Baby Shower Etiquette: Showing Manners During This Special Event

There are many different events parents all over the world celebrate today, and a baby shower is definitely one of the most important ones they never miss out. A baby shower is a fun and memorable way of welcoming a baby into the world. During this event, parents-to-be invite their closest friends and relatives for a small get-together, where they eat, play games and talk about the joys of parenthood.
Although they are usually informal, baby showers are still considered solemn celebrations. Whether you’re the one hosting the event or a guest, you must remember to be on your best behavior all throughout the party. After all, everyone invited to a baby shower are supposedly adults.
Here are several helpful baby shower etiquette reminders when you hold this event.
Etiquette For The Host

- Baby showers usually have between 6 to 25 guests. It’s up to you to decide whether you want a small gathering or a large one.
- Send the invitations at least three weeks or a month before the party. This will give your guests ample time to get gifts for the baby, and also enough time for you to prepare the event.
- Women who had miscarriages or are having difficulty conceiving can be a bit touchy about baby shower. If you have a friend who have been through these situations, call them up personally to let them know how much you value their presence at your party. Tell them you really want them to be with you at the shower, but the decision is still theirs to make.
- Find a good baby shower venue that’s spacious enough to hold all the guests. You should also choose one that’s easily accessible for everyone, especially the mom-to-be.
- If you can, get a baby shower registry. Registering at a baby store is a practical idea, since it not only allows you to choose what gifts you want to receive, but also to let the guests have an easier time getting gifts for the baby.
- You don’t have to serve a full meal during a baby shower, but do make sure the refreshments you offer are tasty and sufficient for everyone. It’ll be disastrous if you run out of food in the middle of the party.
- Give out party favors to the guests as a simple, but memorable token of appreciation, so they’ll always remember what a wonderful time they had during the event.
Etiquette For The Guest

- Once you received the invitation, call the host/hostess of the shower to R.S.V.P. if you’ll be able to make it. If you know you won’t be able to attend, you should inform them too. Be tactful and polite when doing so.
- Don’t forget to bring a baby shower gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive or classy, just something to show your heartfelt congratulations to the parents.
- Don’t be late! Be at the venue at the time specified in the invitation, or at least a few minutes earlier.
- Unless the invitations specifies that you can bring a date, don’t bring anyone with you to the baby shower.
- Be a good sport during the party. Be jovial and join the party games, no matter how cheesy or childish they may be.
Baby showers are fun and memorable, but in order for them to be successful, both the host and the guests should show proper etiquette. Keep these simple thoughts in mind whether you’re holding a baby shower or going to one. If you’re interested in reading this article, you’ll be delighted to learn how to host a party.
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Hosting A Baby Shower: Planning The Perfect Party For Your Baby’s Arrival

When a woman finds out she’s expecting she’ll think of doing is to tell her closest relatives or friends. It’s always fun knowing a new baby’s on its way, and many parents think of this event as a wonderful blessing. A baby shower is a small party held by parents-to-be with their loved-ones to celebrate the arrival of a new life. The mom-to-be or the women close to her (mother, best friend, sister, co-worker, cousin, or aunt) host the event.
Baby showers are fun, but hosting one is never very easy. Although the gathering is pretty simple, there are numerous considerations to take care of so that this event will be successful.
Here are several simple tips and reminders to keep in mind if you’re hosting a baby shower.
- Give yourself enough time to plan the event. Preparing for a baby shower takes time. You can’t put together one in just a matter of days. Schedule the shower when the mom is in her seventh or eight month of pregnancy. That’ll give you enough time to prepare the party.
- Baby showers are not like extravagant birthday parties. They are usually small and intimate gatherings. To help you narrow down the people who’ll be invited, make a guest list. You should also decide if the shower will be for women only, or if there are men to be invited. Then, before finalizing the list, consult with the mom-to-be. If the party’s a surprise for her, ask the dad instead.
- Decide on a venue and date. Make sure it’s convenient for the mom-to-be, the guests, and that the costs fit your budget.
- Pick a specific theme for the baby shower. It not only gives the party a unified appearance, but also makes the event extra special. (To pick up ideas, learn the Top Ten Baby Shower Theme Ideas)
- Send the invites a few weeks in advance to give the guests ample time to pick out baby gifts and prepare for the celebration.
- Decorations, games and snacks should be well-prepared. They don’t have to be extravagant, but they should be enough to let the guests feel the party atmosphere.
- If the parents are registered at a particular baby store, let the guests know, so they’ll have an easier time looking for party gifts.
- Before the guests go home, give them party favors to let them know you appreciate their presence and to serve as remembrance of the event.

