Feature - Eye on Events

By Meera Jegathesan

Baby Shower Basics

Having a child can be one of life’s biggest joys for both men and women, so why not celebrate the happy occasion with a party to honor expectant mothers and their impending bundles of joy? A shower is a fun way to celebrate the birth of a child and prepare the parents with gifts that will help them care for their child after birth.

Whether you are a host or a guest at a baby shower, here are ten questions and answers you may have when planning or attending your next baby shower.

1. Who plans or hosts the baby shower? Anyone can host a baby shower for an expectant parent–the other parent, a grandparent, sibling, extended relative or friend. A shower can be either an informal or formal event, so you might keep it simple and frill-free or make it more elaborate depending on your budget (the host should take care of the shower’s cost). It’s even common to have more than one shower hosted by different groups of the expectant mother’s friends. For example, I recently attended an office baby shower so co-workers could also celebrate the birth of the new child.

2. When should I hold the baby shower? You can throw a baby shower any time before the baby arrives, but opt for at least a few months prior to the birth. At that point, the mother may already know the sex of the child or is becoming more aware of her needs for the baby (think gifts). Pick a flexible day like Saturday or Sunday, so that it will accommodate more of your guests.

3. Where is the best place to host the shower? The most common venues for a baby shower are a home, restaurant or hotel. Hosting a shower at a home is a great way to keep costs lower and make the event more informal. You might want to make it a bigger affair and host the event in a more formal location, but be aware of possible rental costs and higher expenses for food. If you choose a hotel or restaurant, give yourself a few months to seek availability at the venue.

4. Who should I invite? It’s up to you to determine how small or large the baby shower will be, but keep it to friends and family members of the expectant parents. If you are hosting the shower at home, your numbers will probably be smaller than at a hotel or restaurant. Keep in mind of your budget and your ability to manage your costs. Give guests about a month to RSVP for the event and send out a paper invitation. Try specialty stationery stores such as Papyrus or superstores like Target for cute and innovative baby shower invitations.

5. Should I have a shower for a second or third child? It’s okay to hold showers for a second or third sibling to create a unique experience for each child, but you might want to keep them more informal than the party for the first baby. Also, you may already have everything you need from your first child.

6. As a guest, should I bring a gift to the shower? Absolutely. It is customary for every guest to bring a gift for the expectant mother, father or child. If you are an expectant parent, you might wish to create a registry at your favorite baby store and list clothing or furniture and other important feeding, bathing and cleaning products for guests to purchase. Baby products are generally inexpensive, but ask closer friends or family members to help provide the larger items, such as a cribs or other nursery furniture.

7. What kind of food and drink should I serve at the party? Depending on the time of day the shower is being held or the time of year, create a menu that is right for the season, easy to serve and appealing to a wide range of palates. If you are hosting a shower for a large group of people, your menu should be easy to prepare ahead of time. For a lunch baby shower, you might choose to serve light fare such as salads, mini-sandwiches and bite sized hors d’oeuvres. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand for those who are trying to eat healthy. A popular shower menu option is a tea party with scones, sandwiches and a wide range of teas. In the evening, you might want to consider light or heavy hors d’oeuvres instead of dinner. Vary your desserts to include options such as chocolate and fruit that everyone will enjoy. Don’t forget to cut a special cake for the expectant mother. Involve friends and family to help prepare food–it makes the day a lot more fun! For beverages, offer a nonalcoholic punch and if you choose to serve alcohol, stick to wine, beer or a signature drink.

8. What kind of décor do I need? Common décor items for a baby shower are balloons, flowers and banners, but pick a theme and make it fun. Add lots of flowers since flowers are a sign of birth and growth. Color themes (for example: light blue or pink) are also popular depending on whether the baby is a boy or girl. If you don’t know the sex of the baby, consider yellow or green.

9. Do we need to play games at the shower? Playing games at a baby shower is not essential but can be a fun part of the day. Pick a few games and involve all guests regardless of age. Popular games might include blindfolding guests and seeing who can put on a diaper correctly. I recently attended a baby shower where the host placed different types of candy bars in diapers and every guest had to sniff each diaper and identify the correct candy bar. It definitely made for some laughs!

10. Should I host a shower for an adopted child? A shower is just as great an idea for a parent adopting a child for one having a biological child. Consider hosting the shower a few months after the actual adoption so the child has enough time to adjust to life in his or her new home. Consider themes and games that are appropriate to the age of child and make it warm and fun for the new family.

I hope the above guide is a simple way to start planning a baby shower for a friend or family member—or even for yourself. Plan with joy and don’t forget to have fun!

Meera Jegathesan works as a sales manager and event planner for a major hotel company in the San Francisco Bay Area. She always thinks outside the box and her next big idea is just around the corner.

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