What do i need to throw a baby shower: How to Plan a Baby Shower

Posted on 6 августа, 2023 by alexxlab

11 Things You Should Know Before Hosting a Baby Shower

Throwing a baby shower but have no idea where to start? Follow these simple tips and you’ll make hosting a fabulous party look effortless.

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Unlike a casual potluck or dinner party, throwing a baby shower requires some organization. From wrangling gifts and games to ensuring everyone has enough food, shower hosts have a lot on their plates. Here are our tips for throwing a baby shower without all the stress. You might even be able to enjoy the party!

1. Schedule carefully when choosing the day of the shower

The end of the second trimester or the very beginning of the third is the ideal time for a baby shower. Mama will be glowing and sporting an admirable belly, but still comfortable enough to enjoy her party. Be sure to check in with her about out-of-town guests well before the day is chosen. This way she can coordinate schedules and be sure that all her loved ones are able to attend.

2. Send out invitations three to four weeks before the event

For traditional paper invitations, get them in the mail three to four weeks before the baby shower. This gives guests plenty of time to plan ahead, but isn’t so early that they’ll forget about the event before the day arrives. Remind the baby-mama to register before the invitations go out. Guests will want to check her registry online right away.

3. Consider going paperless

Although nothing beats receiving a beautiful invitation in the mail, email invites have come a long way. These aren’t your mom’s corny musical emails from 1999. Chic and trendy options (that you can design in minutes) abound online. With everyone checking their email and social media every day, it’s easy to get the word out online, plus you’ll save money on expensive cardstock invitations and postage.

4. Choosing a simple color scheme makes decorating a breeze

When it comes to decor, less can actually be more. Choosing a simple color scheme makes things easier and actually makes a bigger impact in the end. Narrow it down to two colors, or even go monochromatic. Coordinate tablecloths, paper goods, balloons and banners in the chosen color scheme. Remember, you’re not stuck with pink for a girl and blue for a boy! Consider a seasonal color-like sunny yellow for spring or silver and white for winter-or ask mama her favorite colors. (Want to go more traditional? Here’s how to make a beautiful DIY gender reveal cake.)

5. Take inventory before going shopping

Before breaking the bank buying party decorations, take an inventory of what you already have. Go through your house and gather candleholders, baskets, vases and anything else that coordinates with the look or theme you’re going for. You’ll be surprised at what you already have on hand, even if you’re not a seasoned party host. (Hosting in your home? You’ll want these tips for decluttering quick.)

6. Save money with grocery store flowers and greenery

No need to stress about arranging perfect bouquets and spending a fortune on whatever flower is trending on Instagram. A few simple arrangements are all you need-and you can get them at the grocery store. A big bunch of carnations can actually look very chic. An airy bouquet of baby’s breath is striking and adorably on-theme for a baby shower. Or consider going all green with sprigs of eucalyptus leaves or other pretty greenery.

7. Mix it up with a breakfast shower

Baby showers are traditionally thrown at lunchtime or in the late afternoon, so mix things up by hosting a breakfast or brunch shower. This allows guests to enjoy the party right at the start of the day, and they’ll still have the rest of the day to themselves. A breakfast shower also opens up the options for a yummy menu including these tasty French Toast Fingers or these miniature Brunch Casseroles. (Find more brunch-hosting tips over here.)

8. Let guests graze with a buffet setup

Avoid the hassle of a sit-down meal and set up a buffet. Big platter salads, fruit plates, dips and crackers or crocks of sandwich or taco fillings are easy to set out and allow guests to help themselves. Want to make it fancier? Consider including some small-bite foods, like these Chicken Salad Party Sandwiches, which feel fancy even though they’re simple. Handheld mini desserts are also completely adorable (and we’ve got easy recipes for ’em, too).

And don’t forget the beverages! It’s always a good idea to offer an interesting drink option for the guest of honor. Here are our favorite grown-up, not-too-sweet mocktails.

9. Low-pressure games will keep the party flowing

There’s nothing worse than the entire party coming to a halt so guests can be led through a series of tedious and embarrassing baby shower games. Instead, set up a few low-pressure games that guests can participate in at their leisure throughout the party. Make a poster with photos of celebrity moms, and set out blank questionnaires to see who can name all of their kids. (Here are some of the strangest baby names we’ve heard of.) Put out notecards and pens for guests to write down their wise parenting advice for mama. Set up a onesie-decorating station, which is both fun and practical (new babies go through onesies like nobody’s business). All you need are blank white onesies, fabric pens and space at the table to let everyone get creative.

