Baby shower is your exclusive pampering occasion, filled with fun and humor from friends and relatives. It is also an occasion for sharing wisdom and advice which come naturally. A baby shower may be on your mind from the time you get to know of the pregnancy. Prior planning helps you enjoy and relish the moments to the utmost, and possibly eliminates the excuses from your guests for being absent. Comprehensive planning enables you to enjoy those happy moments uninterrupted, relieving the last minute discomforts.
There is no rulebook to follow when planning the baby shower. However, there are some aspects which are vital, and yield fruitfully when incorporated in the agenda.
Determine the resources
Whether it relates to the vendor or decorator, address all your resources in advance. Working with a budget on your mind can automatically eliminate unnecessary detailing. And even a budget shower can work out to be successful and completely entertaining. Determine whether to have an extended guest list or a closed family affair.
When and where to have the shower
Many of your revered guests, especially those from out of town, may be unable to be a part of the big day. Planning a baby shower with most of your loved ones around is important. When you plan and decide the date in advance, there are fair chances that your guests can amend their schedules to suit yours. Last minute invitations can at times be too demanding.
The event is held on different timelines in different cultures. Usually, baby showers are held before the child is born. A shower 6-8 weeks prior to the expected delivery can be a good choice. It can provide a relaxed timeline for the expected mother to assort the gifts, decorating her baby nursery elaborately.
The venue should be determined in advance. If the gathering is large, an advance booking in a restaurant may be required. For a more economical and smaller gathering, the host can consider his/her house (or a friend’s house).
The host and guests
Going by the protocol, a close friend hosts the shower ( instead of a family member). However, this norm depends on cultures. Often, the grandmother or a close female member acts as the host. But anyone can be the host. On occasions, the shower can be co-hosted with a family member or friend(s).
Baby showers are mostly women’s affair. But as mentioned before, there is no rulebook to follow. Males (fathers) take the lead in Northern Germany families to celebrate the baby’s birth. Within few days after the child is born, an exclusive male drinking party, is held. It is referred to as babypinkel (“baby pee”) party.
A theme party
Having theme parties are a popular choice. Hosts can also include baby-themed activities, like guessing the baby’s name or gender. Banners, balloons and tableware can be arranged to match the party theme.
The party theme can be chosen to suit the shower’s personality. To execute the theme, invitations, menu, games, shower favors etc. can be used. A traditional guestbook can be replaced with banners where the guests can sign. The banner can be used to decorate the baby’s room later.
Deciding the menu
Generally, a full meal is not included in the event. Snacking is a preferred choice. Besides many healthy foods to choose from, grilled corn on the cob, steak, barbeque chicken and fruit salad can be worth trying. A tea party is also welcome. Finger foods or a dessert party also suits the event. Having a Diaper Chocolate cake suits the theme.
When cooking yourself, it is best to have the dishes ready in advance to enable you to attend and entertain the guests.
Baby shower for the second child
Just as the first child creates the magic moments, so does the second (and the subsequent ones). However, there can be short listing of the invitees. You may want to restrict the event by including only the close friends and family members. But it is sensible to include those who were not invited to the first shower.
Gifts for the event
There are many things which can suitably be presented to the expected parents. Gifts can be anything for the baby like baby bottle, toy, clothes etc. or anything else for the mother-to-be. Opening of the gifts during the party is a common practice.
Presenting small gifts to the guests as favors is also common in such events. These gifts are keepsake from the shower. These days, baby showers have favors as prizes for the games which are played during the ceremony. A guest list, indicating the gift-givers name, can help the expected mother to address the thanksgiving cards. An innovative gift cum game is the ‘Wish Bracelet’. This bracelet comes with a wish card for guests to address their wishes and blessings.
Virtual baby shower
You can also opt for online gathering, when physical presence may seem too difficult or demanding. Even though at a distance, friends and family members can share their enthusiasm and happiness for the parents-to-be.
A chat room or a website can connect all the people. There may be a nominal fee included. Gifts can be directed to the recipient from the online shopping portals.
