Being aware of etiquette helps the hostess of a baby shower ensure her event is a success for the expectant mother and guests. While many of the formal practices observed in the past have been relaxed, many of the traditional rules of etiquette have survived for a very good reason: they take the guesswork out of planning the shower and help set everyone's expectations!
Baby Shower Invitations
Baby shower invitations should reach the guests two to three weeks in advance to allow them enough time to 1) arrange their schedules, 2) hire baby sitters, and 3) shop for gifts.
Hosting
Traditionally, a friend, but not a relative, of the expectant mother was expected to host the shower to avoid having it look as though the family were soliciting presents. Now, however, anyone can throw the baby shower to honor the mother-to-be including the expectant mom herself!
A word of caution, however. Hosting a baby shower takes a lot of both time and money, so no one should be put on the spot and asked to host a baby shower. The best hostess is a volunteer hostess who is willing, able, and happy to perform in this role.
Time
Usually, the baby shower is held before the baby's arrival. Towards the end of the pregnancy, some feelings of fear may set in due to many factors - physical discomfort, impatience, worry about the delivery - so the baby shower can be a welcome diversion.
Just the sight of old friends and relatives at the shower can help ease away concerns for the pregnant woman. Having all those loved ones around for help and support can make an invaluable contribution to her mental health. And while baby showers were traditionally only held for the woman's first child, it's now quite acceptable to have showers for every child, including adoptees.
Guest List
The guest list should be made in consultation with the expectant mother since there may be many people she would like to include whom the host doesn't know. Although traditionally, baby showers were only for women, the mother may nowadays choose to have both men and women at her celebration. In fact, more and more baby showers are being held for both the mother and father.
Behavior
Since the entire reason for the event is to celebrate the upcoming birth, every guest is expected to congratulate the expectant parents. And as with all other parties, the guests should also give plenty of thanks to the host for organizing and holding the shower.
About the Author:
Looking for the perfect invitations for your baby shower? Charmaine L. Smoot has picked some cute and affordable baby shower invitations that'll make your event a hit! You can also find great baby gifts that'll wow the guest of honor.
