Leah Merchant asked:


I often hear expectant mothers complain that the hostess of their baby shower is not doing things the way they would like. They ask whether they should confront their hostesses and ask them to do things the way they had envisioned them. This is an unfortunate situation, as mom-to-be should be looking forward to the event instead of worrying that it won’t go according to her expectations. It is equally inappropriate for an expectant mom to try to plan the baby shower herself from behind the scenes. This puts the baby shower hostess in an incredibly awkward position. So here are a few guidelines to keep in mind if there is a baby shower in your near future.

If you are an expectant mom, remember that baby shower hostesses are not obligated to plan the party according to the wishes of the expectant mother! A baby shower is a gift that is being given, and as such, its recipient should not expect to dictate its specifications! Moms-to-be should accept the offer of a baby shower with gratitude – then sit back and let their hostess plan the party. In a nutshell, don’t try to exert too much control over the planning of your shower! If she asks, give your shower hostess some general ideas of what colors you like, a game or two you might enjoy (or would prefer to skip - like the “Guess the Girth” game!) or a few hints on how you plan to decorate the nursery. All of these things will assist your hostess in planning the direction she wants to go in with the baby shower, but remember that it is ultimately her decision. She is the one who will be hunting for decorations, preparing food, doing the work, and paying the price. It is fine to say, “You know, I love pink and frilly,” or “I was thinking of brown and teal for the baby’s room.” Both of these will give your hostess a window into your personality and tastes. It is not okay to say, “I want a Noah’s Ark themed shower decorated with pairs of stuffed animals and I want the Noah’s Ark cake on page 12 of the book at Bob’s Local Bakery and I want balloon bouquets all around the room and I want a centerpiece with lilies, they’re my favorite!” Give your shower hostess clues and ideas, but remember that she is throwing the shower, not you! Besides, half the fun of the shower is just showing up and enjoying being the guest of honor at a party that someone else took the time to throw for you! Lastly, remember that by far the worst saboteur of your dream shower is your own expectations!! If you have spent your pregnancy dreaming about an elaborate baby shower, you have probably already set yourself up for a disappointment. Let go of all those expectations, and just enjoy the party for whatever it turns out to be. As a wise man once said, “Keep your expectations low, and your gratitude high.”

If you are a baby shower hostess, understand that the tastes of the mom-to-be may vary considerably from those of the hostess planning the party. Although throwing a baby shower is a kind gesture and should be received with appreciation regardless of the specifics, it is the extra thoughtful hostess who takes the time to familiarize herself with the tastes of the mom-to-be and throw a shower according to them, instead of her own. Ask your guest of honor for hints about the kind of shower she has in mind. Be general in the information you ask for, and remember that her suggestions are just that – suggestions. Use the information you gather from the mom-to-be as a guideline to get you pointed in the right direction, but stay within your means in terms of time and money. And check your stress level – if it feels like you are jumping through hoops to make your guest of honor happy, then you have veered off course!

Baby showers should be about celebrating a woman’s passage into motherhood, the impending arrival of a new family member, and the changing dynamic of a young family – if both mom-to-be and shower hostess keep the focus on a loving celebration, things like theme, games, decorations, and food will seem less important to everyone!

Mandie Klein asked:


Creative baby shower gifts are aplenty and within budget. You don’t have to break your bank just to get adorable little enchanted fairy tale carriage favor boxes to impress your friends who are going to be mommies soon. Read on for more creative ideas for baby shower gifts.

Getting Creative and Getting the Kudos

Shopping for creative baby shower gifts can be challenging, even to the most experienced moms and dads going to a baby shower or being given one. Why? They all experience that Jell-O in the arm feeling when faced with the daunting task of selecting that one gift that will bring on appreciative smiles. As parents, they want to give something both beautiful and practical, just like what they wanted when they got tons of baby gifts during the baby showers hosted for them.

Be creative. Shopping for baby gifts can be interesting. True, traditional baby shower gifts are appropriate for the occasion, but you can pull in a fast one by making these gifts truly creative, bearing your personal touch. How?

Traditional items like gift baskets can contain personalized bibs, booties, and even onesies. Hand-knitted blankets, picture frames, and piggy banks score a win when personalized, but what if you’re broke and looking at $25? You can’t welcome a special bundle of joy with a ho-hum gift that will gather dust or stay unused for years.

