With parenting comes a lifetime of special milestones. Plenty of these milestones come before the new little one is born — like the baby shower.
Baby showers are all about showering the expecting parents and their imminent bundle of joy with love and gifts before the real fun starts. It’s always appreciated when the parents-to-be get to attend a party just for them they didn’t have to plan, which is why it’s tradition for a loved one to coordinate and host the whole thing.
After all, with parenting also comes plenty of hard work, long days and nights, and endless planning and organizing to give children a happy and healthy life. The less expecting parents have to do for their baby shower, the better!
If your circle of loved ones is about to grow, you may be hoping to throw them the best baby shower ever. But it can be difficult to know where to start. Luckily, we’ve got the top tips for throwing a baby shower that’s as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
How to Plan a Baby Shower in 10 Steps
1. Consult the Parents
You may be the one hosting the baby shower, but you’re not the guest of honor. Sorry! Be sure to check in with the expecting parent(s) on any preferences for their celebration. They may have a theme or venue in mind, special dietary or gift requests, or a guest list already prepared. (And if they don’t, these are great topics to prompt a discussion on!)
2. Save the Date
Once you’ve got some ideas to go off of, it’s time to start nailing down logistics. First, you’ll want to set the date and time of the shower. This will ensure that you’re able to invite guests with plenty of time to prepare and coordinate the venue and catering, if applicable.
It’s common for baby showers to be a month or two before the due date, but again, ask the expecting parents what they have in mind.
3. Budget Accordingly
By now you should have an idea of when and where the shower will be and who’s invited. These details will allow you to figure out how much to spend on the baby shower.
Don’t be afraid to get crafty — literally or otherwise — if the projected expenses outweigh your budget. Homemade decorations or snacks can add a special touch to a baby shower!
4. Settle on a Location and Theme
Before you actually buy anything, you’ll want to know for sure where the baby shower will be held and what theme to go with.
The baby shower’s venue will set the scope for just about every detail — theme, activities, food, and more. If you can swing it, somewhere meaningful to the expecting parents is sure to make them feel special, but your home or that of another close loved one will be just as memorable. (We definitely recommend avoiding the guests of honor’s home, though!)
When it comes to the baby shower’s theme, the sky’s the limit. (Hey, even the sky can be a theme.) If the budget and venue tell you the scope of the party, the theme helps decide the specifics.
5. Pay Attention to the Gift Registry
In some cases, the expecting parents will have opted to use a gift registry. Be sure you know where and can access the list to share this info with the invitees.
6. Invite away!
Who doesn’t love receiving a party invitation? You should aim to send out official invites at least a month in advance of the party. The invitations should also tie into the party’s theme and include information for the gift registry, if there is any, and how to RSVP or send a gift if they’re not able to make it.
7. Plan Food and Decor
Since the dawn of civilization, a good party and good food go hand in hand. But no need to cater a three-course meal; it’s not uncommon for baby showers to offer simple hors d’oeuvres. Don’t forget that the guests of honor should have a say in the menu (pregnancy cravings, am I right?). It can also be fun to serve a signature mocktail for the event!
Meanwhile, the baby shower’s decor will not only bring the theme to life but also serve as the backdrop in photos of the event — of which there are sure to be many!
8. Set an Agenda
While the party is sure to organically deviate from any set itinerary, it’s good to have a general order of operations in mind to keep things flowing. Plus, baby showers typically last just a couple of hours, so you want to make sure there’s plenty of time for gifts!
9. Prepare Party Favors
Every good party offers a keepsake to remember it by, but a baby shower’s favors don’t have to be over the top. Consider something small and fun like bubbles or a sweet treat like a cookie decorated to match the theme.
10. Assemble Games and Activities
Finally, with all the details in place, the last touch is to prepare a few fun activities to keep everyone engaged. Common examples include bingo, guessing the circumference of the pregnant mother’s belly (if applicable), and giving each guest a clothespin, which can get stolen if they say the word “baby” at any point! Consider offering a small prize in the form of an extra party favor or Instagram bragging rights to the person with the most clothespins at the end of the shower.
The Fun Doesn’t Stop There
Our list of tips for planning a baby shower leaves no stone unturned, ensuring you’ll plan ahead for each and every detail. But your hosting duties don’t end at the planning stage — what about during or even after the shower?
For even more tips on how to throw a baby shower, including a list of theme ideas and printable baby shower games, check out this guide from Redbubble — you can even browse gifts or favors while you’re there!
Read more from Eighty Mph Mom!
6 Tips to Help Plan the Perfect Baby Shower
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