Tips for Planning a Baby Shower
Having a baby shower when you’re pregnant is a fun way to share the experience with your friends and family. It can also be a great way to get things you need for the baby without needing to buy them yourself. Most friends and family will want to give you gifts for the baby, and a baby shower is a perfect way to do this. Some mums-to-be plan their own baby shower, whereas others rely on friends or family members; in this article, we have some tips for anyone looking to plan a baby shower.
Choose a date and time
The date and time of your baby shower is one of the first things you should think about. Try to plan a date which will work for your guests; if you give them a few months' notice, you shouldn't have an issue; just avoid any pre-booked trips. Some mums prefer to host their baby shower during their second trimester when they have more energy and are in the planning stages of buying baby items. Others might prefer to wait until the third trimester; generally, one or two months before the due date is a good time for a shower as many parents still have shopping to do at this stage but are more knowledgeable about what it is they need for their baby.
Make a guest list
A guest list will help you determine if you need to book a venue or if you can host it in your home or garden. The list doesn’t need to be finalised at this point; you simply need to have an idea of rough numbers before you can choose the venue for your baby shower. A small intimate baby shower of ten or fewer people is ideal for a home setting or in the garden if the weather is pleasant. Larger showers of 30+ people might need a specific venue, such as a local hotel, community hall or pub.
Book the venue
If you need a venue that requires booking, then this should be done in advance to ensure you can get the date that you want. Many local hotels, pubs and community centres rent out rooms or part of their venue for events such as baby showers. When booking the venue, ensure the capacity will work with how many people you’ve invited. You don’t want the room to look too empty or for there not to be enough space for everyone.
Make a wish list
People will commonly buy presents for the baby shower; to avoid getting lots of the same item, you can create a wish list for people attending. This could include things like newborn baby clothes, baby toys, nappies, bottles, blankets and other essentials you’re yet to buy. An interactive wish list where people can assign their names to certain items is helpful in preventing people from purchasing the same things. Don’t be too forceful with your wishlist, as some people might not appreciate you dictating what they buy. However, for those that ask, having a list on hand can be helpful. Requesting vouchers and money is also useful, as you can then use this to buy other larger items you might need.
Get food and activities
Baby showers should be a fun celebration of your baby and becoming parents. To make the event more enjoyable, you can provide food and games for guests to play. There are lots of baby shower game ideas you can find online and others you can easily purchase for you and your guests. Some people enjoy creating something such as a picture as part of their baby shower; this can then be hung in the baby’s room as a decorative feature and a reminder of the great day.
Baby showers are a great chance to get together with your friends and family to celebrate the impending arrival of your new bundle of joy. The tips mentioned in this article can help you to plan a perfect baby shower. The most important thing is you have fun and enjoy spending time with all of the people closest to you; try not to get too stressed, as this will impact your memories of the day.
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