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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Baby Shower ABCs: Planning

By Charmaine L. Smoot

The modern tradition of holding baby showers actually started in the 1800s. A small gathering of friends of the new family would gather to celebrate the birth of a new child. It was tradition back then for guests to wait four or more weeks before visiting the family. This was done with the intention of preventing the spread of disease. All gifts were made by hand, except for silver spoons which were usually presented by the child's grandmothers.

In our time, things have changed a lot. Instead of waiting until after the baby's birth, showers are usually held before his arrival to. And back then, showers were only held for the first born child. Nowadays, however, each child is celebrated equally. Each child presents an opportunity to celebrate new life.

As with other events, the planning for a baby shower is the responsibility of the host. The expectant mother is available in the role of consultant if need be, but the bulk of coordination lies in the hands of the host. Details such as the venue, date, time, invitations, guest list, theme, decorations, and menu are all handled by the host. In most cases, the host's home is also used as the venue for the celebration, allowing for a more personal and comfortable environment for all.

The baby shower invitation can be as simple as a telephone call or as elaborate as customized invites purchased and mailed from an online source. It all depends on your guest list, their preferred methods of contact, and their proximity to each other. In any case, have the invitations delivered at least 4 weeks in advance to make sure everyone has plenty of time to arrange their schedules.

Baby shower games can follow the theme for the shower. The internet is a great source of fun and entertaining baby shower activities, some for free, others for sale.

Baby shower favors can be home-made or also purchased online. Party supply stores offer plenty of items like tiny tin cans, party favor bags, take-out boxes, and other fun items that can be used to make custom favors. Let your imagination run wild!

No party is complete without food, and baby showers are no exception. Make sure that your food complements your theme, and you'll look like the hostess' with the mostest! Add a special twist to the festivities by creating cookies and treats in baby-themed shapes: rattles, bottles, cribs. This'll put a smile on everyone's faces.

A well-planned shower ensures that everyone will remember the fun-filled event for the mother-to-be and baby for a long time to come.

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