Throwing a Baby Shower

It’s BABY time! How do you shower a new mom with gifts, all the essentials for a baby, and all the items for a nursery… but most of all some fun, love, wisdom, and prayer? There are lots of things to do, games to play, decorations to buy, and ways to get creative when throwing a baby shower.  Creativity is great. But it needs to get focused. And in all reality the mom-to-be just wants to get together with some friends. But it is very easy to go into stress mode if you are in charge of everything for a party or a shower. But if you get a group of people together to throw it with you, you are able to delegate and take on different tasks. The more people willing to help and be a part the better! There’s where to have it, who is coming, food preparation, games, activities, favors, prizes… the list goes on and on.  So find a group of people to throw it with you! Here are a couple pointers in throwing a shower/party/event. This one applies to a baby shower but some of the key concepts can work for any event.

1. Theme: One of the best ways for myself to give a little more focus is to pick a theme.  For the most recent shower I was a part of we did a book theme.  The mom we were showering loves to read so we thought it would be a great idea to stock the new babies library so she could be a reader just like her mommy. Choosing a theme helps you not be overwhelmed by all the different options. So pick one thing and decorate accordingly, choose food along with theme if possible, make favors, create games, and have fun with it!

2. Invitations: Decide if you are going to do online or snail mail invitations. There are so many cute ways to send an invite.  Online programs that you can use are evite, ping, punchbowl.  If you are looking for designed cards to send you can use etsy, zazzle, or shutterfly. Send all the info, the theme, the places they are registered, and the name and gender of the baby if that is public knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Delegate Tasks: Find a group of people that would like to help so it takes all the burden off of you.  Make sure you think through all the details before hand. Someone to follow up with RSVP’s as guests respond. Someone to run the games. Someone to welcome people. Someone to introduce everyone. Someone to write down the gifts. Someone to make sure food and drinks are filled. Someone to help the mom to be with gifts. (Remember she is pregnant so no lifting heavy things or bending down too much). Someone to award the prizes. Someone to make sure guests take their favors. Someone to pray over the new mom. The list goes on and on… but details are important!

4. Play: Choose some activities you think the mom and the guests would enjoy.  The last shower I hosted we played 3 different games.  We didn’t want to do too much, but still wanted to do something fun for everyone.  We had the present table/main table filled with a few activities. The first thing the guests were supposed to do was take an envelope and put their name and address on it to help the new mom with thank you cards. The mom-to-be shouldn’t have to bother with addresses when they are trying to set up a nursery.  Next there was a calendar of the month the baby was due so they could guess the day the baby would arrive. Each guest writes their names in the box of the date to guess the birthdate! Once everyone congregated in the main area for the gifts, we played the first game. The quiz was all about things that the new mom and dad did when they were babies, fun facts of where and when they were born, what food they liked to eat, when they walked, and what silly things they did. (asked each set of parents for about 15 things) So the statement was written on the left, then you would guess which one it was by circling the mom or dad’s name on the right.  It was a great way to learn what the new baby might be like! The last game we played was Bingo during present time. Everyone got a blank Bingo board and filled out items they thought the mom to be might receive as her presents.  Then as she opens gifts, they check off their board and try to get a bingo! It engages the guests during present time and helps them pay closer attention even if they are having side conversations. Have little prizes for the people that win the games. A candle, lotion, coffee gift card, or some candy.

 

5. Give words of wisdom or parenting advice: A great way to honor the mom to be and send her off with some advice, wisdom, truth, and love is to share something as your gift is being opened. Whether it is a bible verse, a memory of your own children, wisdom from parenting, or a funny story, it all is great for a new mom to hear.  Bless the new mom by speaking love and wisdom into her life. Or if you have a funny story to tell, be real with how crazy, hard, or silly parenting can be. But make sure you remind the mom-to-be it is all worth it!

6. Photograph the Event: Definitely have someone document the event!

7. Have fun! Even if you are hosting or helping out at the shower, don’t forget to have fun! The mom-to-be asked you to host because of how valuable you are in her life. And while yes you can throw a party, she also wants you to enjoy yourself!  So clean up after everyone leaves!

Don’t forget to thank everyone who helped out, and maybe bring a little gift for the host. Just an extra way to say thanks!

What are themes, games, or ways you have celebrated a mom-to-be at a shower?