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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Baby Shower Party Planning Guide

By Cathy Maree Cathrina C

Are you hosting a baby shower party for a friend or family member. Baby showers have significantly changed over the last 5 years and have gradually become more and more elaborate and well planned.

Baby showers can make the mother-to-be feel more secure knowing that her friends are all pulling for her and giving moral and in some cases much needed financial support. Usually the baby shower is arranged by non-relatives. But nowadays, it isn't unusual to find family members, support group members, church friends and pretty much anyone except the mother-to-be.

Inviting the Guests Who should you invite? Usually, the guest list will only include those nearest and dearest to the expectant mother. It wouldn't hurt if she gets a first look at the guest list so that she can suggest who should be invited. If you are planning a surprise baby shower, you will have to do a little research on who should be attending instead of running the list through the expectant mother.

Traditionally baby showers for the second born child, are a much smaller gathering where the amount of guests is usually kept down to the closest family and friends to the mother-to-be. Firstborn baby showers however are a little different and they tend to have a larger guest list since it is, after all, the mother-to-be's first child.

What you need to remember about the baby shower is that the goal is intimacy. So when planning the baby shower try to include those that are close friends and family.

There are many ways today to invite your friends and family to the pending baby shower party such as email or phone. However the more acceptable and traditional way is to send out invitations or letters, this has the effect of setting the atmosphere of the party and in some cases is the only acceptable way to invite your guests.

Hosting A Mixed Baby Shower Party Usually a baby shower party is going to tend towards the females only; however it is not unheard of and if the host of the baby shower has catered for the attendance of guys, then inviting the guys would be just fine. This also depends on the guys and whether or not they want to attend, since the party may dwell on topics such as pregnancy, children, and other mother-to-be subjects, they might not be that excited to participate. All in all, it depends on the preference of the person hosting the party and the mother-to-be and whether the guys wish to attend.

Baby Shower Venue Can Be Anywhere! As long as it can keep with the placid and fun nature of the occasion, any place would be fine to host the shower party. The more usual places on baby shower lists are backyards, formal halls, restaurants, and basically any room that has the amenities to make a baby shower successful. Just make sure the venue is not crowded and stressful to the mother-to-be. It also pays to make sure the venue is set long before the actual baby shower happens.

When To Hold The Baby Shower Party It is not advisable to host the baby shower to late in the pregnancy as this is a time where the mother needs to be focused and rested for the pending birth. The best time to hold the baby shower is usually between two or three months before the birth. This allows the mother-to-be to have a very pleasant distraction and to see how much support there is for the new arrival. This also gives the guest the opportunity to purchase gifts for the baby that the mother has not had a time to buy herself.

Baby showers are a pleasant surprise to expecting mothers. It takes a lot of the stress of expecting a child off of their minds and provides a means for friends to show support and concern (and of course, baby gifts) to expecting friends.

With good planning and execution of the baby shower party you will ensure the mother-to-be has a fun and memorable day that she will remember long into the future. As well as helping you to relax and enjoy the day as the baby shower host.

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