Donna Randol asked:


When deciding what I can do to make a baby shower gift a bit more special, I consider the relationship I have with the person receiving the gift.  I ask myself, sometimes without thinking, how close am I to the person receiving the gift?  Are we related?  Are we close?  Do we have a past together?  Have we shared secrets?  Are we acquaintances?  Is it someone I work with?  All of these factor in for me. 

 

When I am close to someone it is more important that the baby gift is exceptionally special, and by that I don’t mean more expensive.  It might mean I know what makes more of an impact on her than someone who isn’t as close.  It might mean I know about something she forgot to place on her baby register, or something I know she will need but has not thought of.  Because we have a relationship I want her to know how much she means to me so I try to give a baby shower gift with that extra something that makes her feel important.  This is her time, it is not about me.

 

I always want my baby gifts to be special.  However, it is sometimes easier to buy for those who I am not quite as close to.  It is easier to buy something that is more useful or more in my price range that is on her baby register.  For those who I am not as close to I still want to buy a gift that makes an impression.  I want them to know I care about them and would like to know them better.  Because I may not know them as well, I will generally buy something off of her baby register and add a little something extra for her.

 

Secondly, I consider how much money I have to spend on a baby shower gift.  Have I been putting money away for a gift since my friend told me the exciting news?  The good thing about baby gifts is you can always find something relatively inexpensive for a new mother.  Even if you can only afford to buy burp cloths and a card, the way it is presented and wrapped goes a long way to show you care. 

 

This is where the relationship comes to play.  I might not have the money to buy an expensive gift, but because we are close, I know she understands and our relationship is more important than what I give as a gift.  So I might buy something inexpensive that she needs and add something personal that I have made.  It can be as simple as just adding some special chocolate that I know she loves or has been craving.  Or maybe my friend loves very pretty wrapped gifts; I can take something inexpensive and make it more special by wrapping it in a special way, or putting a personal note just for her to read that brings a precious memory to her mind.  Sometimes the best gift to give is the gift of our time.  If you are really struggling financially, making coupons for future babysitting is a wonderful gift.  The important thing to remember is a baby shower is given not just to give gifts but to celebrate the new life coming into the relationship we have. 

 

If by chance I am in the position to buy a more expensive gift or several gifts I still try to make it as personal as possible by including an item that may become a keepsake gift in the future.  This way I can be practical and sentimental at the same time. 

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had an unlimited source of money?  If we did we wouldn’t give a second thought to those high price tags that come on baby gifts or any other type of gift we might want to buy for someone.  Unfortunately not everyone has that privilege, at least not in my circle of friends.  With an unlimited amount of money I might be able to buy a lot of wonderful things, but would I know when to stop?  Sometimes knowing that I only have a certain amount of money to spend may make my baby gift selection easier, and perhaps more meaningful.  A gift that has sentimental value to the person receiving the gift is always a winner. 

 

Having a budget means careful planning and more thought into making a gift purchase.  By having a budget I am forced into a certain price range, thereby making my baby gift selection easier.  Maybe not emotionally easier but it can limit my selection of gifts.  Sometimes it may be difficult to find that just right personal gift when you don’t have a lot of money but it can be done. 

 

How do I make it special?

 

As I mentioned earlier I try to make every baby gift purchase a special one.  With so many different baby gifts out there to buy it can be overwhelming.  For my practical side I buy something that is on the baby gift register, and then I buy something that is not on the register.  Today with the baby gift registers so popular an expectant mom can see ahead of time what people are buying.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  I just like to have something that will be a surprise. 

 

If I am close to someone it makes it easier to make it special, only because I might know her favorite chocolate, or her favorite colors.  If you don’t know her too well because you only have a passing working relationship it will take a bit more time and effort to make a gift special.  Use what you know to make a gift special.  If you don’t know what she likes then ask the friends that know her better.  There is a reason beyond the gift that you were invited.  

 

If you are beyond knowing what someone might find special there are some beautiful gift baskets on-line that contain items that you can’t find in the department stores that contain both practical and sentimental items.  I have ordered these for those friends and family that now live in another state.  And if you aren’t into gift baskets you can find some unique baby gifts or personalized baby gifts on line for those out of town.  Personalized gifts are nice and always appreciated if you know the baby’s name ahead of time. 

