We didn’t think it was possible, but the Orbit Stroller System just keeps getting better. If you’ve only seen the Orbit on the pages of People Magazine, brace yourself, these stylish, eco-friendly, and oh-so-functional strollers are quickly becoming faves of new parents everywhere. And there’s more…

Making its debut in February is the Orbit Toddler Seat. It docks onto the existing stroller (as well as the bassinet rocker), allowing the Orbit Infant System to grow with your child. Like Orbit Baby’s Infant Car Seat, the Toddler Car Seat also rotates 360˚ and locks into several different positions. There’s extensive side-impact protection and an adjustable head rest, too. Orbit also uses EPP foam, a higher grade that is softer and more durable than the standard EPS foam. C’mon, say it with us – fabulous!

As if that’s not enough, Orbit’s “green” philosophy and their commitment to using environmentally safe materials is revolutionary. We’re hopeful that other manufacturers will follow their lead. The Orbit is one of The Baby Planners Picks and we’re sure you can see why!

Living here in Los Angeles, we’re used to driving by the Hollywood studios and even spying the occasional movie star. So when we saw the production truck pull up on our street, we weren’t shocked. Until that is, we saw that it was none other than the crew from the reality show, “Supernanny.” Yup, Jo Frost was in the ‘hood. Suddenly, the neighborhood was abuzz. Who among us would willingly open their doors to show the world what goes on behind them?

While we have nothing against the show, and actually believe in Jo’s sincerity, our concern is the trend of using kids, our kids, for entertainment purposes. Our hope is that the show will be beneficial for the family in question, but our fear is that the children will be ridiculed by their peers. Not just for their own behavior but for the behavior of their parents.

We’ve all had moments behind closed doors that we’re not proud of – overreacting to a spilled cup of juice, talking on the phone instead of helping your child with their homework, yelling a bit too loud about the muddy footprints in the entryway… need we go on? But do these moments need to be magnified by television cameras and turned into fodder for reality shows? Probably not. But like the rest of the neighborhood, we’ll be tuned in.

People always want to know about our celebrity clientele. We’re discreet about our client list, however, and our policy is “go ahead and ask, but we won’t tell.” That being said, we are happy to talk about our experience with Rachael Ray. She’s not a client – she created quite the controversy when she announced a while back that she was choosing her career over having kids – but she was the first media personality interested in The Baby Planners. So interested, in fact, that she wanted to tell the world about her find – us! – which she did on her show last October.

To say our minds were blown is an understatement. She may be America’s favorite cook, but to us, she’s a total rock star! Rachael is everything she seems to be: warm, smart, gorgeous, driven and fun! She was interested and impressed (!) with all that we had to offer. Not used to being on that side of the camera, we were beyond nervous. But with her genuine interest and enthusiasm, Rachael made us feel right at home. Through our mutual respect and appreciation, we were able to talk diaper bags, car seat safety, scrap booking… oh, and the pretzel snack of the day wasn’t bad either!

They say that your whole world changes when you have a baby. And it does. Suddenly, waking up at 6am doesn’t seem so early. Leaving the house with a few stains on your shirt isn’t that big a deal, and a few cookie crumbs on the back seat of your car doesn’t send you straight to the car wash.

But who knew that the untimely death of a brilliant young actor would affect you in ways you didn’t see coming. While the world mourns the loss of Heath Ledger, and the news is filled with images of his now fatherless daughter, it is his mother who we can’t stop thinking about. Here is the son she raised. Whose diapers she changed, whose meals she cooked, whose everyday concerns were her own. All of these things, the ordinary tasks we tend to as mothers are done with the hopes of creating successful and happy children. Whatever the autopsy results may reveal, we suspect this is the hope she will cling to.

When a child loses their parents, they are suddenly considered orphans. But when a parent loses a child, there is just no word to categorize it, the pain too overwhelming. So when you hear the tragic news of Heath Ledger’s death, we don’t so much care about the how’s and why’s as we do about the mother in all of us. Because having a baby does change your world, even if it’s just how you react to what you see on the evening news.

We love our jobs as baby planning consultants partly because we get to answer all kinds of questions from clients, friends, and colleagues alike – questions that truly run the gamut on all things baby. Well, here’s a question we get asked frequently and wanted to share our answer.

Do diaper pails really work?
Yes. And no. We are happy to report that there are many fabulous diaper pails on the market and they seem to be getting better. By fabulous we mean, they really do eliminate odors and are easy to maintain. Some require brand specific bag refills which can get pricey. If you’re on a budget, you can find some good pails that use regular kitchen-sized garbage bags. If any smell is too much for you, keep in mind that a walk to the outside garbage can do the trick just as well.

If you have a baby-related product question that you’d like to send us for possible inclusion in our Ask The Baby Planners column, please contact us and mention Q&A in the subject box.

We get this question on a daily basis and by way of an answer, we wanted to share this article we wrote for one of our favorite sites. Enjoy!

Think planning a wedding was overwhelming? Try walking into a baby superstore. While the gum chewing, never-held-a-baby in his life salesperson does his best to demonstrate the proper use of infant car seats, jogging strollers, and yes, even the breast pump you’ve read so much about, you realize this isn’t the warm and fuzzy baby bonding experience you had so eagerly anticipated.

So you go home and get online. At first, every picture tells a happily-ever-after story and everything you read makes perfect sense. You breathe a huge sigh of relief. But one site soon contradicts what you loved so much about another. And who knew there were so many opinions, philosophies, and stuff dedicated to all things baby? Hundreds of clicks and one carton of ice cream later, you’ve had enough.

While your partner sleeps soundly besides you, the mound of baby books on your nightstand beckon and your ever growing to do list is keeping you awake – there’s the crib to order, the stroller to choose, the diaper bag dilemma, not to mention getting your yet-to-be-named child onto the “right” pre-school waiting lists. You’re determined not to get stressed out by the number of decisions to make but guess what, you already are. So do what every hot mom-to-be does, pick up the phone, and call a baby planner. A baby what? A baby planner.

Baby planners are relative newcomers on the baby scene yet experienced moms everywhere wish this innovative service was around when they were expecting. The best baby planners are industry insiders. Yes, it will cost you, but what price can you put on your time, not to mention your sanity?

From diaper services to doulas, baby planners do their research. They will answer all your questions, your late night phone calls, and your casual concerns. Baby planners will hold your hand and guide you through the baby planning process so that it’s fab, not drab. They taste, touch, smell, sleep with, wear, carry, push and pull every possible baby product and/or service available from bottles and slings to personal chefs and pre-natal massage. They give honest opinions on the things you need and the things everyone tells you you need, but really don’t. Experienced baby planners provide up to date knowledge and expertise on all kinds of baby products from cribs to strollers to car seats to how to stock your nursery.

No matter if you’re a time starved professional working up until your water breaks, at home on bed rest, or simply in need of a little TLC, baby planners are there to take care of your every whim: want a mani/pedi or bikini wax at home one week before due date – done! Want to be absolutely certain that your nursery is fully stocked for that first month home from the hospital – no problem! Gourmet meals for you and your hubby those first few days home with the baby – yup, they do that, too!

So put up your feet and breathe deep. Help is on the way!