Premier Baby Concierge Blog

The PBC blog has moved!

Please visit us at our new address!  http://premierbabyconcierge.com/blog/

Speed dating to find a babysitter or nanny? Yep!

Sounds nutty... and brilliant, right?  It is!  Premier Sitter Services hosts Sitter Events bringing a room full of parents and experienced, available sitters together to meet via mini speed interviews.  One night; 4 minute interviews. 

Forget job postings and emails back and forth, interviewing people in your home and taking up lots of valuable time.  Come to one Event and meet up to 20 sitters.  Leave with a Sitter Directory with contact info, availability and work experience of each sitter you just met.  No background checks are done before the Events; PSS brings everyone to the Event, but parents are responsible for interviewing and screening sitters, and then paying them directly.

When we introduced these Sitter Events last Spring, we had awesome response.  Moms and sitters were thrilled to meet great people and lots of matches were made! 

Our first Event of the season is May 20th At Paoli Design Center.  Cupcakes Gourmet is providing the yummy snacks and we're bringing the coffee!  Channel 6 will be there to cover the action and we want you, too!  The first 10 parents to register for each event get 50% off the registration fee, making it just $50!

For more details on this fun and efficient way to meet your next sitter, visit www.premiersitterservices.com.

 

On the 10! Show: Show mom the love with these great baby gear choices!

 

Shannon Choe, founder of Premier Baby Concierge, brought some great baby gear selections and possible Mother's Day gifts to the 10! Show.   
Did you miss it?  Check out the video and specific product info below!

·   Medela Freestyle Breastpump: Medela Freestyle is the first rechargeable, hands-free, double-electric breastpump to allow moms to get more milk in less time.

·   Britax Chaperone Infant Seat and Stroller: Britax Chaperone Travel Collection includes an infant carrier and stroller, which work seamlessly together to marry advanced safety with ease-of-use features.

·   BabyBjörn Comfort Carrier: The new BabyBjörn Comfort Carrier features an adjustable, ergonomic waist belt that distributes the child’s weight to the wearer’s hips, so parents can carry older and heavier children more comfortably.

·   MD Moms Baby Silk Sunscreen Towelettes, Diaper Rash Cream and Cleansing Towelettes: MD Moms help moms keep babies soft, clean and protected with Baby Silk Sunscreen Towelettes, soothing Diaper Rash Cream and gentle Cleansing Towelettes.

• Bébé au Lait Nursing Cover: Bébé au Lait’s award-winning nursing covers, now available in more than 15 signature prints, let moms nurse discreetly and fashionably in public.

Happy Healthy Mom Fair at Ikea in Philadelphia on May 8th. Mark your calendars!!!

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY EVENT PLANNERS DUE TO INSURANCE WOES.  NEW DATE & LOCATION TBD...

Premier Baby Conicerge will join IKEA South Philadelphia in a unique family event designed especially for new and expecting moms!

Saturday, May 8, 2010 - 11:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Meet "mompreneurs" at the Happy & Healthy Mom Fair and interact with local service providers and find resources that will make your busy life a little easier. Admission is FREE and includes a fabulous goodie bag filled with samples!

In 15-minute workshops you can learn how to make organic baby food, create baby videos at home, and so much more!

Premier Baby Concierge will offer a seminar on Baby Planner Tips for Creating Your Registry and will have some awesome raffle prizes to give away!  Stop by our table to say hello and to register to win!

Confirmed participants: BellyButtonBoutique.com, Before, During & After Doula Care, Premier Baby Concierge & Premier Sitter Services, Linda Morrow Photography, ModernMeBaby, Nick Townsend Makeup, Mama's Little Helper, Nutritionist Chrissy Fink, K. Fonville Culinary Designs, Hot Mama Gowns, Kt Steppers, LLC, Belmama and Cherub, Maternity and Post Delivery Chiropractor Ohm Chiro, Nurture, BabyMeTV.com, BeautiControl, Placenta Encapsulation Specialist Amy Borrelli.

On the 10! Show with First Birthday Tips

Premier Baby Concierge offers party planning services for baby showers, first birthdays, you name it!  We love to work with families to create events that match their style and surprise them with personalized touches!  Today Shannon took some tips and products for First Birthdays on the 10! Show.

