Sweet Pea Baby Planners Blog

We're moving

The silence on this blog may have been noticeable, my apologies. We are in the process of moving our blog home to a new location.  Your patience is appreciated, and frustration understood.  Presently brewing on our new blog are Baby Celebration favorites, essential new mom tips, hot new reviews, exciting company news and strategic new partnerships.   I can't wait for you to see it and know that it is worth the wait. 

Sweet Pea walks the "Red Carpet"

This week Sweet Pea Baby Planners sponsored the From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner in Los Angeles.  The event was hosted by Celebrity Nursery Designer and Baby Lifestyle Expert, Jayneoni Moore with special guest host Celebrity Mommy and Actress, Ali Landry.  Jayneoni is the founder of Breakfast Club Mommies, a posh social club for moms and moms-to-be, and is known for throwing chic baby events in Hollywood.  The guests were a mix of new moms and moms-to-be looking for the best of the best in baby gear.  The highlight of this event was a presentation of some of the very best baby and toddler products, which were then raffled off at the end.  Every mom left with a bag full of goodies, a sweet gift certificate for our luxurious baby planning services and one of the featured products.  Some of the very best gear was featured, including Orbit, Britax, Boon, Maclaren, Fleurville, Medela, Svan and many, many more.  The event was very informative and a whole lot of fun!  Thanks to Jayneoni and everyone who contributed to this very special event, every mom left feeling like a star.

 

Baby Celebration Favorites, as promised.

What a wonderful weekend. Sweet Pea Baby Planners' Los Angeles and Denver offices had a great time browsing the isles of Baby Celebration LA, looking for great new products and services for our clients.  Additionally, I was pleased to represent the National Baby Planner Association as the VP and Director of Manufacturer Relations.

Here are some highlights from the weekend with favorites to come...

We had a great time meeting with other California baby planners, reviewing products and eating!  I have never eaten so much! When in LA... eat at The Original Pantry. As promised, we'll deliver our show favorites one by one soon.   Enjoy! 

 

The moment of motherhood

When do you actually become a mother?  When is it appropriate to celebrate Mother's Day?

At Sweet Pea Baby Planners, we believe that motherhood begins at moment one.  The moment you see the positive pregnancy test, the moment you decide to adopt a child and begin preparing, the moment the gifted surrogate agrees to help, the moment you marry a man with children? YES, all of these moments begin your motherhood journey. You become a mother the moment you know that a child is entering your life.  Preparations, questions and excitement all come along with the beginning of motherhood. 

So, to all you beautiful women out there, expecting, preparing, waiting and holding children in your hearts... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! This day is for you too. 

Private media event sponsored by Sweet Pea Baby Planners~

If you're a member of the media or retail buyer in Colorado, this is the place to be.  Sweet Pea Baby Planners is proud to sponsor a Congrats From Colorado Private Event in a showroom filled with local products for moms, dads, infants and kids. For an exclusive invitation to this event, contact Congrats from Colorado.

Baby Celebration Los Angeles 2009!

Sweet Pea is looking forward to making a splash at Baby Celebration Los Angeles next weekend.  This unique show highlights the latest in baby and new mama finds and treasures in Los Angeles and beyond.  Erin (LA Consultant) and I will be attending both days.  If you plan to visit this show and would like to connect with us, we would love it. Additionally, as the Director of Manufacturer Relations for the National Baby Planner Association, I will be on the hunt for unique and fabulous new products.  Check back in May for my list of top 10 Baby Celebration favorites (though there may be more than 10). 

Rocket Fuel Chemical In Infant Formula

April 2009.  The CDC reports that 15 major brands of infant formula contain perchlorate, a chemical found in rocket formula. The CDC did not disclose which formula brands contained this chemical.  (I highly recommend contacting your baby formula manufacturer immediately.) The concern is that when infant formula is mixed with tap water which contains unsafe levels of perchlorate, the mix would be beyond toxic! Last fall, the dangers of perchlorate in drinking water were declared no threat by the Bush administration who had been lobbied by defense, aerospace and chemical industries for release from the responsibility of cleaning up spills and toxic waste. Since, new EPA administrator Lisa Jackson vows to immediately reduce perchlorate in drinking water.  This would potentially decrease the danger levels for formula fed babies, though we believe that all perchlorate levels are toxic.

Read the entire article from the Environmental Working Group

What do you do now?  For the time being, we recommend that you mix powdered formula with a safe water source.  Contact your pediatrician with all concerns and questions.

Read more about the EPA and perchlorate responsibility and clean up
Read more about the Bush administration and perchlorate
State by State reports on water quality

Working Mother Magazine features Baby Planners

Working Mother Magazine featured an article on Baby Planners in their March 2009 issue.  As a business that specializes in serving executive and busy moms, we are so grateful for the continued recognition of our new niche. Read more at WORKING MOTHER.  Thanks, Working Mother!

Thank you to everyone!

Thank you to everyone who supported us in the Leading Moms In Business Competition for 2009!  We won't know the results for a few weeks, but feel very loved! We only entered the contest two weeks ago, while all other businesses had been battling for months.  In those two weeks, we received hundreds of votes, launching us very close to the top.  I am so appreciative for those who recognized Sweet Pea Baby Planners as the baby planning industry leader and who realize the need for such a revolutionary service.  It is confirmed once again that Sweet Pea Baby Planners and Concierge is loved by so many and we truly appreciate all of your support! I am humbled and grateful. 

Sincerely,

April Beach, Founder & CEO

 

We are pleased to welcome our new potty training and sleep expert!

After searching for the perfect person to serve our clients, we are pleased to introduce Sweet Pea's new potty training and baby sleep expert!  This special woman fits perfectly with Sweet Pea's mission; empowering parents to make the best decisions for themselves and for their children and supporting them in doing so.  Janeen Hayward is passionate about supporting families and we are excited for her to join the Sweet Pea team of  baby planning mamas.

Janeen Hayward is the Founder of Swellbeing, a parenting resource firm based in New York City.  She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in the states of New York and Illinois and certified Gottman Educator. She graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology with a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology. In graduate school, Janeen counseled children and adolescent survivors of sexual abuse, many of whom were teen parents. Upon graduating, she directed a training program for graduate students in clinical psychology at a grade school in Chicago, offering play therapy and group counseling to school-aged children. After working in that school-based program for three years, she moved to New York City and has been working with new and expecting parents on infant and toddler sleep issues and adjusting to new parenthood, ever since. She is the proud mother of a daughter and a Sweet Pea Baby Planners expert.