Checklist baby shower: Baby Shower Checklist — Planning Made Easy

Posted on 25 февраля, 2021 by alexxlab

Baby Shower Checklist — Planning Made Easy

Are you the thoughtful and gracious friend or family member who is hosting a baby shower (for a very lucky mom-to-be)? If you are, this baby shower checklist can help you plan a special shower that runs so smoothly that even you, the host, can relax and enjoy it.

The secret to throwing a successful baby shower is to plan ahead. So, once you’ve read our guide on how to plan a baby shower, just work your way through this baby shower checklist, and you’ll be set to host a lovely shower.

For Starters

Decide on a budget for the baby shower, which may depend on whether anyone is co-hosting and/or contributing to the costs.
Consult the mom-to-be to choose a date. Keep in mind whether that date is good for the most important guests (like close family members and best friends) as well.
Compose a guest list in close consultation with the mom-to-be. Make sure you have each guest’s full name and address.
Start an RSVP list so you can collect the RSVPs as you get them.
Pick a baby shower theme, as this could influence many party-planning decisions. If you’re stuck for ideas, these suggestions for baby shower themes for girls and boys might get your creative juices flowing!

Location

Select a location. You can host a baby shower almost anywhere you want — a restaurant, a tea parlor, a park, the beach, a sports venue, or, of course, your home.
Book the venue or make a table reservation (if needed).

Registry

If there is a baby shower gift registry created by the mom-to-be, it’s a good idea to state where it is in the invitation. Ask the mom-to-be for this information before you finalize the invitation, because your guests will be looking for gift ideas. To help the mom-to-be build the perfect registry, you could also suggest she use our handy baby shower registry checklist.

Invitations

Now that you have the guest list, theme, location, and registry taken care of, it’s time to design the baby shower invitations. There are lots of options for the invitation, depending on whether you want to go for something classic, quick, or easy:
- There are many online sites that can help you easily put together an e-invite to send out invitations instantly via email.
- If you have time, you can even create a mini website, and send guests an email with the link so they can access it. There are lots of free and easy website builders that can help. A personalized website can help set the tone for the event through its design, and it can have information about the location, anything special the guests should bring, and registry details all in one spot.
- If all of your guests are on Facebook, you can create an event there. It’s an easy way to track RSVPs and to post updates about the shower.
- The most elegant and classic solution is to send paper invitations. You can either create a design one on your laptop and get them professionally printed, or do your own printing, or buy pre-printed invites that you can fill in. Don’t forget matching envelopes and special stamps for a nice touch.
Send the invitations about four to six weeks in advance of the shower.
Follow up the invites with a phone call or message, just in case any of the invitations get lost.

Food and Beverages

Select the type of refreshments or meal you’d like to serve. This could be a brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, or simply a spread of sweets.
Plan the menu and organize the food; you may hire a professional caterer, or take care of this yourself. Alternatively, consider asking each guest to bring a dish to share. If any of the guests has a special dietary requirement, remember to factor this in when deciding on food.
A baby shower cake is a baby shower staple. Consider the theme of the shower, and then choose cupcakes or a cake in a beautiful, matching design.
Don’t forget drinks! Consider a range of beverages like coffee, tea, punch, and soda.
If the party will be at a home, remember to get some bags of ice so that beverages can be kept cool.

Tableware

Plates
Cutlery
Cups
Glasses
Serving pieces
Tablecloth
Napkins
Depending on the size of your baby shower and where you hold it, you may need to rent (or borrow) items such as tables, chairs, a coffeemaker, etc.

Decorations

Select decorations for walls, tables, and the yard. Decorations could include balloons, candles, lights, streamers, lanterns, pennant banners, cut-out letters spelling “Welcome,” table centerpieces, and more.
If you’d like floral decorations but don’t want to pick and create your own, order the flowers (you may want to include a corsage for the mom-to-be) and arrange for them to be picked up or delivered on the morning of the shower.
Design and print place cards, if you’re having them.

Games and Activities

Choose which, if any, baby shower games you’ll play.
Gather all the supplies you’ll need for these games — and don’t forget the prizes!

Party Favors and Thank You Notes

Party favors are a nice touch to say “thank you for coming” to all your baby shower guests. You, as the host, should gift the favor to each guest as they leave. Favor ideas can include a photo frame, a baby-themed soap, or a beautiful candle.
If gifts are being opened at the party, work with the mom-to-be to help her keep track of which guest has given which gift. That way, she can write personal notes thanking guests for their presence and gifts.

Music

Background music can help set the tone, so decide on what kind of baby shower music you’d like.
If you’re going to play music from your phone, tablet, or laptop, remember to set up speakers. Or you can book live music if you’d like something more elaborate.

Photography

The mom-to-be will appreciate having photos and videos of her baby shower, so have one of the hosts or guests assigned to making sure lots of photos are taken.
Many of your guests will also take photos on their phones. Ask someone to be in charge of organizing everyone to upload their favorite pictures to a photo-sharing site (some digital invitation services even have a photo sharing option), or to share them on social media.
You or someone else might be thinking of putting together a photo book for the mom-to-be, so having all of these images to choose from will be a great help.

Incidentals

It’s a good idea to have garbage bags and recycling bins readily available, and lots of paper towels on hand for quick cleanups.
Have plenty of toilet paper, hand towels, and nice soap for the guest bathroom.

Gift

Don’t forget your baby present for the mom-to-be!

Little Extras

Help make the mom-to-be comfortable on the day by having a special chair and pillows for her (especially if she’s in the third trimester). Organize her transportation to and from the shower.
A memory book is a great keepsake for the mom-to-be. Ask guests to fill it with the best baby advice they ever received, the most important thing they know about babies, or whatever best wishes are in their heart.

Now that you’ve worked your way through this baby shower checklist, check out this baby shower planning guide for even more baby shower themes, decoration tips, and fun baby shower game ideas, designed to help the host arrange a great baby shower.

The baby shower you’ll be hosting is a fantastic way of celebrating the pregnancy and helping to make sure that everything the new baby needs is ready in time for the big day. But the gifts don’t have to stop coming when it’s over. If the mom-to-be downloads the Pampers Club app, she’ll be able to get rewards for her purchases of diapers and wipes, such as gifts, cash back, and coupons.

How to Plan a Baby Shower: An Ultimate Checklist

Every baby deserves a celebration, whether they’re being born into a family, carried by a surrogate or lovingly adopted, and whether they’re the first child in a family or the second or the third. But no matter how baby arrives or in what order, one thing is for certain: baby showers can be a fun and special way to welcome them into the world and celebrate the parents at the same time.

If you’re planning a baby shower, or if you’re having one planned for you (congratulations, by the way!), you might’ve already figured out that a party this special involves a lot of tasks. From themes and food to RSVP management and gift tracking, there’s a lot to remember. So we’ve created an ultimate checklist to keep things on track and help you plan the most memorable baby shower ever. With all the tasks organized in order of operation (though the timeline is totally flexible), we hope you can eliminate some of the stress that comes with party planning and focus on having fun with it.

When to have a baby shower

You can technically have a baby shower at any point before or after baby comes. If the shower is going to happen before baby, throwing it about one to two months before 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 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.

Do I have to follow this exact timeline?

The timing of some baby shower–related duties depends on the type of party. Is it a fancy, formal event that requires lots of coordination with caterers and decorators? Or are you throwing a more casual gathering that can be planned on shorter notice? Keep in mind that involving services like catering means more people’s schedules to work with, so you should leave more room in your timeline.

The timing also depends on who’s planning the party and how much they actually like to plan things. Some hosts love a strict, organized task list while others thrive on just winging it—take this checklist as guidance, not gospel.

How to plan a baby shower

Want your own copy of each checklist to keep on hand as you get to planning? Download them here!

Download the Parent-to-Be Baby Shower Checklist
Download the Host Baby Shower Checklist

For the Parent(s)

Three–Four Months Before Baby’s Arrival

Decide if/when you want a baby shower

It’s totally up to you whether your baby shower is before or after your baby arrives, the proximity to baby’s arrival date, or if you have a shower at all.

Create your baby registry

You may have started your registry already, in which case, good for you for getting on that early! Your registry doesn’t necessarily have to be finished at this point, but you should feel pretty good about what’s on there by the time your baby shower invites go out, because that’s when friends and family will start thinking about what gift to get you.

Create a guest list

It’s your party and you can invite who you want to. Adults only? Kids allowed? Mixed gender? The only limitation to keep in mind is the venue’s capacity, so ask whoever is hosting the baby shower what sort of venue they plan on using.

Day of the Baby Shower

Just relax—you’re the guest of honor!

Unless you really want to give the host a hand with things, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the celebration—it’s a party for you, after all. If the shower isn’t at your home, just be sure you’ve arranged a way to take all your gifts with you.

One–Two Weeks After the Baby Shower

Send thank you cards

It’s good etiquette to send thank you cards in general, and when it comes to baby shower thank yous, the sooner the better—especially if your shower was pre-baby, because you’ll have a lot less time and energy for writing cards once your little one arrives.

Ready to Add These to Your Registry?

With Babylist, you can add any item from any store onto ONE registry. Start your registry today and get a Hello Baby Box full of free (amazing!) goodies.

For the Host

Two Months Before the Baby Shower

Decide who will host the shower

While tradition says it should be a close friend who hosts, we think it’s totally okay for the party to be hosted by a family member or co-worker, too, as long as it’s someone close to the parent(s). Keep in mind, too, that extra hands to help with planning can come in handy, so consider hosting as a group!

Set the budget

Planning a baby shower often means decorations and food for guests, which also means spending money. If you’re going to hire services like a caterer or an event planner, or if you’re going to buy everything yourself, we recommend setting a budget early on so you don’t accidentally go overboard. (If you’re looking to track costs as you go, plus keep tabs on every other aspect of baby shower planning, this Excel template keeps all the party info in one convenient spot.)

Six Weeks Before the Baby Shower

Set the date

Whether the celebration takes place before or after baby’s arrival should be determined by the parent(s). When planning the exact date of the shower, take into consideration the parents’ schedules as well as guests’ schedules (especially if anyone is traveling for the occasion)—that should help you decide if a weekday or weekend would be better, and what time of day.

It’s important to have the date set, or at least have a couple in mind, if you’re planning on reserving a venue.

Set the theme

Baby showers don’t have to have a theme, so if traditional pastel colors, pacifiers and diaper pins are more your speed, you’re sure to find plenty of matching decor. But if you’re thinking of doing something more trendy or unique, we recommend deciding on that pretty early, since the style of party could have some influence on where you have the shower. And since you already have your budget, now is a good time to start thinking about decor, games and favors that will fit the theme.

Set the location

Once you know your theme, it can help determine what kind of space you need. Are you throwing an elegant afternoon tea that requires an intimate indoor space? Or is it a large, casual gathering in someone’s backyard? Or maybe it’s some mix of the two. Whatever venue you decide on, be sure to clue in the parents so they know how many guests the space will allow for. If it’s a surprise shower, you can work with others close to the parents to devise an appropriate guest list. And once you know how many people the location will hold, make sure there’s enough room for the guests to sit and eat and have the guest of honor open gifts.

Order invitations

We know how exciting it can be to finally let everyone know about the party you’ve been painstakingly planning, but don’t order the invitations until you have all the crucial information gathered, especially the date, time and location. It’s also a good idea to include yourself or a co-host as the contact person for RSVPs, the RSVP deadline, baby registry information and directions to the party.

If there are guests coming from out of town who would rather send their gift ahead of time, list the address where shower gifts can be received (preferably not the parents’ house, since that might spoil the surprise; have them sent to someone who can bring them on the day of the shower).

Ordering invitations about six weeks before the shower really only applies if you’re ordering custom printed ones online. If you’re buying pre-designed invitation cards from a store, then you only need to reserve as much time as it will take to fill them out by hand. If you’re emailing invitations, it’ll take even less time (we recommend going the email route if you’re pressed for time or concerned about environmental impact).

One Month Before the Baby Shower

Send invitations

Regardless of whether you’re emailing invites or snail-mailing, it’s customary to send them out four weeks before the baby shower. This leaves enough time for guests to mark it on their calendars and, if necessary, take time off from work or plan for their travel.

Plan food and drinks

No matter what type of party or what time of day, the partygoers are probably going to want refreshments of some kind. It’s a good idea to start planning the menu ahead of time so you can secure catering or ask for friends’ and family’s help with food and drinks. A potluck can make a shower menu fun and easy if a lot of the guests want to pitch in. If the guest of honor is pregnant, be sure to include pregnancy-friendly foods like mocktails, veggie sushi and pasteurized cheeses for a charcuterie board. It’s also a good idea to check with any guests for food allergies.