Fuzzy Me  sells the most awesome, unique tutus, "1" onesies, crowns, bibs and so much more!  Forgot to mention on the show that a local mom/ business woman is behind these beautiful creations!  She's offer 10! Show visitors 15% off with the code:  the ten show.

 

Amy Hetrick, another local mom and business woman, is the creative force behind Cake Walk and the beautiful and beyond delicious Birthday cakes and "smash" cakes featured on the show.  The 10! Show staff was excited that we left them for them to sample! 

 

ECHOage is an online, charity-based party planning website.  Parents can select an invitation and ECHOage collects RSVPS as well as gift money, half of which will be donated to the charity of the family's choice and the other half of which goes toward one meaningful gift for the birthday boy or girl.  Great idea!

There are a wide variety of signature frames available today.  Using one of these to have guests sign and maybe leave a comment, is a simple way to commemorate a 1st birthday party.  This is a great keepsake!

Personalized books are a great gift, but they are not all created equally!  The book Finding Featherbottom follows Felix Featherbottom and his sidekick Pierre du Pond as they race around the globe finding the letters for your child’s name.  This is such a great book with beautiful illustrations and sure to be a hit as your child grows and learns to spell his or her name!

 

Another great 1st birthday gift and keepsake is a set of handprint tins.  The Tower of Time is a set of five.

 

There are so many types of photo books these days that are available in a huge variety of sizes, prices, styles.  It's a fun tradition to start creating one for each year and really easy to personalize. 

Another awesome personalized party element is a birthday banner.  Stephanie Corfee , a local mom and artist creates canvas banners that can be used year after year.  A beautiful touch! 

Calling all NY area First Time Moms-to-be! PBC lends a hand in locating women for a new series.

MAJOR CABLE NETWORK & IRWIN ENTERTAINMENT

CURRENTLY CASTING PREGNANT WOMEN

 IN GREATER NY AREAS       

Are you a first time expectant mother? Already twittering and changing your Facebook status to report your new pregnancy?  Eager to share your stories with your friends, family and other mommy’s to be?  We want to hear from you NOW!

Vinnie Potestivo Entertainment is currently casting first time mothers-to-be for an exciting new documentary series that will provide an in depth look at the pregnancy process and what it means to be expecting for the very first time from early stages to delivery. We are looking for women who are also looking forward to interacting with other expectant mothers and swapping stories during their pregnancy and beyond.

If you are an outgoing woman early in your first pregnancy who can’t wait to show off her baby bump and eager to share the details of their experience with an audience, we want to hear from you!  

APPLICANTS MUST BE:

• Legal New York residents
• Currently 2-3 months pregnant (due in October-November)
• Located in the greater New York Area  (Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, Staten Island, Long Island, Etc.)
  

 IF INTERESTED:

If you or a family member/friend are interested, please email shannon@premierbabyconcierge.com with your Name, Age, Contact information and reasons you are interested in having your pregnancy documented for television. Please include a recent photo.

Irwin Entertainment, Inc. is a television production company founded in 2004 by John Irwin. The Los Angeles, California based company specializes in comedy, reality and live entertainment programming. Irwin Entertainment, Inc. President John Irwin spent four years producing Late Night with Conan O’Brien, two years as a producer for MADtv, and five years as Vice President of Development and Production for Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. Since forming, Irwin Entertainment has steered productions for CMT, Comedy Central, HBO and most recently VH1 documentary series about addiction, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew 1,2 & 3, Sober House 1 & 2 and Sex Rehab all starring Dr. Drew Pinsky.

Vinnie Potestivo Entertainment, Inc. (VPE) is a full service talent and casting company dedicated to finding talent solutions for a myriad of platforms including broadcast, digital and print. Founded in 2008, VPE specializes in casting and the development of long-form character-driven reality programming, celebrity-driven reality programming, host and expert casting, celebrity talent procurement, as well as branded media. Most recently, VPE produced and cast the upcoming series “Sunset Daze” set to premiere on WEtv April, 2010. 

