Planning a Baby Shower Made Easy

2005-11-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Baby Shower Kits

Baby shower kits are a practical way to find everything you will need to host a baby shower. Today you can find them in various fun themes to fit your shower style. They are also a smart idea if you are feeling overwhelm with hosting a shower or have limited time to do the shopping required.

Most baby shower kits provide the following:

Invitations
Table Cloths
Table Centerpieces
Plates & Utensils
Balloons & Streamers
Party Games & Activities
Prizes
Party Favors
Name Tags
Thank You Cards
Planning Guides and Party Tips.

Adding a theme to your baby shower can be a lot of fun for your mom-to-be and guests. It can also simplify your decision-making regarding your decorations, invitations and menu selections! A baby shower kit takes this simplicity one step further. When selecting a theme take in consideration the personal taste of your expectant mom, your guest list and the style of your shower.

If you are unaware of the sex of the baby look at gender-neutral themes such as rubber ducky or nursery rhyme. Other popular themes are Little Prince or Little Princess Baby Shower, Old MacDonald Farm Animals and Noah’s Ark Baby Shower. Your options are endless!

Baby shower kits maybe your answer to taking away some of the stress of planning and hosting a baby shower. If you are still unsure if this is the best option for the baby shower you will be hosting, take a moment and go surfing online. There are many reputable online website stores that sell baby shower kits a long with other shower necessities. You will find a large selection of themes to choose from, as well as a variety of options all at reasonable rates.

Taking the time to look online will allow you to know what is available and give you some tips and ideas for your party. Happy Planning!

2005-10-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hosting an Adoption Baby Shower

If you are hosting an adoption baby shower for a family member or friend remember they will have the same needs as any new parents would, but with some minor considerations.

You should stay away from planning a surprise celebration on the day they bring their child home. This can be an emotional time; the new parents and child (especially if the child is older) may need a period of adjustment. It is important to be sensitive to their needs. Delivering care packages and planning your celebration for a later date will be appreciated. Be sure to talk with the new parents and find out what their wants and needs are before setting a shower date.

Invitations

Your invitations should be sent out 3 to 4 weeks in advance (6 to 8 weeks for out of town guests). Ensure your invitations include the time, date and location of the party. Don’t forget to set a date to RSVP by with your telephone number and address.

If possible, include the child’s birth date, as well as when he was officially adopted or welcomed into the home of his parents. This will help your guests pick age appropriate gifts. If the child was adopted from a foreign country, you could also add information about the birth country.

You are invited to share in the joy
as we celebrate the arrival of
John Smith
Born on March 18, 2004
and welcomed into his parent's hearts and home
on June 9, 2004

Themes

The theme for an adoption baby shower should be the same as with any other shower. However, if the child is older you will want to consider tailoring your party to suite their age and their likes. For example, a three-year-old girl may love everything to do with fairytale princesses and the color pink. Or a four-year-old boy may love collecting dinosaurs and toy trucks. Don’t be afraid to be creative to help make your party a special celebration to welcome the new child into your circle of family and friends.

Games & Activities

Baby shower games and activities are all about having fun. They also help set the tone for your party. An average shower lasts 2 hours, so look at playing 2 to 3 games. You should try to organize your ice-breaking games early. Mix-up groups and have fun!

It’s important to keep in mind you are celebrating the gift of adoption. When picking your games, stay away from maternity related games. If the new parents are adopting an older child your games should reflect that as well.

A great Adoption party activity is organizing a “Welcome Book” for the child. Ask your guests to bring pictures of themselves to assemble into a scrapbook page they will create at the shower. This will become a treasured keepsake for the new parents as well as their child.

Decorations

The baby shower decorations you choose for your party will depend a lot on the style, theme, and number of people attending. Helium balloons, streamers and banners are standard decorations, but there are a lot of creative and fun ideas to add an extra touch to your décor.

If the adoption was international consider including recipes and decorations that reflect the child’s place of birth as well as his adopted families origins.

Favors
You should consider your shower theme, style and size when picking your party favors. Your favors can also be used as place settings, prizes or be handed out at the end of your party.

A popular idea for Adoption Showers is a special program for the guests to keep. Written inside maybe commitments to the child from his new parents, poems, and prayers for the future.

When labeling your favors, keep in mind that your party is in honor of an adoption. You will want to word your gift tags to reflect that. For example, a thank you gift tag may say: “Born into our hearts…Placed into our arms…(child’s name, and date of adoption)”

Gifts

This is an exciting time for the new parents, and a baby shower or welcome party allows friends and family the opportunity to share in the joy. When hosting or attending a party to celebrate an adoption it is important to know the needs and wants of the parents. Before purchasing your gift, find out if the new parents have registered. Keep in mind parents can register for older children as well as newborns at any retail gift registry.

By planning and hosting your adoption party you will be helping the new parents formalize the acceptance of their child into their circle of family, friends and community.

You will also be creating an occasion that will be documented for the child to look at in the future and affirm how much they were welcomed and loved from the start.

