Planning ahead? Baby shower 101
Happy May! Mother’s Day is coming up soon, so now seems like a good time to discuss baby showers to celebrate our soon-to-be-parents and their precious beebs.
But if you haven’t planned one before or have never been to one, you might be wondering what the basics are.
I’ll answer a few typical questions for you here:
Q: When is a baby shower held?
A: 4-6 weeks before the baby is due, unless the parents have cultural or religious reasons that they’d prefer to not receive gifts until the baby is born. If the latter is true, wait to set a date until after the baby is born. For adopted children, wait until the child is home with their new parents.
Q: Who throws the party for the soon-to-be parents?
A: It’s good etiquette for family, chosen family, and friends to throw and host the shower. One thing I know for sure is that it’s never the soon-to-be-parents. Give them a much-needed break!
Q: Is there something I absolutely must have at a baby shower to make it an official shower?
A: No! Let the parents-to-be judge what they want need and want to do. If they aren’t game people, then maybe consider, for example, throwing a shower that is more focused on being social and talking. Also, be sure to ask the parents-to-be if there is anything that people should not bring (for food or presents).
Q: Who should I invite?
A: Focus on close friends and family. Let the soon-to-be parents have a say in the guest list. It’s currently vogue to have a co-ed shower, but some might want a more “female-bonding ritual” kinda vibe. Choosing a guest list also means choosing a party dynamic and vibe too – some are wild and free while some are serious and conservative.
Q: Does a shower need a gift registry?
A: “Need” is a strong word here: it’s up to personal preference. You’d want to ask the parents-to-be to create a registry. Otherwise, here are some gift options:
Diapers
Newborn to toddler clothes
Baby toys, stuffed animals, rattles, & blocks
Baby milestone blanket
Baby shoes and slippers
Mobiles and mobile setups
Swaddle blankets
Baby monitor
Toiletries: Baby shampoo, lotion, soap, sunscreen, baby nail trimmers, bathtub plug etc.
Blankets
Baby stroller organizer
Nursing pillow
Bottles
Pacifiers
Books
Crib sheets
Something special for the parents!
Q: What are some fun games to plan for the baby shower?
A: Check out some ideas below:
The Don’t Say “Baby” game: Everyone starts with a pacifier necklace, but if you say the b-word and are caught, the person who caught you gets your necklace and wears it. If you’re wearing more than 1 pacifier necklace and say “baby” once, then only one necklace is removed. The person at the end of the party with the most necklaces gets a prize!
Blindfolded diaper changing challenge: see who can change a doll the fastest!
Guess Who? – An icebreaker game.
Pass the Cucumber: Pair up, put a balloon under everyone’s shirts, put a cucumber between one person’s knees, then try to pass the cucumber. Teams that drop the cucumber are out! First to do it gets a prize.
Junk in the Trunk Game: Attach a tissue box to the players’ lower backs then put ping pong balls inside each box. The goal is to be the first to shake the balls out of their box wins!
Chug it: Give each player a baby bottle and fill it with a beverage of choice. Whoever finishes first wins!
Pacifier Hunt (think egg hunt!)
Q: What about decorations? Food?
A: Food is whatever the soon-to-be parents want: casual or classy, themed or takeout.
For décor, here are some ideas:
Reusable, helium-free balloons
Diaper cake (look it up! It’s a tower of diapers)
Paper pom-poms and/or stars (can be reused for birthday parties!)
Art and stuffed animals that can be reused in baby’s room (think lions, giraffes, elephants)
Jar of Old Wives Tales (fill a mason jar with cutout papers, like charades, each with an old wives’ tale about pregnancy predictions, and have people pull them out one at a time and guess which means Boy or Girl)
Baby bottles filled with sprinkles or M&M’s
Themed dessert platter
Always use pretty lights! Plus they’re so easy to reuse for another party or event.
I know everyone goes with balloon garlands/arches, but I’m a big fan of reusable decorations since that’s a better bang for your buck.
Hopefully that answered most of your questions!
With love,
Katie Sautter
