The Baby Shower Party must be an enjoyable experience for the pregnant mother-to-be and provide her with virtually no extra work and certainly no stress at this time.
It must be a celebration for her arranged by her friends to spend a lovely party with her best friends and family. Let her put her feet up while you organise everything.
Other basic etiquette points are listed below altough they may well vary from country to country:
1. Date of baby shower party - usually 1-2 months vefore birth but be flexible at mom's wish. A welcome baby shower is becoming common usually 2 months after the birth. This has the advantage of knowing the sex of the baby and what the mother still needs as presents.
2. Should the baby shower party be a surprise? That is easy - NO!
3. Where to have the baby shower party? Usually in a friends house. Bigger numbers can be asked at a public place such as a restaurant but it can be less relaxing.
4. Who to invite? Usually around a dozen best friends depending on space available? Whilst the guest list used to be exclusively female men and couples are now often invited depending on the situation. Men can make games more fune (and competitive!)
5. When to have party? Depends on guests - do they work? and whether you want to provide a full-blown meal or just snacks. A Saturday morning for 2 hours is a common choice for baby shower parties
6. For all babies? You used to only have a baby shower party for firstborn children but now more common to celebrate all births.
7. What gifts to bring? Like all gifts the more they are controlled the better they usually are. Making a gift list may be boring but it avoids duplication and will provide the mother to be with what she actually wants or needs.
8. Should we play games? usually a good idea if planned properly as helps break the ice and is a lot of fun. See our baby shower games pages
9. Should I give favors and what type? A favor is a nice memento and it depends on whether it is the norm in your area. Ask some friends what they suggest as it usually relates to the type of guests you are asking
10. Paying and clearing up? Usually the hostess meets the cost of the food but this can be shared among friends. Do not be bashful about recruiting help with catering and clearing up
DO NOT LET THE MOTHER to be DO ANYTHING