 

How a gift is presented shows the person has put some time and thought into presenting the gift.  If you happen to know the colors being used in the baby’s room you might wrap the gift in a coordinating color.  If she wants she might use it to line a drawer of the baby’s room.  Gift bags are always nice and can be reused. 

 

I have seen many happy moms delighted when they see their favorite candy is tucked in along with the baby gift.  Think about what puts a smile on your friends face and go from there.  It doesn’t take much to make a gift special.  Use what you know, use your imagination and creativity to make an ordinary gift a special gift.  And enjoy the baby shower! 

 

Remember a baby shower is given not just to give gifts but to celebrate the new life coming into the relationship we have.  Let’s not discount the fact that the best gift we can give is our love, care and support.

 

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!

kaylee k asked:


My brothers girlfriend is having a baby and i am in charge of planning the shower HELP!

Sarah Porter asked:


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Birth Announcements and Baby Shower Invitations - New arrivals to the family call for lots of excitement and celebration. That’s why our baby announcements and baby shower invitations are perfect for the occasion. You’ll be able to share the wonderful news with everyone you know and even invite them over to catch a glimpse of your bundle of joy. We carry everything including traditional baby shower invitation cards to baby announcement photo cards and all the baby invitations in between. You’ll definitely want to see our huge selection of birth announcement cards, too.

Birthday Party Invitations - Whether you’re turning 6 or 60, we have the children birthday party invitations cards, you’re going to want so that your party will be fabulous. Do you need first birthday invitations cards or kid birthday invitation? Do you have a Sweet 16 celebration coming up? Do you want to throw a bash for someone turning 30, 40 or 50? We’ve got all of the kids birthday invitations you could want and more. All of our cards are creative, fun, and completely customizable.

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No matter which cards you need or the type of invitations you want, they are usually available online. You can many gigantic selections or you can read some guidelines for choosing the right cards invitations below.

Picking the Appropriate Card for the Correct Event - Since we all have different events in our lives that need to be celebrated, it’s hard to know which cards announcement would be the best choice for all of them. In most traditional stores, you’ll find nothing but chaos with cards for different occasions thrown everywhere. That’s why online card shopping is so much easier. They are usually arranges into tidy, easy to recognize categories so you can be viewing the types of cards you need with a simple click of the mouse. That means if you want Christian sympathy cards, you just look under sympathy greetings or in religious invitations and you’ll find what you need. Picking the correct announcements cards is always the best first step to take.

Creating a Recipient List - Before you buy an invitation announcement, you need to know who is going to be on the receiving end of your mailing. And, yes, there must be a mailing. Although we can certainly invite people or announce big news via text messages or phone calls, there’s something more special about taking the time to pick out a greeting and send them the old-fashioned way. Plus, that’s the rules of etiquette. Depending on your reason for sending them out, you may have a huge list of almost every person you know or you could have a smaller list of just your closest companions and family members. Either way, you’ll want to purchase a few extras just in case of mistakes or of late additions to the guest list. With wedding invitations, for example, many planners recommend purchasing an extra 10% for this reason. That means if you’re sending out 200 invites then you would need to buy 220 wedding invitation cards just in case. The same rule applies to thank you cards and invites for other events.

Mailing the Invitations Announcement - After you’ve put together your list and prepared your greetings, it’s time to get them in the mail. You should always take them into the post office for mailing so you can request that they be hand stamped. Otherwise your envelope is going to be marred by an unsightly computer bar. You might also want to purchase some special stamps for the invitations announcement you are sending. For larger ones, you might also want to check the weight of one of your envelopes before assuming it will only take one stamp. You don’t want to find out the hard way that you were wrong.

 

Sarah Porter asked:


Where should you have the baby shower? The answer depends on several factors! Traditionally, baby showers are held at a home, word, restaurant, or church / temple. Baby showers nowadays are held at parks, country clubs, bars, restaurants and any place where people can gather, All About Baby Showers , the preferred choice for the baby shower place is the warmth of some friend’s house since it is more comfortable, quaint and homey.

