How to Plan a Baby Shower
However much fun baby showers can be, there are certain protocols and traditional elements you won’t want to forget.
Up next in How to Prepare for a Baby (14 videos)
Expecting a bundle of joy or know someone who is? Get ready for the big day with the tips in this Howcast video series.
You Will Need
- A store registry
- A guest list
- Invitations
- A menu
- Decorations
- Games
- Computer with internet access
Steps
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Step 1
Pick a date
Pick a day well before the baby's due date, making certain that the expectant mother is available.
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Etiquette dictates that a close friend of the mother-to-be hosts the party.
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Step 2
Make sure she’s registered
Check to see that the mother has registered somewhere so you can include the baby registry information on the invitation.
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Step 3
Assemble a guest list
Assemble a guest list and get addresses. Send invitations at least two weeks beforehand and ask for an RSVP.
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Step 4
Plan the menu
Plan a menu, including a cake. Ask others to help pay, or bake no-fuss foods yourself. Keep it simple and figure the amount of food according to the time of day the shower will be held.
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Brainstorm for party themes that reflect the mother-to-be’s personality, humor, or tastes. Brainstorm with helpers to tie food, gifts, and games together.
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Step 5
Decorate
Get decorations from a party supply or baby store, using a color theme consistent with the baby’s sex, if that’s known.
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Step 6
Choose baby shower games
Choose baby shower games, such as "Guess the baby food" or "Jeopardy Nursery Rhymes." Scan web sites for ideas, games, and resources for baby showers.
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Baby showers can often be co-ed, including the father-to-be and his male friends.
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Step 7
Send invitations
Send the invitations, being sure to include the date, time, and location.
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Did you know? Baby showers became common after World War II, during the baby boom of the 1940s and 1950s.