10. Prepare a gift-opening kit

Before the party starts, put together a gift-opening kit. This includes recycling bins to collect wrapping paper, scissors for stubborn bows, plus a notebook and pen to keep track of the gifts and their givers. Put everything together in a box and set it near the chair where the mom-to-be will sit while opening her gifts. This way you’ll have everything you need, and you won’t be scrambling for supplies during the chaos of the party.

11. Assign a gift-list secretary

As noted above, you’ll need someone to record the gifts and who gave them. This makes the thank-you card process super easy. As host, you’ll be busy keeping an eye on the food and mingling with guests. Assign the gift-list job beforehand to a friend or family member of the mom-to-be. They’ll jump into action when the time comes, and you’ll remain free to be an “I’ve got everything handled” party host.

Finally, for when the baby arrives, we share thoughtful ways to help new parents-that are actually helpful.

It’s completely OKAY to throw your own Baby Shower in 2023

If you’ve thought about throwing your own baby shower, you should know it is completely okay to host your own (and lots of people do). Today, more and more parents-to-be are hosting their own showers. It’s more common than you’d think, and it’s not the social faux pas it may have been in the past.

However, if you’re looking through a traditional lens, a baby shower is usually hosted by a friend or family member of the expectant mother. Also, there’s a huge debate about whether or not throwing your own baby shower is acceptable.

Maybe you think that throwing yourself a shower could seem a bit tacky or like you just want to receive presents. We’re here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, did you know that 60% of WebBabyShower clients have thrown their own baby showers? This shows how popular it can be to take the planning and throwing of a baby shower into your own hands.

Why Throwing Your Own Baby Shower Makes Sense

Are you thinking of throwing your own baby shower? Sometimes it makes perfect sense, and is also easier to do! Here are some excellent reasons to host your own event:

You need to have control over your baby shower so you can celebrate exactly how you want. You understand how hard it can be to organize a shower for someone else, and you want to take the guesswork out of it for your friends and family.
You’ve recently moved, and now your close friends and family live long-distance.
You want a shower that is unique to you, and you don’t want dated baby shower etiquette to get in the way of your celebration.
You don’t want an extravagant shower and want to keep things light and simple.
Depending on the complexity of your event, baby showers can be expensive. You don’t want family and friends to bear the cost of the baby shower.
You are unclear about whether someone is throwing you a surprise shower but want to plan something just in case.
Your friends and family may not have the time to plan a baby shower for the date you want.

Are you curious about hosting your own baby shower? Keep reading to see if throwing a baby shower makes sense for you as a parent.

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Image from: @vanessasyne

7 Reasons Why You Should Throw Your Own Baby Shower

There are several great reasons why someone might want to throw their own baby shower, ranging from the cost to being far away from loved ones.

You Want to Take Control of Your Shower

If it’s important to you to have control over your own baby shower, you may consider hosting your own. You may want it organized a certain way, with a timeline that makes the most sense to you. You can also choose your own décor and menu items however you’d like. Instead of leaving this up to someone else, you can host your shower exactly how you’d like it.

Using a baby shower website will help you stay organized. Through the site, you can send invitations, keep track of headcounts, send pregnancy updates, share information about your baby registry, and a lot more.

You can also combine an in-person shower with a virtual shower to include everyone. This is a great option if you have loved ones who are long-distance or are unable to attend in person.

Learn more about how to organize your baby shower.

You’re a Long Distance Away from Your Family, Friends, and Everything Else!

Moving far away from family and friends can complicate throwing a baby shower. If your loved ones are long-distance, you might not have someone who can host a shower for you. In this case, throwing your own shower may be the best option.

You have the option to combine your in-person shower with a virtual baby shower to include everyone you love in the celebration. You don’t have to worry about family and friends missing out when you host a hybrid shower. This is the most viable option, and it’s best when you host it yourself.

Don’t Want a Traditional Baby Shower

You don’t want baby shower etiquette to hold you back from having the shower you deserve. That includes throwing the shower yourself, and including any elements unique to you, regardless of tradition. After helping thousands of people across the country host their baby showers, it’s clear to us here at WebBabyShower that the perspective needs to shift.

If you think baby shower traditions will stop you from making the most of your celebration, you might decide to throw your own shower. When you host your shower, you can decide for yourself which traditions you want to keep, and which to skip. Do you want to trade the usual gift opening tradition for a nursery tour, or host a co-ed party? The choice is completely yours – this is what inclusive baby shower etiquette is all about.

