Luxembourg's first baby planning service

Having gone through pregnancy and childbirth in the Grand Duchy, Morgane Him recognised that parents can feel lost and overwhelmed by all the details that need to be organised when welcoming a new baby.

Add to that the fact that expats are often without immediate family support here. Identifying a gap in the market, Morgane saw an opportunity to help reduce the mental load by offering practical support in the time both before and after a new baby arrives.

According to the 34-year-old mum, her new business, the 'Baby Planner Company', is the only such agency here and she is the only certified baby planner in the country: "It is all very new and I am delighted to be the first to do it here in Luxembourg. It was just when I had my baby last year that I discovered the baby planning business. It was obvious for me as I had always wanted to be an entrepreneur.

"I've had a child, so I know what is needed and I know how to support parents. When people hear baby planning they don't automatically know what it is. It's someone who helps future parents for the arrival of their baby with the logistical and organisational side of becoming a parent, domestic security, environmental health, childcare equipment, and birth lists.

"It's also about having the healthiest environment possible for pregnant women and babies."

For example, choosing a travel system can be overwhelming as any new parent can confirm given the plethora of brands available on the market. One aspect of her service is to provide clients with three references for the equipment they need, according to their requirements and budget.

Another feature is a "home audit" where Morgane visits your home to assess the environment and provides a list of materials to baby proof your house.

Sleep safety 

Seeing as a new baby spends most of their time sleeping in the early months, getting things right with their sleeping environment is of top priority, Morgane attests.

In her role as baby planner she will always strongly advise against anything being placed in the cot. "A huge area of concern" in the area of baby sleep is the importance of keeping the sleep area clear of anything that can obstruct breathing. She points to cot "bumpers", which are soft, padded liners that are tied to bars on the inside of a baby’s cot to cushion it, as something she considers hazardous.

And she is not alone. The NCT (National Childbirth Trust) in the UK have said that "cot bumpers are not considered safe" because of the risk they pose once a baby can roll and move in their cot.

"There are so many things you don't know as a new parent. You see things online that look lovely but are not necessarily safe. The benefits of having a baby planner is that one can guide you through what is essential and what is not”, she adds.

Emphasising that she doesn't get involved in the medical side, Morgane will refer clients to the right services if, for example, they need to find an English-speaking midwife or offer advice on who to reach out to if they are experiencing postnatal depression, she explains.

"It's a very challenging time for parents", she says, referring to the postpartum period. "Baby planning allows them to be supported and advised with neutrality and kindness. Parents deserve personalised support."

And what about the demand for this kind of service? Despite being in the early growth stage of her business, Morgane sees that "there is a real interest" in Luxembourg in what she is proposing.
 

Corporate world woes

Originally from Thionville, Morgane was a cross-border worker for years before making a permanent move to the Grand Duchy ten years’ ago. While she continues her career as a legal officer for a real estate company, she is developing her baby planning business in tandem and hopes to focus on it on a more exclusive basis as it grows.

Morgane adds that she is acutely aware that the back to work period following pregnancy can be extremely tough. She feels so strongly about this topic that in April of this year she launched a petition calling for the improvement in the conditions for women returning to work after maternity leave.

"I can really understand women who are back to work and are suffering. There should be a six-month job safety period for women returning to work because they can feel vulnerable. It can be a nightmare if you don't feel supported. I had launched a petition on this but unfortunately it didn't pass."

And the entrepreneur's advice to other new parents who have ambitions to tap into their creativity and step away from the corporate world?
 
"Just go for it. I know people often don't do it because of time and money and they can't just quit their job. You can do it step-by-step, for example start a blog or make videos if that's what you want to do. The corporate world can be too narrow and it doesn't allow us to be creative."

With her own 14-month-old son, reconciling her work and family life is demanding and Morgane blissfully admits that "life is full".

However, through organisation, discipline, and competences she has honed in the corporate world, she can comfortably keep all the plates spinning.

Check out her Instagram profile to find out more.