For the second or third baby shower, a restaurant with a private room, bar or church / temple are great places to host the baby showers. Cost is an important consideration since someone will have to pay for the baby shower costs. The weather time of day and are also important considerations when deciding where the baby showers should be held.

You should ensure that the baby shower location is large enough to accommodate your guest list. Regardless of whether you host the baby shower, http://www.cards-411.com/display.php?page_name=All_About_Baby_Showers at a home, restaurant, hotel or rented space, make sure everything is planned and it will be an excellent shower! Hosting the baby shower at home will save a considerable amount of your budget. However, you will still need to spend money on plates, cups, napkins, eating utensils and possibly table rentals.

If the baby shower will be at a restaurant, you should start looking for locations early. You should visit potential locations to make sure it will accommodate your party, works with your baby shower theme and serves food that the Mommy-to-Be and your guests will enjoy. You should ensure that the location you choose will match your baby shower theme and will allow you to decorate for that theme.

Baby Shower Party at Home – The most popular place to have baby showers is in someone’s home since homes are warm and cozy, and usually you don’t have to worry about making too much noise. But, homes are often too small for a large number of guests. One of the first things decisions when planning baby showers is how many people the home can comfortably accommodate. The furniture should be moved so the baby shower guests can sit in an arrangement that will allow for pleasant conversation.

There are many types of baby showers for the home you can plan. Home baby showers are likely to be attended by guests of all ages, so you will want to keep the baby shower party fun for everyone. Some baby shower ideas that may be fun for younger guests might not be appropriate for older ones. A cute home baby shower favor idea is to make cookies, frost them with the Mom’s name, wrap them and put them next to a cute baking favor like the baby shower rolling pin recipe card holder. You could even put a recipe for the cookies behind the recipe card that’s included with the baby shower favor!

Baby Shower Party at Restaurant - A restaurant or banquet hall provides lots of space baby showers in an elegant atmosphere. The restaurant does the food preparation, clean up and other tasks, so your work is minimized. The biggest challenge to having the baby shower at a restaurant is to make the guests feel welcome and to create a comfortable atmosphere for conversation and sharing.

You should select a restaurant convenient to most of your guests and Mommy-to-Be. Plan the baby shower far enough in advance so that you can make the reservations. It will be difficult at that time to estimate the number of guests attending the baby shower, but you can check with many guests before mailing the baby shower invitations, so that you can give the restaurant your best guess. Always try the food yourself, BEFORE selecting the menu for the baby shower.

You should be aware of your guests’ dietary needs, and you might want to share the menu in advance or ask if anyone has any special dietary restrictions. Arrange for the restaurant has an alternative available if a guest can’t eat the foods that have been chosen. If any guest rejects the meal, the server should be instructed to ask the guest if she would prefer an alternative. Always check with the restaurant beforehand if you are bringing your own cake.

If you are hosting a large group for the baby shower, you might consider using baby shower place cards. It is also a nice little extra to have name tags for each guest indicating their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be, and don’t forget a name tag for the guest of honor. Baby shower decorations add a warm touch, but keep them simple. A cluster of helium baby shower balloons and a baby shower banner over the gift table add a festive touch. Don’t forget to give the guests a cute baby shower favor.

Baby shower games are sometimes not appropriate at a restaurant, but if the restaurant is casual and you have a private area, a simple baby shower game might be considered. Be mindful of your allotted time at the restaurant so that all of the baby shower gifts can be opened comfortably without being rushed. As the guests leave, it’s an added feature to have someone photograph the Mommy-to-Be with each departing baby shower guest. Have duplicate prints made and let the Mommy-to-Be include one in each of her baby shower thank you cards. It’s a thoughtful baby shower gift for both the guest and Mommy-to-Be.

Baby Shower Party at the Office or Work - When planning baby showers, one of the first decisions to be made is where to have the party. If it will be held at work, check with the human resources department to be certain there will be no conflict and verify that an appropriate area will be available. Deciding whom to send office baby shower invitations to might be difficult in a large business, because some people may feel left out. Ask the Mommy-to-Be for advice and suggestions.

