Planning A Baby Shower? These Tips Make It Stress Free
|
One of the most pleasant parties to plan has to be the baby shower. The mom-to-be gets so much attention and she can just sit back and enjoy all of the fuss. The key to creating this wonderful event is organization. Here's everything you need to make your upcoming baby shower as festive and memorable as possible!
Consult, Consult, Consult!
Because the parents-to-be may have more than one shower, it's a good idea to consult with the mommy-to-be. Before you send out invitations, sit down with the mom-to-be and ask her what she would like from this event. What is her idea of a fun shower and who she would like to attend? Most people shouldn't be expected to attend several showers for the same parents, so find out what else is being planned. Let her know that you want her to feel comfortable and most of all, to have fun.
What if you are having a surprise shower? Don't let that stop you from consulting! Talk to the dad-to-be to get ideas of a guest list and an appropriate time. You might even want to consult with other friends to be sure that everything works out smoothly. Again, consider the mom-to-be when having a shower. You want her to feel special, have fun, and be comfortable.
After consulting with the mom-to-be, or others, it is time to plan!
The Theme of the Day
This is the fun part ? deciding what you are going to do and how you are going to do it! This can also be the overwhelming part if you have never planned a baby shower before or if you don't feel that you are the creative type. Luckily, you don't' have to have experience or creativity to throw a great baby shower.
Some showers are simply a gathering of family and friends chatting, mom-to-be opening her gifts, and eating yummy food. Other showers are more elaborate with special games. If you are thinking of being more elaborate and having a theme, here are some great ideas to get you started:
Consider inviting couples instead of just the ladies. You can play fun games like who can diaper the baby doll the fastest and make it the men against the women. This shower is great for first-time-dads and helps them feel a part of things as the 'big day' nears.
Does mom-to-be already have everything she needs for baby, but you still want to celebrate this special occasion? Why not throw a Mommy Shower? Instruct guests to bring gifts for mom herself (bath and beauty products, gift certificates, etc). You might also consider a "consumable shower" and have guests bring diapers, wipes, shampoo, and other items that run out!
A recipe shower is a great idea. Instead of a card, ask guests to bring their favorite easy-to-make recipes for mom-to-be to use after the little one arrives. Or go one better and have the guests bring a dish ready to be frozen for the mom-to-be for those days when she is just too worn out to cook!
Here's a fun shower that will help the guests determine what to bring as a gift. In the invitations, assign each guest a random time of day and have them bring an appropriate gift. For example, blankets for naptime. Or assign each guest a different room of the house, like the bathroom, and have them bring an appropriate gift.
Have guests bring something that was a favorite of theirs from their childhood for the new baby. Books, movies, security blanket and etc make great gifts with added special meaning.
Have a birthday party! Get a birthday cake, streamers, party hats, and party games! Can you think of a better way to celebrate a birth?
Once you set a date and make a guest list, and pick your theme, you will need to choose a location. It is perfectly fine to have the shower in your own home, but it can be anywhere with enough space. Depending upon your theme, you may even choose a restaurant or an out of the way tearoom!
As the Date Nears
Now that the big decisions are over, you can take a deep breath. You are almost there! As the shower date approaches, however, you may again feel a bit of stress. Do you have everything? Have all the details been taken care of? Here is a great list to help you know the answers to those questions.
Two To Three Weeks Before The Event:
- Prepare and mail invitations with directions to event. Be sure to keep one for the baby book!
- Place order for the cake if ordering from a bakery.
- Choose and purchase decorations and party favors.
- Purchase prizes for games.
One Week Before The Event:
- Determine an accurate guest count.
- Make follow-up calls, if necessary.
One Day Before The Event:
- Purchase food and prepare platters and/or pick up any special food platters ordered.
- Purchase beverages.
- Make sure camera has film and/or video camera is loaded and has batteries, etc.
- Wrap gifts for game winners and review instructions for games.
- Clean house and party area.
Day Of The Event
- Decorate
- Buy any last minute items
- Prepare area for gifts
- Prepare table for the food
- And most importantly ? HAVE FUN!
That's all there is to it! You are now ready to throw a memory-filled baby shower for a special mom-to-be.
Copyright. All rights reserved.
About The Author
Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com where you will find further tips on http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com/baby-showers.html, and unique baby gifts http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com/baby-personalized-gifts.html.
|
|
|
For Mother And Baby ? What Do You Give? A Gift Basket Of Course!
