|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Baby Shower Tips
It doesn’t really matter what time of the year it is, babies are born year-around. Therefore, you could find yourself planning a baby shower for a good friend at any time. Over the past couple of years I’ve helped plan several baby showers for my friends, which has given me plenty of time to learn some of the best tips for baby showers through trial and error. If you are preparing to host a baby shower, you may find the tips below helpful.
• Setting the Date – The first thing you need to do is ask the mother-to-be to look at her calendar and pick a date for the baby shower. The shower should be held at least 4-6 weeks before the baby is due to better ensure that the babe doesn’t arrive early and cause you to have to reschedule the shower. This also gives the expectant mother time to put the gifts away and go purchase the things she didn’t receive at the shower before the baby arrives.
• Decide on the Type of Shower – What type of shower? It’s a baby shower, right? Right, but depending on whether this is a first, second or additional child, the mother may not want to have a full-fledged baby shower. For example, if this is a second child, the mother may have saved a lot of the baby things used for her first child and is only asking for a diaper shower. Diaper showers are generally just for close friends and family members and aren’t as formal as “first” showers are. Therefore, determine what type of baby shower you’ll be hosting before you start planning heavily.
• Decorations – Decorations for baby showers don’t have to be extravagant as the guests will be focusing on the mother-to-be and the gifts she is opening up. However, placing small centerpieces on the tables with little candle votives always creates a warm and relaxing atmosphere. You may also want to consider putting together a decorative basket full of various baby items such as baby clothes (onesies, baby dresses, little suits, socks, etc.), rattles, bottles, hair accessories, etc. Or, if you’re throwing a diaper shower, consider putting together a cute diaper cake!
• Food – You can go as simple or extravagant as you want with the food you provide at the baby shower. I’ve been involved in showers that served brunch, but the majority of the baby showers I’ve helped with have kept the menu simple. Fruit, cake and meat/cheese trays have been the most popular foods served. More than likely, your menu budget will be determined by the number of hostesses you have assisting you.
• Games – There’s not a rule stating that you have to play games if you are hosting a baby shower. However, many people like to play games and one of the most popular baby shower games is the candy bar game. Basically, you take mini candy bars and melt them in the microwave and dump the contents on separate diapers. Then the guests have to pick which diaper contains which candy bar. If you aren’t comfortable directing games or are pressed for time, you don’t have to include them in the shower.
• Hostess Gift – It is proper etiquette to purchase as hostess gift for the mother-to-be regardless of what type of baby shower you’re hosting. Ask the girls hosting the shower with you how much they are will to put in for a shower gift and then pick an item on the registry within that budget. Try to purchase something from the registry that the mother isn’t likely to receive from anyone else and that she will use a lot with the new baby.
|
|
|
|
