Baby Showers - The History and Evolution of Gift Givingby Heather Long | More from this Blogger 01 Oct 2006 10:30 AM Baby showers are a popular way of celebrating the impending arrival of a new baby. Many baby showers are thrown in the last trimester of your pregnancy and expectant mothers are showered with items they might need for their soon to be born baby. However, baby showers for the expectant mother are actually a relatively modern invention made possible by modern medicine. Originally, baby showers were not given for expectant mothers. In fact, very little was done for the impending arrival of the new infant. The standard was to wait until after the baby was born and had been around for a few months because infant mortality rates were so high. New parents would eventually receive gifts for their new baby, but usually after the baby was about six or seven months old. The grandparent gifts were the most unique associated with the baby shower. It is considered traditional for grandparents to make a baby blanket or quilt for the baby and it was often tradition for the grandmother to provide a gift of some silver for the new baby. This silver represented a small inheritance for the baby's future. Grandparents would often store gifts for a new baby at their own home until the parents were able to put in an addition or room of their own for the new baby. These older practices have evolved over time as infant mortality rates decreased and baby showers are offered before the baby is born or shortly thereafter. Grandparents may not necessarily give a present of silver anymore, but they can give presents of CDs and other funds that contribute toward a college savings fund. Many grandparents still give the presents of baby blankets and quilts. So the next time you throw a baby shower or you are the recipient of one, be sure to express your gratitude that you live in a time where the infant survival rate has become high enough to allow you to have your baby shower before your baby is born. Related Articles: A Unique Baby Shower for Preemies Event Planning: The Baby Shower Learn more about Heather Long  Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. Relevantbaby tags User Comments Community Tags baby showers, evolution of gifts, gift history, grandparents Discuss this article
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