Baby Showers

What is involved in a baby shower?

Baby Showers
Baby showers are a special way of showering expectant parents with love, gifts, advice and memories. While all baby showers are different and unique, they are all very special. Baby showers are used as a celebration of pregnancy and the upcoming delivery. Generally, a baby shower should be held approximately one to two months before the baby is due. This will allow the expectant parents time to purchase any baby necessities that were not purchased as gifts for the shower. It also helps to ensure that the mother has not already had the baby. Some baby showers are centered around a theme and some are not. Common themes are the desired nursery theme, baby necessities, booties, ducks, teddy bears or blocks.

Invitations

The invitation should include the name of the parent and child (if known), date and time of the shower, location of the shower with directions, the host name and phone number and where the parents are registered. You may also choose to give a date for responses, known as the RSVP.
Invitations should be mailed to guests approximately 4 weeks ahead of time. Give a longer notice to out of town guests.
Men can be invited to baby showers as well.
Can be themed or neutral.

Food

Most showers have finger foods and punch available for the guests to enjoy during the shower.
Pinwheels, meatballs, chips and dip, a veggie or fruit tray, crackers, cookies, mints and other small items are common.
A specially made cake is usally the main centerpiece for the shower.
Some shower hosts decide to have a full course meal with an afternoon tea.

Games

Games should be fun and easy to play.
Small prizes should be awarded to the winner of any game that is played.
From drinking bottles to changing baby doll diapers, there are lots of games to play at a shower.

Party Favors

In some areas it is okay not to give party favors to the guests for coming. However, most people will give a small party favor as their appreciation gift.
Potpourri sachets, stationary sets or wrapped candies are sufficient.
Attach a short thank you note or poem to the gift for your guests.

Etiquette

In the past, it was recommended that women only have baby showers for their first born. However, more and more people realize the equal importance of all babies and like to celebrate each one.
The mother-to-be and her mother should not host the shower. Instead, a friend, aunt, sister or co-worker should do the party planning.
The person(s) that host the party is the one that is responsible for paying for rentals, food, decorations, etc. It is never polite to ask guests to contribute or the parents-to-be.
Always send out thank you notes immediately after the shower. Thank your guests for coming, for their support and for any gifts that were brought.

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Comments: Baby Showers

Comments 1 to 24 of about 46.
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shellbz - 1 days ago.
I had a baby shower with my first daughter which was 2 years ago and now I'm having another. Both thrown by my step-dad. This second one is much smaller in size, more intimate but I just registered for replacement things. Towels, washcloths, diapers, wipes. I have already purchased the bigger items except the double stroller I'll now be needing. LOL Oh, and a mattress. My dad bought me the stroller as a gift that I'll be receiving at my shower on Sunday. He's really very thoughtful and I'm very grateful he's so giving!!!! Every baby should be celebrated, no matter how small the party or rather 'sprinkle' rather than shower:0)

nikkilove37 - 12 days ago.
I'm due 12/21 and I just had my shower on Saturday 11/7. We did it a little different, I have a large family so I did a display style shower so I did not have to open all the presents and I could walk around and talk to everyone. So basically it was a 3 hours lunch at a nice restuarant and all presents came not wrapped so they could be set out on a table for everyone to look through and instead of cards everyone signed a matting board for a photo that will hang in the babies room so she can keep it forever. It was great!

~Mendy-Tinksfairydust76~ - 30 days ago.
With my son in 1998 my inlaws threw me a shower...Then we divorced and I got remarried in 2005 and that same month i had a girl, my bff threw me a shower....in 2008 i had another girl, no shower...now almost 11 years after my first boy, a friend of mine is throwing me a shower...i have nothing for boy...i need the small stuff, clothes and such...but i do have the big stuff already: changing table, crib, carseat, high chair....so this time its all about me needing clothes and cloth diapers...my shower is on Nov 7th, im due Nov 25th....

