Baby Shower Party Planning Guide
Posted on August 7th, 2008. Filed under: Kids and Parenting.Baby showers are parties thrown for friends that are pregnant. This practice has significantly changed over the course of the years and has gradually become more and more elaborate and planned.
Baby showers can make an expectant mother feel more secure in the fact that her friends are all pulling for her and giving moral and financial support. Usually the baby shower is organized by non-relatives. But today, there it isn’t abnormal to find family members, support group members, church friends and pretty much anyone except the expecting mother.
Inviting the Guests Who should you invite? Usually, the guest list will only include those nearest and dearest to the expectant mother. It wouldn’t hurt if she gets a first look at the guest list so that she can suggest who should be invited. If you are planning a surprise baby shower, you will have to do a little research on who should be attending instead of running the list through the expectant mother.
Traditionally baby showers for the second born child, are a much smaller gathering where the amount of guests is usually kept down to the closest family and friends to the mother-to-be. Firstborn baby showers however are a little different and they tend to have a larger guest list since it is, after all, the mother-to-be’s first child.
What you need to remember about the baby shower is that the goal is intimacy. So when planning the baby shower try to include those that are close friends and family.
There are many informal ways that you can choose to invite your guests such as email, phone and other ways. But of course the more traditional way is to send out invitations or letters to the guests that will be attending. This also has the affect of making the baby much more formal event and in many countries is the only acceptable way to invite the guests.
Traditionally All Female But Guys Are Welcome A baby shower party has in the past been traditionally a female only affair. In saying that it is also not strange to be invited and participate in a mixed shower party for girls and guys. This of course firstly depends on whether the guys wish to attend and also whether the shower host and mother-to-be wish to cater for the attendance of guys at the party. After all their intention might be to just have an intimate “Girlie Party”. At the end of the day it is acceptable to have guys at the party but it will come down to the preference of the host.
Baby Shower Venue Can Be Anywhere! As long as it can keep with the placid and fun nature of the occasion, any place would be fine to host the shower party. The more usual places on baby shower lists are backyards, formal halls, restaurants, and basically any room that has the amenities to make a baby shower successful. Just make sure the venue is not crowded and stressful to the mother-to-be. It also pays to make sure the venue is set long before the actual baby shower happens.
When to Throw a Baby Shower Usually this is one or two months before her due. The baby shower is the perfect time to get your friend baby needs and stuff she may not have had time to purchase yet. It has to be well-timed though - not too close to the due date, and not to far as to whittle down the excitement.
For the mother-to-be there is nothing more pleasant than a baby shower. This type of party is intended to take a lot of the stress away from the expectant mother by showing your support and dedication this takes the attention off the child birth and gives them very pleasant memories for both parents (and of course, all the baby gifts) from the invited guests.
A well organized baby shower will be remembered appreciated forever by mothers long after they have delivered their children. Having a plan and being prepared will reduce the amount of complications and distractions so that you can thoroughly enjoy the baby shower party.