One–Two Weeks Before the Baby Shower

Finalize headcount/confirm RSVPs

There’s always a good chance that one or two invitees won’t RSVP by the deadline—check in on those few stragglers and finalize the headcount a week or two out to ensure there’s enough time to adjust any reservations if need be.

Confirm reservations for location and/or food

If you’ve booked a venue, catering or any other service, it’s a good idea to confirm the reservation about a week out. If the shower is at a friend’s or relative’s house, or if guests will be bringing food, double check with them.

Get decor, favors and everything you need for the games

The baby shower’s theme should be solidly in place by now and represented in the invitations, venue, food and drinks, but you can really bring it to life through decorations, party favors and fun games to entertain all the guests.
If buying a bunch of decor and favors isn’t in your budget, we fully support going the homemade route. Origami baby clothes? Adorable. No-sew bunting? Easy peasy. A stack of wrapped diaper boxes with letters that spell out baby’s name? Genius.

Day of the Baby Shower

Prep snacks or any food that isn’t ordered

We suggest making a grocery run one to two days before the shower, especially if you’re doing any cooking or baking. If food can be prepped the day before the party, that means less for you to do day-of—but small, ready-made snacks can wait until just before the shower starts. And if you plan to serve cold drinks, put them in the fridge or on ice at least four hours before guests arrive.

Set up/decorate party space

If you can take a look at the party space beforehand, even better. And if possible, it’s a nice touch to have some decorations like balloons outside to make the location really noticeable for guests.

Assign someone to keep track of/write down gifts

If the parents don’t have a baby book yet, or if someone purchased one off of the registry, assign a willing guest to write down the gifts inside the baby book. A lot of baby books have a special page or two just for baby shower gifts, but if it doesn’t—or you don’t have one—you can always write the gifts down on a separate paper.

Assign one or two people to take photos

Some people are really great at remembering to photograph memorable events. Others, not so much. If you fall into the latter category, then you can ensure pictures will get taken if you designate a photographer or two. It can be any partygoer with a camera or smartphone. And the baby shower itself doesn’t have to be particularly Instagram-worthy—but the parents are going to want to document those memories.

This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Babylist may earn compensation from affiliate links in this content. Learn more about how we write Babylist content and the Babylist Health Advisory Board.

Checklist: How to Host the Perfect Baby Shower

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• Updated January 13, 2022

by
Nina Spears

The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert

Planning a baby shower can be a lot of work. Trust me. Time sneaks up on you, and all of a sudden, you realize that you only have a few weeks left to get everything reserved, ordered, and organized for the big event. Yikes! I recently had my baby shower, and let me tell you, having to make sure everything was prepped and ready to go was—well—a lot. Luckily, I consider myself a pretty organized person, and I am blessed to have some great friends who helped me with the planning and the day of, so I could enjoy my shower.

Today I’m sharing my baby shower checklist that helped me stay on schedule and have a flawless shower. If you’re planning a baby shower for a friend or family member, this checklist is sure to help you with your planning efforts. It will guide you to a smooth, fabulous, and worry-free event. 🙂

Seven Weeks in Advance

Determine who the host(s) will be.
Set a date and time.
Set a budget.
Choose a location for the shower.
- Decide whose home the party will be held in, or reserve a restaurant or party room.
Prepare a guest list (consult with the mother-to-be), complete with full names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers (if possible).
- Determine how many people can fit in the room or home.
Decide if the event will be catered (and if so, which company/restaurant) or if you or someone else will be helping make the food and determine who will be making what.
Ask the mother-to-be if she has a particular theme or color scheme in mind for the event.

Six Weeks in Advance

Order invitations and prepare invitations for mailing.
If the expecting mama has registered somewhere for baby items, make sure her registry information is included in the invitation.

Five Weeks in Advance

Mail the invitations.
Plan the menu.
- If catering: keep the budget in mind.
- If cooking: assign who will be making what.
- Check if any guests have food allergies—make sure there are options available for them.
- Order the cake.
Check tables, tableware, and chairs to ensure you have enough of each. If there isn’t enough, look up your local rental options.
Decide what kind of decorations and/or flowers you’ll have.
Make a list of any props or party favors you may need.
Think about the baby shower games you will want to play and the prizes for the winners.
Assign a photographer or hire a professional photographer.
Order any entertainment (if you want a band, etc.) or additional surprises.

Three Weeks in Advance

Write out place cards, if desired.
Order balloons and flowers if they are planned decorations.
- Are you going to have a flower crown, corsage, or something special for the mother-to-be to wear for the shower?
- Order table centerpieces.
Order the props, prizes, or party favors that you’ll need.
Wrap all favors and gifts.
Have a plan for how the mother-to-be is getting to the shower. Is someone picking her up? Is she driving herself?

Two Weeks in Advance

Re-confirm your reservation if you are hosting the shower at a restaurant or party space.
If the party is at your home, decide which serving dishes, utensils, table linens, and napkins you’ll use.
- Clean or iron table linens if necessary.
- Re-confirm rental supplies (if needed).
If catering: Re-confirm your order with the caterer.
If cooking your food: Prepare a shopping list for the food and beverages you’ll need.
Re-confirm the entertainment or create a playlist for a fun and inviting atmosphere.

One Week in Advance

Phone anyone who has not called to RSVP and have a final headcount.
Prepare dishes that you can freeze ahead of time for the event.
Re-confirm with guests who’ve been asked to bring food or special items.
Put together or re-confirm party favors.

2 Days in Advance

Shop for perishables, ice, and other remaining supplies.
Prepare food that can be made in advance.
If the event is at your home:
- Put decorations into place
- Set the table(s) and have
Have a comfortable chair picked out, with a pillow or seat cushion, for the mom-to-be to use at the shower.

1 Day in Advance

Finish preparing food.
If you’re not cooking, pick up the cake and prepared foods, or check in with the caterer.
Pick up flowers, or make sure they get delivered.
If hosted in your home: Vacuum, clean guest bathroom.
Set up extra chairs for guests.
Set up a designated space for holding baby gifts.

The Morning of the Shower

Pick up balloons if you’re using them as decor. If you pick them up earlier, they could deflate.
Have all hosts congregate at the party site an hour or two ahead of time to help set up.
Chill some refreshments to be ready at party time.
Set out food, except items that need to stay warm or cold.

Party Time!

Introduce the guests to each other.
Mingle.
Eat.
Take pictures.
Play games.
Open gifts.
- Designate someone to record who gave which gift.
- Designate someone to help give gifts for the mother-to-be to open. Bending down is now more difficult for her.
- Designate someone to collect all wrapping paper for trash.
- Designate someone to repackage all the gifts for the expecting mom to take home.
Make sure that she is eating, is comfortable, and is happy. 🙂

After the Party

Collect all the gifts and place them in the mother-to-be’s car or ride.
Give flower arrangements to the mother-to-be to take home or have the other hosts make additional arrangements.
Make sure that all guests are leaving with their party favors and coats.
Clean up plates and cups once guests are finished.
Gather all rented linens, tables, or chairs together if needed to be picked up or dropped off.

There’s my checklist to help you have the perfect baby shower. I hope it’s a blast!

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How to Plan a Baby Shower Step by Step

There are a handful of things to consider when planning a baby shower. A baby shower serves as a special gathering to celebrate mom-to-be with her closest friends and family before her family grows by one. Most baby showers take place sometime during the end of a pregnancy which is certainly, a hectic time for the guest of honor who is busy getting ready for her newest addition. You can make the planning process simple by creating a baby shower checklist and staying organized before the special day. Be sure to include the best baby shower gifts as well as baby shower invitations to make your baby shower party the best.

How to Plan a Baby Shower

Few celebrations are more exciting than a baby shower and if you’re in charge of hosting a shower, you’ll want to consider every detail. As the host, you’ll also want to make sure the celebration stays true to the honoree’s personal taste and style. Consider her favorite colors, decor style, and hobbies. You can also pull inspiration from her nursery ideas to guarantee she’ll love her baby shower theme.

Planning a successful baby shower starts with staying organized from the get-go and giving yourself enough time to make everything come to life. You’ll want to grab a notepad and start making your checklist to stay in track with your plans.

Baby Shower Checklist

From sending out baby shower invitations and buying decor to ordering the cake, our step by step guide and checklist will help walk you through the baby shower planning process with ease. If you’re searching for more detailed information regarding items on the checklist, make sure to visit our baby shower etiquette guide for baby shower tips and rules.

Nine to Ten Weeks Before:

Determine who will host the shower.
Select a date and time.
Determine a budget.
Select a venue.
Finalize the guest list.
Confirm the baby’s gender just in case mom-to-be wants a specific color palette.
Choose a theme for the baby shower. Find inspiration with our complete collection of baby shower themes and ideas!
Order your baby shower invitations and matching thank you cards.

You’ll not only want your invitations to go well with the theme of the baby shower, but you’ll also want to make sure you use the proper wording for all of your correspondence. Take a peek at our guides for baby shower invitation wording and baby shower thank you card wording to ensure you’re using proper format and style.

Six Weeks Before:

Prepare invitations for mailing. Whether you’re hosting a baby shower get-together on the smaller side or inviting 50 people to join in the festivities, sending an invitation is a must. You’ll want to assure you’re using appropriate titles and formats. Visit our guide on how to address baby shower invitations for more detailed instructions and address examples.
Mail Your Invitations. You should send your invitations anywhere between 4-6 weeks before the big day. You’ll want to give your guest ample time to RSVP and also give yourself enough time to add any guests you may have forgotten. See more mailing time frames and specific tips by checking out our guidelines for when to send baby shower invitations.
Start planning for decorations and ordering items that will take a while to arrive.
Begin menu planning or select a caterer.
Check in with the mother-to-be on the status of her gift registry. You’ll want the gift registry ready before the invitations arrive to guests. That way, guests can start their baby shower gift shopping as soon as they would like.

Four Weeks Before:

Order the baby shower cake or cupcakes.
Plan out baby shower games, order baby shower favors and baby shower game prizes.
Reserve party rental supplies if needed.
Assign someone to be the official photographer for the day.

Two Weeks Before:

Follow up with any guests who haven’t RSVP’d.
Put together the baby shower favors and game prizes.
Confirm your reservation.
Make sure the cake is ordered.
Designate someone to pick up the mother-to-be on the day of the shower.
Organize a day-of agenda and make sure you have extra hands to help you out.
Clean up around the house.

One Week Before:

Shop for any food items that can be bought in advance.
Designate who will record the gifts at the baby shower for the mother-to-be.

Two to Three Days Before:

Finish shopping for menu items and stock up on bar items.
Pick up food and serving supplies (utensils, napkins, cups, & plates).
Communicate with your co-hosts or other party planners to make sure that all the details are taken care of.

One Day Before:

Pick up the cake.
Set up the party space.

Day Of The Baby Shower:

Assemble food and drink.
Designate a place for the gifts.
Enjoy yourselves.

Baby Shower Planning Tips

Along with your checklist and etiquette guidelines, there are a few tips you should keep in your back pocket when planning a baby shower celebration. All it takes is some strategy and a few personalized touches to create the day mom-to-be will cherish for a lifetime. Keep the following tips in mind when checking off all of the above items on your list:

Make sure any major baby shower planning decisions are made with the expectant mother in mind. Before you start planning, make a list of some of her favorite things to help you narrow down your design options.
Choose fun baby shower invitations that will give guests a look into what the big day is going to be all about.
Remember sometimes, the simplest decoration ideas end up making the biggest statement. Think flowers, greenery, balloons, confetti, and advice jars.
If you give away plants as baby shower favors, you can also use them as decorations during the party.
If you don’t have extra chairs sitting around you can use pillows for alternative seating and to fit all the shower guests into your living room.
If you make the gifts the centerpiece of the shower you can save money and time.
Take advantage of free baby shower printables if you’re looking for games, advice cards, and more.

The most important tip we can leave you with is to have fun and enjoy your time celebrating this next step in mom-to-be’s life. The fun is just beginning!

The Ultimate Baby Shower Checklist 2022

It’s so exciting to plan a baby shower for yourself or for someone you know. There’s a new baby on the way, and you can get together with family and friends to celebrate!

However, if you’re hosting, there are some things you should know first—there’s more to planning a baby shower than just choosing a location and sending invitations.

To be sure you remember everything, grab our free checklists to help! It’s crucial to have everything written down and organized, and you’ll feel way more confident that all is going according to plan with the party.

