Are you in the midst of planning a baby shower and don’t know what to do next? I get plenty of emails every day about the do’s and don’ts of planning a shower. Some people don’t know were to hold the shower, when to send the invites, what to wear to a shower, etc.
So I thought it would be a good idea to start a baby shower questions forum so we can help each other out. This forum is the perfect place for all hostesses, guests and parents-to-be to get informed and share their knowledge with others.
The good thing about this forum is that you do not have to register or login. And in addition to asking questions, you can also answer or comment on questions that have already been posted.
Ready to join the Q & A forum? Click here for instant access. You can jump right in and ask a question, browse around through current entries.
Remember, the idea here is to help and be helped. Enjoy!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Baby sprinkle invitation etiquette
Baby sprinkles are small-scale baby showers that are specifically reserved for children after the first born. The purpose of this type of shower is to focus on giving the mom to be to small necessities for her new baby, as opposed to the big stuff she already received with baby number one.
So, if you’re throwing a baby sprinkle, make sure you let your guests know that in the invitations. The guests can certainly buy whatever gift they choose, but stress to them, in a nice way, that the mom-to-be has a greater need for certain gifts.
Follow these pointers as a guide for writing your sprinkle invitations:
*Make sure the invitation clearly says “baby sprinkle” and not “baby shower”. This will automatically let your guests know that this will be not quite the same as a shower.
*Use cute baby sayings to stress gift ideas, and to subtly explain the difference between a sprinkle and a shower. Here’s an example:
Bibs, diapers, and bottles galore
The Johnson family is having one more.
All their other kids have plenty to share,
But we still want to show the new baby we care.
The new baby won’t need a playpen or crib.
So just bring the small stuff like bottles and a bib.
Remember it’s a baby sprinkle indeed,
A light showering of things that the baby will need.
Get more wording samples here.
*Be creative! This is probably the hard part, but it can be done. Use a play on words and try to think of regular words that rhyme with baby words. A good way of doing this is to use an online dictionary to generate rhyming words and syllables for you.
*Lastly, don’t forget to include the basics of an invitation. The cute baby sayings are nice, but it won’t mean anything if your guests don’t have the specifics about the party. Make sure they know who the guest of honor is, the date, time, place, and RSVP info for the baby sprinkle.
Now that you have something to go on, get started on those baby sprinkle invites, and best wishes!
So, if you’re throwing a baby sprinkle, make sure you let your guests know that in the invitations. The guests can certainly buy whatever gift they choose, but stress to them, in a nice way, that the mom-to-be has a greater need for certain gifts.
Follow these pointers as a guide for writing your sprinkle invitations:
*Make sure the invitation clearly says “baby sprinkle” and not “baby shower”. This will automatically let your guests know that this will be not quite the same as a shower.
*Use cute baby sayings to stress gift ideas, and to subtly explain the difference between a sprinkle and a shower. Here’s an example:
Bibs, diapers, and bottles galore
The Johnson family is having one more.
All their other kids have plenty to share,
But we still want to show the new baby we care.
The new baby won’t need a playpen or crib.
So just bring the small stuff like bottles and a bib.
Remember it’s a baby sprinkle indeed,
A light showering of things that the baby will need.
Get more wording samples here.
*Be creative! This is probably the hard part, but it can be done. Use a play on words and try to think of regular words that rhyme with baby words. A good way of doing this is to use an online dictionary to generate rhyming words and syllables for you.
*Lastly, don’t forget to include the basics of an invitation. The cute baby sayings are nice, but it won’t mean anything if your guests don’t have the specifics about the party. Make sure they know who the guest of honor is, the date, time, place, and RSVP info for the baby sprinkle.
Now that you have something to go on, get started on those baby sprinkle invites, and best wishes!
Monday, May 19, 2008
How far along should she be?
Sometimes a hostess or mom-to-be is not sure of the appropriate time to have a baby shower during a pregnancy. As with all things dealing with baby shower etiquette, nothing is set in stone. Most showers are usually held during the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy. You can have the party earlier that that, but here are a few reasons why you should hold off until the third trimester.
1. Give the parents time to adjust. Once they find out they’re having a baby, they’re sure to be shocked, whether they were trying to get pregnant or not. Give them some time to spread the news to family and friends at their own pace, and adjust to the overall changes of being pregnant. You don’t want to overwhelm the mom-to-be with a baby shower too soon.
2. Wait until they find out the sex of the baby. Nowadays, there are plenty of gender-neutral baby shower themes, but lots of hostesses like to select a theme or choose decorations and favors that are gender specific.
3. Give her time to create a registry. After she finds out the sex of the baby, the mom-to-be can take time to create her wish list. She’ll need time to think about decorations for the nursery, clothes, toys, etc.
