The Perfect Baby Shower - Creative Tips on Baby Announcements, Food Ideas and More

Organizing a baby shower can be fun and exciting. When you first learn that a new baby is on its way, you can't help but be excited. Images of those ten perfect little toes, those sweet, angelic smiles, and all the fun you are going to have as the child grows up can't help but run through your mind. Before that time comes, however, it is up to you to organize the perfect baby shower.

As with any party plan, lists are extremely helpful. By creating categories, you can help yourself stay on task and avoid missing important details. Your first task is to create a guest list and select a date for the happy event. As you create your guest list, you will quickly realize that there are two categories of people: those who will be able to attend the party and those who will not. While there's no sense in sending baby shower invitations to people who will not be coming, they are sure to be delighted when they receive your baby announcements.

Creating Unique Baby Shower Invitations

Once you have your guest list, you can gather a few family photographs and get online to create truly unique baby shower invitations and baby announcements that fit with the mommy-to-be's style. While all invitations include the important information of what, when, and where, baby shower invitations can be made extra special by turning them into photo cards that will be treasured for years to come. Family photos, wedding pictures, and photographs of any siblings all turn good baby shower invitations into unique and memorable mementos for family and friends.

By creating online photo cards for your event, you can be as creative as you like with many different layouts, designs, fonts, and colors to choose from. The baby shower invitations and baby announcements that you create will be unlike any other. This is also the time to decide whether or not you will be using a theme to coordinate your gathering. Themes are an excellent way of navigating through all the necessary decisions related to any party and baby shower invitations can help set the tone for your event. Consider choosing colors that coordinate with the party decorations and even the baby's new nursery.

Deciding On Decorations And Menu Items

Popular baby shower decorations include baby animals, ABC's and 123's, fairytale characters, and Mother Goose, but today's moms aren't limited to traditional decorations. It may be a good idea to take a cue from the new mommy -- some may prefer a more sophisticated theme.

Finger foods are always a good idea for a party and a baby shower is no exception. Party hosts who are looking for something unique and healthy for the mom-to-be can even carve a baby carriage out of a watermelon and fill it with fresh fruit for an edible party centerpiece. Other ideas include pink and blue candies, such as M&Ms (available especially at Easter or directly from the company), and cute, cut-out cookies in pink and blue hues.

Pink and blue drinks, such as wine coolers, can also help party hosts stay with the baby theme. Of course, don't forget about the mommy! Even though she can't enjoy a wine cooler, party hosts can have sparkling cider in a special glass just for the guest of honor.

Entertaining Guests

Your guests can be their own entertainment with just a few simple activities that are as much fun to watch as they are to participate in. One of the most delightful and rewarding shower activities is to have each guest write their 'best parenting advice' on a card, which is then placed in a basket. When gift opening time comes, have the mother-to-be pull a card from the basket and read it aloud, followed by the author presenting their gift. The cards can later be put together into a booklet that will be cherished for generations. The messages are very often humorous and/or heartwarming.

Fun games include filling a baby bottle with candies, such as M&Ms and having guests guess how many are in the bottle and the candy bar game where guests try to guess which type of candy bar is melted into a diaper. The results are often hilarious!

Another fun baby shower game is modeled after 'The Price Is Right.' Shower hosts can purchase 10 baby products that Mommy is sure to use after the baby is born, such as Dreft detergent, Oragel, baby shampoo, wipes and diapers. Each guest guesses what the items cost and the person who is closest without going over wins a point. The guest with the most points at the end wins and of course, the new mommy gets to take home all the useful products!

Another game designed to keep guests engaged while Mommy is opening her gifts is baby bingo. Each guest is given a blank bingo card to fill out with items they think the guest of honor will receive. Each time a guest is correct, they mark their card and the first to bingo wins.

Party guests will often appreciate small tokens to remember the special event. Some creative ideas include a CD of songs related to the joys of parenthood or candy bars wrapped with special wrappers celebrating the new baby. Parents-to-be can even send out special thank you baby announcements adorned with the ultrasound photo.

A baby shower is a fun, wondrous event. With a little creative planning, party hosts will be able to plan a celebration the parents-to-be will remember for years to come.

10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered

A common worry about hosting a baby shower, as with any party, is to avoid any faux pas. Many people fail to realize that times change and what once was a no-no, is now the norm.

Who Should Host a Baby Shower?

At one time etiquette stated that mothers and sisters of the mom to be should not host a shower. The reason was that it looked as if the family was asking for gifts. That is not the case today. Anyone who is close to mom, or even dad to be, may host a baby shower.

Is It Acceptable to Host a Shower for Second, Third or Fourth Child?

Yes. However, the guest list should be limited to the closest of family & friends, or guests who have not attended previous showers.

Who Should Be Invited?

Anyone who is close to mom or dad to be should be invited. Refrain from inviting every family member for fear of insulting someone. It is also acceptable to host a coed baby shower. This means that men and women, family and friends may be invited as long as they are close with the parents to be.

When Should a Shower Take Place?

The baby shower should be held 1-2 months before the due date. This allows time for the parents to purchase necessary baby items before the baby is born.

Should I Have a Baby Shower Theme?

A theme is not necessary. However, having a theme ties the shower together nicely. Your theme can be as simple as colors (i.e., Pink or Blue We Welcome You), teddy bears, Noah's Ark, etc. Use the theme in decorations, favors or even the food.

When to Send Invitations?

You should send invitations by mail 3-4 weeks before the shower. Include an RSVP date of at least one week before the baby shower. This gives you a head count so you know how much food and beverages you need to purchase.

It is also acceptable to phone or email invitations. If you send your invitations via email, be aware that some guests may not check their email often or the invitation may be caught in a spam filter.

