Why talk about how to plan a baby shower like a pro? When you become a parent, it seems that your world is all about your baby. Every parent wants the best things for this new life, and therefore, making good preparations is necessary. A baby shower is just the moment to do so.
For those who have less experience, a baby shower is an occasion to celebrate a baby’s new life and get advice and ideas from experienced parents. It is also a time to receive helpful gifts to usher in the new child.
This article will help future hosts get some useful tips about how to plan a baby shower like a pro. This is your Hosting a Baby Shower 101 guide.
Today’s post is a guest article written by Emma, the founder of ShrewdMommy, where she and associates blog about pregnancy advice, parenting insights, and tips for mommy. The combined experiences will help you in your search for questions about pregnancy and baby tips.
How to Plan a Baby Shower Like a Pro
Unlike other types of parties where it’s easy to bury yourself among friends and drinks, a baby shower requires some etiquette and thoughtful preparation.
Because it is designed for the future parents and the baby, you should be more considerate about the way the celebration is organized so that it fits the new mother’s needs, style and preferences.
Choosing a Date
Normally, it is recommended that you spend more than four weeks thinking about and planning a baby shower. Do not leave everything to the last minute!
Choose the date for the baby shower very early on, and stick to that date. It is possible for the baby shower to occur before or after the baby is born. The date can be determined by the new parents!
Locations
The place chosen to host a baby shower is often based on personal preference. While many people would rather host in a private home, some will choose a restaurant. There are other options as well. Each choice has its own pains and gains.
When a baby shower is hosted at home, it is very intimate, comfortable and private. The kitchen is always available to make food, and you have time to decorate and prepare the way you’d like.
Hosting at a restaurant is another choice. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when you select a restaurant. You have to think ahead and reserve a big space because the restaurant might be fully booked the day of the shower. You also need to know your guests’ preferences so that you can pick the most suitable menu. The preference of the future mother should always be considered first. A restaurant takes more of the burden off the host. It may cost more, but someone else is doing all the work.
Some people propose the idea of hosting a baby shower at the office. It is a great opportunity to relax and entertain after a stressful work day and remains convenient for guests if you are celebrating a co-worker.
Creativity is limitless when choosing a location. Gardens, markets or even spas are other popular options for a baby shower location. As long as the mother feels comfortable, everyone should be happy with her choice.
Theme
The theme is one of the most fun components that you should establish from the very beginning. It should be carefully considered before you start decorations.
What is a perfect theme? There is no one answer to that a question. A perfect theme depends on many factors, and it varies from one person to another. Considering the mother and her style is probably the most important component. Choose a theme that will show the personality of the future mother, and focuses on the baby as well.
For example, if nobody is aware of the baby’s gender, a safari theme might satisfy everyone in attendance. If a baby girl is being honored, “fairy tale” could be a suitable theme. A simple color theme might fit the style of the mother-to-be. You could match the color theme to the baby’s nursery design for a personal touch.
Overall, the theme will have a significant impact on many parts of the baby shower – what to write on a baby shower cake, invitation design, decorations and even contribute to the efforts in selecting songs.
Invitations
Once the theme has been identified, you can move forward with invitations. There are several factors that will help you decide whom to invite.
First, you need to consider how many people the space can contain. If you want a large number of friends but space is limited, you should re-think the location of the shower.
Second, carefully consider the time and date to maximize the number of people who will be able to attend. Avoid office hours and holidays.
The mother-to-be will be essential in establishing a list. It is very appropriate to ask her to provide the names and contact information of potential guests. If you have trouble making an invitee list and want to keep it a surprise, you can ask for help from her other friends or family so as not to miss any important names.
When considering who to invite, many traditionalists prefer a baby shower full of women only. Meanwhile, it is on trend to see more and more fathers appearing at such an event. Asking your friend what she would prefer is appropriate.
When inviting people, you can use a variety of channels. A phone call might be OK. However, if you have the time and energy, please invest in written invitations. This will show how valuable this occasion is and how much you hope they can attend. Another option is an Evite.
Many people are not aware of the etiquette of thank you messages for guests once the baby shower is over. These notes will remind the invited people of their importance and helps strengthen relationships. It shows appreciation.
Food and Drink
Things can become quite complicated when it comes to food and drink. These days there are a lot of dietary restrictions and preferences. It is an indispensable part of every event but can drive the organizer crazy if not properly planned.
As mentioned above, you should collect as much information about guests’ preferences as soon as possible, and try to come up with the best choice for the needs of the mother and guests. The choices might not satisfy everyone, but you can make the best efforts to have at least something to accommodate special food concerns. Further, it will be necessary to avoid any foods that may cause allergic reactions to guests.
Often hosts choose a simple buffet, which can provide a variety of foods for different people’s preferences. Other options include a brunch, salad bar, an appetizer spread, a variety of soups and breads or a dessert themed shower.
I did have a reader ask, the same day this was posted, about my favorite shower recipes. I will add ideas at the bottom of this post for your convenience.
Baby Shower Games
Last but not least, games will be a great addition to your event, but choosing a baby shower game is not an easy task either.
A game that fits everyone should be simple in rules, suitable for different personalities and ages and not cause embarrassment to anyone, unless that suits the crowd invited.
“Who is the Baby?” is a popular choice. It does require guests to provide photos when they were a baby. Races with eggs or trivia games
can be fun as well.
Conclusion
In general, a baby shower is such a great moment for everybody to celebrate a new mom and a new life. It can also be a good chance to build into relationships in your community.
I hope that you have already had a clearer idea about how to plan a baby shower like a pro. Enjoy both creating the event and hosting the shower. Making the mother feel honored and celebrated is key to a successful shower.
More Food Ideas for Baby Showers (from Jodi)
Appetizers
Some of my favorite appetizers are linked to in our Mountain Themed Baby Shower.
Here are some more:
Homemade Pita Chips with Hummus
Pastry Wrapped Brie with Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes
Brunch Shower
Here’s a link to a brunch shower I hosted. You will find links to some of the recipes I served there, but here are more favorites:
Nog Cinnamon Chip Scones (for fall and winter showers)
Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping
Dessert Shower
A dessert shower is always a hit, and I like to make a bunch of small desserts so people can have a few options. Here is a link to the desserts I made for this all pink baby shower. Here are more dessert options at a black and cream shower I hosted. Here are more favorites:
Better Than Anything Chocolate Trifle
Another Option is to do a cheese and meat appetizers spread. This one included a variety of cheeses, salami, nuts, dried apricots, honey, olives, grapes, crackers and bread. Serve a spread like this alongside a salad, and you are good to go! This is a very easy baby shower food solution.
More Baby Shower Theme Ideas (from Jodi)
Black & Cream Damask Baby Shower
Pink & Brown About to Pop Baby Shower
