Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. It’s the culmination and celebration of life and love. And what better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than with family and friends?
From the traditional women-only, one-time-big-time party, baby showers have evolved through time, even including men! But for those who don’t have any experience when it comes to party planning, throwing a baby shower can be somewhat intimidating.
Who hosts the baby shower?
Currently, anyone can throw the mom-to-be a baby shower. Some even have more than one host, which is especially helpful in cutting costs and dividing responsibilities with regard to planning. Traditionally, though, showers were hosted by anyone other than the mom-to-be’s family—such as the mom-to-be’s best friend or a close colleague—because it’s considered bad etiquette for someone from the mom-to-be’s family to host a party that’s all about giving gifts for the mommy and her baby.
Can we still host a shower even if someone is already throwing one?
There’s no hard and fast rule as to how many showers a mom-to-be can have. In this case, the more, the merrier! Instead of having one big shower, multiple smaller baby showers ’can be thrown for the mom-to-be, keeping the intimacy of each group.
When can we throw a baby shower?
Baby showers are usually held a couple of months to a month before the baby is due. Hosts should keep in mind that they should throw the shower, at the latest, three weeks before the mom-to-be’s due date. That would also give the parents-to-be enough time to get everything ready for the baby’s arrival, such as return duplicate gifts or purchase what they don’t have yet.
How about a surprise baby shower?
In general, surprise parties are great, but keep in mind that not everyone is fond of surprises, and it can actually be quite stressful for the parents-to-be. If this is really what you have in mind, then keep in close touch with the immediate families of the parents-to-be, to find out if you were able include everyone in your guest list and, most importantly, if there aren’t any conflicts with regard to the date and time of the shower.
Can we still throw a baby shower even after the baby is born?
This isn’t usually done but a welcome baby shower is a great way to still include family and friends who weren’t able to make it to the other showers. Plus, the guest of honor has actually arrived! However, the new parents will most probably be overwhelmed with their new bundle of joy and may want to spend some alone time with their baby, waiting at least a few months so that they can adjust as well. Remember that newborns are actually quite demanding, so the new parents will be barely having any sleep. Welcome baby showers are also a great way for completing the baby’s essentials.
Where should we have the shower?
Baby showers are usually held at someone’s home, a restaurant, or even a country club. A friend’s or a relative’s home is always best because it’s more comfortable and intimate. The location will be dependent on the budget of the host (or hosts), weather, time of day, and how far the parents-to-be live. Since the mom-to-be is due in just a couple of months, it would be quite uncomfortable to have her traveling all the way to the end of the city. Also, in case of an emergency, she should be near the hospital where she’s set to give birth.
Who should we invite?
Baby showers were traditionally thrown only for the first-born and, since there was only one shower, every woman important to the mom-to-be was invited. That’s not the case anymore. Moms-to-be are thrown, on the average, two to three baby showers, for the same baby! To make sure that you don’t miss out on anyone, check with the mom-to-be’s parents. Coordinate with everyone, most especially the important people in your guest list, to make sure that their schedules are in sync with the date for the shower. Send out your invites (or e-vites) at least a couple of weeks in advance to give the guests time to hit the stores.
Should we invite the men?
Again, traditionally, men were not invited to baby showers. Now, it’s actually accepted for men to be part of showers, especially if the mom-to-be has close male friends or relatives. If you, as the host, aren’t too sure about this, then it’s best to check with the mom-to-be’s close family relatives (her mom or her sister). You wouldn’t want to end up disappointing the mom-to-be when she finds out that some of her hommies weren’t invited.
Who’s going to foot the bill?
Very important question. The host usually pays for the baby shower. But it’s very common for a group of people to throw the baby shower, so that shouldering of expenses is much more bearable.
What do we serve at the shower?
The type of food and beverage to be served is dependent on a few factors, such as budget, weather, and time of day. Typically, baby showers were thrown in the afternoon, so a light snack and some beverages would do. You can opt for finger foods and appetizers, to catered full meals. Always keep in mind the mom-to-be. Pregnant women aren’t allowed to have caffeine or too much sugar. If you can’t eliminate coffee, tea, and soda from your menu because some guests really thrive on them, then have some fresh fruit juices and bottled water for the mom-to-be. Try not to have any alcohol though, out of respect for the mom-to-be and the more mature guests and family members. Same goes with the food. Also, check if any of the guests have any special requests—like if someone’s allergic to a certain type of food, or one of the guests is vegetarian or vegan.