Should I Include Gift Registry Information in the Invitation?

In my opinion, it is no longer a faux pas to provide guests with gift registry information if it is available. It has been my experience that guests are not offended by this information and that they find it helpful in choosing a gift. A gift registry helps to eliminate duplicate gifts. If you are hesitant about including gift registry information on the invitation don't stress about it. Just spread the information by word of mouth.

Do I Need Baby Shower Games?

Showers last from 2-4 hours. You need some type of activity to fill up some time between eating and opening gifts. Baby Shower games and activities are also great ice breakers for guests who don't know each other. If you feel that your guests won't enjoy playing traditional baby shower games have them participate in another activity, such as, filling out baby advice cards for mom to be.

Should I Send Thank You Cards?

As host of the baby shower you do not need to send thank you cards to the guests for coming. You do need to thank guests for attending as they leave the shower.

Mom to be definitely needs to send thank you cards for any gifts she receives. It is important as host to have a volunteer write down what the gift is and the person who gave the gift. This will allow mom to be to personalize the thank you cards as she writes them.

A helpful hint is to print out address labels for your guests using a word processing program. Purchase thank you cards which coordinate with the baby shower theme. This will save mom to be time when she writes out her thank you cards.

Should I Invite Someone Who Has Recently Miscarried?

Do not exclude a guest because of a miscarriage. However, be sensitive to her needs. Let her know that she is invited but you understand if she chooses not to attend. If your guest has accepted the invitation but backs out at the last minute be understanding. She has been through a lot.

The Perfect Baby Shower - Creative Tips on Baby Announcements, Food Ideas and More

Organizing a baby shower can be fun and exciting. When you first learn that a new baby is on its way, you can't help but be excited. Images of those ten perfect little toes, those sweet, angelic smiles, and all the fun you are going to have as the child grows up can't help but run through your mind. Before that time comes, however, it is up to you to organize the perfect baby shower.

As with any party plan, lists are extremely helpful. By creating categories, you can help yourself stay on task and avoid missing important details. Your first task is to create a guest list and select a date for the happy event. As you create your guest list, you will quickly realize that there are two categories of people: those who will be able to attend the party and those who will not. While there's no sense in sending baby shower invitations to people who will not be coming, they are sure to be delighted when they receive your baby announcements.

Creating Unique Baby Shower Invitations

Once you have your guest list, you can gather a few family photographs and get online to create truly unique baby shower invitations and baby announcements that fit with the mommy-to-be's style. While all invitations include the important information of what, when, and where, baby shower invitations can be made extra special by turning them into photo cards that will be treasured for years to come. Family photos, wedding pictures, and photographs of any The brothers of every child in good shower invitations unique and unforgettable memories for the family and friends.

By creating an online photo cards for your event, you can be as creative as you with many different layouts, designs, fonts and colors to choose how. The baby shower invitations and baby announcements that you create to be different from everyone else. This is also the time to decide whether to use a theme for coordinating the collection. The themes are a great waynavigating through all the necessary decisions related to any party and baby shower invitations can help set the tone for your event. Consider choosing colors that coordinate with the party decorations and even the baby's new nursery.

Deciding On Decorations And Menu Items

Popular baby shower decorations include baby animals, ABC's and 123's, fairytale characters, and Mother Goose, but today's moms aren't limited to traditional decorations. It may be a good idea to Take a cue from new mom - some may prefer a more complex problem.

finger food are always a good idea for a party and a baby shower is no exception. Party hosts who are looking for something unique and healthy for the mother-to-be can also carve a wheelchair from a watermelon and fill it with fresh fruit for a center of edible parts. Other ideas are like candy pink and blue M & Ms (especially at Easter or available directly from the company), and sweet;cut-out cookies in pink and blue hues.

Pink and blue drinks, such as wine coolers, can also help party hosts stay with the baby theme. Of course, don't forget about the mommy! Even though she can't enjoy a wine cooler, party hosts can have sparkling cider in a special glass just for the guest of honor.

Entertaining Guests

Your guests can be their own entertainment with just a few simple activities that are as much fun to watch as they are to participate in. One of the most delightful and rewarding shower activities is to have each guest write their 'best parenting advice' on a card, which is then placed in a basket. When gift opening time comes, have the mother-to-be pull a card from the basket and read it aloud, followed by the author presenting their gift. The cards can later be put together into a booklet that will be cherished for generations. The messages are very often humorous and/or heartwarming.

Fun games include filling a baby bottle with candies, such as M&Ms and having guests guess how many are in the bottle and the candy bar game where guests try to guess which type of candy bar is melted into a diaper. The results are often hilarious!

Another fun baby shower game is modeled after 'The Price Is Right.' Shower hosts can purchase 10 baby products that Mommy is sure to use after the baby is born, such as Dreft detergent, Oragel, baby shampoo, wipes and diapers. Each guest guesses what the items cost and the person who is closest without going over wins a point. The guest with the most points at the end wins and of course, the new mommy gets to take home all the useful products!

Another game designed to keep guests engaged while Mommy is opening her gifts is baby bingo. Each guest is given a blank bingo card to fill out with items they think the guest of honor will receive. Each time a guest is correct, they mark their card and the first to bingo wins.

Party guests will often appreciate small tokens to remember the special event. Some creative ideas include a CD of songs related to the joys of parenthood or candy bars wrapped with special wrappers celebrating the new baby. Parents-to-be can even send out special thank you baby announcements adorned with the ultrasound photo.

A baby shower is a fun, wondrous event. With a little creative planning, party hosts will be able to plan a celebration the parents-to-be will remember for years to come.