Why Do You Need a Baby Shower Checklist?

There are many differences with baby showers, including in-person, hybrid, online, small gatherings, and large events. A baby shower checklist can do a few things to improve your party planning.

First, it gives you a place to write down everything that needs to get done. Next, and in turn, it helps you stay organized.

When you use a checklist, you’ll know what needs to happen and when you need to complete each task. You can look at your list at any time and find out what jobs you should do that day or week. This process works for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, but the checklist is also beneficial for hybrid ones.

If your event is strictly virtual, check out our checklist for virtual baby showers for some extra pointers to having your dream baby celebration.

Third, having a baby shower checklist can bring you peace of mind. Since you’re keeping everything structured with your list, you can refer to it whenever you like!

How to Plan a Baby Shower: A Simple Checklist

Checklists are to make your life easier, not more complicated. So, we’ve created a simple list to follow that will help you get everything done on time.

Remember, it’s essential to keep dates in mind for events—such as the day you need to confirm the guest list, call about the cake, etc. Having due dates for tasks makes a big job more manageable.

You should accomplish these tasks before the baby shower at certain times, listed below.

Baby Shower Checklist for the Hosts
Baby Shower Checklist for the Parents-to-be

Baby Shower Checklist for Hosts

If you have the privilege of hosting a baby shower for a friend or relative or have decided to host your own party, this checklist will help you.

Six Weeks Before the Shower

Who Will Host the Event

Deciding who will host isn’t always an easy decision. Ultimately it should be up to the parents who hosts – but sometimes people want to take matters into their own hands. The key to managing this properly is direct communication. If someone asks you if they can host, feel free to say yes if you want to – or seek someone else out if not.

If you run into a dilemma where more than one person wants to host, you can add co-hosts to your event, making the planning process more manageable.

And if you prefer to, hosting your own baby shower is possible. If you’re concerned about this being unusual, rest assured that 60% of our customers throw their baby shower themselves.

Decide on the Budget

Baby showers can be expensive. And personalized cakes, booking a venue, and an extensive guest list can make things cost even more.

All of this is best accomplished with a budget.

Remember that you can have more than one baby shower, which can help if you have a lot of friends and family—something that can also affect the cost.

This helpful guide with tons of detail can help you plan a baby shower on a budget.

Choose the Date

Picking a date is exciting because everything is coming together and the party is happening! However, there are some things to consider, including the schedule of the guests of honor and the people attending the party.

Before deciding, clear a couple of potential options with the parents-to-be. Then make sure there aren’t any important events that many of the guests would be attending. After that, you can decide on a date.

If some guests find the date doesn’t work well for them, you can instead host a separate virtual baby shower just for them.

Another way to decide on a date is to find at least three dates that will work well. After clearing it with the guests of honor, ask the guests to vote on the date that they want. If the majority choose one date, then problem solved! If they are evenly split between two or three, you might decide to host separate events, as discussed above.

Set Up a Great Theme

After you’ve chosen the date, the theme is the next big thing you should focus on. You should select a baby shower theme based on what the parents-to-be will like best. You can choose from themes for girls, or boys, or keep it gender neutral.

Everything, from your website to your invitations and decorations, should go with your theme. This means matching or complementary colors and prints; you can even coordinate party favors to match!

Create a Guest List

Next, take the time to create the guest list. You need to decide how many people you’ll invite, and you can choose to make the party a small event or have a larger gathering.

Write down all the people you would like to have in attendance, including close family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. From there, narrow it down depending on whether you want a large or small baby shower.

There are many ways to expand the guest list if some of the people you invite can’t attend in person. A great way is hosting a virtual baby shower to include everyone.

Speaking of—don’t forget to decide on a host for the event! You can ask a best friend, mother or mother-in-law, or a sibling. Check out our tips for choosing a great host here.

Learn – How to make long-distance relatives part of your celebration

Decide on the Venue

Many people decide to host baby showers in someone’s home. But, if you choose to go a different route, you’ll need a venue.

Outdoor celebrations are especially popular in spring and summer, and another fun idea is a restaurant.No matter what you decide, you will need to book the venue in advance, so there’s plenty of time to secure it. For ideas, check out the best places to have a baby shower.

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Five Weeks Before the Shower

Start Sending Baby Shower Invitations

After you decide on a final guest list, five weeks out is a great time to send your invites, and you can use these invitation wording ideas to make them extra punchy to stand out. Digital invites can save you tons of time and money, too. And a Save the Date/RSVP invite is perfect for getting a guest count in advance.

WebBabyShower also gives you the luxury of sending as many invites as you want for free, and all with RSVP tracking. The tracking feature lets you know if someone has read your invite yet or not, helping you stay organized.

Deciding on the Food

If you have the baby shower in person, you need to plan what food you’ll serve. A cake or cupcakes is usually a good place to start. From there, you can decide if you want to include appetizers or main course food.

However, before you plan, know your budget and ask guests about food allergies. Then determine who will be responsible for cooking the food—or buying it, if you prefer.

Set Up the Decorations

A baby shower is always more fun with decorations! First, if you’re hosting an in-person event, choose the space you’ll decorate and think about how you want to set up the room. Try to get a few larger decorations like a banner and a table centerpiece. From there, you can fill in the rest of the room with balloons, table decor, candles, and lights.

If you’re hosting a baby shower online, your personal and unique WebBabyShower website allows you to choose a theme that you like, as well as add details like the date, time, and venue. You or guests can also upload photos to the guest book.

We always make it a point to create themes that look great and make your job as the host easy, and we make things as customizable as we can so the website is perfect to your vision.

Four Weeks Before the Shower

Send Reminders for RSVPs

Four weeks out is the time to check on your invitations and begin communicating with those you’ve invited. Find out how many people have responded to the RSVPs and who you still need to talk to. Then, send out a friendly reminder to anyone you have not been able to contact, asking them to RSVP as soon as possible.

During this time, you should also keep your guests informed about any details of the party. Communication is a big part of a baby shower checklist!

As you are talking with those you’ve invited, this is a good time to (politely) ask them to look up the gift registry. Remind guests that buying something now gives them plenty of time to order and have it arrive in the mail or send it to the mom-to-be. This is made extra simple by adding the gift registry link to your WebBabyShower website so guests can find it easily.

Order Your Baby Shower Cake

If you are ordering a cake rather than baking one, now is the time.

For a more elaborate cake, order at least four weeks in advance. If the cake is simpler and from a grocery store, you may not have to order quite this early.

Three Weeks Before the Shower

Get all your decorations and supplies ordered or run by the store to pick them up. Keep everything somewhere safe where it won’t get damaged, and where you’ll have easy access to it.

Examples of things you may need to purchase:

Balloons
Banner
Table decor
Tablecloth
Food (non-perishable)
Cups, silverware, plates, napkins
Party favors

This is also the last chance for guests to RSVP. Since three weeks away is pretty close to the party date, kindly explain to any guests you haven’t heard from that they need to let you know within a couple of days if they will attend.

That way, you have time to buy everything and plan for the correct number of people.

Two Weeks Before the Shower

Gather the Baby Shower Decorations

Gather any remaining decorations you’ll need for the party two weeks before. Keep everything in one place where you can easily find them.

Plan for Games

Plan out the games you want to play at the baby shower. You should aim for at least a couple of games and maybe have a few backups, as well. WebBabyShower has lots of game suggestions if you need to plan quickly.

You’ll also need to order prizes for the games.

And to get your guests extra excited, you can take photos of the prizes and put them on your website. This is also an excellent time to remind guests that this week is the latest they can RSVP.

Prepare Baby Shower Gifts and Favors

If you are going to have a party where people show up in person, it’s time to wrap all the prizes and party favors. You can easily do this by sticking with gift bags and tissue paper for everything. Or, if the presents are large and you aren’t sure how to wrap them, a big bow could work as well.

Housekeeping Check

Next, you should reconfirm with everyone about dates and times—remind guests of the time and day of the baby shower and what they need to bring with them. Also, catch up with anyone who will be part of the event or who is bringing something for it, such as caterers or venue coordinators.

If you have reservations, check that everything is accurate and confirm times. A quick email or call should work.

Make sure you know the mom-to-be’s arrival time and how she will be getting to the party. Is someone driving her there? Are you picking her up? Know all of this in advance and try to get guests to arrive shortly before the mom. That way, she will walk in and see all of the guests ready to greet her!

Last, if you will be cooking or baking anything for the day, write out your list of ingredients now and start shopping. Gather everything that you’ll need, including decorations for cakes or desserts, like candy or frosting.

Week Leading Up to the Shower

This is the last chance to reconfirm everything with guests. Ensure they know when and where to arrive, how long the party will last, and any other important details. You can also take the time to add any finishing touches to the decorations and go over the plans you have for the day.

Run through the schedule and confirm that everything makes sense.

Then, it’s time for a final guest headcount. Confirm how many guests will be there, and—if you have an itinerary for the day—send it out to the guests to let them know what to expect.

If you’re looking for itinerary ideas, our planning template can help make things a lot easier. We know that putting together an event for people takes work, and a template can simplify the process.

Baby Shower Checklist for the Parents-to-be

If you are the expecting parents, congratulations! Here’s a checklist to help you remember your to-do’s for your baby shower.

Three to Four Months Before the Baby Arrives

Decide if you want to have a party or prefer not to

Your baby will be here soon, and there’s a lot to think about and prepare for! Choosing if you do or do not want a baby shower is one of the first choices you should make. Having a party is great, but if you don’t want one, don’t worry, this is also fine.

Some people don’t like the idea of having a large event or prefer to just celebrate with people closest to them. Whatever you do is entirely up to you.

And some people like to have a party once the baby is born. You make the call on hosting an event before or after your baby arrives. You also decide how far from your due date you want to have the event or decide if you’d rather skip it.

Create your Baby Registry

Whether you decide to host a party or not, you should still make a baby registry. Babies need a lot of supplies, and your friends and family are probably eager to help. Not sure where to start? Here are the best baby registries to help you figure everything out.

It’s also vital that you make your registry before you send out invitations for the baby shower or announcements if you’re not having a party. So pick out the items for your registry, and ask the baby shower host to add them to the invites before they go out to the guests.

If you think sharing your baby registry isn’t a great idea, don’t worry, there are plenty of options for sharing your registry without being tacky.

Make a Guest List

Next up, create that guest list! Obviously, this needs to happen before you send out those invites, so don’t forget to do this in advance. Remember, it’s your party, so you control the guest list. Invite anyone you want!

You can opt for an adults-only event, kids allowed, or even a co-ed party that everyone is invited to. The only fundamental rule is knowing how many people can fit into your venue space comfortably.

The Day of Your Baby Shower

The big day has finally arrived! What should you do? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! You’re the guest of honor, and everyone will be eager to greet and talk with you. So prepare to have fun and enjoy yourself!

After Your Baby Shower

Send thank you cards

Good baby shower etiquette dictates that you should absolutely send thank you cards. After all, everyone showed up for your event, celebrated with you, and likely brought you presents. So it should be a priority to let them know you appreciate their kindness.

Be sure to send your thank you’s within two weeks of the baby shower, and even sooner, if you’re able to. That way, you don’t forget, and your guests get their notes in a timely manner.

Image from: @katiesteindesigns

Extra Tips to Plan for Baby Shower Success

When planning a baby shower, the best thing to do is be organized—and the easiest way to stay organized and on track is with a baby shower checklist.

One great idea to help divide the work and make things more fun is bringing in a co-host. Ask someone to host the baby shower with you so you can share the tasks and decisions.

The next tip is to focus on connection—especially if your baby shower is virtual. It’s essential to get people talking and having fun together. Baby showers are about celebrating and enjoying time with family and friends, so make sure that’s the real focus of the day!

The last thing to remember is that it’s all right to break baby shower “rules.” Just because something is expected doesn’t mean you have to do it that way. Find a party itinerary that works for you, the guests, and the mom-to-be. Don’t worry too much about etiquette.

A Baby Shower Checklist Can Help You Throw a Great Party

At first, planning a baby shower can seem pretty overwhelming. But, when you break the tasks down into a week-by-week approach, you can simplify things a lot. Especially when you use the tips offered in this article—a checklist makes organizing your event easy.

The mom-to-be and guests will have tons of fun with what you’ve planned. Enjoy making memories and celebrating such a fun event!

How to Plan a Baby Shower (Checklist + 5 Game Ideas)

Baby showers have long been a favored way for family and friends to celebrate an upcoming birth and the expectant mother. There are no set rules as to who should plan it, who’s invited, or what theme to use.