One person should act as the host or hostess and delegate other tasks. The immediate co-workers normally pay the direct costs for the baby shower. Baby shower decorations and baby shower party supplies should be easily disposable. A cluster of baby shower balloons and a personalized baby shower banner would be appropriate. You should decide in advance if lunch will be part of the program or only desert. You will need to decide on something easy like pizza, while some office baby shower parties decide to make it a potluck.

An office baby shower party usually allows very little time for baby shower games, but the lottery style scratch off game cards are perfect for these type of baby showers. Ask each person to write down her suggestions for keeping the new baby happy. These suggestions can be funny or serious, and should be read just before the Mommy-to-Be opens the baby shower gifts. Ask someone to take pictures and get doubles printed so the Mommy-to-Be can have one set and the others can be posted and shared with all.

If the baby shower party is being held during working hours, time could be a factor. The hostess should keep everyone and the baby shower on schedule. A clean up committee should be appointed in advance and should be responsible for returning the room to its original appearance. Have fun, but remember, it is still an office environment. And, above all, don’t forget to send personalized baby shower thank you cards.

You can view lot of printable Baby Shower Announcements, Baby Shower Invitations and Baby Shower Cards, add your personal message, along with your favorite fonts, ink color and then Preview your personalized baby card. This process allows you to see your baby card before you buy!

Sandra Canfield asked:


Themes for parties tumble in all directions, but a baby shower begins with one common denominator, babies. Sit down with a notebook and pen, start writing down words that come to mind when the word “baby” is spoken. The mind conjures up images that provide a multitude of ideas. Babies: lullaby, rocking, sweet, gentle, tiny animals, storybooks and their characters, downy soft, sunny, silly, and whimsical are a few words associated with babies. Add to the list of words specific things you know about mom and dad to be. Perhaps they love the outdoors, gardening, camping, or hiking. It could be a family that finds music and playing instruments to be an important part of their life. A sports family with riotous good humor who believe nothing is better on a hot July night than going to a baseball game. Incorporate what you know about the family with words associated with baby to come up with a very personal theme.

A Sunny Lullaby Baby Shower Theme

A family that listens to Mozart and plays Gershwin on the piano would find a lullaby theme music to their ears. Choose a second word from the list that brings to mind color or touch such as soft or sunny. A Sunny Lullaby Shower would be personal and charming. A Sunny Lullaby Shower brings to mind all shades of yellow, soft creams, and if you know if the baby is a boy or girl you could bring blue or pink into the palette. Start jotting down ideas like having the cake decorated with a cradle in the middle a huge smiling sun and tiny musical notes in all the colors of the palette chosen. Decorate around the theme using suns, babies, and musical notes. If games will be included borrow the premises of the game show “Name That Tune” using lullabies or nursery songs instead of popular tunes. While serving cake and punch play soft lullabies or classical music suited for a baby shower. Music stores carry loads of music for babies or children.

A Fairy Baby Shower

Gardeners and outdoorsmen would find a garden fairy shower to be enchanting and whimsical. The colors of nature come to mind with thoughts of garden fairies: greens, yellows, lavenders, and the iridescent flash of wings. A shower held outdoors on a deck, patio, or even in or near a garden would be a perfect setting for this theme. All things small and botanical could be used. Pressed flowers found at hobby stores like Michael’s could be used to decorate invitations. Fresh flower arrangements with tiny fairies perched among the flowers would create a darling centerpiece. Fairy cakes and nectar (punch) could be part of the refreshments served. There are books galore relating the tales and legends of the wee folk. With a little research A Fairy Baby Shower would make a charming theme.

Zoo Babies Shower

Think about the joys visiting a zoo brings to little ones. Take the wild animal theme and tame it down to become a Zoo Babies Shower. Colors could be as soft as the pink of a flamingo to the cream of a kangaroo’s tummy, or the calm gray of newborn elephant. Call friends and family to gather as many stuffed zoo animals as you can for decoration. Stickers of every kind are available at craft stores and could be used to make fun invitations. Ask the cake decorator to create a wonderful baby animal scene on the cake. Games might include name that animal with only a portion of the animal showing. The possibilities are as endless as the imagination.

