* Pick a theme for baby's room.
* Have the theme match your baby shower. That helps everyone easily remember what theme to look for when shopping.
* Know where you will have your registry at: I like target because if you sign up with their baby registry they usually send coupons in the mail to the mom-to be after her shower date expires for items that she did not receive! Plus, Target is ofering a free tote filled with coupons, samples and their buying guide when you start a new baby registry with them.Plus, you can go online and get target store coupons and combine them with manufacture coupons. For example: If target has an online target coupon for $1.50 off Huggies diapers and you have a Huggies coupon for $1.50 off Huggies diapers, you can use both coupons on that pack of diapers to get $3.00 off the pack diapers! WOW!
You can also print target coupons in the store at most customer service desks and the cashiers are great about coupon know-how's to help you.
In my current personal experience Target baby toiletries, health items and feeding items are priced about the same and sometimes even cheaper than Wal-Mart. Keep that in mind and throw in those extra coupons for more savings.Q&A:
- Who should host a baby shower?
- Is it OK if an expectant mother has more than 1 baby shower?
- Is it Ok to have a baby shower after the baby is born?
- Are baby showers Ok to have for adoptive moms?
- Should I invite a guest who cannot or is having trouble getting pregnant and/or does not have any kids?
- When should the baby shower take place?
- When should plans start to take place?
- What type of budget should be set?
- Who should pay for the baby shower?
- Who should I invite to the baby shower?
- How should we invite everyone?
- What is a baby registry?
- What if there is no baby room theme picked out yet?
- Where should a baby shower take place?
- How long should the baby shower last?
- What types of food should be served?
- What about decorations?
- Should there be baby shower favors for the guests?
- What types of games should be played?
- How many games should be played?
- How to thank everyone?
- Who should host a baby shower?
- Historically, the baby shower was hosted by someone outside of the family (friend, co-worker, symbolic Aunt). Today, anyone other than the Mommy-To-Be and her mom can throw a baby shower for her friend or family member! It is most common for the Best Friend, Aunt, or sister to throw the Mommy-To-Be the baby shower! It is becoming more common for co-workers, cousins, groups of friends, or church/temple friends to throw the shower and much appreciated.
- Is it OK if an expectant mother has more than 1 baby shower?
- Traditionally, only a first time mother is to have a baby shower. However, it has become more common that mothers celebrate a baby shower for each time they are pregnant. Either way is ok.
- Is it Ok to have a baby shower after the baby is born?
- Absolutely, There are many reasons why some moms may prefer to wait for the baby shower after the baby is born. One reason may be to find out the gender of the baby and hold a shower according to the new baby's gender. Another may be due to her having to be on bed rest due to a high risk pregnancy. Whatever the reason, it is always OK to wait till after the baby is born to hold the baby shower.
- Are baby showers Ok to have for adoptive moms?
- Yes, it doesn't matter if the baby is born to the mom or not, a baby showers primary purpose is to celebrate a new arrival and also to help new mom and dad with the expenses and costs of the new baby. So, celebrate away and show your support!
- Should I invite a guest who cannot or is having trouble getting pregnant and/or does not have any kids; what about if she just had a miscarriage?
- This is one of those questions many are torn between. My answer is, "Yes", not inviting that person may actually cause more harm than good. It may show you might think they have a problem or that are not mature enough to be happy for a friend or family who can have children. Remember, the invites should have RSVP's, which allows her to make her own choice to show or not show.
- When should the baby shower take place?
- Usually a baby shower is held 6 weeks before the delivery date
- When should plans start to take place?
- The best time frame is about 6 weeks before the date of the baby shower. Here is a chart to use that can help with that - click here.
- What type of budget should be set?
- The cost of a baby shower is determined on the amount of guests that will be arriving. That is also why it is so important to plan your baby shower ahead of time and allow the guest the time to reply if they are going to attend. I feel, the best way to decide the outcome of the shower is to divide the number of guests by the budget you can afford to find out how much per person you are going to spend. This way you can best determine how much is a realistic amount to spend on the shower when you include the costs of party favors per person, games, if you are going to use paper plates etc.. or not.
- Who should pay for the baby shower?
- Usually, the hostess pays for the baby shower. This is a great reason to co-host the baby shower with another friend or family member of the expectant mother.
- Who should I invite to the baby shower?
- Ask the expectant mother who she would like to have invited. You would generally find close friends and family are the ones who are invited. But, this can depend on if the mother is having more than one baby shower or not. She may want one shower with close friends and another with just family. Some moms prefer to separate her close friends and family as they may have different styles in how to how fun at a baby shower. Make sure to get their first and last names, mailing addresses, and email addresses from the mom-to-be.
- How should we invite everyone?
- There are many different ways to invite people to a baby shower; post mail, phone calls, and email.
The most welcoming way I feel is through the mail - taking the time to make up nice invitations and mailing them out is a very nice gesture. Plus, this also allows those who were invited to have a nice keepsake for their sentimental box, photo album, or journals - if they keep one. This also is less intrusive than the phone call method which sometimes makes people feel as if they have to accept or like they have been placed on the spot; even if you tell them they can RSVP at a later time.