But for the event planner, a baby shower can create a lot of stress. When deciding how to plan a baby shower, you’re probably overwhelmed with ideas, or maybe you don’t have any.

Organizing a baby shower can be tricky, particularly if you’re doing it for a relative or close friend. Do it wrong, and it can turn into a bridezilla-like situation.

If you’re planning a shower, we’ve got your back. From invitations to the best party games and themes, we’re in full-blown baby-mode.

Table of Contents

Who Should Host the Baby Shower?
To-Do List for a Baby Shower
Shower Her with Gifts

Who Should Host the Baby Shower?

The role of the host can be given to anyone. Some parents-to-be prefer to plan everything themselves — it’s not uncommon for the expectant mom to take control entirely.

Others will ask a relative or a close friend to arrange something.

You can also take a different route and plan a surprise shower for the mother-to-be. However, we will say that if you do this, it’s best if you know her well.

To-Do List for a Baby Shower

1. Plan a Date and Time

Before you start anything, pick the date and time. Remember, give yourself ample room to get everything ready — don’t arrange a baby shower with a one-week notice.

Consult with the parents-to-be about the best date. Baby showers are generally held toward the end of pregnancy when the mother is about seven months along.

Another benefit of throwing the shower around the seven-month mark is that she’ll have time to organize the gifts. She won’t need to rush out to get any items that she still needs.

Avoid having it when the expectant mother is past the eight-month mark — by this time, she’s probably feeling too uncomfortable to enjoy it ⁽¹⁾. Or, she could deliver early, and worst-case scenario, the guest of honor wouldn’t be at her own shower.

2. Determine a Budget

The budget is a determining factor when planning a baby shower. It should be able to cover food, venue, seating, decorations, potential games, and so on. Low-budget parties generally call for a short guest list or you must cut back on luxuries like catering.

If you’re short on funds, don’t worry. It’s entirely possible to throw an amazing, low-budget baby shower. This could be an intimate affair for the mother-to-be and her close friends and family.

For baby shower extravaganzas, the budget must match. Here are some facts to give you an idea:

Before you settle on a budget, consider how long your guest list should be. Consult with your partner or the mother-to-be about who should be there.

There’s no limit as to how long the guest list should be. However, keep in mind that baby showers are generally an intimate event where stories are shared. So, inviting people you barely know is not the best idea.

3. Select a Venue

Before sending out invitations, you should have a venue or location booked. Consider the date you’ve decided to host the party. Is it during the summer, spring, fall, or winter?

Then decide your budget and number of guests. A small budget and guest list might not even require a venue. Such showers can easily be held in the backyard or at home in the living room if space allows.

If you don’t have a large house or backyard, one of your close friends or relatives might. Consider asking them if it’s okay to throw the shower there. Just remember that they should be on the guest list!

With a large budget and a bigger guest list, it might be better to find a venue that offers ample room. Hotels and restaurants are great for larger parties. These locations generally provide catering as well, which is one more thing checked off the list.

Choosing a venue away from home also relieves you of the burden of preparing, cleaning, and catering. If your budget allows it, you can hire waiters and waitresses to help the day go smoothly.

If you’re planning a summer baby shower, consider hosting it outdoors at a park or beach. Such places can allow you to expand your guest list.

4. Do You Need a Theme?

A theme will make the baby shower extra special. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Rubber Duck Theme

This is a popular theme, particularly for boys. Rubber ducks are relatively inexpensive, so you can place them in punch bowls, on the cake, and even do a fun game.

Dinosaur Theme

Almost all boys love dinosaurs, and there are countless takes on this theme. You can do Jurassic Park or something a little simpler with cute baby dinosaurs.

Mustache Theme

Mustaches look good on men, but funny on women and babies. This theme has loads of potential for fun at an informal baby shower. Who wouldn’t laugh at a sign that reads, “You mus-tache presents here.”

Cowboy Theme

If the expectant parents are outdoorsy, they’ll probably appreciate a fun cowboy-themed party. You can find some cute decorations and inexpensive cowboy hats for the guests to wear.

Bee Theme

If you don’t know the gender of the baby, a bee theme can’t go wrong. Yellow and black are two universal colors, and this theme also allows room for saying ““mother-to-bee.” There are some adorable wine glass you can have the Queen Bee drink from.

Mermaid Theme

For girl baby showers, a mermaid theme works swimmingly. It’s an opportunity to use every color in the book to create an underwater world for the expectant mother. You could even take it one step further and buy mermaid wigs for everyone.

High Tea Theme

High tea is the perfect theme for a formal shower. It doesn’t have to be for a girl — it can be for boys as well. You can invite your guests for tea, finger sandwiches, and macaroons.

Balloon Theme

Balloons are great fun, and they can be quite budget-friendly as well. You can create extravagant decorations using colorful or themed balloons.

Minimalistic Shower

Minimalism is trending at the moment, and it can be quite beautiful if you do it right. Stick to natural colors with plants for a pop of green.

Lush and Luxe Theme

Lush and luxe is a great theme for a formal baby shower. It doesn’t necessarily have to be super expensive, but you’ll probably have to spend more on flowers and other luxuries.

5. Plan the Decor

Once you’ve settled on a theme, it’s time to plan your decor. Put aside part of your budget just for decorations. If the budget is tight, try to see if some of the things can be handmade by you and some willing friends.

Plan to have all non-perishable decor ready at least three weeks before the baby shower. Obtain perishable items such as flowers and pre-filled balloons as close to the time of the party as possible. Get to the venue early in the morning to set everything up.

6. Sending Invitations

You should send the invitations well in advance — aim for around four- to six weeks before the event. This will give your guests ample time to purchase gifts, RSVP, and plan their outfits.

Always follow the proper etiquette when sending out invitations. With informal showers for close relatives and family, you can easily send an Evite or even a cute text message.

Keep it simple — the invitation should state the date of the shower, an RSVP date, the venue, the store where the mom-to-be is registered, and whether the guests should dress formally or informally.

Should the baby shower be formal, emphasize the vibe by sending out proper paper invitations. Include a short message with the guest’s full name. Then add the date and time, venue, RSVP deadline, and dress code if you’re doing a theme.

The RSVP

The RSVP deadline is essential to include. Allow enough time for yourself to plan for catering and so on. You can perhaps state that guests can RSVP through social media or email.

7. Plan the Menu

Baby showers are like weddings — guests expect there to be food and drink. Whether you’re hiring a caterer or planning to whip up some dishes yourself, make sure you have time to plan the menu.

Sit down with a piece of paper and try to decide on a specific type of food. Depending on your budget, you have the option of more than one course. If you’re planning the shower for the mother, consult her on this (you know how pregnant women are with our food).

Consider food allergies and lifestyles. You don’t want to serve sandwiches and cakes to a wheat intolerant mom-to-be, or meat platters to a vegetarian guest of honor. It’s not necessary to avoid these foods, but make sure you have plenty of choice for your chief guest.

Always go with dishes that are easy to eat and not heavy in the stomach. Baby showers are generally an afternoon event with games and toasts, so light, delicious foods are usually preferred.

Another point worth considering is how the food should be served. Do you plan on having a sit-down or buffet? This depends on your guest list and setting.

If it’s formal and people are wearing cocktail dresses and fancy outfits, consider a sit-down. Buffets are excellent for large parties, but you must plan the quantity of food. Guests tend to go back for seconds, and you don’t want to leave someone hungry.

When it comes to beverages, non-pregnant guests are likely to appreciate some alcoholic options. However, ensure you have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks for the mom-to-be. Watching everyone else sip a fancy cocktail while you’re gulping water isn’t fun.

8. Baby Shower Games

Baby showers usually consist of eating food, opening presents, chatting with guests, receiving sentimental toasts and so on. However, for the most successful and memorable baby showers, you need an agenda. This should be something fun that everyone can engage in.

As a general timeline, the shower starts with guests chatting and mingling. Then once everyone has arrived, the fun begins. If you’re not into fun and games, consider renting a photo booth where guests can create fun memories.

If you’re up for it, here are some fun ideas:

“Don’t Call Me Baby”

This is an entertaining game that plays out over the course of the shower. It goes like this: Each guest will have a diaper pin on their shirt. During the party, no one is allowed to use the word baby.

When someone says the word baby, the person who catches it gets their pin. When the baby shower is over, the one with the most pins wins the game.

Here’s what you do: As your guests arrive, give everyone a diaper pin to place on their top. Then explain the rules. During the last hour of the shower, end the game and name the winner.

Pregnant Twister

Have your guests wear false pregnant stomachs and then play a game of Twister. Create the bellies using a fanny pack, hand weights, and a pillow. Place the weights inside the fanny pack and wrap it around the stomach with the pillow.

Then start the game and watch the guests struggle with a large and heavy belly. It’s particularly a favorite when husbands and other men attend the shower. They generally become the participants.

“Who’s the Celebrity Baby?”

Print out copies of well-known celebrities and their babies. Then assign a number to each celebrity baby photo and hang them up. Next to these, place the pictures of the celebrity parents.

Then allow your guests ten minutes to match the pairs. The one with the most matches wins.

Baby Stroller Olympics

This one requires some planning and room, but it’s well worth it. Collect a few strollers and dolls. Then outside, create an obstacle course using whatever you can find — this can be logs, lawn chairs, tables, and other things.

Create a start and finish line, then have your guests line up with their strollers and dolls in hand. The contestants must strap their “baby” into the stroller and make their way through the course.

A point is deducted every time they touch an obstacle, and they’re disqualified if the doll falls out. The first one to cross the finish line wins.

Baby Babble

This is a fantastic game everyone can participate in, but it does require some preparation. It’s like Scrabble, but a baby version.

Start by printing out a sheet of paper with scrambled words, like this one. Then give each of your guests a pencil and a deadline to fill out the answer.

Once finished, the one who got the most words correct wins. Here’s a cheat sheet for the judge.

9. Party Favors

Also, don’t forget about party favors — your guests are bringing gifts, so giving them something in return is always appreciated. These could reflect your theme, too.

You can do almost anything — popular baby shower party favors seem to be edible gifts. This could include baby-themed sugar cookies, cotton candy, colored popcorn, or lollipops.

Some creative ideas include unpopped popcorn in small mason jars with a note saying, “Thanks for popping by.” Candy pacifiers your guests can snack on during the party are also fun.

Other fantastic ideas could be sugar scrubs, bath bombs or salts, “baby-making potions” (small liquor bottles), or jars of honey.

You could also give your guests something to remember the shower, like a heartfelt card or small succulent plants they can keep at home. A popular gift seems to be seeds the guests can grow at home to remember the baby by.

You will also want to consider your guests — are they close to you or just acquaintances? For close friends and family, heartfelt, memorable gifts are perfect.

Whatever you choose depends on your budget — remember that there should be a gift for each guest.

Shower Her with Gifts

Baby showers are a common tradition in the U.S. and are slowly spreading to other countries. It’s a fun party for the expectant parents who are showered in gifts and love from family and friends. It’s also an excellent opportunity for fun games and entertainment.

When figuring out how to plan a baby shower, endless ideas are thrown your way, and it can get overwhelming.

Having an easy-to-follow to-do list of everything can make it a lot smoother. It’s best to begin by setting a date and time — then create a budget, select a venue, and plan a theme.

When you get close to the day, get your decorations and food ready, so that on the day, you’re not overwhelmed. Also, don’t forget to send the invites!

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Baby Shower Planning Checklist

Baby Shower Planning Checklist — Home & Family

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Baby Shower Planning Checklist

Welcoming a new life in this world is precious time, and planning a baby shower for an expectant mother is a special honor. Impress guests with your planning skills by using this checklist to create a baby shower they won’t soon forget.

Two months ago

Check in with the Guest of Honor — Talk to the mom-to-be and set a baby shower date. Give her enough time to contact key family members who may need to arrange a trip.
Determine your mood — Discuss your guest of honor’s preferred shower. A more formal event where only girls attend? Regular co-ed shower? Is this a work event? Can children come together?
Consider ‘Sprinkle’ — This version of the traditional baby shower is perfect for moms with other kids who want a smaller event. Gifts are likely to be more about gifts for mom or baby, like diapers and tissues.
Select Venue — If hosting at someone else’s home, call your preferred restaurant or venue as soon as possible to check availability. Think of a place where you can easily stash gifts if you plan to open them while showering.
Choose a Shower Theme — Make sure you have time to order any items that require customization or extra shipping time. Ask the mom-to-be if she has any color or gender preferences.
Create invitation list — You almost certainly need to get this from your guest of honor. Ask her for email addresses for the online invitation, or mailing addresses if you’re taking the more formal route.

