baby shower

As celebrations go, a baby shower can be the most joyful of occasions full of a sense of happy expectancy for the new baby’s arrival.  The baby shower is a recent addition to celebrations, becoming popular in the 1940s and 1950s.  Over time, these celebrations have developed a set of accepted traditions.  Here are some guidelines to help organize the perfect baby shower.

Customs for baby showers have changed with today’s society.  Traditionally, a more distant relative or close friend hosted the shower.  Having a friend, cousin or aunt host the event meant that the family escaped looking like they were out to collect gifts.  This rule doesn’t apply anymore, and moms, sisters, and mother-in-laws are welcome choices to host a shower.  Sometimes a group of people will decide to act as a team to host a baby shower to help with preparation and spread costs out a little.

If the baby shower theme is to be a surprise, the host should consider the closeness of relationships of people to be invited. This can mean tracking down many unfamiliar people and strangers, as well as finding out whether these people are ones the mother-to-be would enjoy having at her party. Get help with developing the guest list. Not a surprise baby shower?  Make sure to have the mom-to-be review the guest list to not miss anyone.

Are you thinking about a co-ed baby shower rather than the traditional all-female baby shower?  If the dad-to-be and other male guests are invited, will they be comfortable with the idea?  Inviting male guests changes the entire tone of the celebration, and there are important things to think about.  One of these considerations is baby shower games. If you plan on baby shower games, you might want to make sure the ones chosen are friendly enough for mixed company.  Some men feel comfortable sharing all of the aspects of the pregnancy, but for others, this may not feel natural.  The mom-to-be or the future father should be able to tell you if this is a good idea or not. Should you opt for a co-ed baby shower, it’s a good idea to keep the event a celebration and gathering of friends without too much emphasis on pregnancy.

Additional details for a successful baby shower include whether there will be a baby shower theme, how you will coordinate the theme with invitations and gifts, and how you will send out invitations. Will the invitations be handwritten, sent by email, or will you personally call each guest on the phone?  All are acceptable methods, but written is the preferred method so that people have a reminder they can pin in plain view. There are many options available for the written invitation. Have a professional calligrapher write them for you, hire a graphic designer to create a design you can take to the printer, or make the invitations yourself using your computer.

As a final tip, don’t be afraid to include everyone, even the guests, in the planning of the baby shower. By requesting guests to bring an item for the party, you can easily foster a feeling that everyone had a hand in the planning and success of the event. Each guest could be responsible for bringing an item for one of the baby shower games, or perhaps each guest could bring a favorite side dish or finger food that the new mother likes. The more the merrier, and that goes double for a baby shower.

If one of your friends is the first to have a baby in your circle of friends it can be difficult to choose a baby shower gift set. If you know that the new mom does not want all cute little outfits and is need of some cool, unusual, or quirky baby gifts then it can be difficult to choose something suitable. Nothing beats practicality so think of baby shower gift sets that will get a lot of use instead of just choosing something that looks cute. At the same time make sure you don’t forget your friend’s personality.

The Rock Star Lullabies

If a new mom you know loves rock and roll and listens to all the rock greats then you can’t go wrong with the lullaby versions of old rock favorites. Buy the lullaby version of The Beatles, U2, and even Metallica! This is definitely an unusual baby shower gift set that will be much appreciated on those nights when baby won’t drop off to sleep right away. Choose a selection to give the new mom lots of choice when trying to put baby to sleep.

Crib Toys

Keeping a new baby stimulated and entertained is not always easy, sometimes new moms need a little help in this department. Crib toys make great baby shower gift sets as they help a child’s development as well as add color to a nursery. Mobiles are also another great baby shower gift set; they are often gender neutral so you don’t have to worry if it’s for a girl or baby boy gift set.

Blankets

Baby blankets are a must for newborns that need to be wrapped up tightly for that warm, secure feeling they’ve been used to for the last nine months. There are assortments of patterns that you can pick out to swaddle a new baby in. some blankets also come with matching caps.

Food Processor

If you would like to splurge on a close friend who is about to have a baby or would like to share a very practical present with some friends then an ideal baby shower gift set would be a baby food maker. The Beaba Babycook food processor is available from Williams-Sonoma and steams, defrosts, reheats, and blends food.

Perfect for busy moms who would like to make sure that baby gets only the best and healthiest food. Ideal if you know your friend does not want to buy lost of commercial baby food. This cooks meat and vegetables; it is the only machine a new mom will need to cook for baby.

