How to plan a baby shower?

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I'm planning a baby shower and wanted to know what baby shower etiquette is!

I gather it's usual for someone else to organise it for the mum-to-be but being as this is baby #4, not planning on any more, and I've never had one before I'm taking it upon myself!

Has anyone had one themselves, or can offer any tips and hints to make it go well?

I'm really looking forward to getting the "girls" together -and my sis is looking forward to cake and wine LOL!:D

PS - I'm 34 weeks' pregnant, due the start of October.

SugarSpun

It's generally considered rude to have a baby shower if it's not your first baby (assuming you've not had a massive gap between them) and also rude to host it yourself.

But if you want one, the basic idea is games, cake, tea and wine and a lot of baby chat. The traditional idea is to give a first-time mum the benefit of advice from people who've had babies themselves, so why not call it a calm before the storm party and have cake and wine without the advice and gifts bit? I imagine that after three kids already you have everything you need.

threemuttleys

fwiw, im not having a proper baby shower, but about 30 of us are going to pizza hut!

Giggles_Fairy

Never occured to me you were only supposed to have a baby shower for a first baby!

I always thought of a baby shower as being a celebration of being pregnant, being about to do one of the most amazing things in the whole world- bring a child into the world, and of the adventure you are about to undertake, whether its your 1st or 20th doesnt change those facts.

My cousin went to one recently and she said they had lots of baby related games! Like guess the celebs baby name, I cant remember the other ones now oops! They had some finger foods and cupcakes with babys on. Just sounded like a fun afternoon really with all the girlies.

midnightraven3

had a google

What about a baby shower for an expectant mother who already has one or more children?
Traditionally, a baby shower is given only for the 1st child. Most mothers have most of the essential baby items after the 1st baby (like a crib, stroller, child safety items, baby monitors, etc). But each child is special and unique, and so it is very common for an expectant mother to receive a baby shower for each child. And there is just something about a baby shower that makes having a baby more exciting and the mother feels strengthened and loved. Regardless of how many children a mother may have, pregnancy is hard and scary EACH TIME! A baby shower helps in many unspoken and unseen ways. Because a 2nd time mommy already has the "big" essentials, gifts of diapers, burp cloths, baby lotion, formula etc. are excellent. Also, gifts to pamper the expectant mother are wonderful and fun ideas.

it also says this

• A baby shower typically lasts about 2 hours.

• Guests arrive.

• Greet them at the door.

• Welcome Everyone there.

• Recognize the guest of honor (the Soon-to-be-Mommy), and let her make any comments that she might like to make (warn her ahead of time).

• Make introductions, or have each guest introduce themselves and how they know the expectant mother, or have the expectant mother introduce each guest, and how she knows each one.

• Serve any snacks or appetizers and beverages you have.

• Play 2-3 baby shower games. This helps the guests get to know each other and gets everyone into a "party" mood.

• Serve any main dishes and/or desserts or baby shower cake.

• Gather everyone around to watch the expectant mother open her gifts.

• Ooh and Aah. :]

• Chat, have fun, eat more, giggle and laugh as needed :] Guests often chat awhile after gifts are opened, and then gradually they will begin to leave.

• As guests begin to leave, pass out your baby shower favors.


since this is another americanism brought over here, i guess you can have your own take on it

Dopey_Dora_42

Ive just been to my sister-in-laws baby shower. It was great fun and we played several games that were hilarious. The room was decorated and food was laid out. It ran from 5-11pm which seemed to fly by. There was one game that lasted all evening which was a dummy(small favour one) on a ribbon that you had to wear and you were not allowed to cross your legs, ankles or arms. If you did and someone else saw you had to ask for their dummy and at the end of the evening the person with the most dummies collected won a prize. It was a fun game and kept everyone involved all night. Towards the end of the evening the presents were opened.
Definately recommended for a fun girls night out( although it did probably cost a fortune for all the games and prizes, food and drink lol).

dallam20

We recently had a baby shower for a friend who was having baby no2. It was just really nice to get together and have a fun evening. We made her a nappy cake and some others bought gifts. We ordered a chinese takeaway and after eating played some games.

One really funny game was to get a blindfold, 2 bowls, cotton wool balls and a spoon. Blindfold each member of the party in turn and get them to transfer cotton wool balls from one bowl to the other. After one minute stop and see how well they have done!! As the cotton wool is so light its hard to tell if you have any on your spoon.

Also we had a little notebook and each wrote suggestions for names in it. We also wrote little messages and tips for the mum to be.

Thats all I can remember at the mo!!

Dawn

chuggingtongirl

Ive held a few for friends and never had anyone on baby nuber one so deff dont worry about that

I think as its not traditional here in the UK...well Id never heard of them before until recently...then you change the rules to suit you.

I think its a fab celebration of motherhood and babies and as you say a great excuse to get all your friends together...and lets face it baby number four I think you probably deserve a treat.

(I held one for a friend who was on baby number four too! but mostly for baby number 2 or3)

We did games...google as you find loads! some of ours were...
the ice cube one...buy little dummy or baby favours from ebay(or small plastic toys) and put them in an ice cube tray - pour on water and make ice cubes.then each person gets one and the aim of the game is to melt the ic first and shout MY WATERS HAVE BROKEN...very very funny after a few drinks!!obvs not the mum to be!

than another was everyone had a list with a-z printed on and they had to think of either baby names or baby things begginging with each letter

another was to give them a list of animals and name the babys name (as in CAT -KITTEN...DOG - PUPPY)

another was to fill up a baby bottle with sweets and guess how manys in

another (which I never did) was either taste and guess baby food or one site said put it in a baby nappy and let guests smell! and guess!

some people buy cheap babygros and everyone decorates them? (or vests...as I cant imagine you will want to dress the baby in handmade babygros!) but I suppose you could keep them as a reminder but would be nice if you did that to take a photo of baby in each one and use for thank you cards!...if you have the time that is.I was too brain dead for the first few weeks to think about things like that but after had loooads of ideas!

but theres loads of others

Have fun and dont worry about it being rude to plan yourself....Its always nice if people plan it for you but sometimes its easier to do it yourself.I dont think people tend ot buy huge presents for them (I know traditionally in US people get prams cots.e.t.c) but the ones Ive been to have been mroe about mummy pampering things and buying baby clothes or little gifts.

Have fun

chuggingtongirl

Oh and another good thing we did for one friend was everyone made a gues sof the name weight sex height eye colour and hair colour of the baby...and the friend said she loved this so much as it was a lovely thing to keep for her baby box

also we all wrote a 'tip' for her or advice we wish we had been given...this wasnt her first baby but I think with each you learn something new! so a nice thing to do too maybe

Sarah_28

There is a really good free guide to baby showers with all the basics of how to organise, who's job it is and some easy but good games to play here - http://purenappycakes.com/Baby-Shower-Guide%281962067%29.htm

HTH