Six weeks to

Hire extra help — Future grandmothers and good friends will most likely be happy to participate. Assign people different tasks based on their interests, such as choosing baby shower games, decorating, and coordinating food orders. Genius tip : Set up an online registration so the responsibilities are clear.
Create Site — If you’re really going out of your way, create a mom-to-be mini-site that includes pregnancy photos, special stories about her experiences, nursery themes/inspiration, registry data, and more.
Complete roster — Depending on your guest of honor’s personality type, offer help completing the child’s wish lists. In any case, make sure she has everything on the registry before inviting guests.
Send invitations — Make it easy to keep track of invitation responses (and who brings what food) by creating an online registration. Guests can easily edit their answers if something changes.

One month before

Plan your menu — Consider afternoon tea, lunch or even sweet dessert. Confirm any orders that will involve caterers or bakers. If you cook most of the food, make a shopping list to buy food for the week of the party.
Choose a fun kick — It’s the perfect occasion for tasty and colorful snacks. Explore plenty of ways to tie the themes here, like floating rubber ducks in blue punch or placing miniature plastic sailboats on top.
Order sweets — Choose a cake — or cupcakes. Ask your guest of honor about her favorite flavors!
Plan your baby shower games — From the classic mommy tummy measurement to the fun ‘spit in tight spots’ contest, don’t miss this chance for laughs and great photo shoots. (Although you should check with the mom-to-be if she’s not into gaming.) Genius Tip : Use these 25 baby shower games for inspiration.
Coordinate photography — If you want to hire a professional photographer, start looking even earlier. However, inviting a friend to attend the event would also work for the occasion. The most important thing is that during this special event, memories are preserved. Create a unique hashtag for your baby shower if you want to make it easy for friends to upload and share your photos.

Three weeks before

Buy paper and decorations — It’s great when some decor items can come in handy later on, like baby bottles, diaper buckets and baskets.
Prepare Holiday Favors and Prizes — Think of items that can be used as decoration, such as flower bud vases as decorations, or stone jars filled with colorful jelly beans and tied with frilled ribbons.
Refine your shopping list — Collect as many non-perishable items as possible — this will make the last days easy.
Decorative Table Coordinates — Include baby photos of the new mom and dad. If parents have them, add special items to them, such as old favorite toys and children’s outfits.

Two weeks before

Double Check Reservations — If hosting in a restaurant or other venue, double check and confirm all reservations and menus. At this stage, you should also have a better understanding of your final number of guests.
Gift shopping for a guest of honor — Don’t wait until later to buy shower gifts to meet delivery deadlines. Consider a group gift for larger items such as strollers, car seats, and children’s toys.
Honor the future mother — Order a corsage, special belt or tiara for the honored guest. If her mother and mother-in-law are coming, it’s also great to order something special for them.
Buy Memory Book — Ask guests to fill in the pages with their best children’s advice.

The week before

View the list of answers — Final number of confirmed guests. If someone hasn’t answered yet, call or email to check.
Complete shopping — Complete shopping for all food and decorations. Arrange perishable foods in the party fridge.
Decorate a special chair — Designate a place where the guest of honor will sit while opening gifts. Include a few extra pillows for comfort and something to support her legs.
Prepare a gift table — Make sure there is a special basket for gift cards.
Confirm Helpers — Check with everyone who offered to help on shower day for arrival times and any groceries they bring.

One day before

Decorate the party space — Collect all the party favors and prizes at night and set up any decorations you can if the party is being held at someone’s house.
Install Food Station — Make sure you have all serving utensils, including items such as cake servers, knives, plates, serving bowls and spoons.
Ready meals — Make any sauces, sandwiches or casseroles you can the night before, refrigerate and reheat the next day. Complete any last-minute store stops (make sure there is extra ice on the list).
Install additional chairs — If the mom-to-be is going to be opening presents, you’ll need plenty of comfortable places for guests to watch and oh and oh.
Pack car — Include all inexpensive items and decorations if you are going elsewhere.
Pick up the cake — If the bakery is very close, you can pick up the cake in the morning before the baby shower, but you probably don’t want to risk it. Don’t forget balloons, flowers, and other items that need to be as fresh as possible.

Party day!

Organize your food and drink — Organize your food and drink with a smile and a sigh of relief when everything is ready.
Write down all gifts and givers — Assign a helper who sits next to the mother-to-be for this important task. If you really want to help her, have guests write down their addresses on envelopes as a party member so she has less to fill out for thank you notes.
Make sure the mom-to-be eats — Discussing baby details with all her friends can be time consuming, so make sure someone prepares a plate for her and takes photos so she can enjoy her special day.
Stay on schedule — From party games to opening presentations, keep everything calm so your baby shower ends on time.
Thank you guests — It’s always good to thank your loved ones who will love your newborn.
Packing up — Help the guest of honor fit everything into her car for the ride home! Ask someone to help her move anything large that won’t fit in her car.

Now that you have this handy baby shower guide, planning a special baby shower is easy. Just get ready to coo over these cute baby clothes.

Laura Jackson is a freelance writer from Hilton Head, South Carolina with her husband and two teenagers.

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How to Plan a Camper Trip — Checklist | Thule

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How to Plan a Camper Trip — Checklist

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How to Plan a Camper Trip — Checklist

Our checklist will help you plan your long RV vacation!

Nothing compares to a trip to the countryside in a camper van. You will have all the comforts of home, but you will be able to admire a new landscape every day.

However, before you hit the road, you may rack your brains trying to remember everything you might need on the road. Don’t worry, our checklists cover everything you need to have in a travel-ready van:

In this article:

What to pack for your RV trip
How to prepare a van for a trip
Caravan Accessories Checklist
What food to take with you
How to plan a trip itinerary
Camper Trip Planning Applications

What to pack for your RV trip?

Toothbrushes
Sunscreen and sun lotion
Wet wipes and/or paper handkerchiefs
Comb
Insect spray
Hanging Organizer for Finding Items Quickly
First aid kit
Painkillers and OTC drugs: ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, etc.
Medicines prescribed by a doctor
Antibacterial Cut Disinfection Gel
Clothes (some vans have wardrobes)
Towels
Shoes (use shoe organizer)
Dirty laundry basket
Chargers for all your gadgets
Flashlight
Car Repair Tool Kit
Bicycle repair tool kit (if you have brought them with you)
GPS navigator
Adapter: Sometimes trailer parks only have 30 amp outlets, so if you have a 50 amp cord you will need an adapter.
Compression bags, sports bags, food containers and organizers. Anyone who has traveled in a camper knows how quickly a motor home can fall into chaos without proper organization of all things. Plus, secure storage ensures your belongings don’t get scattered all over the van while you’re driving.

How to prepare the van for the trip:

Check that the cabinet and refrigerator doors are securely closed
Check that the furniture is securely fastened
Make sure all vents are closed
Fill the potable water tank
Turn on the water pump and make sure it works
Make sure the battery is fully charged
Check tires
Make sure nothing is leaking
Check if household appliances are working

Caravan accessories checklist:

Awnings : Awnings extend your living space beyond the caravan. You can sit under them, admiring the picturesque landscape and not worrying about the scorching sun or heavy rain. The awnings can be attached to the roof rack, to the wall of the van or directly to the roof of the van. Try to find an awning that matches your van model perfectly.
Awning tape kit : these tapes prevent the awning from being lifted by the wind.
Side panels for awning : One or two side panels can be easily attached to each awning. These panels will protect you from the scorching sun, as well as from wind and rain. The side panels fit together in a myriad of ways for maximum protection. You can also buy an awning awning tent, which will provide full protection, but with the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view.
Bike racks : If you want to attach a bike to your caravan, use a bike rack specially designed for motorhomes. The mount can be stored in the garage, or simply attached to the back of the van.
Levelers : Often overlooked, these gizmos keep your van level. This may seem like nonsense, but if you park your van on uneven ground, it will be very difficult for you to sleep and cook. Your refrigerator may even stop working!
Lock : Your van holds a lot of valuables, so it’s important to keep it safe. A lock for a camper van is exactly what you need.

Make sure the accessories you choose are suitable for your van model.

What food should I take with me?

Some places may have very few grocery stores. Therefore, take non-perishable food with you on the road.

Basic non-perishable products: pasta, couscous, lentils, etc.
Canned food: beans, soups, corn and green peas are perfect for a variety of dishes.
Frozen foods: vegetables, meat or prepared foods.

Tip: bake your own bread. Store bought bread can get moldy quickly. But the main ingredients for homemade bread (vegetable oil, water, yeast, flour and salt) practically do not spoil! Baking bread on an open fire (for example, on a fire) is a very simple and interesting activity. Several simple recipes can be found online.

Refrigerator and freezer containers: pack food in plastic containers. Then the food will not roll around the refrigerator while you are rushing along the highway.

How to plan your RV route

Plan a general route. Where are you going? What places do you want to visit along the way?
Book campsites and caravans. Check reviews on their websites to make sure it fits your size van. Book in advance, you don’t want to frantically scour the area all night looking for a place to sleep. During the tourist season, popular parking lots may not be available.
Mark places along the road where you can stop in an emergency. You can park overnight near some chain stores and petrol stations. Mark a couple of these spots along your planned route in case you don’t make it to your planned parking lot in time.
Keep your battery capacity in mind when planning your route. The camper van does not have an unlimited source of electricity. The route should be planned in such a way that the battery will not be discharged away from a place where it can be recharged. If you are staying in a place where there is no electricity, limit your electricity consumption.
When planning your route, keep water consumption in mind: As with electricity, you need to stop at campsites where you can throw away accumulated garbage and replenish clean water supplies. The itinerary should be planned in such a way that you will always have enough water on the sections of the path between campsites offering similar services. Also, don’t use too much water when showering.
Use mobile apps. There are many applications on the Internet to help you plan the best route.

Apps to help you plan your RV trip:

iOverlander: lets you search for parking spots and read reviews from other travelers. The application is available worldwide.
Stellplatz Europe: search for campsites, view reviews and information about campsite amenities. The app is available in Europe.
Roadtrippers: Enter your starting and ending point and additional information (want to drive on scenic roads? Or visit a museum along the way?). The app recommends the perfect route for you. The application is available worldwide.

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Checklist for Sensory Processing Disorders: Signs and Symptoms of Dysfunction

Checklist for Sensory Processing Disorders: Signs and Symptoms of Dysfunction

This checklist is designed to help parents and professionals interacting with children identify specific signs of sensory processing dysfunction.

Tactile sensations. Information from skin receptors about touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and the movement of hairs on the skin.
Signs of tactile dysfunction
1. Hypersensitivity to touch (protective behavior towards tactile stimuli)
1.1. Experiencing fear, anxiety or aggression when touched lightly or unexpectedly
1.2. In infancy, did not like/does not like being picked up or hugged tightly: can arch, scream and struggle
1.3. Reacts painfully to diaper change/need to change diaper
1.4. Is afraid or avoids being in close proximity to other people or children (especially in lines)
1.5. Gets scared if he/she is touched by someone/something that he/she cannot see (for example, from behind or when under a blanket)
1.6. Doesn’t like having her hair combed. Can be extremely picky about comb type
1.7. Dislikes wrinkled sheets (ie old, folded)
1.8. Avoids group interactions due to fear of strangers’ unexpected touches
1. 9. Resists friendly or affectionate touch from anyone other than (and sometimes including!) parents and siblings
1.10. Does not like other people’s kisses, wipes the place of the kiss. Prefers to hug
1.11. Perceives as torture drops of rain, water from the shower, or a breath of wind on the skin, which leads to unwanted reactions or attempts to avoid this effect
1.12. Produces overreaction in light cuts, scratches or animal bites
1.13. Avoids touching certain types of materials (blankets, rugs, stuffed animals)
1.14. Refuses to wear new or tight clothes, rough clothes (turtlenecks, jeans, hats or belts, etc.)
1.15. Avoids hand games
1.16. Avoids/dislikes/dislikes «dirty games» such as sand, clay, water, glue, glitter, plasticine, slime, shaving cream/bubbles, etc.
1.17. Dislikes dirty hands, often wipes or washes them
1.18. Excessively ticklish
1.19. Irritate the seams on the socks, which may cause them to refuse to wear them
1. 20. Annoyed by clothes rubbing against skin, may want to wear shorts and T-shirts all year round. Young children may prefer to remain naked and pull off their clothes and diapers all the time
1.21. Wears long-sleeved shirts and long trousers all year round to avoid exposing skin to outside influences
1.22. Dislikes when people wash their face
1.23. Dislikes having hair or toenails and fingernails cut
1.24. Resistant to brushing teeth and terribly afraid of the dentist
1.25. Is naughty with food, eats only foods of a certain taste and texture, avoids foods with a mixed texture, avoids cold and hot foods, does not like to try new foods;
1.26. Refuses to walk barefoot on grass or sand
1.27. Walks only on tiptoe

