The Baby Planners, Inc. Help Parents-To-Be Prepare For New Arrival

The Canadian Press:

From dazzling decor to the perfect set of wheels, Megan Greff and Simone Dahl aim to help their clients prepare for their big day in style.

But the Calgary-based duo aren’t fine-tuning details for a walk down the aisle - they’re offering a hand to parents-to-be getting ready for their new arrival.

As co-founders of The Baby Planners, Inc., a baby concierge and consulting service, Greff and Dahl are taking a page out of the wedding planner’s playbook.

But instead of place settings, floral arrangements and limos, Greff, a former kindergarten teacher, and Dahl, a bridal consultant, help expectant parents navigate through the reams of cribs, car seats, strollers and other baby-oriented products on the market to find the ones tailored to their needs.

While pregnant last year with her first child, Greff recalled how stressful the experience of seeking out baby-related products could be.

“The people who work in those stores are sometimes 15-or 16-year-old kids who’ve never had a baby and don’t know anything about babies or the equipment and supplies that you need when you do have a baby, and their knowledge is limited not only by that but the products that their store carries,” she said.

After giving birth to her son in May 2007, Greff helped a then-pregnant Dahl prepare for her baby and they were able to find items more efficiently than when she’d been shopping.

“We thought, ‘If we’re struggling with this, other people are struggling with it, too, and we thought it would be a fun way to not only help expectant parents but to have a company and to provide a unique service,” Greff said.

The pair work from Greff’s home, and conduct consultations with clients to assess their needs, whether it’s outfitting a nursery or offering suggestions on bedding, diaper bags and baby carriers. Between the two of them, they check out the latest in baby items at up to 10 stores a week.