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A very nice custom which facilitates the parents to be to get a lot of useful stuff as gifts for their unborn baby is by way of a shower party. This is a party which is arranged by family of the parents to be and close friends and each person gifts them with something which the new baby will require. The shower party allows parents to get most of the baby things they will need prior to the baby’s birth so that they do not have to worry about the additional expense and it is also the thoughtfulness of the friends and relatives that matters. In some countries this is done only after the baby’s birth, but the proverbial baby shower is done before its birth.

Baby showers are in general held for women only and they invite the mother to be only, however, sometimes the fathers are also invited and other men participate in it too. As per the tradition this was a party only for the women. Sometimes the male friends of the father to be , host a baby shower party for the father alone.

There are baby stores which give gift coupons of various denominations which allows the parents to select what they need for the baby themselves and there is no duplication of gifts or useless gifts.

Baby showers are conducted in different countries according to their own customs and traditions. The Jews don’t give gifts before the birth of the child; some have the get gathering during the seventh month of pregnancy and others towards the end of the pregnancy. Earlier all these functions were only for women in all the cultures but now because of Western influence most get-to-gethers are for both father and mother. Initially this was also done only for the first born of the family, but now it takes place for the birth of all the babies.

The baby shower party is usually hosted by a close friend of the parent to be. The party is very much like a usual fun party with music and games and good food. The person who is organizing the party may coordinate it along with other close friends and organize it jointly. Invitations are sent out and these are specially made for baby showers. There is a theme for the party much like there is for weddings and bridal showers. Usually the theme is the baby here.

Baby Gifts range from diapers, prams, sheets, baby cribs, feeding bottles, baby foods and other useful items for the baby. Many gift away gift coupons which the parents can use to buy things which are needed later. The place of the party can be at anywhere where parties can be hosted, very much like the pre nuptial showers or bachelor’s party prior to the the wedding. It could be at a friend’s home too if it is large enough to host such a gathering.

Baby showers provide a wonderful way to spend time with your family and close friends and being showered with a host of super gifts for your new baby is also pretty good. Another great thing about baby showers is that they are quite simple to plan, although deciding exactly when you should have your shower can sometimes present problems.

For first time parents having your baby shower before the birth of the baby makes perfect sense as you almost certainly will not yet have any baby gear and this is something that you will need the moment the baby arrives. But, a baby shower is also the perfect time for family and friends to see the new bundle of joy and so holding the shower after the birth also makes perfect sense. Here is some advice therefore which you might find of help when making your decision on timing.

One advantage of holding your baby shower after the birth of the baby is that your guests will know the gender and name of the baby. Knowing these details makes it a lot easier to select gifts, especially if the gift is something that needs to be engraved. In addition, having the event a month or so after the birth allows you time to get back to looking your ‘best’.

Having the party after the birth also works particularly well when the baby is a second or third child as normally you will already have the basics on hand and your family and friends can focus their attention on purchasing essential everyday necessities such as clothing and diapers.

However, holding your party before the baby is born means that you can be the guest of honor rather than the new child. Eyes will be focused on you and you will get all the pampering. Also, having looked through all of the gifts you are still going to have another month or so to purchase the bits and pieces you still need. Many expectant mothers will of course know the gender of their unborn child and will have already chosen the decorations for the nursery so that gift giving can still be specific. Planning for your baby shower in advance of the birth also gives you something to look forward to at a time when you may well simply be wishing for your pregnancy to be over.

Another thing to consider is what you want to play in the way of unique and different baby shower games. For a lot of people games form an important element of any party and the games that you select may well differ depending upon whether the party is held before or after the birth. There is a huge range of games available including things like baby shower trivia games and these should also be taken into consideration when thinking about the timing of your party.

Deciding exactly when to hold your baby shower is really something which has to be done on a case-by-case basis, but you must not delay your decision on when to hold it as nothing can be done by way of planning until you have decided upon a date. If you are going to have the party before the baby arrives then it is a good idea to schedule it for the seventh or eighth month of your pregnancy and, if you are going to have it after the birth, then it is a good idea to wait at least four to six weeks after delivery to allow you time to bond with your new baby.

There are various beautiful and effective ways to personalize any baby shower gift and the results can change a gift into something very special.

A gift may be personalized by putting a sticker on the underside, embossing it on the side or stitching it across the top. And your addition can show the baby’s name, the the names of the parents, the names of the grandparents or the name of the giver.

