.
Looking back, how I would have loved for someone to have prepared meals delivered to my door once we returned from the hospital! Or to help me get my birth announcements out! My first child was over three months old when I finally got around to sending announcements. The thing of it is that I’ve always been an organized person, but I didn’t expect to need a Master Plan just to get a shower in each day, forget finding time for a project!
Enter the baby concierge who can help parents adjust to their new “norm” by offering some direction and assistance. She has expectations of what your potential needs may be, and is ready with a list of local contacts to meet them. Baby planners can find classes or breastfeeding resources in your area, run errands, baby proof your home, teach you how to make and store your own baby food, etc. This help can be priceless to someone who doesn’t have family nearby to lend a hand or whose friends can’t offer advice because they don’t have young kids. Some baby planners are even available by phone or email for a period after the baby is born to field questions on baby products or to provide you with research on various topics like vaccinations or sleep issues.
Best of all, whether you plan ahead or the need arises suddenly, whether you need help with it all or just with say, baby proofing, a baby planner can help. Most offer set packages or the opportunity to design your own.
Connect with Us!
Recall Finder
Keywords (eg, brand + item)