How to Plan A Baby Shower: The Culture & Etiquette You Should Know

Luckybudmall Oct 19, 2022
How to Plan A Baby Shower: The Culture & Etiquette You Should Know

In some countries, a baby shower is a way to celebrate the birth of a child into this world, by showering the mother with gifts for the baby. Although a shower usually means showering, bathing, cleaning yourself, this time the term “shower” means that the expectant mother is showered with gifts and presents.

The term “shower” comes from falling rain in the same way gifts are fallen on the mother. The party is called a baby shower when you're expecting a baby to come into this world. So who throws the baby shower? The mother- to-bes, closest friends, and family.

It would be polite to bring gifts to the party since that is the point of the party. The point of the party means that it is the reason of the party. Having a baby is expensive and these gifts help the parents-to-be to not spend all of their money on the baby before it is born.  

A baby shower is a party congratulating the pregnant mother and welcoming the new baby, and the baby shower is usually thrown for only the firstborn child.

The Origin of Baby Showers

Although the exact history and origin of baby showers is not fully known, most will agree that its purpose has not changed. Regardless of when the concept first appeared, it has always served a specific purpose: a chance for you to “shower” the mother -to-be with gifts for her baby. Most believe that they have been around since the days of the Egyptians.    

Although it is possible that the concept has been around for hundreds if not thousands of years, baby showers, as it is known today, only began to appear right around the time of World War II.

Early on, showers provided a chance for you to give gifts to the couple expecting a baby. Now they have involved into parties and celebrations, where you not only bring gifts, but you play shower games and celebrate with lots of food, usually in the home of the person hosting the event.

At a baby shower, you can expect to see just about everyone involved in the life of the mother-to-be, from friends and family, to co-workers and other acquaintances. Initially only women attended, but it is no surprise today to see couples baby showers and coed baby showers.

Besides honoring and celebrating the arrival of a child, be it through traditional means or through adoption, these showers also give you the opportunity to lighten the financial burden that the couple might face after the arrival of their baby.  

Gifts of clothing, diapers and formula can serve as an excellent starting point for the parents. The benefits of it make it almost a necessity for couples to host a party.

Baby Shower Invitations

In order for you to ensure that all of the important people in the life of the mother-to-be and baby are in attendance, you should purchase personalized invitations, cards or announcements  for the shower. Matching baby shower thank-you cards will also be needed for the mother-to-be to show her gratitude to the guests who will attend.  

Check out an exclusive collection of baby shower invitations that can be personalized with any wording, saying or verses you choose. Your customized baby shower invitations design and theme will be perfect for setting the theme and mood of your party, which create a lifetime of memories.

Baby Shower Etiquette or Rules You Should Know

As we all know, a Spring means baby showers, and wedding showers and all sorts of showers, but do you know your proper baby shower etiquette?

“Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.” -- Clarence Thomas.

  1. The hosts should ask mom-to-be on how involved she would like to be in the planing of the shower process. At the very least, she should have input on the guest list, date, and choice of gift registries.

  2. Immediate family better  not host a baby shower. In the past, decorum dictated it was in bad taste for immediate family members to host a baby shower, with the responsibility often falling to a friend(s) or relative(s). 

  3. When do you have a baby shower? The Proper time to send out the invitation is 2-3 weeks  (or 4-6 weeks)  in advance. Baby showers are usually held within two months of the baby's arrival date. For planning purposes, sooner is usually better than later. It allows the soon-to-be-mom enough time to pick up any additional items she needs before the baby arrives. There is also the chance the baby may arrive a little early and it's best to be prepared.

  4. Traditionally, it used to be don't have a baby shower for the second or third baby. But in more recent times, it has become acceptable for baby showers to be thrown for a second or even third child (as all babies should be celebrated .)

  5. It's perfectly acceptable to add a gift registry  to the initiation. Traditionally, the gift registry is discreetly included at the bottom of the baby shower invitation. The purpose is to get the mom-to-be exactly what she is hoping for. A registry ensures the mom-to-be won't receive a large number of duplicate items. Equally important, it takes a great deal of pressure off the hosts of the shower, and the shower guests. Truly a win-win-win!

  6. The host (but not the mother-to-be) can call the guests who have not RSVP, but just don't make the guests feel bad, just say that you want to make sure that the guest have got the invitation and you really want them to come.

  7. The guests don't have to use the registry as the gift guide. They can make their own baby shower gift ideas, of course.

  8. You must always send a thank-you card or a note or something else after the baby shower celebration.

How to Throw A Baby Shower Party

Because you're an amazing friend or sister or whatever, and this baby isn't gonna swaddle itself. Snacks, drinks, decor, and more. There's so much to do, but first on your list?  Here  are the real tips you need to know to throw the best baby shower ever. 

Tip 1, Enough with The Games

No one wants to see you try and change a baby's diaper blindfolded. Plus, you don't know, but someone at your baby shower could be actually having a hard time getting pregnant. They're not going to be into your let's taste the baby food game. Instead, let everyone relax, snack, and catch-up.      

Tip 2, Let Them Eat Cake

Listen, we're here, we're bored, so feed us. We went through a whole lot of trouble to match the mom's nursery color scheme,  i t's the least you can do. So make sure you got some of those cute, tiny desserts, there's nothing like them. I don't know about you, but I want my desserts as cute as that baby she's about to have.      

Tip 3, Help The Mom Register

When your friend is out there registering for all her crap, make sure there's a range of prices. No offense, but not everyone's gonna wanna buy her a $400 stroller. Okay, maybe we all want to, but we just can't swing it . So make sure you're gonna throw in some blankets. And bonus points, get a nice gift for the mom-to-be, cute pajamas, a manicure, stuff that's gonna help her get through that last, beached-whale stage, because that's thoughtful.          

Tip 4, Keep The Gifts Closed

That's right. Don't open the presents. I know this is a hot topic, but I'm telling you no one wants to be held captive watching you open 37 onesies and 14 homemade quilts. So better leave those presents in the corner.   

Tip 5, Put Your Squad to Work

Here's the thing, baby gear, it's huge. Car seat, the box is three times bigger than the actual car seat. This, pair of socks in here. You don't want to be lifting this stuff when you're pregnant, especially . So don't let your inner circle leave until they help you load up the goods. And someone's gotta take th o se balloons home. That will be better.        

Conclusion

Baby showers are a wonderful way for friends and family to come together to celebrate an upcoming birth, and honor the mom-to-be. If you are going to plan a baby shower, hope the above tips can help you throw a successful party. Have fun and enjoy the celebration!