It’s not necessary to be a domestic diva in order to throw a fabulous baby shower the guest of honor will remember for a lifetime. The most important thing about hosting a shower is that the event is filled with warmth and love to celebrate the impending new arrival. Getting organized and planning the baby shower from beginning to end can help you pull off an event that is sure to delight the mom-to-be.
The first thing you’ll need to do is set the date. According to tradition baby showers are held anywhere from four months to one month prior to the due date. Don’t schedule the shower too close to the expectant mother’s due date, after all some babies are born early. While you will need to choose a date when the mommy-to-be is able to attend, you can still make the shower a surprise if you choose. Whether or not the shower is going to be a surprise or not is simply a matter of personal preference.
Baby showers are most often thrown by close friends of the expectant mother and sometimes family members. It can be especially helpful for friends and family to collaborate on shower details such as gifts, decorations (candle favors), games and of course the menu to come up with something the mom-to-be will really enjoy. The shower should be about honoring and celebrating her and the bundle of joy soon to be born.
If you don’t already know the shower recipient’s favorite foods and what gifts she needs her best friend, sister or mother should be able to tell you. Choosing a particular theme for the shower can help you coordinate the menu, decorations and games more easily.
A new trend is the co-ed baby shower. Some are choosing to include the father-to-be in the festivities, which can be even more fun for the party guests and of course the expectant mother. If the shower is not a surprise, ask the mother-to-be if she wants a co-ed shower. For a surprise shower this is another issue that can be broached with close family and friends. Many moms are more than happy to share the spotlight with their partner and invite male guests in addition to female guests.