2. Decreased tactile sensitivity (hyposensitivity)
2.1. Strives to touch, touches everything and everyone
2.2. Feels someone else’s touch only if it comes with increased strength
2.3. Does not react to injuries (eg cuts or bruises), while not afraid of injections (he can even say that he loves injections!)
2. 4. May not be aware of his dirty hands or face or feel a runny nose
2.5. May be self-aggressive: pinching, biting or banging head against wall
2.6. Often takes various objects into his mouth
2.7. Often hurts other children or animals while playing
2.8. Frequently touches self-soothing surfaces or objects (such as a blanket)
2.9. Seeks contact with surfaces and materials that provide powerful tactile interaction
2.10. He loves and strives for games that involve fuss
2.11. Likes vibrations or powerful sensory influences
2.12. Prefers and asks for food that is too spicy, sweet, sour or salty

3. Weak tactile perception and discrimination
3.1. Has difficulty with fine motor skills (fastening buttons, zippers, fasteners)
3.2. May not be able to tell with closed eyes which part of his/her body has been touched
3.3. May be afraid of the dark
3.4. He dresses sloppily: looks untidy, does not notice that the pants are twisted, the shirt has come out from under the trousers, the laces on the shoes have come loose, one leg is up and the other is not, etc.
3.5. Has difficulty with scissors, pencils or cutlery
3.6. Continues to take objects into the mouth for examination even at the age of over 2 years
3.7. Has difficulty detecting the physical characteristics of objects, shape, size, texture, temperature, mass, etc.
3.8. Does not recognize objects by touch. Needs eye contact, for example, to get the right thing from a backpack or desk

Vestibular: information from the middle ear about balance. Gravitational changes, movements and position in space
Signs of vestibular dysfunction
1. Hypersensitivity to movement (hypersensitivity)
1.1. Avoids/dislikes playground equipment (eg swings, ladders, slides, carousels)
1.2. Prefers seated activities, moves slowly and carefully, avoids risks, may appear «lumpy»
1.3. Avoids/dislikes elevators and escalators, prefers to ride in/on them while sitting, or feels dizzy/nauseous when moving in/on them
1.4. Literally clings to an adult he trusts
1. 5. Is terrified of falling, even if there is no real risk
1.6. Afraid of any height, even curbs or steps
1.7. Afraid to take his feet off the ground
1.8. Afraid to go up/down stairs or walk on uneven surfaces
1.9. Afraid of being turned upside down, turned left or right or backwards, dislikes washing hair over a sink
1.10. Gets frightened if someone moves him/her (for example, moves someone sitting on a chair)
1.11. In infancy did not like children’s swings or jumpers
1.12. Afraid or having difficulty riding a motorcycle, jumping or balancing on one leg (especially with eyes closed)
1.13. In infancy does not like to be rolled over on the stomach
1.14. Loses balance easily and may appear clumsy
1.15. Afraid of actions that require good balance
1.16. Avoids fast or twisting movements

2. Hyposensitivity to movements (reduced sensitivity)
2.1. Constantly moving, never standing still
2.2. Passionately desires fast and/or intense movement, whirling
2. 3. Loves to be tossed up
2.4. May be dizzy for hours without feeling dizzy
2.5. Likes fast, intense and/or dangerous rides in amusement parks
2.6. Constantly jumping on furniture, on trampolines, spinning in a swivel chair, turning upside down
2.7. Loves to swing on a swing, swinging as high as possible and for a long time
2.8. Is an «extreme», which is sometimes associated with danger
2.9. Always running, jumping, galloping instead of walking;
2.10. When sitting, he sways from side to side, shakes his leg or head
2.11. Likes sudden or fast movements (for example, when a car or bicycle bounces over a bump)

3. Poor muscle tone and/or coordination
3.1. Has a weak, «sluggish» body
3.2. Often stoops, tries to lie down and/or puts his head in his hands when working at a table
3.3. With difficulty lifts his head, arms and legs off the floor, lying on his stomach (superman position)
3.4. Often sits in a «W» position on the floor to maintain body balance
3. 5. Gets tired quickly
3.6. Compensates for “weakness” by grasping objects firmly
3.7. Turns door handles with difficulty, opens and closes various cavities and containers
3.8. Difficulty maintaining balance when starting to fall
3.9. Difficulty dressing and fastening zippers, fasteners and buttons
3.10. Didn’t crawl in infancy
3.11. Feels bad about his body: bumps into objects and things, overturns objects, stumbles and/or is awkward
3.12. Has difficulty with gross motor skills (bad jumping, catching a ball, climbing stairs, etc.)
3.13. Has difficulty with fine motor skills using «tools» such as pencils, cutlery, comb, scissors, etc.
3.14. Possibly wields both hands equally often changes hands when coloring, cutting, writing, etc. Does not have a clear preference/dominance of one hand by the age of 4-5 years
3.15. Has difficulty licking ice cream
3.16. Not sure what movements to perform, for example, to step over an obstacle
3. 17. Difficulty learning sports exercises or dance moves

Proprioceptive senses: information from muscles and joints about body position, body weight, pressure, stretch, movement and body position in space
Signs of proprioceptive dysfunction
1. Sensory contact seeking behavior
1.1. Tries to jump, collide, destroy something
1.2. Stomping while walking
1.3. Taps feet on a table or chair while sitting at a desk/table
1.4. Bites or sucks fingers and/or often cracks knuckles
1.5. Likes to be wrapped tightly in one or more heavy blankets, especially at bedtime
1.6. Prefers clothing that is as tight as possible (tightens belts, hood, laces as tightly as possible)
1.7. Likes/enthusiastic about games that involve clapping sounds
1.8. Likes to hug
1.9. Knocks toys or objects too hard
1.10. Likes «noisy», energetic games/fuss
1.11. Often falls on the floor on purpose
1.12. Can jump on a trampoline for hours
1. 13. Grinds teeth during the day
1.14. Likes to push/pull/pull things
1.15. Likes to jump from furniture or high places
1.16. Often hits, pushes, shoves other children
1.17. Gnawing on pens, straws, shirt sleeves, etc.

2. Has difficulty with “movement differentiation”
2.1. Incorrectly assesses the degree of contraction and stretching of muscles when performing tasks / actions (for example, when putting hands into shirt sleeves or when lifting)
2.2. Does not control the degree of pressure when writing/drawing, gets either too pale a drawing, or breaks a pencil due to effort
2.3. Written work does untidy, often tears paper to holes, erasing errors
2.4 with an eraser. Constantly breaks objects and toys
2.5. Incorrectly assesses the mass of an object (for example, a glass of juice), which is lifted with too much force, causing the juice to spill, or with too little effort, complaining that the object is too heavy
2.6. Confuses «heavy» and «light». Holding two objects, may not understand which one is heavier
2.7. Does everything with too much effort: slamming doors, pushing things too hard, slamming lids
2.8. Plays with animals with too much force, often causing them pain

Signs of auditory dysfunction: (in the absence of a diagnosed hearing problem)
1. Hypersensitivity to sounds (auditory defensive behavior)
1.1. Is distracted by sounds that others don’t normally notice (eg, refrigerator, fan, heater, clock ticking)
1.2. Frightened by the sound of flushing water in the toilet (especially in public toilets), vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, squeaking shoes, barking dogs
1.3. Is frightened or distracted by loud or unexpected noises
1.4. Worried/distracted by background noises of the surrounding world (for example, the sounds of a haymaker or a construction site outside the window)
1.5. Often asks people to be quiet: keep quiet, stop talking, sing
1.6. Runs away, screams and/or covers ears with hands at loud or unexpected sounds
1. 7. May refuse to attend cinemas, parades, skating rinks, music concerts, etc.
1.8. Decides whether he likes this or that person by the sound of his voice

2. Weakened sensitivity to sounds (reduced sensitivity)
2.1. Often does not respond to verbal requests or does not respond to the name
2.2. Likes to turn on music or TV very loudly; seems to «make noise for the sake of noise»
2.3. With difficulty understands or remembers what was said
2.4. Doesn’t notice some sounds
2.5. Not sure where the
2.6 sound came from. Talks to himself while doing a task, often out loud
2.7. In infancy uttered few sounds, no babbling
2.8. Forces others to repeat instructions frequently, asks questions frequently

Signs of impaired oral (mouth) susceptibility
1. Hypersensitivity to oral signals (oral defensive behavior)
1.1. Capricious in eating, often has extreme food preferences (for example, prefers a limited set of foods, only certain varieties, names, refuses to try new foods, does not eat at a party)
1. 2. Eats only “soft” food in the form of mashed potatoes after 2 years of age
1.3. Chokes on solid food
1.4. Has difficulty sucking, chewing, and swallowing, may choke or choke
1.5. Unwilling/refusing/very afraid of visiting a dentist or having dental treatment
1.6. Can only eat hot or cold food
1.7. Refuses to lick envelopes, stamps, or labels due to bad taste
1.8. Dislikes or complains about toothpaste or mouthwash
1.9. Avoids spicy, spicy, sweet or salty foods, prefers simple foods

2. Decreased sensitivity to oral signals (hypersensitivity)
2.1. May lick, taste or chew inedible objects
2.2. Prefers food with a strong taste (eg too spicy, sweet, sour or salty)
2.3. Experiencing excessive salivation after teething
2.4. Frequently chews on hair, clothing, or fingers
2.5. Constantly puts everything in her mouth after coming out of infancy
2.6. Acts as if all food tastes the same
2.7. Always adds too many seasonings or sauces to food
2. 8. Likes vibrating toothbrushes and even going to the dentist

Signs of olfactory dysfunction (smells)
1. Hypersensitivity to odors (hypersensitivity)
1.1. Reacts negatively to or dislikes odors that most often do not disturb or are invisible to other people
1.2. Tells (or talks to) other people about how bad or unusual they smell
1.3. Refuses to take any food because of the smell
1.4. Experiencing disgust and/or nausea from toilet odors
1.5. Experiences anxiety/irritation from the smell of perfume or cologne, household odors, smells of cooking
1.6. May refuse to play away due to unpleasant odors
1.7. Determines if he/she likes a new place or someone by smell

2. Reduced sensitivity to smells
2.1. Difficulty distinguishing, not noticing or ignoring unpleasant odors
2.2. May drink or eat something poisonous because he does not notice an unpleasant odor
2.3. Cannot detect odors from test strips
2.4. Doesn’t notice odors that others usually complain about
2. 5. Sniffs very carefully when meeting new places, people or objects

Signs of visual processing dysfunction (in the absence of a diagnosed visual impairment)
1. Hypersensitivity to visual cues (hypersensitivity)
1.1. Sensitive to bright light, squinting, covering eyes with hand, crying and/or uncomfortable from light
1.2. Has difficulty keeping his eyes focused on the task/action he is working on for as long as necessary
1.3. Easily distracted by other visual stimuli in the room, motion, furniture, toys, windows, doors, etc.
1.4. Finds it difficult to stay in bright colorful rooms or in semi-dark rooms
1.5. Rubbing eyes, watery eyes, headache after reading or watching TV
1.6. Avoids contact with someone else’s gaze
1.7. Likes to play in the dark

2. Decreased sensitivity to visual cues (decreased sensitivity or difficulty with tracking, discrimination or perception)
2.1. Difficulty distinguishing similar printed letters or numbers, for example, L and R, S and O, square and quadrilateral
2. 2. With difficulty he sees the “full picture”, i.e. focuses on details or patterns
2.3. With difficulty finds the necessary items among others, i.e. papers on the table, things in the cabinet drawer, groceries on the store shelf, toys in the basket
2.4. Often loses the place where he finished copying the text from the book or from the board
2.5. Has difficulty controlling eye movements when tracking moving objects
2.6. Difficulty distinguishing colors, shapes and sizes
2.7. Often loses the place where he finished reading or solving mathematical problems
2.8. When transcribing, swaps letters in words or reads words backwards, eg «nose» instead of «dream», «he» instead of «but» after first class
2.9. Complains of «double vision»
2.10. Difficulty finding differences in pictures, words, symbols or objects
2.11. Does not maintain constant intervals between words and the size of letters when writing and/or lining up numbers when solving mathematical problems
2. 12. Has difficulty solving puzzle pictures, copying shapes, and/or cutting/tracing along a line
2.13. Has a tendency to skew text on the page (line down or up)
2.14. Confuses right and left
2.15. Easily tired from studying
2.16. Has difficulty with spatial relationships, may bump into objects/people, or walk past stairs