When sending the invites make sure they include the date, time, location, and directions to the Baby Shower party. Also include when and where to RSVP. You will want them to respond no later than 2 weeks before the baby shower. Indicate how to contact you with their RSVP (i.e. by telephone, email, or mail). Also, include any instructions for participation in any of the baby shower games (for example: Please bring a baby photo of yourself to Sara's Baby Shower or something like this: There will be plenty of games, but we need just one thing: A baby photo of yourself we ask you to bring! - What is a baby registry?
- A baby registry is a list of necessary and helpful items that an expectant mother (and expectant father) makes at a baby store. An expectant mother should register at a baby registry about 2-3 months before her delivery date. This helps friends and family know what an expectant mother needs for her new baby. A baby registry is kept on-file at the store, and has all of the items that the expectant parents will need for their new arrival. If someone else has already purchased an item on the store's list, the baby registry will indicate that as well.
- What if there is no baby room theme picked out yet?
- That is fine. Some parents who wish to wait till after their baby is born to find out the gender may also prefer to wait to decorate a theme. In this case find out if the parents wish to wait till after their baby is born to have a baby shower, of if they rather use neutral and non-theme based gifts. The parents can set up a baby registry and pre-pick out the gifts they would like at the baby shower that would suit their needs. This takes the worry out of gift buying and still allows for a great baby shower without a theme in place. As far as the party goes, use neutral colors and just design in baby decor, like baby bottles, bassinettes, baby hat and more. Basically, go with a basic baby theme baby shower using neutral colors.
- Where should a baby shower take place?
- Most baby showers are held in the home of the hostess. They are more casual, more relaxed, and usually more intimate. However, it depends on what kind of feel you (and the expectant mother) want to have. A restaurant or a reception hall can give an elegant, pampered feel. But that usually costs quite a bit. Consider the number of people you are inviting, how much space you will need, parking, noise level (an apartment party might upset the neighbors). Do you want it outside or inside?
- How long should the baby shower last?
- A typical baby shower lasts about 2 hours - long enough to bond and have fun; however not so long that guest may get "partied out". So, plan on the baby shower lasting about 2 hours and allow time for the guests who like to stay a little while longer to spend a little more time with the expectant mother.
- What types of food should be served?
- The best types of food to serve are healthy fun snacks. Chips and dip party tray is usually always a hit. You can also have fruit and veggie party trays too. And, to have a nice complimentary filling and yet affordable treat, make finger sandwiches of different variety: such as; roast beef with cheese, tuna fish, sliced chicken, and also turkey sandwiches.
Don't forget the cake!
Serve 100% fruit juice and sweet/unsweetened tea with sugar on the side to stir in for the guests who like their tea sweetened. - What about decorations?
- Make sure to decorate around the baby shower theme. Remember less is more, especially when you’re on a budget. A few tips: Buy a pre-made baby shower theme set that includes pretty much everything you will need to decorate. Or, Just get a banner, matching plastic or paper table cloth, matching cups, plates and napkins and make sure the party favors and game suit the theme too. That keeps it fairly simple and yet still nice.
- Should there be baby shower favors for the guests?
- It is not expected to have party favors at baby showers, but it is a nice way to show the guests you appreciate their attendance; especially if the baby registry contained mostly costly items. Since baby showers intent is to celebrate the baby and the mom, you shouldn't feel that you must have any baby shower favors for the guests. If you are unsure, then your best bet is to have them. If the budget is an issue - get creative! You can do something as simple as buying those tumbler cups that cost about $1.00 for 10, put candy in them, wrap them up in cellophane, tie them at the top with a lolly pop sticking out using pastel colored ribbon and viola - nice and affordable party favors!
- What types of games should be played?
- Check out these sites for some great ideas - mostly free!
* http://www.welcomebaby.com/baby_shower_games.htm - *
http://www.partygameideas.com/baby-shower/
- How many games should be played?
- It depends on how long each game takes from start to finish. My recommendation would be not to exceed 4-5 games. You want everyone to have fun, but you do not want to wear them out either. And, the best method to keeping the games really fun is to add in prizes! However, if your budget is really tight, your prizes can be non-tangible awards, such as: the winner can pick a funny thing for the expectant mom to do at the party, or the winner can pick the host to tell a funny or cute secret she has not told anyone about herself as a teen. Just be creative - it's all about having fun!
- How to thank everyone?
- This is especially important when having a baby shower. Make sure the expectant mom made a list of all the gifts and who gave her what. It is also important she have a copy of the mailing list that was used to send out all the invitations. The expectant mom should mail out "Thank You" cards to all of the friends and family who showed up to her baby shower. These cards can be bought at the store or printed out at home. Either way, they should be mailed out with-in 4 days of the party to make sure everyone gets their card and they feel appreciated, not forgotten.
Take the time to view these sites for great baby shower ideas.
Perfect Baby Showers: By BabyZone.com Baby Shower Planning: By babycenter.com
Plainning a Baby Shower: ehow.com
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