Babies are fun, and pregnant moms are always excited to celebrate the new life they are bringing. But once the baby is born, he or she will be the focus of mom and dad’s life for most of their lives. This is why we are updating tradition and changing the traditional baby shower to an event that celebrates mom and dad with unique gifts for the little one that will be cherished forever.
Below are a few tips that will get your creative juices flowing.
Who and when?
Baby showers should take place 4-6 weeks before the due date
If the mother-to-be has health issues that may restrict her activity in later weeks, throw the baby shower early.
If there are separate baby showers given by different groups of people in the life of the parents, plan them a couple of weeks apart. No one wants to go to a baby shower for the same baby, three weekends in a row.
Close friends, family members, or even the mother to be can throw the party
While it is not popular for the mom to throw her own baby shower, there are times when it has to be this way. Consider asking someone else to send the invitations and the RSVP cards.
Who do you invite?
Invite people who are closer to you. The party will be more fun. Of course, you will include members of the groom’s family unless there is a separate shower planned for them.
Co-workers, distant relatives, and people you hardly know could think your invitation is just a request for a gift. If you do not want to spend time with them now, be selective with the invitations.
What if this is not baby number one?
In years gone by, baby showers were only for the first born child. This was to help the mom prepare for a child. After the first child, they expected the parents to reuse the items they were given for children who were often born thereafter and only months apart. This is no longer the case. If you want a shower for a second or third child, go for it.
Gifts
Everyone loves to buy baby clothes. The problem is, many times the baby outgrows the clothes before they can wear them all. Consider a Crowdfunding account instead. With sites like Plumfund a free account is set up that is easy for your guests to access. They can donate to your account and everyone is happy.
Get Creative
Instead of the same old boring shower games, consider getting creative and making memories.
One idea is to give each guest a plain white bib, sharpies or fabric paint, and allow them to decorate the bib. Not only does the mother get to keep the hilarious bibs, but she has a keepsake that will remind her of her guest forever.
The same concept goes for squares of fabric. Give each guest a square and allow them to decorate it or write a note on it. You can sew these squares together for a cute baby blanket.
To top it all off you can organize an affordable candy buffet using bulk candy suppliers, instead of opting for an expensive cake.
Mom’s day out
Skip the whole balloons and streamers party and opt instead for a day out with your friends.
- Go to the spa
- Go to the beauty shop or nail salon
- Visit a local vineyard
- Visit a museum
There is no law that says your baby shower has to be “traditional”. By allowing your guests to donate their gifts via Crowdfunding and breaking the molds that tell us we have to stay inside and play games that are baby related, you can have a wonderful shower that truly celebrates you.
Author Bio
Wendy Dessler: Wendy is a super-connector with OutreachMama and Youth Noise NJ who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition. You can contact her on Twitter.