The Baby Shower Gift table
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Hosting a baby shower can be tedious, but as long as you keep these simple reminders in mind, you’ll be able to hold a successful one with less hassle. For more information regarding this article, read Baby Shower Ideas
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When To Have The Baby Shower: Deciding On A Date
As soon as a couple learns they’re having a baby, one of the first things to do is to plan a baby shower. For any excited parent, this is one of the most memorable events in their life. A baby shower lets them share the wonderful feeling with their closest relatives and their friends. During this party, everyone eats, exchanges funny stories about parenthood, and gives gifts and advice to the mom and the dad.
Holding a baby shower seems like the most practical way of celebrating the arrival of your precious child, but don’t start planning the event yet. You can’t just hold a baby shower anytime you want, right? For example, if you’re just a few weeks pregnant, holding a shower might seem to be a little too early. The mom’s tummy isn’t even showing yet.
When to throw a baby shower is one of the first considerations many parents or planners have to think about as soon as they learn about their child. Even though they feel excited, there’s a proper time for this kind of event to be celebrated. Here are several helpful reminders when deciding on when to throw a baby shower.
- Many traditional baby showers are thrown one or two months before the baby’s predicted birth date. This way, the mommy’s pregnancy will be fully seen, but it won’t be too difficult for her yet to move around.
- Holding the shower far enough from the baby’s arrival also gives the parents time to return the items that they either don’t want or already have. It also allows them to shop for items they may still need.
- Don’t hold the baby shower too close to the baby’s due date; there’s always the chance that the mom might deliver early.
- Once you’ve settled on a tentative date, consult with the mom and dad, and if they agree, ask them to clear their respective schedules up for that day.
- Scheduling on a Saturday or a Sunday is a practical choice, since the adults that you’ll be inviting usually don’t have to work on the weekends.
- Send the invites at least a month or a couple of weeks before the event. This’ll allow the guests ample time to prepare and shop for gifts for the baby.
- In the past, baby showers were held during afternoons, similar to a tea party, but in modern practices, these events can be held either in the morning, afternoon or evening, depending on when the couple wants it to take place.

