For any woman who has been trying to conceive, finding out that she is pregnant is the best news! (Of course, second only to the wedding proposal.) Once the wedding is over and the ceremony and celebration time is set, finding out that the two of you will be expecting a new baby is an amazing feeling for any couple.
New parents tend to get a little overwhelmed and may have a hard time narrowing down all the “new baby gear” they’re going to need when baby arrives. Making sure expectant parents have all the major necessities can be a tedious task. Writing a list of all the things you’ll need for the new baby and then whittling down the list over the months of your pregnancy can help you get a head start on the stash.
Baby showers are also a great way to get new baby items, and they can take a lot of financial pressure off new parents. In turn, it helps reduce stress for expectant parents.
Showers are so much fun for the mom-to-be and the guests. Theme baby showers can be color-based (if the gender of the baby is already known, a pink or blue theme is widely accepted and very traditional), character-themed baby showers (such as Sesame Street, Powerpuff Girls, The Laboratory of Dexter or the Looney Tunes), or even a “time of day baby shower theme” (where each guest is asked to bring something the baby would need or wear during that time of day). Baby shower themes can really be anything you want. Have fun and be creative!
Baby shower gifts should be useful and unique for the new parents. The idea of having a celebratory shower is for parents to receive items that they need, but also may or may not have purchased themselves. A great idea is to create your own baby gift basket, or choose the baby gift basket filled with clothing for babies from newborn to toddler. Other homemade gift basket ideas are a mother and baby basket (a gift for mom is a really nice thing to include), monogrammed baby gift baskets, a pampering baby gift basket (for mom! and dad too!) a bath time gift basket, or a playtime gift basket. You can create a gift basket based on anything, really. Simply fill the basket with items that fit the theme of the gift basket.
Don’t forget these simple tips to organize a successful shower:
Make sure the party is 4-6 weeks before the baby is due, decide on a theme, make a guest list and send out invitations 2-3 weeks before the party, plan any party games for the baby you want to have, choose the menu (both food and drink), don’t forget the favors and prizes, and last but not least, remember to have fun while planning it!