4. A very pregnant mom makes for great pictures!! Taking pictures is one of the most important aspects of throwing a good baby shower. Guests love to take pics with the pregnant guest of honor. Her belly can also be used for some great games.
5. Having a shower late in the game adds excitement. The baby shower signifies that the baby is almost here. It’s kind of like the kick-off to “crunch time” for the parents. If you throw the shower just a month or 2 before her due date, you add to her anticipation of meeting her new baby.
It’s not imperative that you wait for her third trimester, but be sure not to have the shower too late either. Do not plan too close to her due date because, as we already know, that date is not 100% accurate. You don’t want to risk her going into labor shortly before the party. You’ll have to change the date if that happens. She probably won’t be up to a party right after giving birth.
Do you have questions or concerns about an upcoming baby shower?
Click here to add your question to the baby shower Q & A Forum
1. Give the parents time to adjust. Once they find out they’re having a baby, they’re sure to be shocked, whether they were trying to get pregnant or not. Give them some time to spread the news to family and friends at their own pace, and adjust to the overall changes of being pregnant. You don’t want to overwhelm the mom-to-be with a baby shower too soon.
2. Wait until they find out the sex of the baby. Nowadays, there are plenty of gender-neutral baby shower themes, but lots of hostesses like to select a theme or choose decorations and favors that are gender specific.
3. Give her time to create a registry. After she finds out the sex of the baby, the mom-to-be can take time to create her wish list. She’ll need time to think about decorations for the nursery, clothes, toys, etc.
4. A very pregnant mom makes for great pictures!! Taking pictures is one of the most important aspects of throwing a good baby shower. Guests love to take pics with the pregnant guest of honor. Her belly can also be used for some great games.
5. Having a shower late in the game adds excitement. The baby shower signifies that the baby is almost here. It’s kind of like the kick-off to “crunch time” for the parents. If you throw the shower just a month or 2 before her due date, you add to her anticipation of meeting her new baby.
It’s not imperative that you wait for her third trimester, but be sure not to have the shower too late either. Do not plan too close to her due date because, as we already know, that date is not 100% accurate. You don’t want to risk her going into labor shortly before the party. You’ll have to change the date if that happens. She probably won’t be up to a party right after giving birth.
Do you have questions or concerns about an upcoming baby shower?
Click here to add your question to the baby shower Q & A Forum
Friday, May 16, 2008
Cool favor ideas for a Safari Baby Shower
During the spring and summer months, the Safari theme is one of the most popular for a baby shower. People love the baby animal decorations, the greens and browns that remind them of the great outdoors, and the great party favors that go well with this theme.
Why do the guests look forward to the favors? Because they are a constant reminder of a wonderful celebration. Baby shower favors are quite versatile. You can use lots of favors for any theme idea. But some favors seem to be meant for some themes.
Here’s my pick for the top 5 safari baby shower party favors.
Plush toys and thank you notes – Buy some small safari animal plush toys, a pack of small blank greeting cards, a 1-hole puncher, and some colorful ribbon. On each card, write something like “Thanks for coming to Lisa’s baby shower”. Punch a hole in the corner of the card (near the fold) and make sure the hole goes through each side of the card. Then, use the ribbon to tie the card around the neck of the plush toy. Get a variety of animals, and use ribbons that match whatever color scheme you’ve chosen.
Baby elephant soaps – At any dollar store you can find cute soaps in a variety of shapes and colors. Buy some small baskets, cellophane and ribbon. Put about 5 soaps in each basket and use the cellophane and ribbon to tie it.
Personalized mini water bottles – This is a nice favor that will keep your guests cool in the warm weather. You can find plenty of online stores that specialize in printing personalized labels, candy bar wrappers, stationary, etc. Your labels can say something like “Lisa’s baby shower – May 16, 2008”, or “Lisa’s little animal will be here soon!” Buy some small spring water bottles and replace the labels with your personalized ones. Or, you can order bottles with the labels already attached. Tie a piece of ribbon around the top of the bottle, and make sure the ribbon color matches your theme.
Decorated cookie – Make animal shaped sugar cookies and decorate them with frosting. You can simply outline the cookie with colorful frosting, or write something like “Lisa’s safari baby shower” on it. Wrap the cookie in cellophane or plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon.
Personalized candle tins – There are plenty of online stores that sell basic candle tins with personalized stickers. You can choose from a variety of pictures to go on your sticker, and you can create your own wording. You can simply put the parents’ names, date of the shower, the baby’s name (if known), etc. Present the favors in a small gift bags that match the colors of your decorations.
All these favor ideas are perfect for the safari theme, but you’re not limited to the suggestions above. Let your imagination run wild and be sure to shop around before making a selection.
Keep in mind when you’re shopping for favors that you can always find great stuff at the dollar store. If you want something personalized, you’ll most likely have to order something online.