A gift may even be decorated with a meaningful logo, phrase or photo. The text used to personalize the gift can be selected by the giver or added by the designer of the gift. A logo might be designed by a professional designer or by the individual who is purchasing the gift. A photo could be selected from a wide range of professional stock images or suppliedand then incorporated into the gift.

Personalization quite literally transforms an otherwise impersonal gift into a keepsake that will be treasured for many years. It gives a reminder of festive occasions and imparts an incentive to pass the gift on from generation to generation. Monogramming can be used to add names to items made of cloth and printing can personalize any item that will absorb ink.

For instance, a slumber bear makes for an ideal present. Children adore the cuddly, teddy bear design and parents feel safe knowing the gift is strong and manufactured out of good materials. Later in life both parents and the then child will be able to look back on the baby shower at which the gift was received and personalization will make the memories all the sweeter.

Yet another wonderful gift is a Dilly the Duck cashmere booster pillow which provides the perfect opportunity to stitch on the name of the baby. In the years ahead that gift will change from a treasured nursery item to a memento of those youthful years. Years after it has been received both parties will look back to the many happy moments spent reading a storybook while the young one’s head rested on it.

And storybooks themselves can be personalized in the shape of a Fairy Tale book that carries all manner of individual markings. For stories that have been written by the parents, the storybook can simply be signed with the author’s name and date. When the book is bought then the giver can sign the book and print the name of the recipient on the flyleaf. All these methods and more can turn a simple book into a precious souvenir of childhood.

Yet another baby shower gift which offers the opportunity for personalization is a birth plate on which to paint the baby’s name around the rim or on the base. The best option is possibly to print the name of the baby, birth weight and date along the rim to mark the birth of that very special individual who entered your life on that day.

These are of course just a few of the many ways in which you can create unique baby shower gifts.

Maybe you were thinking that baby shower cakes were simply an appetizing dessert served to your guests… Well, that is without doubt one form of cake. However there is another kind of baby shower cake which is filled with all sorts of helpful gifts for the expectant mom. One very popular choice in this area is a gift that really can look like a tiered wedding cake. But instead of being made of flour, eggs and sugar, it’s built from the one thing that a new mom can never have too many of - diapers.

These decorative and ingenious baby shower cakes make for the perfect gift for the event. Everyone thinks about giving diapers to the expectant mother and she will definitely be able to use them. However giving diapers in this way turns a necessary but mundane gift into an occasion for laughter for the guests and the mom-to-be.

Piled high one on top of another and covered with decorative items that really do make it look like the genuine article, diaper cakes are fun and practical and the recipient can simply peel them off one at a time as needed. Exactly like eating a wedding cake that can last for days or weeks, this particular gift affords its own storage bin.

This same idea has been used with great success for lots of other baby shower gifts. The false wedding cake can be filled with any type of toys for the baby, gifts for the mom-to-be and much more.

After all, it is not only diapers that the happy couple will need soon. Baby oil, baby powder, ointment, lotion and many similar hygiene products are all common items for the nursery. At about 32 inches high, you will find that these cakes can hold a lot of these necessities. A baby cap, booties, a terry cloth towel and several other clothing items are part of the package too.

Even the somewhat smaller two-tiered baby shower cakes offer dozens of valuable gifts and provides a fabulous decoration as a centerpiece for the baby shower table. Merely peel off the outer layers and enjoy the teething ring, pacifier, rattle and more which will assuredly get used. Open it up and discover a brush and comb, socks, a manicure set and other equally useful presents.

A few baby shower cakes will contain only decorative gifts, but these too will be highly appreciated by the mother-to-be. Ceramic baby blocks, silk roses and more set on a silver platter make this a gift which will not be put away the closet after the party. You’ll find the blocks lining the shelf in the baby’s room and the silk roses on the mantle, while the silver platter is used to liven up the table on special occasions.

Discover the full range of baby shower cakes available nowadays and you will be amazed by the number of highly creative options.

And, remember of course to order the real thing for the party while you’re at it.

It is never easy to think of a great gift for a baby shower but a baby blanket can be just the answer to earning yourself the “most popular gift” award at the shower. With a range of clever and original designs available today you can’t go wrong here with these unique baby shower gifts.

