It’s a niche still in its infancy.
According to the National Baby Planner Association, about 60 businesses in the U.S. and abroad now identify themselves as baby planning companies, reports AOL Small Business.
Within the last several years, the growth of baby planning seems to have followed the niche started by the explosion of the wedding planning industry,” says Larry Stone, author of The Safe and Sound Child. “With the increase of fertility options leading to more multiple births and adoption on the rise, there are many more new businesses geared toward helping new moms with every aspect of baby planning.”
“Every aspect” means just that. Besides what you’d expect, many baby planners offer a comprehensive list of additional services, such as baby announcements, nursery setup, going “green,” baby shower planning, new dad support, baby sleep plans, pregnancy photography, instruction in infant CPR, in-home spa services, dog walkers, birth videos, referrals to muralists and back-to-work plans for working moms.
The cost? Anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour, or hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a custom package, depending on the services purchased. “We like to say some people are happy with a map, but some people need a GPS to get where they are going — that is our service,” says Ellie Miller, co-founder with Melissa Gould of The Baby Planners LLC in Los Angeles.
Photo by redvisualg.