Happy Planning!
Why do the guests look forward to the favors? Because they are a constant reminder of a wonderful celebration. Baby shower favors are quite versatile. You can use lots of favors for any theme idea. But some favors seem to be meant for some themes.
Here’s my pick for the top 5 safari baby shower party favors.
Plush toys and thank you notes – Buy some small safari animal plush toys, a pack of small blank greeting cards, a 1-hole puncher, and some colorful ribbon. On each card, write something like “Thanks for coming to Lisa’s baby shower”. Punch a hole in the corner of the card (near the fold) and make sure the hole goes through each side of the card. Then, use the ribbon to tie the card around the neck of the plush toy. Get a variety of animals, and use ribbons that match whatever color scheme you’ve chosen.
Baby elephant soaps – At any dollar store you can find cute soaps in a variety of shapes and colors. Buy some small baskets, cellophane and ribbon. Put about 5 soaps in each basket and use the cellophane and ribbon to tie it.
Personalized mini water bottles – This is a nice favor that will keep your guests cool in the warm weather. You can find plenty of online stores that specialize in printing personalized labels, candy bar wrappers, stationary, etc. Your labels can say something like “Lisa’s baby shower – May 16, 2008”, or “Lisa’s little animal will be here soon!” Buy some small spring water bottles and replace the labels with your personalized ones. Or, you can order bottles with the labels already attached. Tie a piece of ribbon around the top of the bottle, and make sure the ribbon color matches your theme.
Decorated cookie – Make animal shaped sugar cookies and decorate them with frosting. You can simply outline the cookie with colorful frosting, or write something like “Lisa’s safari baby shower” on it. Wrap the cookie in cellophane or plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon.
Personalized candle tins – There are plenty of online stores that sell basic candle tins with personalized stickers. You can choose from a variety of pictures to go on your sticker, and you can create your own wording. You can simply put the parents’ names, date of the shower, the baby’s name (if known), etc. Present the favors in a small gift bags that match the colors of your decorations.
All these favor ideas are perfect for the safari theme, but you’re not limited to the suggestions above. Let your imagination run wild and be sure to shop around before making a selection.
Keep in mind when you’re shopping for favors that you can always find great stuff at the dollar store. If you want something personalized, you’ll most likely have to order something online.
Happy Planning!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
What to do with children at a baby shower
Many people think it’s the norm to have just adult women (sometimes men) at a baby shower. But you would be surprised at how many people bring their kids along for the party.
It’s likely that the kids will end up running around, finding things to get into themselves. But as the hostess, you should find ways to get them involved in the rest of the guests’ activities. What better way to do that than with great baby shower games?!?
Of course, the kids can play any game you choose, but there are a few that they may enjoy more than others. I’ve listed a few games that children will love, and the adults can participate as well:
Baby shower anagram – Give everyone a piece of paper and something to write with. See how many baby words they can make out of the words “baby shower”. This can also be a learning game for the kids.
Act out a story – This is a great game for the kids to be in the spotlight. Have one of the adult guests read a children’s story, such as “Little Red Riding Hood”. As the guest is reading, the kids will act it out. Make sure the guest reads only about 2 lines at a time, and give the kids time to act out that part before moving on. If there are enough kids, you can group them into teams for this game.
Bottle bowling – Line up 10 baby bottles as if they were bowling pins. Roll a small ball and knock down as many bottles as you can.
Those are my 3 top baby shower games for kids, but as I said before, they can participate in any game you want your guests to play. But keep in mind that kids like to be busy. If you have the room, play action games with the kids.
Also remember that the kids deserve game prizes too. I would suggest instead of giving prizes to the winner, just give all the kids a small gift just because they participated.
Another note…
We all know that eventually you’ll get tired of the kids running around all over the place. Keep a stock of writing games, coloring books, and other activities that kids can do while seated at a table. You can even reserve a table as a “kids corner” somewhere in the room.
It’s likely that the kids will end up running around, finding things to get into themselves. But as the hostess, you should find ways to get them involved in the rest of the guests’ activities. What better way to do that than with great baby shower games?!?
Of course, the kids can play any game you choose, but there are a few that they may enjoy more than others. I’ve listed a few games that children will love, and the adults can participate as well:
Baby shower anagram – Give everyone a piece of paper and something to write with. See how many baby words they can make out of the words “baby shower”. This can also be a learning game for the kids.
Act out a story – This is a great game for the kids to be in the spotlight. Have one of the adult guests read a children’s story, such as “Little Red Riding Hood”. As the guest is reading, the kids will act it out. Make sure the guest reads only about 2 lines at a time, and give the kids time to act out that part before moving on. If there are enough kids, you can group them into teams for this game.
Bottle bowling – Line up 10 baby bottles as if they were bowling pins. Roll a small ball and knock down as many bottles as you can.
