Planning a baby shower can be quite a process, so it might be a good idea to make a to-do list. Here are some ideas for planning a baby shower:
Topics: If the sex of the baby is known, an appropriate color can be used, or if it is unknown, neutral colors such as yellow, purple, green, etc. can be used. There are also many other creative themes that you can use.
For example, Ice Cream and Pickles can be a fun and creative theme. Serve a variety of ice cream flavors and provide small cups for flavor testing. Serve a tray of pickles and/or choose pickle favors and decorations. You can even decorate a cake with pickle designs created with frosting. Games may include guests who are moms writing their own weird food cravings they experienced while pregnant. Have other guests, or the mother-to-be, try to match the foods to the guests.
Another creative idea is April Showers. Put clotheslines around the room and hang small gifts on clothespins. Use artificial flowers for centerpieces and favors, and you can use an upside-down umbrella to collect gifts and cards.
Other gender-neutral decorating themes can be used, such as Noah’s Ark, Disney characters, zoo animals, teddy bears, care bears, rubber ducky, circus, nursery rhymes, and many, many more.
Guests: Guests at baby showers include family, friends, and coworkers. Although most showers are “girls only”, there is a growing trend of showers that include both women and men. You can also decide if children are allowed to attend the event.
Rental: Be sure to choose a location that suits your purposes. Make sure there is enough space for everyone, that there is enough air conditioning or heating. If children are invited with their parents, make sure the setting is child-friendly. In addition, you’ll want to make sure your location provides everything you need for food, including refrigeration, electrical heating/storage outlets, utensils, serving trays, coffee maker, sink, stove, microwave, etc.
Date: The baby shower is generally about six weeks before the baby’s due date. Many showers are held on weekends and last 2-3 hours.
Games: Try to get an idea of the baby games that will be played during the shower. You’ll need to have a good idea of how many prizes you’ll need, plus you’ll need to send any special instructions with the invitations.
Invitations: Invitations must be sent well in advance of the event. Give your guests a date to RSVP, and you can also include instructions for the games. Many games require guests to bring items or information that will be much easier to acquire and prepare before arriving at the shower. Make sure your invitations are very specific, especially if there are special circumstances regarding the location, such as parking. If children can attend the event, you should include a note in the invitation.
Meal: Many showers are buffet-style and include various types of snacks for easy access and cleaning. Foods can also tie in with whatever theme you are using for the shower.
Favors: Baby shower gifts often include miniature baby items such as bottles, diaper clips, teddy bears, etc. Candles, flowers, bubbles, and puzzles are also great ideas for favors.
awards: Prizes may vary depending on the games played, but may include candles, lotions, bath soaps, decorations, crafts, etc. Prizes and favors are a great way to show appreciation to your guests for their own gifts and attendance.
Thank you cards: Although this is usually the mother-to-be’s responsibility, the organizer can help with thank you cards. By asking each guest to bring an index card with their name and address printed on it, the mother-to-be will have a handy reference for writing thank you cards. (Cards can also be randomly chosen for prizes during the shower)