Hearing loss in language processing
1. Cannot recognize sound source
2. Difficulty recognizing people’s voices
3. Difficulty distinguishing sounds/words (
4. Difficulty abstracting from other sounds when listening to a speaker
5. Annoyed by loud sudden metallic or high-pitched sounds
6. Difficulty listening, understanding and remembering what is being said or read often asks for instructions to be repeated and can understand or follow no more than two consecutive instructions at a time
7. Turns to others for confirmation before giving an answer
8. Has difficulty formulating thoughts (verbally or in writing)
9. Often speaks at the wrong time or “off topic”
10. If not understood, can hardly reformulate thought, which may get frustrated, angry or stop trying
11. Has difficulty reading, especially aloud (may also suffer from dyslexia)
12. Has difficulty articulating and pronunciation clarity
13. Often improves the ability to speak after intense motor activity

Social, emotional, play disorders and dysfunction of self-regulation
1. Social difficulties
1.1. Has difficulty communicating with peers
1.2. Prefers to play alone with toys or objects over playing with other people
1.3. It is difficult to interact with adults, it is difficult to conduct a «meaningful» dialogue
1.4. Experiencing self-aggression or aggression towards others
1.5. Makes it difficult for others to interpret their signals, needs, and emotions
1.6. Does not seek contact with familiar people

2. Emotional difficulties
2.1. With difficulty perceives a change in the established order (up to outbursts of anger)
2. 2. Easily upset
2.3. Often acts impulsively
2.4. Best behaves in a mini-group or in individual communication
2.5. Experiencing changeable mood, frequent tantrums and outbursts of anger
2.6. Prefers to play on the sidelines, away from the group, or just watch games
2.7. Avoids eye contact
2.8. Has difficulty voicing his own needs

3. Gaming
3.1. Has difficulty with imitative play (after 10 months of age)
3.2. Wanders aimlessly, not engaging in purposeful play and not exploring space (over 15 months old)
3.3. Needs adult help to play. Plays alone with difficulty (over 18 months old)
3.4. Doing the same thing for hours (for example, lining up cars, cubes, watching the same cartoon many times, etc.)

4. Problems with self-regulation
4.1. Excessive irritability, nervousness or colic in infancy
4.2. Does not calm down with a pacifier, calming object, or in mother’s arms
4.3. Waking up all the time in a bad mood
4. 4. Requires a lot of effort on the part of the mother (or other caregiver) to fall asleep (eg, back pats, head pats, motion sickness, long walks, car rides)

5. Internal regulation (interoceptive sensations)
5.1. Feels hot or cold faster than others in the same environment, never complains about heat or cold
5.2. Has difficulty in extreme temperature conditions or when moving from one extreme to another (for example, in winter, summer, going from a cool place to the heat, from a heated place to the cold)
5.3. Breathing too fast or too slowly, unable to switch from one type of breathing to another when required by the body
5.4. Too fast or too slow heart rate relative to actual exercise
5.5. Breathing and palpitation slower than expected during or after exercise or fright
5.6. Sudden/frequent mood swings (from angry to contented) during the day for no apparent reason
5.7. An unpredictable state of arousal or an inability to control the degree of arousal (rapid transition from excessive arousal to lethargy, instability of the state between both states, transition from hyperstimulation to hypostimulation in a few hours or days, depending on the type of activity, setting, etc. )
5.8. Frequent constipation or diarrhea, mixed stools for one or more days
5.9. Difficulty getting used to the potty, not knowing when to go to the toilet (i.e. does not feel the bladder is full or the urge to defecate)
5.10. Inability to regulate thirst: always thirsty, never thirsty, sensations change one way or the other
5.11. Failure to regulate hunger: eats all the time, never wants to eat, does not feel full/hungry
5.12. Inability to regulate appetite and/or persistent feeling of hunger. But after taking “two bites”, he feels full, and then he feels hungry again (a tendency to malnutrition and / or poor growth).

How to create an Amazon Baby registry that everyone loves

When that little bundle of joy is on the way, you can’t help but look for baby products. From tiny booties to cute pajamas to Cadillac sidecars, it can be a lot of fun. But as your due date approaches, your friends and family are probably asking what they should buy for their baby.

Say hello to Amazon Register .

Amazon’s Baby Registry, with its convenience, variety and ease of use, is the perfect place to create a Baby Needs This list.

Benefit package

Do you have distant friends who want to send you a gift? Is your family planning a physical baby shower? Do your colleagues present one big gift? Amazon Baby Registry is a convenient shopping solution for all of these situations.

Add something from Amazon.com to your list. Maybe you would like a CD of lullabies or a book of bedtime stories. These types of products can be added to your registry along with items such as diapers and bottles. And with the variety of products available on Amazon, you can get everything you need from one place.

Take advantage of the termination discount. This benefit provides a one-time discount on certain items that remain on your registry. You can use it up to 60 days before the deadline and only you, as the registrant, can get it. You’ll get a 10 percent discount, but if you’re an Amazon Prime Member, you can get up to 15 percent.

Your senders get discounts too. Just like buying regular items for themselves, your senders can receive a shipping discount on your registry items. Super Saver free shipping is available on orders over a certain dollar amount, and express shipping for Amazon Prime members may also apply. Your senders simply need to check the goods for compliance with the requirements and restrictions.

Enjoy the universal registry. If you’ve ever used the Amazon 1-Button App browser extension to add products to your wishlist, you can do the same for your registry. For example, you may have found the exact location you are looking for on a site other than Amazon.com. Just click that little button and add it to your Amazon Baby registry. If you don’t already have it, this handy tool is available for most browsers.

A flurry of features

Now that you know the benefits of creating an Amazon Baby Registry, it’s time to move on to these cool features. With easy setup, a checklist to get started, helpful ideas, and registry sharing options, you can instantly fill your nursery with your goodies.

Child registry settings

When you first create your child registry, you enter basic details such as name, email address, and due date. But once the registry is created, you can tweak additional settings to tailor it for you and your little one.

Select « Registry Settings» at the top of the registry and open the « About You » section to check the basic information. Then go to section « About your child «.

Here you can enter the baby’s name and gender if you like, or leave it as a surprise. You can also adjust your due date and choose if this is your first child and also if you have multiple births. Then add a nice greeting for your friends and family to see when they visit your registry. Greetings are a terrific way to greet your registry guests and thank them in advance for visiting.

Finally, open the « Registry Settings » section. You can select gift and email options and enter a baby shower date if you have one. Q Who can see your registry? area, you must choose from general , general or private and each displays a short description.

Your registry settings can be changed at any time. Just don’t forget to press the button Save changes when you’re done.

Beginner’s Checklist

It can be difficult for new parents to think about every single item their child will need. And even those expecting their second or third child can take advantage of the handy registry feature.

The checklist will guide you through the categories of baby products. View and add products for bathing, diapers, feeding, health and safety. ensure safety and security and decorate the nursery. This is a great way to make sure you have what you and your baby need every day. The checklist is displayed on the main page of your registry, so you can jump straight to it.

Ideas and inspiration

At the top of the registry you will see a link to the section « Ideas and inspiration «. Here you can check additional checklists for deals and grandparents, see the most popular products, and view the brand or video guides.

So if you’re wondering what video monitor is on most people’s registries, or how to choose the right crib, this is a useful section to visit.

It’s easy to add items

Once you’ve created your children’s registry, adding items to it couldn’t be easier. When you get to the product description page, just click the Add to Child Registry button on the right. Just be sure to select options such as size or color first.

If you want to edit the elements you have added, simply click the Edit link provided for that element. You can then set the priority, category, and quantity, as well as enable comments.

Exchange Options

Amazon Kids Registry offers convenient exchange options. They appear at the top of your list of registry entries. You can share a link to your registry with your Facebook friends, Twitter followers, or email. Your visibility registry setting must be set to Generic or Generic in order to display these Share with Friends settings.

Most people assume that future parents will create and share a registry of children. But if you’d rather go the other way for sharing than built-in functions, here are some tips.

Create a postcard. Maybe you would like to send a cute postcard to your friends and family announcing your new addition. Open the email icon under Share with Friends , copy the link provided for your registry and paste it into the card you created.

Include this in your shower invitations. If your friends or family throw a baby shower at you and send you invitations in the mail, they might say you’re on the Amazon Baby Registry. Then set Visibility to Public», and other users will be able to search your registry. They simply select Gift Cards & Registry in the Amazon.com navigation and select Baby Registry to start their search.

Thank you list

You will see a link to the thank you list and a return of in your navigation registry. If you want to run those thank you cards ahead of time or need to get something back from the registry, this is the place to go.

Just be aware that this area contains items that are bought along the way. So, if you’re still adding products to your registry and don’t want to know who bought what, you can defer visiting this section.

Tips & Details

To access your Amazon Baby registry, select Account & Lists at the top navigation. Under your listings click on Baby Registry .

You, your friends, and your family can access your registry from the Amazon mobile app.

You cannot track items purchased by others in your registry. Only buyers can track packages.

To remove a registry that you no longer need, go back to the Child Registry Settings section and click the Delete Your Registry button at the bottom.

For more information or questions, click the Child Registry FAQ at the top of your registry.

Get ready to welcome your little one

If you’re a parent-to-be with expecting parents, whether it’s a birth or an adoption, Amazon Baby Registry is a great way to select baby products. You can view a huge selection of products, receive discounts, share your list with loved ones and reduce the risk of duplicate products.

Are you ready to register or do you have a friend or family member? Let us know what you think of the Amazon Baby Registry process and overall experience.

Image Credits: puhhha / Shutterstock

HiPP Baby Ducky Shower Gel BabySanft

How often should and can I bathe my baby?

You and your baby can enjoy regular bathing two or up to three times a week with our Family Bath or Good Night Bath if you bathe your baby before bed. Adding a few drops of our HiPP Babysanft Mild Butter Bath Supplement will keep the skin’s protective layer on and baby’s sensitive skin will remain supple and gently cleansed. On some days it is enough to wash certain parts of the body, for example, the face, neck wrinkles, genitals / buttocks.

More tips on bathing your baby

How often should babies and young children’s hair be washed?

It is easiest to wash your hair at the same time as bathing your baby. You and your baby can enjoy bathing two or up to three times a week. There is no need to wash your hair every time. As a rule, it is enough to wash your hair once or twice a week.

More about shampooing babies and young children

How can washing your hair, if possible, be enjoyable for babies and children?

In the case of babies, it is enough to go over the scalp and hair with a washcloth. Hold the child in such a way that water does not get into his face. You can also use a small children’s toy bucket to wet and rinse your hair. If your little one already has hair: Use a baby shampoo, such as HiPP’s Mild Baby Shampoo, and rub it gently into your pet’s scalp. After rinsing, do not rub your hair dry, but gently pat it dry with a towel. Babies’ hair should only be combed with a soft brush that does not irritate the baby’s sensitive skin, but gently massages it.

What skin care products are suitable for dry skin?

HiPP Babysanft products are made from the most delicate raw materials and contain natural organic almond oil. Almond oil is just well compatible with sensitive and dry skin and therefore has proven itself well as a skin care product for infants. Babies’ skin needs special care in winter with cold air, hot dry air and after bathing. The care milk from the HiPP Babysanft series is particularly rich in ingredients and protects the skin from drying out. In the cold season, the Wind & Weather balm from the HiPP Babysanft series reliably prevents skin irritation caused by weather conditions. It absorbs quickly and protects the skin in a natural way. In addition, our face cream in a practical dispenser bottle offers optimal care for dry skin. For the shower, our HiPP Babysanft range offers a shower cream for soft-touch skin. Tip: After showering, the HiPP Babysanft care oil can be applied to damp skin. It absorbs quickly and retains moisture.

Which HiPP Babysanft is right for me and my baby?

What is special about babies’ skin?

The skin of a baby is much thinner than the skin of an adult, at the same time, the stratum corneum has a looser structure and less endurance. The barrier action of the stratum corneum against harmful substances is weaker and the skin reacts with increased sensitivity to environmental influences. The natural hydrolipid mantle of the skin is formed in newborns only a few weeks after birth and regenerates even in older children much more slowly than in adults. It performs an important task of repelling bacteria and pathogens. The intact hydrolipidic mantle thus protects the skin from pathogenic bacteria. The stratum corneum of children’s skin has a higher moisture content than that of adults. At the same time, the production of sebum in children is still very reduced. As a result, the skin of babies and children is covered with only a very thin water-fat layer and can dry out very easily. In addition, protection against cold and damage is very weak.

