When I was
pregnant with my first baby five years ago, my neighbor Sheryl offered
me a list of things to buy, register for and not to bother with. The
list had various tidbits from “don’t buy bibs, you’ll get a million of
them at your shower” to “make sure you have nipple soothies in the
fridge just in case.” Just in case for what?! (I soon found out.)
I’ve since
amended Sheryl’s no-frills Word doc list for my friends, adding my own
insight on booster seats vs. high chairs and my research on the safest
car seats (they aren’t always the most expensive). The list is now
outdated again, due to the flux of designer strollers, toxic baby
bottles and the much better color selection of baby linens out there.
Who knew Sheryl was onto something? On the front page of the Syracuse Post-Standard’s Life and Leisure section yesterday, there was a story on baby planners.
Think wedding planner but baby planner: Someone to help you sort
through the choices and register for the best stroller, car seat, crib,
high chairs and feeding accessories for your lifestyle. (At the risk of
sounding like a total sell-out, there are better strollers for the city
vs. the 'burbs).
Baby planners
can consult on anything from selecting a pediatrician to nursery design
to finding the best baby photographer. According to the article, Melissa Moog, founder of Itsabelly: Baby Concierge, found out about other baby planners via CoolMomPicks.com, which led her to form the National Baby Planner Association, comprised of 14 members.
What would
you want to ask a baby planner if you had one at your disposal? (Rates
start at 75 dollars for an hour phone consultation.) What are some of
your favorite products? The ones you can live without?
One more tip from Sheryl: Bring a bottle of champagne to the hospital.