Don’t Want an Extravagant Shower

If the idea of an extravagant baby shower just isn’t your thing, you may consider hosting the event yourself. This way you get to decide how elaborate it will be. You’ll also get to focus on the elements that matter most to you, which might not include multiple balloon arches and fancy hors d’oeuvres.

Are you concerned that family or friends might throw you an extravagant baby shower? Hosting the shower yourself allows you to take charge and throw a baby shower on a budget.

Image from: @megggyyyy

You Don’t Want to Cause Financial Stress For Anyone

This can go hand-in-hand with our previous reason for hosting your own shower. You don’t want to put a financial burden on your family and friends, especially if you think they might throw you a lavish shower.

The cost of an in-person baby shower is rising. Depending on the complexity of the event, an in-person baby shower can cost as much as $1,000. You might not feel comfortable with your family and friends spending that much money on your shower.

If your loved ones insist on hosting your shower, you can share with them ideas on how to throw a baby shower on a budget.

You can also pick and choose the things that matter to you. When you throw your own baby shower, you can decide what is worth spending money on and what isn’t.

Also Read: Ask an Expert: How to Take DIY Newborn Photos Easily

Maybe You’re Getting a Surprise Baby Shower This Time

Surprise baby showers are always a possibility. If no one you know has mentioned anything about a baby shower yet, you may be wondering if someone is planning something but hasn’t told you. This is likely the case if you have close friends or family that live nearby.

A good solution for this is to begin planning your own baby shower. This means that either way — whether someone has scheduled an event or not — you’ll be prepared. In addition, if you make it known that you’re hosting your own baby shower, this will alert anyone who’s planning on surprising you. Then they can make adjustments to their schedule or let you know about the event.

Get Them Involved

If someone does wind up surprising you, it’s easy to share your WebBabyShower with them and make them a co-host so they can manage your event.

In addition to this, our platform isn’t just a one-day thing — your membership extends for several months, all the way through your birth announcement!

This means you and whomever you choose to co-host can create multiple announcements and chances for the guests to connect with the expecting parents. It’s the ideal solution for anyone hosting a baby shower.

Image from: @sadiejillphotography

No One Has Offered to Throw You a Baby Shower

Perhaps no one has mentioned throwing you a baby shower, and your due date is approaching. Or, maybe you have other kids and people aren’t sure if you want a baby shower or not.

It’s even possible that, if you’re the first person in your friend group to have kids, they’re just unsure of how to plan an event.

Regardless of the reason, it’s totally possible to find yourself in this situation, and you may not feel comfortable asking someone if they’re planning on hosting.

The easiest thing to do in this case is to throw your own baby shower. It’s a great opportunity for the mom-to-be to create a party that’s exactly what she wants.

How Do You Plan a Baby Shower for Yourself?

When you’re throwing your own baby shower you have to take the role of the host. That means planning games, deciding on a menu, choosing décor, and managing the guest list. If you’ve hosted a baby shower or other event for a friend, you already have a good idea of where to start. It’s the same when you’re planning your own shower, except you are the host, not a friend or family member.

If you’re not familiar with the process or where to begin, check out WebBabyShower’s planning checklists. Read this baby shower checklist if you’re throwing an in-person shower. Or if you’re hosting an online event, read this checklist for a virtual baby shower.

image from: @dhrumildesai12

Alternative Ideas to a Baby Shower

Maybe a baby shower feels too planned or doesn’t seem right for you. No problem — there are plenty of other ways to celebrate that are equally fun and will suit you better.

A Small Dinner Party

Keep it simple by inviting some close friends and family over for dinner. Allow them to bring you a few gifts, too, and then have a casual meal.

Better yet, meet at a restaurant! You won’t be responsible for cleanup, food, or decorations! Your guests can chip in for their meals and spend a few hours celebrating with you.

A Sip n’ See Party

A Sip n’ See party is a chance for guests to visit with you and the baby after the birth. They can stop by with gifts, see the new bundle of joy, and sip some drinks or have snacks. It’s casual, easy to plan, and fun!

A Mother’s Blessing

This concept isn’t as well known as a traditional baby shower alternative, but it is equally meaningful. What is a Mother’s Blessing? It is based on a Navajo ritual called a “Blessingway,” and is a chance for the new parents to gather with loved ones to prepare for the new baby in a more spiritual way.

Image from: @chill.mama.club

This celebration may include music and presents and may focus on pampering the mom-to-be. However, it is less focused on entertainment and is more about positivity and supporting the new parents.

