Photo: © Jeff the Trojan / FlickrBefore my daughter was born, I spent countless hours browsing baby products in stores, trying to decide what to register for and what to buy. I remember hobbling home, sore and exhausted, half wishing that someone could do the shopping for me.
Eight years later, you actually can hire a baby planner, also called a pre-baby consultant, to make your prenatal preparations a little less overwhelming. Parents-to-be in major cities across the U.S. are paying baby planners $50-$150 or more per hour for classes, product advice, baby registry assistance, baby shower planning and referrals to other local services such as pediatricians, and child care providers.
I can see how these services would be handy for moms who are on bed rest during their pregnancies. Beyond that, though, I'd say this falls squarely into the luxury, not requirement, category.
What do you think? Have you used a baby planner? Are there any circumstances for which you would hire a baby planner?
I can’t see myself spending money to have someone do those things for me. First because I’m cheap, but also because there are resources available to find what I want on my own. I liked figuring out my baby registry. Is that crazy?
I really enjoyed getting to do all these things when I had my son. Sure there was a downside, but I loved it. I’ve only had one child so far so this may change, but I don’t think I would hire someone. This is probably for those people that aren’t and don’t plan to be very involved in their child’s life. I think hiring someone else provides a disconnect between you and your child’s needs. Just my opinion.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Amy. I’ve been discussing the baby planner topic with my husband and we both feel like this is something that would go over a lot better in big cities versus smaller towns. I’ve asked a few people locally, and none of them would hire someone. My friends who live in bigger cities seem more open to the idea.
Hello All,
I’m part owner of The Baby Designers, which is a baby planning and consulting service located in Dallas, Texas. We’ve had all types come our way looking for assistance for various reasons. We have the first time parents who have absolutely no idea about numerous products out there on the market, and would rather have professionals help them, instead of hearsay, especially with it being their first baby and all. We have the career parents, who don’t have time to put all the bits and pieces together. We have the stay at home moms, who are busy with older siblings, or just remember all the stress from the past with all the products and planning. Now we can’t forget about those grandparents that may possibly be out of sync with babies in general, or just want to reacquaint themselves with the newest items and trends. The possibilities are endless when it comes to using a baby planner. Baby consultants are used for various reasons, including luxury, however, they can definitely make your life more convenient.