Deciding on when to have the event is one of the most important matters to focus on in throwing baby showers. Once you’ve settled on a date, you can move on to other aspects of the celebration, so make sure you set the perfect time for this event. For more information regarding this article, read The Guide To Baby Shower and Baby Shower Ideas.
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No related postsA Party For The Little Angel’s Arrival: Welcome Baby Shower Planning
When a couple learns they’re expecting, one of the first things that people tell them to do is to have a baby shower. It’s a party that allows the parents-to-be to celebrate their blessing with their closest friends and family members. Traditionally, baby showers are held before the mom gives birth to the infant, and are usually intimate events, with lots of eating, merrymaking and gifts for the little angel.
Even so, not all parents like holding a baby shower during the course of the mother’s pregnancy. There are actually some who prefer to have the party after the baby has been born. Showers like this are called welcome baby shower parties. Usually, first-time parents, especially those who are still overwhelmed by the pregnancy, are the ones who hold these events. Welcome baby shower parties are thrown a month or two after the child’s birth.
Planning a welcome baby shower party is just like planning a traditional one, with a few distinct differences. Here are several tips to help you plan a successful one.
Indicate the child’s name and gender in the invitation. That way, guests can get the right kinds of gifts and also properly label them.- It’s nice if you can personalize the shower invitation. For example, you can put a picture of the baby in the front page with the caption “It’s A Welcome Party for Baby (the baby’s name)!”
- Since the child is already with the mom during the shower, it’s better if you don’t hold the party in a venue that’s too far away. It will be difficult for the mom and the guests.
The parents usually have their hands full with the infant during the party. To let them have some fun, assign a nanny to help them with the child. Their friends can also take turns holding and watching the infant.- The parents most probably have already gotten some baby items for their little angel. To avoid getting the same kinds of items they already own, make sure you have a registry for the party. Coordinate with the mom and dad so they can specify which items they don’t have yet.
Welcome baby showers are fun and extremely special for any couple. With these simple tips, you can be assured everything will go smoothly for the parents and for their little baby during the party. For more tips on baby showers, read Baby Shower Ideas.
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No related postsA Surprise For Mommy: Planning A Surprise Baby Shower
Your best friend is pregnant and you can’t help but feel excited for her. A baby’s arrival is always a reason to be festive and have fun. Even so, your friend’s too busy, that she can’t even find time to celebrate this joyous event, even though you know that it means the world to her and her husband. You feel sorry for her, and you want to help her out with this.
If you want your friend to be able to celebrate her pregnancy, here’s a very practical idea: why not try to plan a surprise baby shower for her? It’ll be something she’ll cherish for the rest of her life. A surprise baby shower is a fun and enjoyable event. It will give your friend time with her closest family and friends, and she’ll also get to receive wonderful gifts for her baby.
Surprise baby showers are fun, but the problem is that you don’t know how to properly prepare one. You’re afraid everything will go wrong and the mom-to-be will have a disastrous time. If this is what you’re afraid of, don’t worry. Here are several useful tips to help you plan a fun and successful baby shower party.
- To help you with all the burdens of party planning, enlist the help of the people who are close to the mom-to-be, such as her husband or her close family members, including her mom and sisters. Since they’re always with the mom, these people can help you coordinate the shower, and provide you with information you can use.
- Assign tasks to different people, so you won’t have to do all the work. For example, have someone take care of the decorations, while another person takes care of the food. There should also be someone coordinating with the guests, and people planning the program and games.
Set a good date for the shower. To do this, check with the mom-to-be’s schedule. It’s also a good idea to ask someone to schedule something with her during the fixed date. For example, the husband can say that they’re going on a date for that day, but he’ll be taking her to the shower instead.- The perfect baby shower venue is also important. Try to throw the party somewhere unique, a place that the mom won’t immediately suspect. For example, a restaurant she hasn’t gone to yet, or a friend’s place can be great venues.
- Send the invitations, but don’t forget to state that the party’s a surprise. It’ll be so disappointing if you’ve got everything secretly and perfectly planned to have a blabbermouth guest call the mother to ask for details. State in the invitations that it’s a surprise party. For good measure, put your name and the phone number on the R.S.V.P., so people will call you if they have questions.
To make it easy for guests to buy gifts for the baby, have the mom registered at a local baby store. As for the gift choices, collaborate with the father, other friends and family regarding what items to place on the list.
Surprise baby shower planning can be difficult, but remember that everything you’re doing is for someone special. The best and most appreciated surprises are those given with sincerity and love. Just think of how the mom-to-be will enjoy the party, and you’ll certainly feel that all your hard planning will is worth all the effort. For more information regarding this article, read how to plan a surprise party and Baby Shower Ideas.
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Baby Shower Planning: How To Decide Who To Invite
For any couple who’s eager to have a baby, one of the most enjoyable and festive events is a baby shower. There’s nothing more wonderful than knowing that they’ve been blessed with a child, which is why they hold this special party for the baby. A baby shower is a fun event, filled with lots of eating, merrymaking and gift-giving. Usually, the couple or just the mom-to-be celebrates this party, along with their closest family members and friends.
Although it’s supposed to be a festive event, most baby showers are very intimate gatherings. Unlike birthday parties or weddings, this party is usually small and intimate, although there are some excited parents who prefer to have an extravagant one. That’s why when preparing a baby shower, one of the most difficult aspects the planner and the host think about is who to invite to the event.
Since it’s only the closest relatives and friends who are asked to come to the shower, narrowing down the guest list can be tedious. To help you with this, here are several pointers you should remember when deciding who to invite to the party.
- A typical baby shower only has between six to 25 guests. Make sure you stick to these figures, so that you’ll have a guide as to how many you’ll be inviting.
- Traditionally, women are the only ones invited to the shower, although today men are also invited to the shower. Decide first if you’ll have a women-only shower or a coed one. It will help you narrow down the guests you’ll be inviting.
- Invite family members from both the mom and dad’s sides. Immediate family members should be included, including the parents of the couple and siblings. Close cousins, significant aunts and uncles and grandparents can also be included.
- The closest friends of the couple are also invited to the shower. You don’t have to include everyone, just those who have a significant role in the couple’s lives. For example, the maid of honor and the best man (if it’s a coed party) can be invited.
- Usually, baby showers are for adults only, but if the couple has teenagers or children they want to invite, include them on the list.
- Women are very sensitive about miscarriages or if they are having a difficult time conceiving. If you have a close friend who has been through something like this, but you still want to have her during your shower, call her up first before sending an invitation. Explain to her that you want her to be at the party, but you’re not pressuring her to come and it’s still her decision whether she will or will not.
- Before making the guest list final, consult the mom-to-be (if it’s not a surprise party) and make sure that she’s okay with everyone you have included. Take note whether she’s got any additional people in mind, or if she wants to remove anyone.
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A baby shower won’t be fun if the right people aren’t there to celebrate it with the couple or the mom-to-be. So when you’re planning one, make sure you know who to invite, so the parents would have an enjoyable and memorable time. For more information regarding this article, read The Guide To Baby Shower.
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Party Time For The Females: Women Only Baby Showers