Since it is more spiritual, it takes away some stress from mom. If she is going to plan her own party, she might consider a Mother’s Blessing to be a more relaxed and unique approach.

WebBabyShower makes it possible for you to throw your own Mother’s Blessing event, as well as a baby shower. You can do your Mother’s Blessing virtually or in person — or have a combination of the two to include family and close friends worldwide! Read our guide about a Mother’s Blessing for more information.

Looking for other baby shower alternatives like an open house or a sprinkle? You can read about more ideas here.

New Meeting Trend: Baby Shower

A few weeks ago we told you about this new trend of women’s gatherings to celebrate the birth of a baby and also entertain the expectant mother with gifts, fun and baking: «Baby shower » As they say in the USA, Party diapers as they say in Argentina or «Baby shower» as they call it in Mexico.

But organizing baby shower is not easy at all. As in organizing any party, from a birthday to a wedding, there are different moments that should not be forgotten.

En WomenwithStyle.com We are here to help you. If you are a mother who organizes it, or a mother’s friend who wants to give her a big surprise by organizing this baby shower, then don’t miss the following . ..

Things to do:

Set the date and time. Most baby showers are held before the baby is born. Don’t do it too early as part of the fun is playing with the mom-to-be, seeing her belly and sharing your pregnancy experience. As a rule, a baby shower is held towards the end of pregnancy.
Make a guest list. If you are close to future dads, you will have a general idea of who they would like to invite. Consult with guests of honor or with the heroes themselves, who to invite and who not. Excluding people or including people that the main characters don’t want to include can be a source of trouble.
Set a budget. How much will you spend, between whom will the costs be divided? This is very important because the type of event you decide to host may depend on this data. If your budget is limited, you can ask each of the participants to bring something to eat and drink.
With or without men? Most showers are for women only, but men’s parties are becoming more frequent. The decision most of all depends on the type of party you want to organize, the number of guests and the wishes of the parents-to-be.
Surprise? When it comes to a surprise party, think twice before making a decision. Although the moment when the protagonist discovers the surprise and all the secret preparations around him is very sweet and funny, not everyone likes surprises and may feel uncomfortable. Also, if you include future parents in the organization, it will be easier to get the desired result and ensure that no one is left out of the party.
Invitations. Send invitations early, but not too early. A couple of weeks before that is enough. Always indicate whether the child is the first, second or third, and the gender of the child, if available. This will make it easier to choose gifts.
Food. Will it be breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea or dinner? Order a catering service according to the party if you are thinking about using it, or start distributing tasks among the organizers. The ability to delegate authority can be the key to your salvation.
Think jewelry. This could be from baby, teddy bear, girl or boy color, etc. Include details such as scented oils, candles, and background music if space allows.

Before choosing a topic, you should analyze the guest list, the number of people who will be present, and even their style and personality. For example, if you are dealing with a large number of guests, you may want to avoid very intimate or personal topics. If parents already know, the most common is to use the theme of the baby’s gender and blue or pink as the main reason, but there are many more ideas.

Daytime thought about the expectant mother. Soon, all the attention of parents and relatives will be focused on the child. So why not throw a party for mom? Foot massages during a party or gifts thought up for mom are always welcome. You can include a takeaway meal, a movie tour, or a certificate for a nail service.

Idea?

Diapers can be a baby shower theme — invitations and decorations, all filled with diapers everywhere. Emphasize in the invitation that if you bring a pack of diapers with you, you will be entered into an important basket draw. Organize an impressive basket of wines, cheeses, sausages, some of those that everyone would like to have. Each guest must bring a pack of diapers to participate. After the drawing, the expectant mother will be grateful that she does not buy diapers for the first months of her baby.

Via: Univision

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Child in the camp: emotional difficulties — what to do about it?

#LIFE_INCAMP

Today Tatyana Stanislavovna Bezukh, family psychologist, director of the Clouds Flying Family Center (Triangle Wheel camp) will talk about the types and causes of emotional difficulties that children face in the camp.

Every year children’s leisure becomes more and more interesting, diverse, practically “for every taste and color”. And in this ultra-megadiversity, parents have a good opportunity to choose the option that meets the interests of the child. One of these options is a children’s camp, where children have the opportunity to relax, have fun, expand the circle and ways of communication.

First time in a children’s camp

And so, it would seem that the parents took everything into account: both the program and the location of the camp, and studied the reviews and recommendations, sent the child for positive emotions and … suddenly it turns out that the child is uncomfortable in the camp, uncomfortable, he is not happy with what pleases other guys. The parent is horrified: where did he make a mistake? Not those counselors? Not so peers? Is my child different? Something happened?

