Usually, a friend of the expectant mother hosts the baby shower. Splitting the hosting duties among two or more friends makes the numerous expenses and responsibilities more manageable and allows more friends to participate in honoring the mother-to-be.
In the past, it was frowned upon for family members to
host showers, but now it is common for family members to
host a family shower specifically for members of the family.
It is no longer unusual for family members to host a shower
that includes non-family members, as well.
While there was a time that baby showers were exclusively
for women, co-ed showers are gaining popularity. Many men
want to be more involved in the pregnancy and birth
experience, and they appreciate being involved in a party to
celebrate their new family member.
Showers are appropriate any time a new member of the family
is added. While a first baby shower may serve the purpose of
providing the many items needed by new parents, showers for
subsequent babies may focus more on the mother or the
family. An adoption is a special occasion that the parents
will want to celebrate, and a shower is a great way to do
that, even if the adopted child is older.
Showers may be held before or after the birth. If the shower
is being planned for before the birth, you will want to make
sure that it is early enough that the guest of honor will
still be comfortable and able to travel. You'll also want to
make sure that you aren't going to have any "special
deliveries" during the party. The best time period for a
shower before the birth is probably 4-8 weeks before the due
date, although this will vary from mother to mother. If the
shower is going to be held after the birth of the baby, it
may need to be scheduled for 4-6 weeks after the due date.
Some parents will be hesitant about exposing a new baby to
too many germs in the first weeks. Others will be happy to
have company right away. As with every other area of
planning, make sure to consider the guest of honor's
feelings.
Many showers are held at someone's home. Often this is the
home of the hostess. Some pregnancy situations may mean that
it is easier for the mother if the party is held at her own
house. If this is the case, the hostess should make sure
that house preparation is taken care of by someone other
than the guest of honor. Other locations for a shower are
church fellowship halls, a restaurant, or an office.
Guest lists for a shower will include friends and family of
the parents-to-be. Don't forget to include the father's
relatives when sending out invites. Co-workers who are close
friends may also be invited, but you will want to take into
consideration that many offices host their own showers. If
you are hosting a surprise party, enlist the help of the
dad-to-be or family members of the mom-to-be in making the
guest list. You will need the names, addresses, telephone
numbers, and possibly email addresses.
Invitations should be mailed 2-4 weeks before the shower.
Make sure that you include RSVP information, maps, and baby
registry information. If the registry is extremely long, you
may just want to include the location where the parents are
registered. Baby registries are not necessary, however they
seem to be very popular at this time, and they do save
parents the effort of returning duplicate gifts. If they
party is going to have some sort of gift theme (learning
gifts, an around the clock shower, etc.), this information
should be included in the invitation, as well. If you are
calling, instead of issuing written invitations, the same
timeline should be followed and the same information should
be relayed. If you are sending evites, make sure that the
people you are sending them to check their email regularly.
Follow up by phone if you have not received responses a few
days before the party.
Games and activities are not a required part of a shower,
but they may be what everyone remembers the most. When I was
pregnant, I was adamantly opposed to shower games. Some of
my friends refused to listen, and the games really were a
lot of fun. There are books and websites that can help you
if you don't know where to begin when it comes to shower
games. We've also included a few on this website. Favors are
another item that is not required but can really add to the
celebratory atmosphere of your party. We have included
directions on how to make some popular favors and
decorations. If you are not the crafty type, there are
plenty of sites where you can purchase fabulous, inexpensive
favors.
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