Going Green with Baby in Mind? Premier Baby Concierge brings tips to the 10! Show.

Premier Baby Concierge was one of the first baby planning and concierge companies in the U.S.  Since 2007 PBC has been helping families of all kinds prepare for their newest additions in every way. 

Of course, many parents have questions regarding Going Green- from designing the nursery to making registry selections and deciding whether to make babyfood at home.  Founder Shannon Choe, named 2009's Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs ("Best Person to Know When You're Expecting") shared some tips on how to navigate and what to consider.

When navigating through process of making green selections for your nursery and baby registry, it's great to have a handful of trusted resources that you feel offer reliable, unbiased information to check in with and become informed about the latest issues and information available. 

A couple of PBC favorites include:  Healthy Child Healthy World and  the book, "Raising Baby Green; The Earth Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care," by Alan Greene, M.D.  

What's so important about being green?  Aside from benefits to the environment, we know that chemicals that are inhaled or touched can be absorbed and enter the bloodstream.  Studies show that there are several health impacts related to exposure to these toxins over time, such as allergies, asthma, cancers, developmental disorders, and other concerns.

Which things are important to invest in?  Based on the information available to us today, it makes sense to do our best to avoid chemicals and toxins in baby's environment and make the best selections when it comes to the things baby will breathe, ingest and/or have direct contact with.  Consider the  following types of items in our homes:

• Nursery paint- Look for non-toxic paint without Volatile Organic Compounds.  VOCs are cancer causing toxins that can emit years after drying.  Mythic Paint is a great option, with over 1200 colors to choose from.
• Household cleaning products- Look for non-toxic, environmentally safe products such as Melaleuca and Sun and Earth products.
• Feeding products (and toys!) that baby will have in his or her mouth.  There has been a lot of news (and some controversy) about bisphenol-A (BPA) in recent years.  Recently the FDA has "suggested parents minimize the BPA-based products that could make contact with foods or drinks that infants or toddlers might consume — especially hot foods and drinks" because "recent studies provide reason for some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.”

        Parents should look for feeding products, pacifiers, and toys made of BPA free                 plastics, silicone, or products made with alternatives like glass and wood or, in the             case of toys, cloth.  Check out Born Free products and for more safe options, check         in with another Premier Baby Concierge favorite, the Soft Landing.      

• Cloth diapers- Better for the environment and in some cases, much lighter on your wallet, cloth diapers offer a chemical free diaper option (depending on how they are washed).  There are so many options.  Apple Cheeks, Bumkins & Fuzzibunz to name a few.  If you are in the Philadelphia area, there are some great services to make cloth diapering as convenient as can be.  Check out Philly Diaper Service and Kinda Krunchy's cloth diapering consultation service.

• Personal care products such as soap and baby wash-  As we said, it's unfortunate that parents can't rely on labels.  According to the Environmental Working Group, '80% of children's products described as "gentle," "soothing," "hypo allergenic," and "dermatologist approved" contain ingredients linked to allergies and skin irritation.'  Unfortunately parents can be mislead by labels since manufacturers don't have to disclose all of their ingredients and the terms such as "all natural" and "eco friendly" aren't regulated, and as a result become meaningless. 

        We brought Cheeky Baby Butter and soap from Baby Bear Shop and Le Baby hair gel         to the show today, but due to time, didn't get to mention them.  Check in with          Skin Deep, the EWG's cosmetic safety database to find more safe options. 

• Crib Mattress- Babies sleep a lot and spend a lot of time on their mattress.  Most traditional mattresses have a vinyl cover with PVC, which is one of the most toxic plastics, and are foam made from petroleum with the toxic additive polyurethane.  There are some great alternatives at varying prices.  The Naturepedic No Compromise Ultra mattress is made from Certified Organic materials and has a non-toxic plastic 100% waterproof liner within.  Natural Mat offers a superior range of entirely natural, organic crib mattresses.  Natural Mat’s hand crafted mattress collection combines the finest natural and organic raw materials such as lambswool, natural rubber latex foam, coir, mohair and cotton.

Parents:  Do you have a favorite non-toxic product or resource not included above?  Let us know!