Scientific interview — frequently asked questions from the practice of a dermatologist.

Why do you need baby skin care products at all?

After birth, the baby’s skin must quickly adjust to the new environment. After several months in the amniotic fluid, the skin must adapt to the air and external factors.

For a while, it was thought that when caring for the skin of babies, you could stop using skin care products and detergents. Meanwhile, we know that washing with only water dries out the baby’s skin. But because baby’s skin is so sensitive, it doesn’t tolerate the same skin care products as adult skin. For this reason, we at HiPP have developed baby skin care products that are particularly gentle, free of any unwanted substances and meet the special needs of baby’s sensitive skin.

More on the topic — Skin compatibility and sensitive care

Do you have further questions about this product?

Our team is ready to answer all your questions.

To the feedback form

About pediatric thoracotomy

This information will help you prepare for your thoracotomy at MSK Kids. It will also help you understand what to expect during your recovery. In this material, the words “you” and “your” refer to you or your child.

Read this material at least once prior to surgery and use it as a guide as you prepare for surgery.

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Operation Information

The word ‘thoracic’ refers to the ‘thorax’, which is the chest (see Figure 1). The chest contains the heart and lungs.

Figure 1. Chest

You have 2 lungs, one on each side of your chest. The lungs are made up of lobes. The left lung has two lobes and the right has three. The lungs are surrounded by two layers of thin tissue called the pleura.

A thoracotomy is a surgical incision (cut) in the chest. It is performed in cases where it is necessary to perform an operation on one of the lungs or nearby organs.

For a thoracotomy, your surgeon will make an incision on one side of your back, just below your shoulder blade (see Figure 2). The choice of the side from which the incision is made depends on which lung is being operated on.

Figure 2. Thoracotomy incision

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Before your surgery

Your nurse will give you instructions on how to prepare for your surgery. Be sure to follow all instructions from your doctor and nurse. If you have any questions, call your doctor.

Before your operation, you will meet with the anesthesiologist (the person who will give you medication to make you sleep during the operation). You will be told about medications that will help manage the pain and make you feel comfortable after the operation. Such drugs can be administered in a variety of ways.

Epidural catheter: For some patients, pain medication may be given through an epidural catheter (a thin, flexible tube placed around the spine). In this case, the medicine will be injected near the spinal cord.

Peripheral nerve catheter (nerve blocker): Some patients may receive pain medication through a peripheral nerve catheter, also called a nerve blocker. In this case, the anesthetic medicine enters directly into the nerves located in the area of the operation.

Intravenous (IV) pain medication: For some patients, pain medication may be given into a vein through a drip.

Oral pain medication : In some cases, oral pain medication (which should be swallowed) is used.

After your surgery, you will be given medication by one or more of these ways.

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During operation

You will lie on your side on the operating table. You will be given anesthesia (a drug that will make you fall asleep). As soon as you are asleep, your surgeon will make:

An incision in your back below one of your shoulder blades. This will allow him to access the lung.

One or two small incisions on the chest on the same side as the incision on the back. This is where your surgeon will place the drainage tube(s) to remove blood, fluid, and air from around your lungs after surgery.

Central venous catheter

Some patients also have a temporary central venous catheter (CVC) placed during surgery. The CVC is a thin, flexible tube that is inserted into a large vein under the collarbone. Having a CVC makes it easier to get fluids and drugs into the body and means you don’t have to give them multiple injections.

For more information about CVCs, read the resource About the Central Venous Catheter in Pediatric Patients .

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After your surgery

After your surgery, you will wake up in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). After being placed in the recovery room, a nurse will bring your loved ones.

A nurse will monitor your body temperature as well as your pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. You will receive oxygen through a thin tube under your nose called a nasal cannula.

You will also have other tubes and devices connected to your body to help you recover.

You will stay in the recovery room until you are fully recovered and the pain subsides. When your condition allows, you will be transferred to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) or an inpatient unit. Which department you will be transferred to will depend on your age. Here the nurse will tell you how to recover from the operation.

Below are some tips to help make this process safer.

It is very important that you walk after the operation. This will help prevent blood clots in your legs and reduce your risk of developing pneumonia (lung infection). Try to walk every 2 hours if possible.

Use an incentive spirometer. This will help expand the lungs, which will prevent the development of pneumonia. Younger children can blow bubbles or use pinwheels instead of a spirometer.

While awake, do breathing and coughing exercises every 1-2 hours.

Nurse will give you information material Thoracotomy Information . It tells you what to do and what to expect on each day of your recovery.

You can use the discharge goal checklist to track your recovery. We will send this checklist to your MyMSK account. For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions About the MyMSK Goals to Discharge Checklist.

Examine your incision with your nurse before leaving the hospital to see what the incision looks like. You may need a mirror for this. This will help you notice changes when you get home.

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Frequently asked questions

During my stay in hospital

Will I have pain after surgery?

You will experience pain after the operation. Your doctor and nurse will regularly ask you about your pain. If necessary, you will be given pain medication. If the pain does not subside, tell your doctor or nurse. Pain relief is essential so that you can clear your throat, breathe deeply, use your incentive spirometer, and get out of bed and walk around.

When will the chest tube be removed?

You will have periodic x-rays of your lungs to monitor while you have a chest tube in place. As soon as the condition of the lungs returns to normal, this tube will be removed. A bandage will be applied to the insertion site. You can remove the bandage no earlier than 48 hours (2 days) after removing the chest tube, unless your nurse tells you otherwise.

Will I be able to eat?

You will be able to eat after the operation. Eating a balanced, high-protein diet will help you recover from surgery. Your diet should include a source of healthy protein at every meal, as well as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

For more information, read the resource Helping Your Child Feed During Treatment.

After discharge from the hospital

What is the postoperative Recovery Tracker questionnaire?

We need to know how you are feeling after leaving the hospital. To help us continue to provide you with medical care, we will send questions to your MyMSK account daily for 10 days after you leave the hospital. These questions are called the Recovery Tracker postoperative questionnaire.

These questions are called the Recovery Tracker post-operative questionnaire. It only takes 2-3 minutes. Your answers to these questions will help us understand how you feel and what you need.

Depending on your answers, we may ask you for more information or ask you to call the surgeon. You can always call your surgeon’s office if you have any questions. For more information, see About Your Recovery Tracker Profile.

Will I feel pain when I get home?

The duration of pain and discomfort varies from person to person. In some patients, incision pain, tightness, or muscle pain may persist for 6 months or longer. This does not mean that there is something wrong with you. Follow the guidelines below.

Take pain medication as directed and as needed.

Call your doctor if the medicine prescribed does not relieve pain.

As the incision heals, the pain will decrease and you will need less and less pain medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol ^® ) or ibuprofen (Advil ^® or Motrin ^®). Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the dosage of these drugs.

Pain medications should help you get back to your normal lifestyle. Take enough medication to allow you to exercise safely, but follow your healthcare provider’s advice. Oral pain medications are most effective 30 to 45 minutes after taking them, so they should be taken well in advance.

Keep track of when you take your pain medication. It is best to take them at the first signs of pain. As the pain increases, they will no longer be as effective.

Can I take a shower?

You can shower 48 hours (2 days) after removing your chest tube. A warm shower is relaxing and helps reduce muscle pain.

In the shower, use soap to gently rinse your incisions. After showering, pat these areas dry with a clean towel and do not bandage any incisions (unless there is discharge). Call your doctor if you notice redness or discharge from the incision.

Do not immerse the incisions in water (eg in a bath or pool) for the first 2 weeks after surgery.

How do I care for my incisions?

You will have 1 major surgical incision in your back and 1 or 2 smaller incisions in your chest where the chest tube will be inserted. You may experience some numbness under and over the incision. This is because your ribs have been pulled apart and some nerves have been damaged.

Primary surgical incision

By the time you leave the hospital, your incisions made during the operation will begin to heal.

Your incisions will be closed with surgical adhesive (Dermabond ^® ) or paper tape (Steri-Strips ^® ), which will then peel or peel off on their own.

If there is discharge from the incisions, write down the amount and color and then contact your doctor.

Small incision(s) for chest tube insertion

The incisions to insert the chest tube will be dressed.

Do not remove the dressing from the incisions for 48 hours (2 days) after removing the chest tube, unless the dressing becomes wet. If the bandage gets wet, change it as soon as possible.

Fluid yellow or pink discharge from incision(s). This is fine. Cover the area with a bandage (eg Band-Aid ^® ) or a piece of dry gauze. Change the bandage if necessary.

How can I prevent constipation?

You may have constipation after surgery (less bowel movements than usual). This is a common side effect of taking pain medications. To avoid constipation:

Take over-the-counter medications such as docusate sodium stool softener (Colace ^® ) and senna laxative (Senokot ^® ). Keep taking them until you stop taking painkillers.

Take _____ docusate sodium capsules 3 times a day.

Take 2 senna tablets at bedtime.

Drink plenty of fluids. Try to drink about 8 to 10 glasses (8 oz [240 ml] each, 2 L total) of fluid per day. Consume decaffeinated fluids such as water, juices, soups, and ice cream shakes.

If you have bloating, avoid foods that cause gas. These include beans, broccoli, onions, white cabbage and cauliflower.

How to help the lungs recover?

Continue to exercise or walk for at least 30 minutes a day. This will allow you to get stronger, improve your well-being and will help restore your lungs. When you get home, continue to use your incentive spirometer, blow bubbles through a straw or blow on pinwheels, and do deep breathing and coughing exercises.

Drink fluids so that the sputum is thin and easy to expectorate. Ask your doctor how much fluid you should drink daily. Most patients are advised to drink at least 8 glasses (8 ounces [240 ml]) of water or other liquids per day.

Run a humidifier in the bedroom during the winter months.
Follow the cleaning instructions for this device. Change the water in it frequently.

Try to protect yourself from colds. Avoid close contact with people who have a sore throat or symptoms of a cold or flu. If you do get sick, call your doctor or nurse.

Is it normal to feel tired after surgery?

Usually, a person who has undergone surgery has less strength than usual.
The length of the recovery period varies from person to person. Increase activity every day as much as possible. Be sure to strike a balance between periods of activity and periods of rest. Rest is essential to your recovery.

Can I return to my usual way of life?

It is important that you return to your usual activities after the operation.
Spread them out throughout the day. Walking and climbing stairs are excellent examples of acceptable exercise.
Gradually increase the distance you walk. Climb the stairs slowly, resting and stopping as needed.

Your body will tell you when you are overtired. Increasing the intensity of the loads, pay attention to how you feel. You may notice that you have more energy in the morning or in the afternoon. Schedule your activities for the times of the day when you feel most energetic.

Can I fly by plane?

Do not fly until you have discussed this with your doctor during your first appointment after surgery.

When can I lift weights?

Most patients should not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds (4. 5 kg) for at least 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. However, this depends on the type of surgery you have had. Ask your doctor how long you should abstain from heavy lifting.

When can I play sports?

Do not exercise until your doctor has confirmed that it is safe to do so. When you resume these activities, remember that it will take time for you to return to your previous level of activity. Start lightly and increase activity as you feel better.

How can I deal with my feelings?

After surgery for a serious illness, you may experience a new feeling of depression. Many people say that sometimes they feel like crying, feeling sad, worried, nervous, irritated or angry. You may not be able to contain some of these feelings. If this happens, try to find emotional support.

The first step on this path is to talk about your feelings. Friends and loved ones can help you. A nurse, doctor, and social worker can reassure and support you and give you advice. Be sure to tell these professionals about your emotional state and the emotional state of your friends and loved ones. Numerous materials are available for patients and their families. Whether you are in the hospital or at home, nurses, doctors and social workers are ready to help you, your friends and loved ones cope with the emotional aspects of illness.

When will my first visit after surgery take place?

When you leave the hospital, your doctor or nurse practitioner will tell you the date of your next visit. During this visit, the doctor will discuss the results of laboratory tests with you in detail and inquire about the recovery process.

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When to call your doctor or nurse

Call your doctor or nurse if you have:

shortness of breath developed or worsened;

temperature 100.4°F (38°C) or higher;

experienced pain that does not go away after taking pain medication;

there is redness, swelling, foul smell or purulent discharge from the incision;

no stool for 3 days or more;

any new symptoms developed;

have any questions or concerns.