2005-09-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Baby Shower Menu Tips

One of the most stressful parts of hosting a baby shower is often deciding on and preparing the menu. Today there are many different types and styles of showers allowing for a variety of options.

The most common baby shower menu is set in the style of a buffet or a small brunch. The menu often consists of appetizers, vegetables and dip, and pastries. A brunch menu tends to be more casual and can be an easier style to host.

Another option is providing a sit down meal that can be elegantly catered or made into a simple barbecue in the backyard. It is important to consider the time of day you are hosting the shower, your shower theme and style, the size of your shower as well as your guest list.

Menu Tips

Creating a Menu Planner can help keep you organized and ensure you remember all the details on your menu. Write down all the items you’ll need to purchase at the grocery store and list menu items you can prepare a head of time.
Remember to take in consideration any dietary preferences or restrictions your expectant mother or guests may have.
If you are not planning to have your guests sit down at tables, avoid serving foods that need to be cut with a knife. Instead serve finger food or pre-cut bite-sized food.
If you are inviting men and/or children consider their food preferences. You may want a more hearty meal if men will be attending. Look at simple sandwiches and finger foods that will be sure to please children if they are on your guest list.
Paper plates are considered appropriate for casual baby shower buffets. Choose a study plate that fits with your shower theme. Paper plates will also help cut back on the work of cleaning up after your party. If you are interested in purchasing a set of buffet plates, consider a simple white or clear glass style, as they are inexpensive and generic giving you the flexibility to use them on other occasions.

Good luck and happy cooking!

2005-09-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

Easy to Make Diaper Cake

Are you planning a baby shower? Diaper cakes can be a creative centerpiece for your table as well as a practical gift for your expectant mom. A Diaper Cake is created out of dozens of diapers and decorated with small baby products such as combs, pacifiers, teething rings, booties and toys. The entire cake can later be taken a part and the items utilized for the new baby.

Diaper Cake Ingredients:

- 16" disposable cardboard platter
- Baby bottle or empty cardboard towel roll
- 8 feet of 1” wide ribbon
- Rubber bands of different sizes
- Clear adhesive tape
- Approximately 50 newborn diapers
- Decorative baby items (bibs, socks, toys)
- Cake Topper (candy filled baby bottle or stuffed animal)

Diapers:

The number of diapers you will require depends on the size and number of tiers you would like your cake to have. On average 50 newborn diapers will create a standard sized 3-layered cake.
- 20 diapers for the bottom layer
- 10 to15 diapers for the middle layer
- 5 diapers for the top layer

Assembling Your Diaper Cake:

- Use a cardboard paper towel roll or a baby bottle to roll your diapers
- Roll your diapers opened lengthwise with the tabs tucked in
- Secure your diapers with a rubber band whenever necessary
- Fold and wrap a receiving blanket around each tier
- Use a ribbon to cover and hide the rubber band and as a decorative touch.
- Assemble your tiers on top of your cake platter by using adhesive tape.
- Tuck your baby items in the ribbons as decorations
- Top your cake off with a small stuffed toy, a baby bottle or rattle

Other Decorative Ideas:

- Drape baby bibs over the receiving blankets
- Use baby items related only to your theme
- If using a baby bottle as the topper, fill it with candy or small baby items.

Add a professional touch by using clear cellophane. Spread a sheet out and center your cake in the middle. Gather the sides and edges and tie together with a nice ribbon or bow

A diaper cake is a fun gift to give. Be creative and happy baking!

Follow our link for more useful baby shower tips.

2005-09-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Add Warmth To Your Baby Shower with Special Touches

When planning a baby shower it is often the special touches that add warmth to the celebration. Not only can your shower run a little smoother, but your mom-to-be and guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

To add a festive touch, simply place helium balloons outside your front door to greet your guests and expectant mother. Another cute idea is to place a sign on the lawn advertising the upcoming arrival. You can find many adorable signs that can be either purchased or rented at party stores.

Decorating for a shower is always fun, but many people forget about the bathroom. Adding a scented candle, some special soap and lotions will add warmth to the room.

As your shower guests arrive, be sure to take the time to introduce them to one another. If you are putting together a seating arrangement, place people who know each other or have common interests together. This will help keep everyone comfortable and avoid the awkwardness that can sometimes happen when guests have never met.

Help make your expectant mom feel pampered and relaxed on the way to and from the baby shower. Arrange a designated driver to pick her up and drive her home.

Your expectant mom will want to remember her shower and have something to look back on. Ask a shower guest in advance to be the designated photographer. Have them take a picture of each guest with the expectant mom. You could take this idea a step further and after developing the pictures, place them in a keepsake photo album for your mom-to-be.

Another idea that your expectant mom will greatly appreciate is designating a gift recorder to keep track of who gave her which gift. With all the excitement and wrapping paper, she is bound to forget who gave which adorable sleeper or stuffed teddy bear. You could also take this idea further and create a shower game. As your guest arrive have each of them write their name and address on an envelope. Place the envelopes in a bowl for a draw during the shower. The name pulled will win a prize. In the meantime, your mom will have all her envelopes addressed and ready to mail once she has filled out her thank you cards.