babyonboard1209 - 43 days ago.
i just had a baby 3/15/08 and had a wonderful baby shower, i got everything i needed for my baby boy, i am now pregnant with my second child a baby girl and just dont think i should have a baby shower since that was only 1 1/2 ago so im buying this babies items my self

babyonboard1209 - 43 days ago.
i just had a baby 3/15/08 and had a wonderful baby shower, i got everything i needed for my baby boy, i am now pregnant with my second child a baby girl and just dont think i should have a baby shower since that was only 1 1/2 ago so im buying this babies items my self

manda-may - 64 days ago.
My boys are now a year old, but for my baby shower we broke the mold a bit and did our own thing so that it suited us. We had it for both of us, so we had both men and women present. I know that this is probably shocking to some, but it suited us and we had a great time. I had already had a baby shower at work, but wanted to have one at home for family and friends. I wanted my partner to be part of it if he wanted to, especially since I knew that some of his male friends were kind of excited about the whole baby thing too and would like to be part of the celebration... none of them had girlfriends to come to an all girl shower, and the one who did have a partner is gay, so if I had a girls only shower then that would have eliminated them both. My sister took charge and arranged the whole thing. She organised a mix of games that would be ok for boys and girls... there were even a series of team quiz sheets about everything from babies to matching symbols to super heroes, so everyone felt able to take part. Having a baby (or babies in our case because we had twins) is an exciting time for both parents, so I was really glad that we did the shower together and that ALL of our friends got to come along... it was great!!!

babyMammaLG - 65 days ago.
I AM HAVING MY BABY SHOWER SUNDAY ON THE 20TH... WE HAVE INVITED OVER 70 PEOPLE SO WE HAD TO GET A SHELTER HOUSE... WE ALSO TURNED THE TABLES A LITTLE BIT AND MADE IT A BBQ/POT LUCK/BABYSHOWER.... SO THERE WILL BE FOOD OUT THE YING YANG HAHA.... WE HAVE 5 GAMES PICKED OUT AND CUT LITTLE PARTY FAVORES... AND SENCE THERES SOOOO MANY PEOPLE COMING WE HAVE ORDERED 3 CAKES OF DIFFRENT SIZES *OH YES* IM LIKE IN WONDERLAND WITH ALL THE FOOD AND CAKE LOL.... ITS FOR A GIRLSO EVERYTHING IS PINK PINK AND PINK.....

shellbz - 75 days ago.
I am now pregnant with my second daughter and with my first I had complete control over my baby shower. My step-dad offered to throw it for me which worked out great because I was able to make almost all the decisions and it turned out perfect! If my mom was alive she would have thrown one for me, so my step-dad felt it was his job. He is really a great person and now wonderful grandfather to my daughter:0) I had been to way too many cheesey baby showers to know what I did and did not like. It was very fun but if you're going to help plan it be prepared for the stress you may feel if things don't turn out the way you want.

DJs Girl - 129 days ago.
I haven't had any MS yet but yesterday and today is the first days that I've been really moody. I feel like snapping and crying at the same time. lol I'm just always sooo tired and I'm tired of being tired. I just want my energy back. Even my DH is getting annoyed with how I'm always sooo tired and how I don't want to do anything. It's hard for him to understand. Anyways, I am soooo excited to finish this trimester and then have my baby shower. hehe

alison33 - 129 days ago.
DJ's girl~ It's okay. I was soo ill last week I hated the world, my husband was like my gosh, what is your problem? LOL This week I feel great! I hate the pregnant hormones ;P

DJs Girl - 129 days ago.
That's awesome. =o) I'm still not 100% sure on the date. I really wanna find out the sex beforehand but I don't want to leave it too late. October or November is really the only time I can do it as I don't want to do it close to Christmas and I don't want to do it after Christmas.

hanakalei - 129 days ago.
DJs Girl - if my son is born on his due date your shower will be when hes four day old :)

DJs Girl - 129 days ago.
Oooops. I'm sorry. Ya these hormones are definately taking over. I am sooo grumpy today and I haven't been in the past 7 weeks. Grrr. I'm sorry. =o(

alison33 - 130 days ago.
DJ's girl~ wow, I wasn't even talking about you, I was talking about how Bri responded to caitlyn12284 about women hosting their own baby showers, Bri said it was in poor taste to plan your own. Calm down!

