Baby Shower Planning
Baby showers began hundreds of years ago (yes! hundreds!) as small gatherings of close friends of the new parents to welcome the arrival of the newborn. Back then, it was customary for guests to visit only after the baby was about a month old because of fear of diseases. The gifts brought were all homemade except for silver spoons from the baby’s grandmothers.
Today, although they can still be held after the baby’s birth, baby showers are usually planned prior to the baby’s arrival. Traditionally, showers were only given after the first baby, but today, the rules have changed. A baby shower can be planned for any child, regardless of their birth order, by a friend or relative of the baby’s mother. Every baby is a chance to celebrate!
Like other celebrations, the privilege and responsibility of coordinating the event lies with the host. When necessary, the mother-to-be is consulted, but the bulk of the work is performed by the gracious host. The important decisions about things such as location, date, time, guest list and invitations, decorations, and, most important, food(!) are all left in the capable hands of the host.
Invitations to the baby shower must be received at least four weeks prior to the chosen date. This allows your guests enough time to hire sitters and re-arrange their schedule to accommodate the celebration. The invitations can range from a short and sweet phone call to elaborate invitations sent through the mail. The decision on what type of invitation to use is dependent on the size of the party, their proximity to each other and the venue, as well as the most effective form of contact for the guest list as a whole.
To break the ice, the smart host has baby shower games prepared. Games give everyone a chance to focus on a common task, show people’s personalities, and give a reprieve from small talk. You can find dozens of fun games online both for sale and gratis.
As with any great party, be sure to have favors ready for distribution to your guests. You can purchase baby shower favors, perhaps even have them customized, or you can go the time-honored route of creating the favors yourself. A quick trip to the party supply store near you is sure to produce some easily-found items you can use: tin cans, candies, chocolates, and chinese to-go boxes. Your only limit is your imagination.
No party is complete without food, and baby showers are no exception. Make sure that your food complements your theme, and you’ll look like the hostess’ with the mostest! Add a special twist to the festivities by creating cookies and treats in baby-themed shapes: rattles, bottles, cribs. This’ll put a smile on everyone’s faces.
A well-executed baby shower tells everyone how much you care, especially mom and baby. With just a little time spent on planning, you can make sure that your special event goes off splendidly!