Planning a shower is an exciting time. Whether you are in the early planning stages, looking for a theme or even wondering the proper baby shower etiquette - we have you covered for all things baby shower related. Before The Shower: Baby Shower Etiquette Headed for a baby shower in the near future? They’re great events, to be sure, but if you’ve recently received an invitation, you may be wondering about your responsibilities as a guest. This quick guide can help you sort it all out. RSVP The invitation should have a number you can call or an email address you can use to let the shower host know if you’ll be attending. If you have a previous engagement for that date, you should certainly call to let them know you won’t be there. Make certain, though, that the shower isn’t a surprise before you tell the mommy-to-be that you can’t make it. Etiquette demands you tell at least the host, not necessarily the mom. If you’re not coming, you’re not necessarily expected to send a gift. Just wait until the baby is born to send the gift. The Gift You want to go to celebrate this exciting event in your friend or relative’s life, but there’s a little matter of the gift before you head to the shower. Wondering if you need to buy one at all? Generally gifts are expected at a baby shower. Unless otherwise stated on the invitation, you should at least bring a card or a small baby gift to the shower. If you’re having financial difficulties, there are lots of small gifts available, and if it’s a recycled shower, it’s completely expected that you’ll bring a gently used gift anyway. You may have noticed registry information printed in the shower invitation. While you can certainly use that as a guide to know a bit more about what the parents-to-be would like, you don’t have to feel obligated to buy from the registry. This is a chance to shower her with gifts for the baby, but they don’t necessarily have to be specific gifts. In some cases, the shower might be themed for certain gifts, like a library shower where guests are expected to bring books for baby, but for the most part, you can bring whatever gift you like. Deciding how much to spend can be the toughest part of the equation. Factor in how close you are to the mommy before you decide what you want to spend. If it’s a very close friend or a family member, you likely want to spend a bit more on that gift. Going with a big gift for a baby you’re going to get to know in the years to come is a perfect idea. If it’s a coworker or someone you don’t know very well, keeping it to around twenty dollars is completely appropriate. If you’re budget-challenged, spend only what you can afford on a gift. What to Expect If you haven’t been to a baby shower before, you may not know exactly what you’re getting into. Expect some party conversation, a few silly games that are always fun, snacks or cake (unless otherwise specified on the invitation) and the chance to see what everyone else brought as the new mommy opens her gifts. When to Have A Shower When you are pregnant, it seems like the celebrating begins right away. You start planning, making lists, and thinking about how to get ready for the bundle of joy that is going to be in your arms just months from now. Your friends and family are almost as excited as you are. A shower is a great way to share the happiness – and score some excellent baby shower gifts for your child! When is the best time to have a baby shower? Timing is Everything Baby showers are traditionally held one or two months before the mother’s due date. Why? There are a few reasons for this: You don’t want to wait too long because mommy may go into labor early. If the mother receives duplicates of gifts or needs to exchange things, she has ample time to do so. People are incredibly generous at baby showers; it takes time to sort through the gifts, set everything up, and wash clothing. Having a month or two is important so the expectant mother can “nest” without rushing. By eight months, she doesn’t care if she looks ridiculous so you can make her wear one of those hats made of gift wraps and bows. Now, why not go earlier to give her even more time? Many women do not announce their pregnancies until after their first trimester. After the first three months, the chance of miscarriage declines dramatically (it is about 10 percent after that), so expectant Read more...
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