How to Plan a Baby Shower: 4 main questions

Whether you’re the host or parent-to-be, these 4 main questions can help you gather what you need for a great baby shower. This is how to plan a Baby Shower stress-free!

1. When does the baby shower happen?

You can technically have a baby shower at any point before or after the baby comes. If the shower is going to happen before the baby, throwing it about one to two months before the baby’s arrival date gives most parents-to-be enough time to sort through the shower gifts, put together anything that comes in multiple pieces (like a bassinet or swing), wash any clothes or toys and put everything in its place.

If the celebration is going to take place after the baby’s arrival—which is common in certain religious and cultural traditions—then you’ll want to give the family enough time to settle in with their new addition, get used to their routine, and, if you’re doing gifts, figure out what they need. That means the shower could be anywhere from one to eight weeks post-baby arrival—or later.

2. Where should we hold the baby shower?

You need to consider the location before deciding on how many people to invite. Ideally, the party shouldn’t be held at the mum-to-be’s house. It’s not fair for her to have to worry about cleaning up before everyone arrives and after they’ve gone. If the mum-to-be does want to be at home, you could ask a few of the guests if they’ll stay behind to help clear up.

You could ask around to see if anyone else is prepared to host the event at their home. If not, think of booking a room at a community hall or local pub, or having tea and cake at your favourite cafe.

3. What should we do at the baby shower?

Before finalizing your activities, consider the following:

• You may want to choose a theme to tie everything together. Although it’s not necessary, it can help you make decisions about the various elements of the party and it’s often fun for guests.
• You’ll probably want to serve some kind of food and drink, depending on the time of day, your budget, and how formal or casual you want the shower to be.
• Baby showers usually aren’t complete without some fun or silly games. But don’t worry if your guests aren’t the competitive types, there are plenty of other kinds of activities to keep them entertained.
• It’s common to give a goody bag to everyone who attends a baby shower, or you can just offer individual prizes to guests who win games.

4. How to create registry gifts?

Lots of people love utilizing baby registries and buying exactly what’s been asked for—but not all. Some gift-givers may decide to choose a gift on their own rather than stick to the registry. What’s the most common gift they tend to choose? Blankets and clothes. (Trust us on this one.) Personalized baby blankets and teeny, tiny baby outfits are a favorite among off-registry gift-givers, so don’t add a ton to your registry unless you’re down with a very warm baby who’s getting an outfit change eight times a day.

Now you can also read about how to plan a Christening successfully and without stress!