·      

        

Baby Sling & Carrier Manufacturer Press Release following CPSC warning

Baby Sling & Carrier Manufacturers Speak Out On Baby Slings Safety Warning

March 11, 2010

With the publication of an Associated Press article regarding the CPSC government warning on baby slings and the Consumers Union's concerns about "bag-style" slings, the companies co-sponsoring this release are taking a stand to help educate the public on the differences between safe vs. unsafe baby slings and carriers as detailed below.

 

The ancient practice of babywearing made its way into western culture in the 1960s and its popularity with American consumers has grown because of its vast benefits. Unfortunately, this has led to the creation of some potentially unsafe baby slings and carriers. Slings and carriers of concern are popularly categorized under the token term "bag-style" slings. In "bag-style" slings, the deep pouch where baby sits puts the baby in a potentially suffocating curved or "C" like position. Also, excessive fabric with an elasticized edge may cover baby's face, inhibiting breathing. Furthermore, the design may cause the baby's face to turn in toward a caregiver's body, potentially smothering the baby.

In contrast, shallow pouch-style slings, ring slings, mei tais and wraps hold baby in proper alignment and they fit snugly by design and instruction. They have been engineered, developed and tested by parents, often the manufacturers themselves with their own children. These carriers are often simple and without gimmicks. Dedicated and concerned manufacturers of these types of safe slings and carriers have sponsored this release.

 

Because of the popularity and gaining market share of small baby carrier companies, a few years ago the Juvenile Products Manufactures Association (JPMA) was approached by a handful of these companies asking for a standard to be created. These companies were initially alarmed by the creation of some carriers, mostly by home crafters, fashioned from materials unsuitable for baby products. Soon after, M'liss Stelzer, a pediatric nurse, did an oxygenation study discovering a potential link between infant deaths and "bag-style" style slings, therefore creating even more need for the standard as well as further study.

 

Upon this need the ASTM, an internationally recognized creator of standards for consumer products and test procedures, created a subcommittee for Sling Carrier Standards. The ASTM Subcommittee is made up of manufacturers, consumer advocates and government officials from the US and Canada including members of the CPSC. The subcommittee started writing the standard two years ago. In this time more deaths have occurred, all linked to the "bag-style" sling being reported by Jennifer Kerr, a writer for the Associated Press in the article referenced in the first line of this release. This has alerted the CPSC to take necessary action and issue this warning.

 

In well-designed products, babywearing is not only safe, but is actually very beneficial when done properly. Studies have shown that quality baby slings and carriers have been shown to save lives, improve health, decrease crying, increase IQ, and facilitate breastfeeding and bonding. For examples of these cases and further reading see "Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Tria,l" an article written by Urs A. Hunziker MD and Ronald G. Barr MDCM, FRCP(C), "Saving My Baby," a blog post written on Fierce Mama's Blog by Sarah Kaganovsky, and Dr. Maria Blois's book Babywearing.

 

Studies have also shown that worn babies are happier and spend more time in the quiet alert phase. In this phase they benefit more than their non-worn peers in language development and knowledge acquisition. Babywearing also helps babies sleep better, and physical needs, including breastfeeding, are met more quickly by a close, responsive parent. Millions of babies over time have been worn to their benefit, making baby slings and carriers more of a necessity than the often-publicized fashion accessory. (Source La Leche League International)

 

The vast benefits of babywearing should not be disregarded with the report of incidents from "bag-style" slings. The sponsors of this release make safer baby slings and carriers and have been active in the standard writing process and are dedicated to safety through engineering. "We see this as an opportunity to reach out and educate American consumers. We hope to provide valuable information allowing parents and caregivers to not only make informed buying decisions, but also to increase the awareness of how to properly wear children, especially babies, in baby slings and carriers," says Kristen DeRocha, ASTM Subcommittee Chair. The Associated Press article regarding the CPSC warning gives proof to the growing popularity of baby slings and carriers and validates the need for education.

 

Several trusted websites exist to aide in the education of babywearing for caregivers and new parents. To name a few: TheBabywearer.com, the Facebook fan page for Babywearing Safety, Mothering.com and LaLecheLeague.org.

