How to Throw a Baby Shower
Baby Showers were once seen as a very “American” event. However, in recent years baby showers have become very popular in Ireland. It is a great excuse for friends and family of the mum-to-be to get together, laugh, play games, eat cake and shower mum-to-be with gifts. As well as pampering mum-to-be it is a sweet tradition that celebrates new life. As baby showers are only recent celebrations this side of the water, it can be a struggle to figure out how exactly to plan or organise one so here are some guidelines to plan a memorable event.
Who throws it
The role of the baby shower hostess is an area in which etiquette has relaxed and can now inlcude anyone from close friends to relatives or even co-workers. To make planning and budgeting for the party more manageable a group of friends and/or family can jointly host the shower. Mum-to-be may know all about the proceedings and may even volunteer their home as a venue but that’s where their involvement should end. Their only job at the party is to open presents and drink mocktails!
When and where to host
Baby showers can be held at any time during pregnancy, though they are usually held during the last two months of pregnancy. This allows the guest of honour to get the most enjoyment as they wont be too uncomfortable or risk going into labour on the day of the shower! However, hosting a baby shower after the baby is born is fine too as the guests can bring presents specific to the baby’s gender. It can also give mum a chance to show off her beautiful new bundle. Most baby showers are held in homes as they are warm, inviting and more cost efficient. If it’s a surprise baby shower, it’s best not to hold it in the mum-to-be’s house. In this case, a friend, sibling or parent may volunteer their house to host the occasion.
Inviting guests
Although making a call or sending an email is sufficient invitation, written ones are more in keeping with the momentousness of the event. Baby shower invitations include important details such as date, location, time and can also establish the theme of the event. Consult with the guest of honor before finalising the guest list to ensure nobody accidently slips through the cracks. Its best to send out the invitations a couple of weeks in advance as this will ensure more guests are free to attend and also gives them time to buy a gift.
Choosing a theme
It is certainly not a nessesity to have a baby shower theme but it can bring a greater sense of festivity to the event and can make the whole party come together. Every aspect of the shower can be tied into a theme, for example invitations, cake and decorations. Some of the most common themes include colour (pink or blue), baby accessories or nursery decor (baby blocks, teddy bears) or animal themed (storks). Be mindful when choosing the right theme as it needs to reflect mum-to-be’s style. If she doesnt like things pink and girly you can choose a neutral palate of greys, creams and yellows to set the tone. If you opt not to have a theme, simple decor and flowers are also tasteful and appropriate.
Food to serve
A baby shower is all about the mum-to-be so try to include some of her favourite foods. However, if that is pickles and ice-cream you may want to add some foods to your menu that your guests will enjoy too! Holding the event between mealtimes such as afternoon tea removes the pressure to serve substantial food and guests dont expect to be fed a large meal. Do try and keep your menu light as possible as there will be plenty of sweet treats and cake for after. There is no need for a 3 course meal!
Gifts to bring
You can choose to bring your baby gift to the baby shower or just bring along something small and wait until after the birth to give a gift. If your gift is something practical such as a baby monitor or some neutral coloured blankets and clothes, the mum-to-be may appreciate such gifts in advance of the birth. If you wish to bring something small, you could bake some baby themed cupcakes or cake or bring a gift like a rattler or a classic baby book.
Entertaining the guests
With baby shower games of course! Some easy-to-organise games include “Pass the Parcels” – where parcels containing baby items are passed around to the guests who have to then guess what is in each. A mum-to-be questionnaire can be fun too – simply pass a Q&A sheet around to all guests with 10 questions each and 3 possible answers. The questions should all relate to the mum-to-be’s pregnancy or the new baby e.g. What is the official due date? How many weeks was “X” when she found out she was pregnant? You could also get some white baby-gro’s or bibs and have each guest decorate one for the baby – these make for nice keepsakes.
About the Author
Natalie French, is co founder of Sleepymoon Cards, an online personalised baby card boutique. Her goal is to turn the baby card industry in Ireland on its head and have some fun along the way! She has a love for all things stationary, design and chocolate.
