Planning
To stay in control during the baby shower party and to ensure the mum-to-be has the time of her life, all you need is a bit of planning and organization. Here is the list of things that are essential in organizing baby shower:
Create the guest list
The first step is to create a guest list. Knowing just how many people are invited to the baby shower will help you with the rest of your planning, from how much food to buy to which games to play. If the baby shower is not a surprise, then it is a good idea to consult with mum to make sure nobody is left off or mistakenly included on the list of invitees.
Budgeting for the Baby shower
If you have a smaller group, your home or someone else's may be a good option. Location and food are typically the biggest costs, so if you're able to host the baby shower at a home, you will save a significant portion of you budget. If you have a large guest list, you may want to look for co-hosts because you're likely going to need to host the baby shower at a restaurant. Good co-hosts can be other close friends of mum-to-be or her family members. Family members may even just contribute money. Once you have a budget, you should make a list of all of the baby shower costs.
Choosing a Baby shower theme
Decide what type of theme you want for the baby shower. It will set the tone of the party and may impact where you host the baby shower, as well as its menu and decorations. Baby shower themes can be as simple as blue or pink if you know the sex of the baby.
Determine the Baby shower date
You will want to host the baby shower on a Saturday or Sunday between four to eight weeks before the baby is due. Decide on a few dates that you can host the baby shower. Contact important guests, especially out of town family, to make sure they are available on dates you have in mind.
Choose location
You will save a considerable amount of your budget if you will be hosting the baby shower at a home. However, you will spend money on plates, napkins, cups, utensils. If you will be hosting the baby shower at a restaurant, start looking for locations early. You will want to call and even visit locations to make sure that it works for you in terms of how large is your group, what kind of food they serve and if they would allow you to decorate it.
Decorations and supplies
You will need balloons, streamers and other decorations. However, if you're having the baby shower at a restaurant, find out what decorations they allow. If you're hosting it at home, you will also need plates, napkins, cups and eating utensils. Make sure you have enough napkins and forks for appetizers and cake as well as making sure you have cups for both hot and cold liquids.
Baby shower games and prizes
Visit our section for games for lots of great baby shower game ideas. Make sure you have pencils for everyone, wrap game prizes and have extra prizes in case of tie games.
Baby shower party favors
It is common to provide guests with favors or prizes if you play games. If you're looking for some inexpensive baby shower favor ideas, then here are some easy ones. Buy some baby socks and fill them with lollies and little chocolates. Or, if it matches your theme, then you could fill some baby bottles with candies and use them first as a centerpiece or as a weight for balloons, then give them out as shower favors after. If you have the time, then bake some cookies and use cookie cutters to cut out baby themed shapes. Put a few into baggies, tie them with some nice ribbon and you have an inexpensive baby shower favor. And at the end, most of all, remember that baby showers are for mum. Be sure that wherever you are holding the shower, there is a comfortable chair for her to sit in, her favorite foods are served, and that she is reminded of just how special she and her new arrival are to everyone.
