Code of Ethics
The International Maternity Institute and International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals code of ethics helps to maintain high professional standards of personal integrity, professional competence and practice.
Students and members who do not adhere to the IMI-IABPP code of ethics may be suspended or have their certification or membership revoked.
As a representative of the International Maternity Institute and International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals, students, members and graduates agree to:
- Uphold maternity and baby planning indutsry professional standards.
- Uphold IMI’s standards of practice and boundaries to practice as defined for all our course offerings.
- Be objective and promote informed decision-making
- Respect their clients in the way they discuss their needs and challenges
- Protect the privacy of their clients by demonstrating confidentiality
- Be fair, respectful and courteous to fellow students, members, employees and faculty of the International Maternity Institute
- Assume full responsibility and to be accountable for their individual judgments and actions
- Act in accordance with the highest standards of professional integrity and to keep current with the maternity industry’s standards
- Properly represent the IMI-IABPP certification upon.
- To receive an IMI-IABPP certification, student’s must attend at least 80% of classes, complete all homework assignments, pass an exam, and tuition must be paid in full.
- Pursue continuing education.
Standards of Practice
Certified Baby Planner ™
An IABPP certified baby planner is a maternity consultant that provides support, information, education and resources to new and expecting parents. By evaluating their clients specific needs and providing them with the appropriate information, education and resources, baby planners empower their clients to make the best decisions for their growing family.
Baby planners tailor their services to suit their clients specific needs, lifestyle and preferences and help them to determine the types of resources, services and products that will be essential for them to utilize on their journey towards parenthood and beyond.
Baby planners are also concerned with educating their clients. By introducing their clients to a variety of options on pre-conception, pregnancy, post-partum and parenting topics, baby planners empower their clients to make informed and educated decisions. Baby planners may introduce their clients to various options regarding birthing, feeding, sleeping, health, fitness, nutrition, eco-friendly living, safety, post-partum support, budgeting, baby gear and more.
Additionally certified baby planners serve as a matchmakers , coordinators, and specialists. As a matchmaker, a baby planner pairs their clients with the most suitable and reputable services and products based on their specific needs and lifestyle. As a coordinator, a baby planner may organize special events such as a baby shower, baby moon, or maternity retreat or may arrange for photo shoots and birth announcement design. As a specialist, a baby planner can offer additional expertise if licensed or accredited in a particular field relating to maternity.
Boundaries to Practice
A certified baby planner does not diagnose, treat, examine or medically advise their clients. Unless a baby planner has additional training or a specialized certification or license in a specific area of practice, a certified baby planner does not prescribe or attempt to perform additional services that require advanced training. While some certified baby planners may have the additional training, certification or licensing needed to offer services like designing exercise programs and plans, recommending diets or nutritional programs, baby proofing, installing or inspecting car seats, providing therapy, giving pre- or postnatal massage or providing personal training, doula or midwifery services, these practices are outside of a certified baby planners scope of practice.
Position on Expertise
The International Academy of Baby Planner Professions does not believe that baby planners should try to be experts at everything. Instead, the Academy encourages members and students to take the time to pursue the proper training, credentials and licensing in specialty areas they have a specific interest in. Additionally, baby planners who wish to specialize in a specific area should gain experience and education in that area and should carry the proper liability or professional insurance required for each specialty service they offer.
Baby planners may pursue advanced education, training and certification in specialty areas such as baby product and gear consulting, child and passenger safety, baby proofing and greenproofing.
The Academy recognizes that specializing in each of these areas involves extensive training, education, and experience. For this reason, level one certified baby planners are not expected or required to choose or develop a specialty. While the primary role of a baby planner is serve as a maternity consultant, as baby planners gain training, education and experience or utilize their previous professional backgrounds, they may choose to offer additional specialty services. Baby planners who do not have specialized training, educational backgrounds or certifications are encouraged to build relationships with professionals that offer specialty services and refer their clients to them as needed.
Certified Greenproofer ™:
Service
An IMI certified greenproofer™ is a maternity eco-consultant that meets with expecting or new families to provide education, support, and resources in order to protect their clients and their children from unsafe exposure to potentially toxic substances in their home, on their body, and in their environment.
Boundaries to Practice
A greenproofer does not diagnose, treat, examine or medically advise their clients. Unless a greenproofer holds an additional license or certification, greenproofers do not perform babyproofing/childproofing services or installations.
Certified Maternity Stress Managment Coach ™
Service
The IMI Maternity Stress Management Coach ™ prepares and informs expecting parents, new parents, about ways to handle life changing situations via specific maternity stress management techniques, strategies, and maintenance. These techniques are provided only after a careful assessment of their personal lifestyle situation.
Boundaries to Practice
A Maternity Stress Management Coach™ does not diagnose, treat, examine or medically advise their clients. Unless a Maternity Stress Management Coach holds an additional license or certification, they do not perform services outside of their scope of practice.
A Family Sleep Consultant
Service
A Family Sleep Consultant works with families during all stages to develop healthy sleep habits that are age and developmentally appropriate for each member of the family who is experiencing sleep challenges. This may include working with expectant parents during pregnancy, both parents or single parents during postpartum, and with their babies and children. Additionally a family sleep consultant provides support, information, education and resources based on each individual family’s sleep needs, lifestyle, and culture.
Boundaries to Practice
A Family Sleep Consultant does not diagnose, treat, examine or medically advise their clients and additionally does not replace the advice of the family’s pediatrician or therapist.