The choice for a baby or an infant gift can be a difficult one. One of the best baby or infant gifts that you can giv...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Baby Shower Games For Your Special Baby Shower
So you're holding a baby shower? Then you will need baby shower games to keep the guests entertained. While the baby shower is a good time to pa...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Baby Signing ? 10 Easy Ways To Start Signing With Your Baby
Babies can communicate their needs and desires a lot earlier than we think. They have an instinctive need to communicate. Baby signing is a pre-verbal form of communication. Babies can control their movements much ...(related: Babies Help Articles)
What Does That New Baby Really Need?
What your baby needs and may not need.There are so many gadget out on the market, so many cute little out fits, so many baby thing that we think we need, so many we don't need. Simply Moms offers you a list to get you started and steer you clear of the don't needs.LayetteDon't spend TONS of money on these first little out fits baby will grow really fast and many clothes they may not even get to wear!!!Onsies about 6-8Sleep and plays 53 cute out fitsSnow suit if winterSocks about 4 pairBlanket sleepers for cool nights about 2Hat for winter or summer2 Blanket sleepers...(related: Babies Help Articles)
When Not To Begin Potty Training
Potty training can be a stressful experience for you and your child. It's best to start potty training when your child has an established daily routine and is not dealing with any additional stress. Potty training should be the only major change in your child's life.If your child is showing signs of potty tr...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Important Car Seat Statistics
Installing a car seat correctly is the most important thing you can do to protect your child or newborn if you are in a crash. If you ever doubted how important a car seat is you'll change your mind once you realize the shocking facts about automobile accidents. First and most importantly, most parents assume that their child is safe whether their car seat is installed correctly. This is FALSE! Other parents mistakenly believe they installed their seat correctly. Unfortunately this is often not the case.If you use your car seat wrongly or install it improperly you might be in for a big surpris...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Potty Training Boys - How To Potty Train Boys - Do You Teach Them To Sit Or Stand?
I am asked this question by many parents - they all want to know whether to start potty training boys to urinate standing up or sitting down.While there is definitely no right or wrong way to potty train a boy, most potty training experts will recommend that toddler boys should be potty trained sitting down. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends encouraging & teaching toddler boys to urinate sitting down.The major reason for this recommendation is to keep things simple by teaching them to sit for both urination and bowel movements. Other reasons include the logistics involved in managing the equipment for both types of training and the effort required to clean up while they learn to aim properly.Keep it Simple and Bowel Movement Training: Mos...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Properly Care For Your Children
When it comes to your newborn or children's health, it is very important to get to know every inch of their body in order to make sure they'll receive proper health care now and in the future. As adults we're constantly reminded of how important it is to get to know our body and to check for certain things. So really we have to keep this sameattitude with our children until they are able to do sofor him or her self.When you get to know your baby from their birthday; itbecomes easier to identify changes or symptoms that cancause problems with your baby or children's health.Thankfully though as a child gets older or starts to talk,they can tell you when they are not feeling up to par.Arming yourself with this information will help the Pediatrician with all your children's health or childhoodhealth problems.What is normal for them?...(related: Babies Help Articles)
When To Start Teaching Your Baby (1)
When is it that I should start teaching my baby? That is a question that may come to mind for many first time parents; other parents may never consider the question at all, and just leave things to ev...(related: Babies Help Articles)
The Baby Food Debate: The Benefits Of Homemade Baby Food Over The Jars
Americans have long depended on jarred baby foods for convenient feeding. In the past few years more and more processed food options have entered the children's food market. The big brands have expanded into pre-packaged ...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Beyond Flash Card : How To Do The Infant Visual Stimulation In Fun And Creative Ways
Babies learn about the environment surrounding them through five senses: vision, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. Of those five senses, vision is the least developed sense a baby has at birth.
Therefore, it is important for parents to help their babies to 'perfect' their vision during the first few months of their baby's life.
Babies who do not receive adequate visual stimulation may never get good vision. Or they may develop it slowly. In contrast, babies who are stimulated develop good vision faster. Having a good vision early is important since this will put the baby in a competitive edge. Why ? Because vision provides the baseline of other area of development. It enhances curiosity, attentiveness, concentration and most importantly, ...(related: Babies Help Articles)
How To Buy Infants? Best Educational Toys?
Buying educational toys for infants can be difficult, because infants seem to do so little that educating them right after birth might strike you as a bit rushed. However, the fact is that your baby is learning at a great speed, taking in everything that is around, and picking up habits, information and words.Research shows that many disabilities and learning disorders in young children can be avo...(related: Babies Help Articles)
Baby Shower Checklist For Planning A Baby Shower
Most shower checklists will suggest you start planning approximately four weeks before the intended shower date. This will give you enough time to do everything you need to without feeling rushed. The most important task is to pick a date! You should confirm this with the new mom and her immedi...(related: Babies Help Articles)
site-map - Copyright © 2008 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Babies Help Articles