jk4105 - 130 days ago.
Wow Dj's Girl you lettin them hormones run your emotions..lol the great joy of pregnancy...the whole have ur own baby shower thing is a couple post under yours...and bri did respond to it right before she responed to yours...lol

DJs Girl - 130 days ago.
alison33 - Not sure where you read that I was throwing my own shower. lol And there is no where in Bri's reply where it talks about someone throwing there own baby shower. I think you need to not jump the gun and make stupid comments. -----------ANYWAYS, my bestfriend is throwing my shower for me. The reason I know about it is because she needs the addresses of the friends I want there. She also lives in an apartment and I live in a house so she will be throwing it at my house since there is more room. We have decided on a date, it will be November 7th. I will be in my 23rd week by then. Sooo exciting. :o)

alison33 - 130 days ago.
Bri~ I couldn't agree more. I hate it when pregnant women plan and host their own baby shower, that is just tacky and in poor taste. Most friends, workplaces or family will give you at least one shower. This is my 3rd pregnancy and already my boss where I work is planning a huge baby shower for me. I never had to ask for it :)

Bri - 130 days ago.
DJs Girl - Don't get your hopes up for finding out at 13weeks. Parts are soo soo small and the u/s is somewhat blurry. Some do find out that early but most of us have to wait until the 20week u/s to find out. But, you are being smart. I didn't buy much until after my shower. Once I got everything that I was going to get before birth I then went on a shopping spree with hubby and got all the essentials. I get to find out mid-August what this one will be...I'm excited but keeping busy and trying not to obsess if I'll need more shopping or if I already have everything. HAHA!

DJs Girl - 130 days ago.
hanakalei: That is exactly what I am thinking. This is my first child as well so I will be needed everything as well. I want to find out the sex first. I heard that if the baby cooperates then I will find that out around 13 weeks. I really hope so. My best friend wants to do the shower around Sept 29th so that should be good.

Bri - 130 days ago.
caitlyn12284 - I don't think it's a 'bad' thing but I also don't think it's in good taste to plan your own. I think if one of your friends decides to throw you a party then it would be disrespectful not to attend. But, family aside it's kind of rude to expect that friends send gifts for every child. Most will want to anyhow but there are those that may not be as financially able to get gifts every time a friend has a child. Of course, immediate family should always send something for their new grandchild/neice/nephew. I'm pregnant for my second child as well. I had a boy last time and think it's this one is a girl. I don't expect a shower and honestly probably won't have one. We're all too busy in our lives to think about parties. But, I have close friends that will bring by a gift once born. I have everything that I need. If it's a boy I have no shopping to do (except a toddler bed for my first son) and if it's a girl then I just need clothes which I can accumulate easily enough every time I hit the mall. Shop sales and seasons in advance.

hanakalei - 130 days ago.
I am 24 weeks and i just had mine this past saturday. I wanted to know what i was getting so i could buy slowly instead of rushing around to get what i need. this is my first child so i need everything lol!

mama saniti - 130 days ago.
I think 6-8 weeks left is a good time. I think 20 might be a bit early. Jan or Feb would be perfect.

DJs Girl - 130 days ago.
I don't see a problem in having a baby shower for every pregnancy. Every baby is new and different. My question is, when is it too early to have a baby shower? I was thinking around the 20 week mark would be a good time. I'm due in March so I don't want to have a baby shower too close to Christmas as it's a busy enough time as it is. What do you ladies think?

caitlyn12284 - 131 days ago.
Do you guys think it is ok to have a baby shower for the second child if it is opposite gender? I have a little boy and think we might be having a girl this time around and so now I have nothing for her!!!

lilmiracle2009 - 140 days ago.
Hello all. I am 32w4d pregnant. I am due at the end of August, but because I have a cervical stitch for an incompetent cervix, I can deliver anytime after July 29th which is when the stitch comes out. My dilemma is that I haven't heard anything about a baby shower and I would like to buy all the priority items that I will need for my baby girl. Given that I only have 3.5 weeks until the stitch comes out, I don't know if I should go ahead and buy what I need and keep the receipts so I can return stuff in case I do get a shower and get duplicate things. Does anyone have any good advice on the matter?