When Should I Have My Baby Shower?
Many new mother’s are often asked by their hosts, when should the baby shower be scheduled. The baby shower should typically be held six to eight week prior to the baby’s expected due date. Why should I have my baby shower that early? The goal of a baby shower is to prepare the mother with the tools that she needs in order to care for her newborn. As most people know, babies usually tend to be in control and they decide when they should make an entrance into the world. If you have the baby shower, six to eight weeks prior to the anticipated due date, most mom’s can be prepared in case her baby decides to come earlier than the anticipated due date. Plus, it allows the parents to purchase any additional items that they need before the baby arrives.
Baby Shower Etiquette
- Never host your own baby shower.
- Make sure that most of your guests can come to the shower (ie close family members and grandparents)
- A baby shower can be held after the baby is born, if necessary.
- Pick reasonably priced stores for your gift registry.
- Don’t be greedy.
- Add a variety of items to your registry that will fit everyone’s budget. (don’t register for only big ticket items)
- Specify on the invite if children can’t attend the baby shower.
Dealing With Guests Who are Against Multiple Baby Showers for Subsequent Children
The customary tradition was to hold a baby shower for a mother’s first pregnancy; however, many people feel that each baby should be celebrated. In fact, if your friends throw you a baby shower for subsequent babies, you may have a few disgruntled friends who think that you are only after the gifts since most mom’s already have most of the items left over from their first pregnancy. Try not to get upset if you find out that a few of your guests are upset over this subject and try not to let it bother you. If you really want them to come to your baby shower, you can ask them to come to the shower to celebrate the new baby and ensure them that they don’t have to bring a gift. Remember, that you can’t please everyone and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Did you have a baby shower for your baby? Did you have a shower for each one of your children?
Comments
10 responses to “Planning a Baby Shower: Proper Baby Shower Etiquette”
fascinating history of baby showers!
Great post and tips! I plan a whole load of babyshowers. These are my favorite to plan for some reason.
Stopping by from VB.
xoxo,
Khloe
http://www.kgstyleblogs.com
This is an interesting (and good) post. I disagree that only the first child should have a baby shower. Celebrating a birth doesn't have to be about "big ticket" items, but could be more about day to day essentials like diapers, clothing, accessories for the babies room. I have 3 children and I had a shower for each one. My first was for a daughter born almost 25 years ago. My second was for a son born almost 23 years ago. The gifts I got mostly for him were boy clothes and accessories for his room. My third child was born almost 3 years ago – so I substantial gap between her and my "last" baby!
I never knew about the history of baby showers until now. Thanks for sharing :). Oh, I don’t remember having my own baby shower. Maybe it’s time I had another baby, so I can finally have my own baby shower 🙂
My son was 4 weeks early and we had JUST had the shower the week before he was born, so the guide of 6 – 8 weeks before is a good one. I’ve heard of people having “diaper parties” for the second and beyond children, because even if they already have everything they need from the first baby, they’ll still need diapers.
Great post I especially love the etiquette and multiple babies showers. That is always a struggle for us. My friends have always thrown me a shower and I have three kids, it makes me uncomfortable.
I had a wonderful time at our baby shower. My sister hosted it for hubby, baby, and I.
I like the idea of a Mother Blessing, celebrating pregnancy and motherhood; spoiling the mom a bit before the hard work of delivering and caring for baby begins. I always try to give a gift mom could use, like healing tea, not just something cute for the baby. Nice that you included some history!
What an interesting post! And you are correct, some people think it should only be for the first born. I know others who feel like if the second (or third) child comes along many years after the first born then a shower is “acceptable”. It is also considered okay if the new baby is a different sex than the first (baby boys cannot wear their sisters bonnets or use the pink stroller, etc). Personally, I agree every life should be celebrated! Thanks for the history lesson!
Blessings,
Marcia
I had two showers, one before with family ans one after with friends, and the family members who couldn’t make the first one some people live out of town. I think every child should be celebrated -I enjoyed the history of the Shower =)