A baby is always considered a blessing. That’s why when a couple learns they’re expecting a baby, their first impulse is to tell their relatives and close friends about the new member of their family. For them, the coming of a little one is an occasion they must celebrate. As a result, they throw a baby shower as a way of showing their eagerness and excitement for the gift they’ve been blessed with.
Baby showers usually include lots of fun, entertainment and gifts. Traditionally, it’s a small party where the parents receive gifts for their little one, such as baby clothes, diapers, toys and feeding bottles.
Another custom when it comes to this party is that women are the only ones who go to it. That’s why today, women-only showers are more popular compared to those that include the daddies. The husbands leave the women with their close female friends and relatives, letting them talk, enjoy and entertain themselves.
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Back in the late 19th century, during the Victorian age, the pregnant mom and her closest female friends and family members held a small tea party to celebrate. The relatives and best friends of the mom-to-be were usually those who prepared the party. Eventually, the customs evolved, and today, women-only showers have become more enjoyable than just simple tea parties.
The reason why women-only showers are more popular compared to those that include the husband and male guests is because men actually feel left out when they’re at the party. Many of them feel as if their masculinity is “stripped-off” and that everything’s too fussy and childish. They also don’t like participating in baby shower games. Many men shudder at the thought of being blindfolded to pin a diaper on a baby doll.
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Despite the absence of men, women-only showers are fun. Many females feel more comfortable with this type of party, compared to those that include men. If you plan to have a women only shower, make sure you invite your most trusted family members, including your mom, sisters, aunts, and grandmother. Your closest friends and colleagues should also be there. It all depends on you as to whether you want the celebration to be small or extremely extravagant.
For an expecting mom, a women-only shower is the best way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby. Have a fun time with your girls as you anticipate the joys of becoming a mother!
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Celebrating Fatherhood: Men-Only Showers

Throwing a baby shower is one of the first things parents do as soon as they learn they’re having a baby. With lots of festivities, merrymaking and gift giving, this party is one of the most memorable events for proud moms and dads. Since men don’t like all the mushy traditions during these events, the mom and her female friends and relatives are the people who usually prepare for and celebrate these events. The husband and his friends prefer to stay away from the celebration.
Many men find baby showers cheesy events, and they prefer not to attend these parties. It’s not because they don’t care about the baby, but rather, they prefer to celebrate it in their own little way, without the games and gift-giving. Still, there are some men who like having their own baby shower party. Although these parties are different from those attended by women, men-only showers are just as fun and festive.
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Since the history of baby showers, women were the only ones who held parties; the practice of men-only showers is very recent. These celebrations show that men sometimes put aside their macho and manly image to show their happiness over the new blessing that they’re given. Men-only showers are sometimes called “daddy showers”.
Just like those made for women, men-only showers are small events, with only the most trusted adult male family members, including the brothers, grandfather, father, uncles, invited. Close friends and colleagues are also invited to these parties.

Men-only showers usually involve a lot of merrymaking and drinking, just like a bachelor’s party. Naughty games aren’t played during these gatherings; instead, men usually give their congratulations to the dad-to-be by telling stories and offer words of advice and encouragement. Gifts are also given, although most of the time, the men leave that to the mother’s party. Men-only showers can be held at the same time as the women’s, although held in different rooms.
A men-only baby shower is the best way for a dad-to-be to celebrate the arrival of his little angel. These parties are not cheesy, but they make a man feel excited about fatherhood.
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