Lovely Baby Shower Gifts That Won’t Cost You

Don’t despair. There are baby shower gifts below $20 that won’t have you losing face when the mom-to-be opens the colorful package. Here are some creative baby shower gifts you’ll be happy to give:

* Beautiful and personalized burp cloths

* Gift sets with T-shirts, tank tops, pants, bib, cap and booties

* Charming keepsake boxes

* World’s Greatest Mommy things (e.g. cheese grater)

* Personalized baby mugs

* Four-piece gift sets

* Personalized baby pacifiers

* Bottle holders

* Monogrammed diaper bags

* Tot’s dish sets

Don’t be afraid to give non-traditional or creative baby shower gifts below $20. Clue in to items for baby travel, feeding and bath items, and items for a sick baby, just in case. You’ll also do well with breastfeeding support items for the mom such as ****** pads and lanolin ointment.

Baby travel items make for creative baby shower gifts - rubber duckies, disposable wash cloths, infant toiletry, and some goodies for the mom. Don’t forget to tuck in some pain relievers for both mom and dad; they’ll need these while on the road. You may want to try out those sick baby items that include a baby thermometer. This will be greeted with sighs of relief because moms-to-be often forget these essential items.

The Mommy/Daddy Agenda

Don’t get it wrong. Baby showers are also the time to pamper the moms-to-be. So if you are stumped with what to give for a baby who has yet to make an appearance, focus on the mom and dad. They’ll lap up all the attention you’ll shower on them with practical items like nifty bottle openers, key chains, votive candle holders, and scented bath oils.

Also, creative baby shower gifts do not mean you’ll have to get stuck with so-so items that have been used to death, or the usual baby shower gifts that are beyond your budget. Baby shower gifts under $25 can save you sleepless nights. So get up and go creative. Spoil mom and dad and the baby, too.

Michael Malega asked:


I hope that the following article will help you to better realize this topic. We all love parties and the attendant fun and games that seems to be Apart of this event. Now one such event that many people like to go to is baby showers. At this party you can have mountain of interesting baby shower games. These versatile baby shower games can let in lots of great items that the expectant mother can use when the baby is born.

Now I am sure that you have in all probability seen lots of baby shower games that you can use as ideas for the baby shower that you are hosting. For instance you can have some games to break the ice as tons of people who may not have met each other before get together. Then you can have baby shower games that feature scavenger hunts. As an alternative of scavenger hunts that have to do with chocolates or other clues you can have your scavenger hunting look for items that the new mother will need.

Other than these baby shower games you can have games where both the mother and the father get to have fun. One such baby shower game that you guests might have fun with is where the couples (this is a baby shower where both the husband and wife are invited) get to make a baby. For this character of baby shower game you will need to supply lots of Play-Doh for the playfulness loving couples to make their baby.

As with all of these baby shower games you should make sure that everyone has merriment and they do get a fun prize for Taking the game. The prizes that you will need to give out should speculate the nature of the baby shower games. The main thing that you should make sure of is that you don’t admit any spiritual type of party prizes as you might by chance offend your guests.

Also these games you can have baby shower games where the guests get to see what the diverse baby food tastes like while their eyes are closed. To keep in line that everyone gets a have a chance you can blind bend the person and then ask them to select a baby food bottle, eat a little bit of the food and try and guess what it tastes like.

All of these baby shower games are fun to have at baby showers and providing that you make sure that everyone has a chance to be in the lime light there should not be much of a problem with your party. There is now only one thing left for you to do and that is to have fun and fall in in a few of the baby shower games.

There are many more article like this one on my site. Thanks for reading! Keep browsing.

Leah Merchant asked:


Baby showers are events that are remembered by a mom-to-be for life. They have become an American tradition and it is not uncommon to throw a baby shower for a mom-to-be who is expecting her second, third, or fourth child. First time mothers look forward to their baby showers with great excitement and anticipation. As a baby shower hostess, the pressure to throw an event that is both unique and memorable is very real. But what if you are working within a tight budget? A baby shower doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to be an event that the guest of honor will treasure in her memory.