Those are my 3 top baby shower games for kids, but as I said before, they can participate in any game you want your guests to play. But keep in mind that kids like to be busy. If you have the room, play action games with the kids.
Also remember that the kids deserve game prizes too. I would suggest instead of giving prizes to the winner, just give all the kids a small gift just because they participated.
Another note…
We all know that eventually you’ll get tired of the kids running around all over the place. Keep a stock of writing games, coloring books, and other activities that kids can do while seated at a table. You can even reserve a table as a “kids corner” somewhere in the room.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Best location for a baby shower
I often get emails sent to my baby shower website asking what's the best place to hold a baby shower.
I always tell people that I am a big fan of having baby showers in someone's home. Having a get-together at your house always creates that intimate and loving feeling. And, it gives you the flexibility to do any type of set-up or decorating that suits your needs.
But, some people prefer to have a baby shower elsewhere for a variety of reasons; too many people coming, they want the party to be outside, they don't feel like doing the cooking and clean-up, etc.
So, if you are having a hard time trying to decide where to host a baby shower, other than your house, take a look at these suggestions:
Church - For some, church is a second home. Lots of churches have recreational and dining halls that can be used by church members. And if the church does have a dining hall, it will most likely have a full kitchen too. This is a great idea if your baby shower will incorporate a spiritual/religious theme, such as "Noah's Ark" or "Little Lamb".
The Park - If your party will be during the spring or summer months, why not take the party outside and enjoy the nice weather? All you really need is a long folding table, or a few round outdoor tables (you can find inexpensive ones at your local market), and some chairs. Don't be afraid to ask some of your guests if they have furniture that they can contribute. Having a baby shower in the park is great for someone who wants an informal gathering, and who likes the outdoors. One thing I should mention about this idea, you should have a back-up plan in case it rains! Make sure you have a second location in mind in case you need to make changes at the last minute.
A restaurant - First, this option will be more costly than the first two. But don't let that discourage you. Restaurant baby showers are an excellent idea if you don't have time to prepare food before hand. Lots of places offer private rooms, or you can request to have your guests seated in a secluded corner. You can even put up some decorations - tablecloth, a few balloons and streamers, etc. Make sure you start planning early if you're thinking about a restaurant baby shower. You'll have to get a lot of info from the establishment to make sure you're okay with their policies.
As I said earlier, having a baby shower at home is the way to go in my opinion. But whatever location you choose, just make sure your guest of honor will be comfortable. Don't spend more money than you have too, and definitely start planning early.
If you have a baby shower question you want to ask, click here to post it on the baby shower Q & A forum. No need to log in, just type your question and submit it. Once it is reviewed and posted live, other visitors can help you out with all your baby shower needs.
I always tell people that I am a big fan of having baby showers in someone's home. Having a get-together at your house always creates that intimate and loving feeling. And, it gives you the flexibility to do any type of set-up or decorating that suits your needs.
But, some people prefer to have a baby shower elsewhere for a variety of reasons; too many people coming, they want the party to be outside, they don't feel like doing the cooking and clean-up, etc.
So, if you are having a hard time trying to decide where to host a baby shower, other than your house, take a look at these suggestions:
Church - For some, church is a second home. Lots of churches have recreational and dining halls that can be used by church members. And if the church does have a dining hall, it will most likely have a full kitchen too. This is a great idea if your baby shower will incorporate a spiritual/religious theme, such as "Noah's Ark" or "Little Lamb".
The Park - If your party will be during the spring or summer months, why not take the party outside and enjoy the nice weather? All you really need is a long folding table, or a few round outdoor tables (you can find inexpensive ones at your local market), and some chairs. Don't be afraid to ask some of your guests if they have furniture that they can contribute. Having a baby shower in the park is great for someone who wants an informal gathering, and who likes the outdoors. One thing I should mention about this idea, you should have a back-up plan in case it rains! Make sure you have a second location in mind in case you need to make changes at the last minute.
A restaurant - First, this option will be more costly than the first two. But don't let that discourage you. Restaurant baby showers are an excellent idea if you don't have time to prepare food before hand. Lots of places offer private rooms, or you can request to have your guests seated in a secluded corner. You can even put up some decorations - tablecloth, a few balloons and streamers, etc. Make sure you start planning early if you're thinking about a restaurant baby shower. You'll have to get a lot of info from the establishment to make sure you're okay with their policies.
As I said earlier, having a baby shower at home is the way to go in my opinion. But whatever location you choose, just make sure your guest of honor will be comfortable. Don't spend more money than you have too, and definitely start planning early.
If you have a baby shower question you want to ask, click here to post it on the baby shower Q & A forum. No need to log in, just type your question and submit it. Once it is reviewed and posted live, other visitors can help you out with all your baby shower needs.
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