Remember those items that you should have sent to the Island of Useless Purchases, a magical place that absorbs inane baby inventions that you prayed would work wonders?
The pacifier attached to the stuffed animal that would never fall out of baby's mouth. Yeah, right. The sling that felt like a straight jacket. And that swing that resembled an amusement park ride as it literally threw your wide-eyed infant from side to side rather than gently rock him to sleep.
Well, there's one woman in Fairfield who says she can steer you away from silliness and toward efficiency.
"I save them time," says baby planner Ingrid Prueher, speaking about her clients — expectant, new or seasoned parents. "So, it's saving them time and money."
When she became a mother, Prueher left her job in finance in Manhattan, moved to Connecticut and set her sights on becoming a "mom-preneur." She had always had a connection with kids, so researching their desires and habits felt like a natural fit.
"I really got into reading all the books," says Prueher, whose boys are 3 years and 4 months old. "I figured there had to be people going through exactly what I was, and why not try to help them?"
She became one of the first certified baby planners in the state, offering services in Spanish and English. But she aims to be different from the fancy planners you see on cable TV.
"I came from an immigrant family. We came with literally no money whatsoever, and I believe the services I provide can be absolutely beneficial for everyone," says Prueher. (Her most affordable package costs $15 for e-mail correspondences.) She also produces a TV show for her website, http://www.savvymamitv.com, which provides tips for free.
Why not just buy a parenting book? Prueher claims to be a walking, talking encyclopedia of facts. She can help set up a nursery, extol the virtues of tummy time, teach parents to make their own baby food and help them research day-care options. As a certified pre- and post-natal stress-management coach, she also assists with emotions: "We touch on what Dad is going through and what Mom is going through."
From the second that belly begins to grow, a pregnant woman becomes a beacon for unsolicited advice, whether it comes from a relative or even a complete stranger. Prueher says she can help you navigate the haze and discover your own beliefs: "You should have the pregnancy and delivery, as well as the experience of parenting, the way you want to."
Now, where is that wipe warmer? Gotta box it up for the island.
>>To hear more from Ingrid Prueher, tune in to today's "Fox CT Morning News."
>>To contribute your own adventures in motherhood, or to read more from Fox CT reporter Sarah Cody and freelancer Teresa Pelham, go to http://www.ctnow.com/mommyminute.