However, what could be more ordinary than a baby blanket you ask? Used for hundreds of years to swath a baby and provide much needed warmth, it’s difficult to picture somebody coming up with a new idea for a blanket. Well guess again. Baby blankets have discovered whole new heights of creativity, usefulness and fun.

One example is “Pigs in a Blanket” which combines both a clever design and a practical gift. This two-piece gift set will produce lots of “awws” and “oohs” when the expectant mom opens the beautifully decorated gift box which comprises a delightful vintage container topped with an organza bow.

Inside the box she will discover a plush blanket which can be imprinted with a memorable phrase or simply personalized. It is wrapped around a gorgeous teddy bear-style pig which will quickly become the baby’s favorite. Manufactured from a stain-resistant polyester and with a tough construction, it might very well even be passed down to the next generation of the family.

This particular gift also includes a child’s story book rhyme designed to complement the two other items. “This Little Piggy” printed on the back was never so much fun and the five little piggies which are dancing on the front agree.

Another gift which is just as much fun is the JoJo Giraffe toy which also comes with its own special blanket housed in a keepsake box. At 20 inches high it will sit proudly in the corner until the baby can no longer resist playing with it… which will take approximately three seconds. With his legs and arms wrapped around a multi-colored keepsake box made in similar style, JoJo is unquestionably a perfect gift.

The blanket which accompanies the gift adds immeasurably to the delight which both baby and mom will receive from this lovely item. Very easily personalized with the baby’s name, the sunshine yellow fleece is both soothing and warm. In addition, at 30 inches by 40 inches, it is ample size for either a baby blanket or decorative bed cover.

But baby blankets which are bought as standalone items can also make perfect gifts. One great example of this is The Maddie’s Meadow. Brightly and colorfully decorated with butterflies and flowers on a pink background, it’s most inviting. The gift box also carries a matching theme with fluffy pink clouds and bright green grass that are a reminder of the joys of spring. Personalization is also easily achieved because of the generous satin border surrounding the soft fleece.

Can you think of any more natural combination than babies and baths? At times it seems that they spend half their early lives splashing around in the bath. Sponge bath for the first three months followed by a short tub for the rest of the first year and a regular tub for the next five years. So, how about making it easy for Mom, Dad and baby by getting all the bath time items they are going to need as specialty baby gift baskets.

Step out on a cold morning and you will quickly discover that a bathrobe is probably their first requirement. Ensure that baby is comfortable and warm with a bathrobe made from the finest terrycloth and make both Mom and baby happy by buying the one with a design that brings two smiles at once.

Better still, give the baby a preview of what is to come later in life with a spa baby bath set. Miniature slippers in which, pink or blue that are simply to die for and washcloths that are as soft as they use in Baden Baden where the big girls go on holiday. But, remember that there is a long way to go first and so also get that charming toy frog to match the design on the slippers.

Speaking of amphibians, how about a four-piece turtle hat box set? A gorgeous pink hat box wrapped in a white silk bow is the perfect container. The inside there are slippers embossed with those appealing little green creatures all nestled alongside a terry washcloth, a 30-inch hooded towel and masses of other goodies.

For the bath you have lots of choices.

Of course, bath soap is essential. But why not turn this practical necessity into a delight? Ducky baby soap is one answer. Adorned with baby ducks and scented with herbs, the container itself will be a wonderful keepsake. The soap itself is of course designed specially for baby’s delicate skin and will leave baby with the scent of a garden.

The beach ball bath set provides another fun choice. Made of soft terry, it is paired with a hooded towel and washcloth that make for the perfect mix of hygiene and play. All cotton, these items are comfortable, warm and extremely absorbent.

However, before the baby can get out to dry off you will certainly wish to keep them amused in the bath. One sure way to achieve this is with a puppy puppet. And, as soon as they are ready to get out, the matching puppy hooded towel is there and to do its job. Sturdy, soft and hilarious, it will meet its task with fun and style.

Make drying off a warm and easy breeze with a colorful 3-piece terry set. Made of ultra-soft velour cotton and adorned with a baseball motif, the hooded towel is only the start. A matching infant robe and full-sized bib with Velcro latches makes this set decorative, luxurious and practical.

Finally let the baby rest and revel in his or her post-bath time with a luxurious play bucket which is full of fun plush crabs or turtles and watch as those two little eyes brighten with excitement. As a baby shower gift there can be little doubt that these bath time gifts will be more than appreciated.

Bath time makes a great theme for a baby shower but these are only some of the many terrific baby shower ideas which make this such a fun party today.