Home And Family

Pulling off an amazing Baby Shower takes more than just an expectant mom and a lot of gifts!

So, here are 10 tips to help you plan a baby shower that is fun for the guests, easy on you and an incredible, memorable event for the mommy to be!

Tip #1: Choose the location wisely

When throwing a baby shower, find a location that works well for the majority of the guests that you’ll be inviting. The more convenient it is for them, the more likely they are to come.

You and even the mommy-to-be can drive a little further to make it to the party. Give the guests who will be bringing gifts the luxury of a short commute to and from the party.

(Hint: Before you choose the location, ask the mom and others involved for their guest lists so you know where the guests are coming from!)

Tip #2: Give Guests an Email Address for RSVPs

In today’s fast-paced world, a lot of women use email to stay on top of appointments and handle their communications. So, give them the option to send in their RSVP via email.

Tip #3: Enlist a “Staff”

Even if you’re throwing a casual get-together in your family room, enlist others to help you. Here are just a few of the people that you’ll need:

• Greeter – ask a friend or family member to stand near the door to greet guests and let them know where to put their gift, where to sit and what to expect.
• Food person – if you’re at a hall, or have hired a caterer, let them handle the food. But, if you’re at a home – appoint a relative or a friend to keep an eye on the food.
• Gift presenter – have someone sit right next to the mom-to-be to hand her the next gift with the card already opened. This will help things move along and ensure that guests don’t get bored.
• Gift runner – same goes for after she opens the gift. Have someone ready to take the gift over to a designated spot so that the next gift can be opened.

Tip #4: Be Ready to Emcee

If you are throwing the shower, there’s a good chance that you’ll be the one on the microphone moving things along. Take some time to practice what you’ll say. If you’re not comfortable being the voice of the party – be sure to add “emcee” to your staff list!

Tip #5: Books Cost Waaaaaaay More Than Cards

Most baby shower invitations now come with a note asking you to bring a book “instead of a card”. Though this is a nice gesture, keep in mind that most books cost at least twice as much as a card. Plus, most people will still buy a card!

So – asking for books is a great idea, but if you’re looking to be original, think of other things in the same price range as the book… like a small pack of diapers or a pack of wipes.

Tip #6: Don’t Waste Money on Useless Gifts

Have you ever left a shower with one hot pad… or a single tea candle? Did they even make it into your house? Mine sure didn’t.

If you don’t have a lot to spend, spend wisely. Things like full-size candles, bottled hand soaps, or simple bags of candy are best – and can usually be found for less than a $1 a piece at a dollar store.

(Note: If you are playing games at the shower – and you SHOULD be – have enough gifts on hand for the winners!)

Tip #7: Stick to a Schedule

Nothing is worse than the never-ending shower!

Keep things moving along even if it looks like you’re interrupting someone’s fun.

(Hint: Don’t be afraid of overlapping things like eating and opening gifts. If the mom finishes first, she can start opening gifts and keep guests entertained.)

Tip #8: Don’t Forget the Little Ones

If you’ve invited anyone under 12 to your shower, have activities ready for them. Set a table just for the younger ones and give them the memory pages in our packets and a package of markers and crayons. Ask them to create special pages for the baby.

Also considering putting them to work! Kids love to feel like they are helping out. So, ask them to clear plates, pass out cake, hand gifts to game winners and help keep presents in order.

Tip #9: Supply the Mom-to-Be with Addressed Thank You Cards

Whether you have guests fill out their addresses while they sit – or you simply print an extra sheet of address lables when you send out invitations – give the Mom-to-be a break with pre-addressed thank you cards.

Tip #10: Incorporate a Cause

Bringing together a group of women is not only a good time to celebrate the mom-to-be, it can also be a great time to pay tribute to a cause that’s near and dear to the mommy or her family.

I saw a great example of this recently when a shower invitation asked guests to bring a book for the baby and an extra one for the Literacy Foundation that the grandma-to-be worked with.

Good luck planning your shower and have a great time congratulating and preparing the mommy-to-be!