Animals on Parade Baby Shower

Two things that children everywhere love are animals and parades. Combine the two for a party with rollicking good fun. The primary colors, red, blue, yellow, green, and orange come to mind with thoughts of Animals on Parade. Kittens, puppies, silly geese, tiny mice, a white goat, a gentle brown cow all marching to band music brings smiles and giggles to faces. Expand on the theme by having a cake decorated with animals clutching bright balloons.

Storybook Themed Showers

Browse through any storybook to spark the imagination. Jot down ideas while reading the story. Take note of the colors used in the stories to create a palette for decorations and favors. A few suggestions follow.

Eloise Baby Shower

The book, Eloise, by Kay Thompson allows a glimpse into the world of a little girl living in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Read the book and then develop an entire baby shower around Eloise’s escapades. Colors would be “rawther” Eloise, deep pink, a lighter shade of pink and a touch of black. This theme would be especially great for a city baby.

Tasha Tudor Theme

A theme surrounding Tasha Tudor, a beloved children’s book illustrator, would incorporate children, animals, nature. Books she’s written and illustrated such as Pumpkin Moonshine, A is for Annabelle (an alphabet book), and Corgiville Fair could be used as guidelines.

Dr. Seuss Theme

Choose any of Dr. Seuss’s wild, whacky rhyming stories as a theme. From the charm of Horton Hears a Who to Green Eggs and Ham or the perennial favorite The Cat in the Hat fun showers themes could be gleaned. Green Eggs and Ham is everything green, punch, food, decorations. Invent a game of where is Sam-I-Am using the book as a guide.

Draw inspiration from libraries, bookstores, children’s clothing shops, a park, or anywhere that attracts babies and their families. Once the motivation sets in the imagination takes over and unique, personal baby shower themes will come to life. The fun is in the planning and the satisfaction in the face of a mother to be when she walks in to the shower and finds herself whisked into the wonder of baby enchantment.

Brooke S asked:


before or after the baby is born? Just wondering.

Wanda S asked:


I am having a baby later this month, and just found out this week that I am having a baby shower. A family member I am not really that close to has stepped up an done almost all of the planning. My sister sent out invitations, but the other family member has been responsible for everything else. I am very grateful to her for her efforts, and would like to know how to properly thank her for all she has done. (I probably would not have gotten a baby shower if not for her efforts.) Right now things are very tough financially so I cannot afford to buy her an expensive thank you gift - which is another reason I am so grateful for the shower - It will be nice having a little help with all the stuff I need for the new baby.
But, the bottom line is, how do I effectively show my gratitude to the shower host?

patti406 asked:


My best friend and my cousin-in-law are both pregnant. I’m planning on sewing them both bedroom sets for the baby, making them diaper cakes, and giving them another gift at like $16 each. Is this enough? I’m also planning both their showers. It’s hard because I don’t have a lot of money myself, I’m only 20 and I have student loans to pay off, plus with both showers happening at around the same time, it’s sort of tough. Any suggestions?

Francis Mogul asked:


Pregnancies are not an easy part of life so every new mother wants to be able to relax and have a great time at her baby shower. Planning this event involves multiple things including selecting games to keep your company entertained as well as giving out the right prizes. You want to have a time that is memorable for both you and all of your friends and family.

A popular baby shower game this is played is called pass the parcel. This is a game where you wrap up simple gifts in eight to ten layers of tissue paper, then also in gift wrap. You ask all of your guests to sit in a circle and get a stereo playing lullaby music. The guest who is holding the package when the music stops gets to remove a single layer of tissue paper while telling a sill baby story from past experiences. You can also play where the person holding the package gives the expecting mother some useful words of advice.

Another great game to play at a baby shower is called down in one. This is where you pass around a baby body that is filled with milk to see who can drink it the fastest. However you have to **** on it as a baby does and will likely see how tough this can be!

You and your guests can also play a great game called a letter for baby. In this game you choose a letter randomly by stabbing at a book with a pencil. Once this is done then everyone needs to write down a boy’s name, girl’s name, baby item, and nursery song that starts with that letter. If you have the same answer as someone else then it cancels each other out. The one who has the most unique answers is the winner.