The first order of business is invitations. Many expectant moms like to put one of the invitations from their baby shower in their baby book – so they have to be beautiful! But how can you save money without spending hours filling in the blanks on the really cheap invites? Simple! Purchase inexpensive blank invitations that you can run through your printer, and a roll of coordinating ribbon. Punch two holes at the top of the printed invite, thread a piece of ribbon through, and tie in a bow. Viola! Beautiful, classic invitations that cost you very little.

Next, plan your menu. Serve light refreshments rather than a full spread of food. Finger foods are super appropriate for a baby shower and will keep your costs down. Things like a veggie platter with dip, crackers and blocks of cheese you sliced yourself, fruit salad, cucumber sandwiches, and deviled eggs are inexpensive and easy to prepare, but they make an appealing spread. For drinks, consider ice cream punch. Combine a two-liter of ginger ale and half a gallon of vanilla ice cream in a punch bowl. Easy, inexpensive, and delicious.

One of the most important aspects of a beautiful baby shower is the decorations. The space where the shower will take place should feel like a celebration. The most bang for your buck here comes from helium balloons – the more, the better! Helium balloons turn even the most stark and cold space into an instant party. Purchase a few inexpensive baby bath products to use for balloon weights, and distribute odd-numbered bunches of balloons throughout the space. Next, add some paper streamers. These are super cheap and they are just the right touch over doorways and windows. The final touch will be two tablecloths in a color that matches your theme – one for the food table and one for the gift table. These large splashes of color will finish the room and they are so inexpensive!

Plan activities for your guests that do not require you to purchase supplies. Baby shower games that require only a paper and pencil, (or better yet) just a thinking cap, are your best bet! And finally, consider purchasing or making a diaper cake as your gift to the expectant mom. Displaying a large diaper cake adds a lot of atmosphere to a baby shower; they are an ideal centerpiece and an irresistible conversation piece. You can use the diaper cake to play a game with your guests – have participants guess how many diapers and what baby items the diaper cake is constructed with. And when the party is over, mom-to-be can take the diaper cake home as your gift to her. You get a centerpiece, a game, and a gift all in one – the kind of versatility you need when you are on a budget. Most importantly, diaper cakes are a unique and memorable gift that the expectant mother will be thrilled to receive. Six months after the baby shower, she won’t remember who gave her socks or onesies, but she will still be smiling about the diaper cake!

With just a little creativity and not a lot of money, you can throw a baby shower that will live in the memory of all your guests for years to come, and be a treasured happy memory for the mom-to-be.

Sylvia T asked:


Find common questions people ask when planning a baby shower answered below.

Who should host the baby shower? Traditionally, only non-relatives are supposed to host a baby shower — co-workers, church groups, friends etc. However, it has become more common and acceptable for mothers and sisters to host showers too. It is also perfectly acceptable for more than one person to host a baby shower. The only one who absolutely should not host a shower is the expecting mom herself!

Who pays the bill? How much should the host spend? Usually the host/hosts will pay for the cost of the baby shower. This is when it might be nice to co-host a shower with someone else. How much you spend depends on a variety of factors such as whether you will serve a full meal or just hors d’oeuvres, what kinda of cake you will have, where you have the party, what type of games and prizes you plan on (if any), whether you give out favors and how elaborate you are with decorations.

Who do I invite? How should I invite the guests? You will likely have some idea of who you want to invite to the shower, but it is always a safe bet to run the guest list by the mom-to-be (or a close relative or friend if the shower is a surprise) to ensure you haven’t left anyone out or invited anyone they rather not be present. If the shower is not for a firstborn, you may want to invite only those close to the mom-to-be or those who have not attended previous showers. Guests can be invited via a phone, e-mail or a written invitation. Written invitations are the most popular way to invite guests mainly because serve as a great reminder for the guests and they allow the hostess to give guests a taste of what the theme will be. You can purchase pre-printed invitations or make the invitations by hand. No matter what type of invitation you use, be sure to include important information such as the date, time and place of the shower, if there is a theme you would like the guests to follow, whether the gender of the baby is known or if gifts should be neutral, where the mom-to-be has registered and a map or directions to the shower.