Depending on the style or type of shower you are hosting, you may have the expectant dad and other male friends and relatives in attendance. If this is the case try to stay away from anything too frilly when picking your invitations. Look for gender-neutral decorations and party games.

A simply way to add warmth and closeness during a shower is to have each person come up and present their gift to the expectant mom. While she is unwrapping her gift she can introduce the gift-giver to the group and share a little story about how she knows them. This is a great way for everyone to get to know one another and perhaps even share some laughs over the stories being told.

You can let your expectant mom know how special she is to you and your guests by surprising her with a small keepsake from her shower. It can be something as simple as her invitation nicely framed for her to take home.

When you plan your next baby shower for a close friend or family member, keep these ideas in mind. They are simple ways to add warmth and love to your celebration.

2005-08-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

Group Baby Shower Gifts

Are you unsure of the concept of a group baby shower gift? If so, you shouldn’t be. This is a growing trend among shower guests, as it affords purchases of big ticketed items such as cribs, strollers and car seats.

Take some time and explore your options before purchasing your baby shower gift. Talk with your fellow shower guests and see if they would be interested in going in on a gift with you. This way you not only save money, but ensure you are getting your expectant mom a gift she really wants and will use.

2005-08-02T22:50:00.000-07:00

Baby Shower Gifts for Twins

With births of multiples growing, baby showers for twins are becoming increasingly common. Chances are you know at least one couple with a set of twins or triplets.

For an expectant mother, having twins can be twice as nice. It can also mean twice the cost. A baby shower is always appreciated, but when it comes to parents of impending twins it can be a necessity. A baby shower can help ease their initial financial strain. With this in mind consider pooling your money with other guests to buy an expensive gift item such as a double stroller, car seats or high chair.

Another useful gift is a subscription to a parenting magazine for multiples. It may help provide the new parents with useful information and insight during the first year or two with their twins.

A thoughtful gift and budget minded idea is to create handmade gift certificates. Your expectant mom could use your gift certificates to redeem services provided by you after the babies are born. You could make a certificate for a pre-cooked meal, babysitting services for an older child, to run errands or even clean the expectant mom’s home.

Before you purchase clothing, check with your expectant parents to find out how they feel about dressing the children a like. Some parents will shy away from it, while others will enjoy every opportunity to have their children in matching outfits.

Top Baby Shower Gifts for Parent’s of Multiples:

Double Stroller
Crib Bedding
Bouncy Seats
Baby Swings
Clothing
Diapers! (together newborn twins will go through at least 20 diapers a day)

For more information on baby showers for twins, take a moment to visit our website!

We’d love to hear your ideas on purchasing the perfect shower gift for families of multiples, so please take a moment to respond to our blog.

Thanks in advance!

2005-07-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Baby Gifts the New Mom will Remember

I have found that experienced moms tend to know what gift to give when attending a baby shower. Whether it’s a gift they appreciated or treasured from one of their baby showers or something they wished they had received when they had a newborn.

Every first time mom will appreciate baby necessities:

Baby Bathtub: filled with all the essentials (soap, lotion, towel, wash cloth and bath toy).
Emergency Diaper Bag: a bag the new mom can leave in her car. Fill it with an assortment of items that will be readily available in case she forgets something at home (diapers of varies sizes, cream, bib, lotion, pacifier etc.)
Meal Time: an assortment of bowls, spoons, bibs, sippy cups and/or bottles. This makes a nice addition to the purchase of a larger gift such as a highchair or boaster seat.

Whether the gift you are purchasing is for a first time mom or a mom awaiting the arrival of her third born, sentimental keepsakes will always be treasured and an assured hit at a baby shower.

Hand made quilts, knitted baby blankets
Baptism gown passed down from genterations
A special keepsake box to hold mementos such as the child's first pacifier, hospital hat, or lock of hair
Baby Book, or baby's first year journal

Another popular gift option is going in with one or two other shower guests to purchase a big-ticket item. Babies are expensive, and helping the expectant parents purchase a large item would be appreciated. Look into buying a crib, change table, stroller or car seat. Make sure you check to see which store(s) the parents-to-be have registered at to find out brand names and styles of items they are looking for.

For more information on

Baby Shower Gift Ideas, take a moment to visit our website! We’d also love to hear your ideas on purchasing the perfect shower gift.

Jack & Jill Celebrations: The Latest Trend in Baby Showers

2005-07-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Co-ed baby showers have become increasingly popular in the past few years. If you are hesitant to host one, you don't need to be! Jack and Jill Showers are set up to be fun and casual. With a lot of food and men friendly games, your guest will mingle and have fun. The stigma of men (and even children) attending a baby shower no longer exist. Think of it more as a celebration then a shower. Your dad-to-be will enjoy being included in the festivities too!

Follow our link for more information on hosting a Jack and Jill Baby Shower. We provide tips and ideas on co-ed invitations, games and decorations.

Share your stories and experiences with co-ed showers!