Event Planning: The Baby Shower

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

13 Aug 2006 12:30 PM

Do you know someone who is about to have a baby and what you really want to do is throw them a baby shower, but you have no idea where to start? If you're anything like me, you'll be out searching the web and talking to your relatives and trying to figure out what to do, who to invite, when you need to get things started and what to actually do once you get everyone there.

The following tips are designed to help you plan a baby shower whether you've done it a dozen times or never before. Some of these tips are based on my own experience and some are based on stories I've been told - either way, I hope they help you out.

• Set the Date - Plan ahead, you should host the baby shower sometime around the 7th month of pregnancy. Both my sister-in-law and the doctor she worked for ended up going to the hospital to deliver on the same day as their baby showers were planned for - within a week of their due dates.
• Guest List - Talk to the soon to be mother, she'll have a good idea of whom she would like to invite and if it's a surprise shower, talk to her spouse and/or her mother
• Inviting People - The guest list will help you with the invitation list, it's also important to send invitations to people who may or may not be able to come - for example if the mother-to-be's mother lives in another state, you still want to send her an invitation. You should also give guests at least a month's notice about the planned event
• R.S.V.P. - Be sure to keep a copy of your invitation list at hand to make note of those who RSVP, then about 2 weeks ahead of time and then a week ahead of time, call and confirm those you have no heard from
• Games & Such - We've talked about different games you can play during the baby shower here, but the best time for games is usually around the time that the mother is opening presents - this gives everyone something to do
• Food & More - Depending on when you are hosting the baby shower, food is always a hit - but go for finger foods and such to serve because it's easier to clean up and guests may be more comfortable munching rather than eating a plate meal

The average baby shower will last around two hours. This gives people time to arrive, to talk and to eat and then to open presents and enjoy the games. As a host, you might consider preparing favors to give each of the guests - one set of favors that a friend of mine gave out at a baby shower were small picture frames for each guest so that they would have a place to put a picture of the soon to arrive little one.

Have you ever hosted a baby shower?

Related Articles:

Top 10 Baby Shower Gifts

Registering for Your Baby Shower

Heart to Heart: Baby & The Bear

Early Invitation Idea

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.

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