5 Tips for Hosting a Great Baby Shower
The practice of giving baby showers has changed significantly over the course of the years and they have gradually become more and more elaborate and planned.
A baby shower is usually organized by non-relatives but, today, it is becoming more common to find family members, co-workers and church friends planning the event.
Who to Invite
The guest list usually only includes those nearest and dearest to the expectant mother. Unless you are planning a surprise, it wouldn’t hurt to ask her for suggestions as to who should be inviteed. 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. You can ask a close relative or friend for help creating the guest list.
Remember that baby showers are intimate events so, for any baby shower party, try making the gathering one of intimate friends.
What about the guys? While it is not unheard of to invite the guys to the baby shower, you might have to make some adjustments to the plan. There is far less emphasis on game playing and the shower theme is more gender-neutral.
When the men get invited, there are still gifts to open, but the party becomes more of an opportunity to get together casually to eat, share advice and catch up on old times. So go ahead and invite the guys. Just make sure the party is one they'll be comfortable attending.
Invitations
While you could use email or phone to invite the guests, written invitation are the best way. Make sure you clearly state the date, time and place on the invitiation. Depending on the food you are serving, you may want guests to RSVP so you know how muck food to prepare. If there is a theme to the baby shower, let your guests know what it is. You can make the invitations match the theme of the baby shower if you wish.
Where to Have the Baby Shower
Once the date and time of the baby shower is determined and there's a fairly approximate guest count, it's time to select a location. The most common venue is in the host's own home. Then this is not appropriate, there are several other options available.
Many restaurants can accommodate this type of special occasion and the added bonus for the host is that they can take care of the food, too!
Church halls and clubs are also good choices as many have large meeting rooms, and some even have fully-equipped kitchens that can be used. For the baby shower that's being put on by co-workers you can use conference rooms and cafeterias.
Selecting the location needs to be done early on in the planning stages so that there is enough time prior to the event to send out invitations. Ideally the location should be selected at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to the shower date.
When to Throw a Baby Shower
Most baby showers are held one or two months before her due date. The baby shower is a great way to get the new mom some baby needs she may not have had time to purchase yet especially if this is the first child, so you don't want to wait until she has bought eerything she needs. If you plan it too close to the due date and you end up hosting the shower after the birth!
A baby shower can be a pleasant surprise to expecting mothers and can take some of the stress of expecting a child off of their minds. It also provides a means for friends to provide support, not to mention baby gifts, to the mother-to-be.
Coordinate the Baby Shower Gifts
During baby showers, it is a common thing to have multiples of some gifts. While this can be a good thing with diapers and clothes, she will probably only need one stroller. To avoid unnecessary duplication, the mother-to-be can make use of a registry list which specifies gifts she might use for the new baby.
Buy something for the expectant mom as well. You can give gift certificates to moms from a shop or a mall or, if this is her first baby, you can give moms books or magazines about parenting.
A properly coordinated baby shower will be greatly appreciated and forever remembered by mothers long after they have delivered their children.