 

This press release was sponsored by:
Hotslings, Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Wrapsody, Gypsymama, Together Be, Kangaroo Korner, Taylormade Slings, Scootababy, Bellala Baby, Catbird Baby, SlingEZee, ZoloWear, HAVA, SlingRings and Sakura Bloom.

Shannon shares tips and products on "the 10! Show" on NBC: Incorporating fitness into your daily routine

Here's Shannon discussing mom and baby tips with "10! Show" host Lori Wilson and guest, David Gregory of "Meet the Press."

It can be challenging for new and "veteran" moms alike to find time to focus on getting and staying healthy.  We all know moms are great multi-taskers, and fitness is no exception!  Moms can make the most of opportunities to incorporate fitness into their everyday lifestyle and/or find ways to include their children in their workout. 

Here are some amazing fitness products and classes to get your body in shape:

Reebok Easy Tone sneakers: With "balance pods" (strategically placed air pockets that create a natural instability for you to overcome) designed by a former NASA engineer, these sneakers help tone your legs and butt while on the go. $100-125

Strollometer:  Walk around the block, the park or the mall and keep track of your distance, speed, the temperature, etc. with this great stroller accessory.  This 8 function computer pedometer attaches to any stroller.  $39.99

Love Handles:  Turn any stroller into an elliptical trainer with this accessory. $99.99

BOB Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller:  The name in fitness strollers, BOB partnered with the country's largest mom and baby exercise program and produced the Stroller Strides Revolution.   It's a dream to maneuver with a front wheel may be fixed or swivel, which makes it extremely versatile.  It's even Graco and Peg Perego infant car seat compatible, so depending on your lifestyle, this stroller could be your only stroller.  $399

Chicks and Chickens Lullaby exercise DVD: A dance and sway workout to do at home with baby in your arms or in a baby carrier. $29.99

Swaptree.com:  Free website to join to trade DVD's, CD's, books and video games.  There are no fees to join or to trade.  Just create a login, list what you have to trade and what you'd love to find and let the computer do the rest!  Just pay shipping (usually about $2.50). 

Local fitness resources:

Belly Pilates:  The only pre- and post-natal Certified Master Pilates specialist in our area, Kelly McBride is the woman to connect with for 1:1 training, mat and reformer classes, mom and baby classes to repair your body and get your core in shape!  

One Fit Mama:  With multiple locations locally, OFM offers both stroller-based cardio and strength training workouts, as well as prenatal and mom and baby yoga classes.  Spend time with baby while getting a complete strengthening work-out for both your mind and body.

PBC Fitness Tips:

• Talk to your doctor before starting a new fitness program.  Not everyone can handle the same fitness regime and you should get the "ok" before involving baby in your workouts. 
  
• If nursing, doctors recommend that you don't "diet" in the traditional sense.  You should be taking in extra calories because you actually burn calories when nursing. Remember, whatever food and nutrients you get, baby gets.
  
• Set realistic goals for a post-baby body.  It took nine months to gain the weight, it will take time to lose it.  Remember, the main goal is to get healthy and repair any physical changes, such as diastisis, that come with the pregnancy and child birth.

Awesome Photo Canvas!

Check out this beautiful photo canvas by ChicCanvas.com!  I was contacted by a rep for the company who was interested in sending me a complimentary sample so I could see the quality first-hand and in hopes that I would share with my community. 

Brilliant move, because while I could imagine that a photo canvas would be cute (especially starring my little chicklets!) and a neat alternative to the bajillions of framed photos I've got all over the house, I was blown away by the quality and vibrant colors- especially in light of the price.  (Doesn't hurt that I sent a professional image by my favorite photog Joyce Smith !!).  Mine is a 16x20 and would've cost only $89!  But the true measure of how great these canvases are, is that my husband loves it.  (That just about never happens- he's really not easily impressed.)  He was ranting about ordering for his mom, etc., etc.  

ChicCanvas.com can turn any photo into "an artful keepsake" by reproducing it on to a gallery quality canvas (sizes from 8x10 to 40x60).  This is fun, too:  They can be personalized and stylized with captions and borders.  What a great baby gift this would make for proud new parents or grandparents.  Good thing we have lots of wall space!