Should the men be invited? This really depends on what type of shower you are planning. For the most part, guys likely will not be interested in playing traditional “shower” games, eating cutesy foods and talking about pregnancy and childbirth. However, a shower can be a special event for expecting dads as well as moms if they’re done with women and men in mind. If the party is not a surprise, be sure to check with the mom-to-be as to whether the dad (and his friends) would enjoy a baby celebration. If she agrees, go from there. If you are including games at your shower, be sure to make them “men friendly? and have plenty of food available for your male guests. It would be a nice touch to include gifts that are special for the new dad — a book on fathers and children, an “I love my daddy” bib for the baby, or maybe a frame Dad can take to the office to display a new picture of his baby!

Should I invite someone who has recently miscarried or is dealing with infertility? While your friend may not want to attend the shower because it would be too painful, she may feel even more hurt if she isn’t invited at all. Gently ask your friend if she would feel up to coming — no pressure. Assure her that it is OK for her to decline the invitation if a shower is just too difficult for her.

Where should I have the shower? Showers are normally held in the home of the hostess. However, you can certainly host a shower at a favorite restaurant or banquet hall — it really all depends on what atmosphere you are looking for and how much money you want to spend.

When to throw a baby shower? Showers are normally given before the baby is born, generally a month or two before the mom’s due date. It’s a good idea to give the mom enough time following the shower to shop for items she didn’t receive, yet wants to have before the baby arrives. And of course you don’t want to hold the shower too close to baby’s due date in case he or she makes an early arrival! Another option is to hold a “welcoming shower” a few weeks after the baby arrives, particularly if guests want to bring gifts specifically for a boy or girl. This is also an option if there are special out-of-town relatives (baby’s grandparents, for example) that are coming post-birth and would love to attend the shower but cannot arrange two trips.

Should the baby shower be a surprise? Surprises can be fun if they are the kind of thing the expecting mother usually enjoys. If the shower is going to be a surprise, you will need the help of those close to mom to find out her needs and wants for the baby. You’ll also want to plan the guest list carefully, checking it with a relative or friend to make sure you haven’t left anyone out who is close to the expecting mom or invited someone the new mom would prefer not be there. Although surprises are nice, throwing a baby shower that is not a surprise is obliviously much easier to do. It gives the hostess a chance to review the menu and guest list with the new mom and allows the mom to register for baby gifts and let the hostess know her preferences. No matter whether the shower is a surprise or not, keep in mind that it is for the mom to be! Make sure she has a comfy chair to sit in, someone to hand her gifts, her favorite foods, and plenty of help getting the gifts to her car and into her home. After all, it’s her special day!

Should a baby shower be held for a couple whose adopting? A baby shower is a wonderful way to help new parents welcome an adopted child into the family. Before the shower, talk with the mom about what items she needs for the child. Also, be sure not to host the shower too early so that the parents will be welcoming the new child into their home. If the adoption does not go as planned, the shower can add to the new parents’ heartache.

Should baby showers be held for the second, third, fourth, etc.. baby? Many believe a baby shower should only be held for the first child. However, it has become more common for baby showers to be held for every child whether it is the first or the tenth. After all, each child is special and deserves special recognition. Parents will appreciate some new clothes for baby, especially if they are having a different gender child from their other(s). At the same time there are probably various new baby products that weren’t around when they had their first child. If you feel that the parents-to-be are all set with baby gear and clothes, you can give them the gift of your time. New moms will certainly appreciate a gift of babysitting, your assistance with household chores or a home cooked meal. It’s also a nice idea to give something to the parents for themselves such as a gift certificate for dinner at a restaurant or tickets to a movie (with babysitting provided of course). You can also give mom something she can use to pamper herself or something that will make her feel special such as spa products, a sweet treat, a robe and slippers or even a piece of jewelry. How elaborate you would like to be with the baby shower and gifts is up to you.

When should the mom-to-be register for gifts? If the mom-to-be intends on registering, she should do so about a month before the shower. This allows the host to send the registration information along with the invitations. Some women think the whole idea of registering for gifts is rude because you are telling your guests what to get you. Truth is, registering saves a lot of frustration for the mom-to-be, the hostess and the guests. Not only does it prevent duplicate baby shower gifts, but it also allows the mommy-to-be to receive gifts she both needs and wants. Remember…you can suggest to your guests that the mom-to-be has registered somewhere, but whether or not they actually follow the baby registry is up to them.