Before chasing the wind after the child to the camp two days after the start of the shift (or falling into the other extreme — turn off your phone and stop all communication), let’s look at some situations in which the child feels uncomfortable, and most importantly, we will try understand the causes and eliminate them.

Lack of independence

This is the most common cause, especially among younger children, but also occurs in older children. That is, the child finds himself in an absolutely stressful situation, where he has to face the fact that he himself needs to take care of his clothes — to separate clean from dirty, wet from dry, his own from someone else’s. That you need to have self-care skills and know how to use the shower, and what to do if you run out of toilet paper, and how to store a toothbrush, and the main nightmare of all children is how to make their own bed.

If at home adults do all this for the child, or do not do it at all and are in no hurry to teach this (he will start combing his hair when necessary!), then when sending a dependent child to camp, parents should understand that in order to get used to answering for yourself, you need to go through a lot of difficult feelings — and fear, and shame, and anger at the educators, because it is they who set the rules and keep order.

Therefore, if you spoon-fed your child until the last day, and tomorrow he goes to grow up in the camp, then the child is unlikely to get great pleasure there, because all his strength will be spent first of all on mastering self-care skills. Make sure your child can cut their own nails, comb their hair, wash their own hair and take a shower, and knows where to put dirty laundry. Some children are under such pressure of the above emotions that they are even embarrassed to turn to the teacher for help. Be sure to tell the child that he can always count on the help of an adult in difficult situations.

Conflict

Children with a conflict type of behavior are, first of all, children who are unsure of themselves and are accustomed to getting what they want in a conflict way: or loud screams and tantrums; or sabotage and unwillingness to do what is asked; or quiet hunger strike; or inconsolable weeping and whining; or refusal to talk to the caregiver. All these are ways of manipulating other people, which the child somehow acquires as an experience of communication in his family. But even the most subtle manipulations do not always resonate in the hearts of surrounding peers or counselors — and then the child is faced with a feeling of rejection and rejection. Anger and sadness close the heart of these guys, and they need a little more time to find new ways to communicate with other people. Counselors have a large arsenal of games and activities aimed at gaining social experience, and they will be a useful skill for a conflict child.

How to help your child adapt to the camp: 5 important points

Be sure to warn the child that any team has its own rules and procedures, as well as adults who monitor the implementation of these rules. Teach him that there are usually compromise solutions in most situations that are unsatisfactory and disturbing to him, and that by learning to compromise, he gets much more than if he simply protests and organizes a one-man picket. Teach a conflicted child to start a conversation with the phrases: “I would like to discuss the following situation . ..”, “I need time to think …”, “I don’t think so, but this point of view is interesting to me”, etc.

Demonstrativeness

If for conflict children conflict is a way to get their bonus, then for children with a demonstrative type of behavior it is the opposite: for them, the way of interaction is to avoid conflict. These children are ahead of the rest — they participate everywhere, they are the first to raise their hand, they are ready to take on the duties of the elder, they are always deliberately cheerful and happy. For a long time, with rapture and details, they can tell a story that does not arouse interest in others. Such children try to be in sight, they are always aware of all events. Despite the apparent sociability, it is very difficult for these children to establish equal relationships with their peers, because they cannot withstand any competition. Such intrusiveness and intrusiveness, as a rule, cause hostility and fatigue, and then children with demonstrativeness also have to deal with feelings of rejection, with feelings of sadness and loneliness, but since the mental defenses are too strong to allow these feelings to be, children begin to get sick with eating disorders and or mild colds. Here they get a completely different, but, nevertheless, all the same attention.

Parents can help such a child if they lift the unspoken “ban on feelings”. “Well, why are you crying? These are the little things in life! ”,“ I found something to be upset about! ”,“ Look how ugly you are when you are angry! ”- all these are phrases that devalue the feelings of the child, which are part of his personality. It is necessary to allow the child to cry, and be sad, and angry; allow the child to be whatever they want to express their emotions and feel accepted and whole.

Longing for parents and homesickness

All children, big and small, miss their parents at the camp. And this is not at all an indication that something is wrong in the camp; this, as a rule, is an indicator that the child loves his family, is attached to his relatives; his feelings are absolutely normal and are even an indicator of healthy and warm relationships in the family.

Warn your child that it is not a shame to miss mom and dad, and that you will miss it too, and we are always sad when we are separated from those we love.