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Planning A Baby Shower
Planning A Baby Shower
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Hostess of the Shower?
Anyone can plan the shower -- family members, friends and/or co-workers. A mommy-to-be can have many showers but it is wise to consult her or her mother (if it is a surprise) so that the themes can all be different -- this also avoids duplication of gift items.
Before the Baby or After the Baby is Born?
For first-time mothers, showers before the baby arrives are great fun for her to look forward to in the last month of her pregnancy -- and she and the daddy can play and dream with all the gifts while awaiting their bundle of joy. Mothers having their second or more children, sprinkles can be held before or after the baby is born. The up side of holding the shower after the baby's birth is that gifts can be chosen by the sex of the baby.
Who Should be Invited?
Traditionally, anyone invited that was invited to the wedding can be invited to baby showers. The best idea is to consult with the new mommy and daddy. Avoid inviting the same people to more than one shower, although some people want to attend several. Best to invite by groups, for example, co-workers, church, etc. The mothers and grandmothers of the mommy and daddy should be invited to all of the showers but it is up to them to decide which ones they will attend.
Surprise or Not Surprise the Mommy-To-Be?
Surprise showers are fun to plan but are not necessarily fun for the mommy who normally is tired of being pregnant; besides, it appears to be more enjoyable for her when she knows people that love her are planning a special party. She'll be more prepared to relax and enjoy all the festivities, and if she already has children, she can make arrangements ahead of time for babysitting.
What Happens When?
There is no right way or wrong way -- just your way. An easy-flowing shower can be something like this:
Upon arrival, guests are greeted, gifts put on the Gift Table, take their coats, pin on their name tag and offer them a beverage. Introduce them to other guests. When everyone has arrived, start with an ice breaker game (a simple, no frills, easy game to encourage mingling) If serving a meal, let the guests know when to help themselves.When the meal is over, serve dessert. While guests are enjoying their desserts, the mommy can open her gifts. To gently and tactfully bring the shower to a close, play the "Good Night, Little Baby" game listed below.
What if the Guests Don't Know Each Other?
Provide easy-to-read name tags. These can be computer-generated in a pretty and baby-ish font. Hot glue some dried flowers, mini rattles, baby bottles (party favor section of a craft store) or ribbons. Remember to have straight pins, too.
Where Do the Gifts Go When Guests Arrive?
Provide a Gift Table near where the mommy-to-be seated to open them. As guests arrive, ensure their envelope or gift tag is securely attached to their gift before putting it on the table.
Decorations
It is traditional to the use the colors of the baby's nursery, fresh flowers, balloons and streamers. Today, you can select from a variety of wonderful paper goods designed especially for baby showers. Unless your shower is formal with china and silver, pretty partygoods cheer up a party, are a part of the table decorations and make clean-up simple, easy and mess-free. There is no need to do a lot of decorating. Festive table decorations can also be game prizes, such as potted flowers.
Special Enhancements
Present a "baby's corsage" to the mommy-to-be and small flower corsages to the soon-to-be grandmothers. Decorations and photo for the "baby corsage" are provided later in this article.
Decorate the mommy-to-be's chair with helium-filled balloons. A touch of ribbon and fresh flowers intertwined with imitation ivy is very festive.
Ask one of the guests to hand the mommy the gift, take it from her after it is opened to pass around the room. She can also collect the torn wrapping paper and put it in a trash bag.
Provide envelopes to each guest, asking them to address it to themselves. When the mommy-to-be writes her thank you notes, this will save her a lot of time. (Ahead of time, ask the mommy-to-be to provide the thank you note envelopes to you).
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Great Gift Ideas!
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