How to Throw an Awesome Baby Shower: Your Complete Guide

Baby showers have evolved so much in recent years that they look very different from how your mother will remember her own.

For one, it is no longer a faux-pas to have a baby shower for your second, third, fourth, or twelfth baby. It’s totally acceptable to have a shower for each new life you bring into the world.

People even throw showers to welcome new furry children into the world.

It’s also common for spouses to attend and even host the event. Hostesses can be just about anyone who cares for the mom to be.

This includes relatives, coworkers, and friends. No matter who hosts the shower, there are some basic event planning strategies to keep in mind to ensure the party is a success.

Keep reading for our guide on how to throw an awesome baby shower to get you started.

Choosing a Date and Time

The first step in planning a baby shower is choosing the date and time of the event.

You should decide this with the mom to be. She will be able to tell you what time frame works best for her and if there are any special health considerations that might affect the planning.

Chances are, the shower will be held when she is seven or so months pregnant. This is a good choice because she will be at a safe point in her pregnancy and comfortable enough to attend the party.

You don’t want to hold the shower too close to her due date. This will ensure that she has time to go through the gifts that she receives and purchase anything additional she needs before the baby’s arrival. 

The Guest List

This part is easy. The guest of honor will provide you with the list of who she wants to invite to her party.

Just make sure she provides their addresses or email addresses too so you know where to send the invitations. 

Determining a Budget

The next step is to figure out your budget. This step is crucial as you will need to know what you are working with before you do anything else.

You’ll need the guest list before you start calculating your budget, as you’ll need to know how many people to expect. If the guest list is short, you’ll be able to choose more expensive options when it comes to food and party favors. 

Choosing a Venue

The venue you choose will depend on how many guests you are expecting, the time of year, and of course, your budget.

If you have a large guest list or a big budget, consider booking a space at a hotel or a restaurant. As the host, you will be able to enjoy the event without worrying about setting up, cleaning up, or preparing the food.

Another less expensive and more intimate option is to host the event at your home. If the weather is nice, you can use your backyard.

If not, your living room or family room is a good option.

If the time of year is right, look into having the event at a park. You might need a permit and you’ll definitely need a plan B in the event of bad weather.

Sending Invitations

After you have made a decision about the basic details of the party, it’s time to send out invitations to those on the guest list.

You’ll want to send these out so that the guests receive their invitations six weeks before the shower. This will make sure the guests have time to save the date, send their RSVPs, shop for a gift for the guest of honor, and arrange for a babysitter if they have kids of their own.

When choosing invitation types, keep in mind that online baby shower invitations are the new paper invites. Sending an invitation by email is totally acceptable for the modern baby shower.

Choosing the Food and Decorations

When it comes to choosing food for the event, make sure to plan the menu around the mom to be’s preferences.

You don’t need to finalize the menu until around 3 weeks before the event. By this point, you should have a headcount for the guests and the expectant mother will be able to tell you what she is craving.

Serving miniature portions of food is always a good idea so that the guests can eat while they participate in activities. Consider serving mocktails rather than or in addition to regular cocktails so that the guest of honor does not feel excluded.

When it comes to decorations, keep the guest of honor’s tastes in mind. If the party has a theme, this step will be easy.

Some decorations like place cards can be purchased in advance, but wait until the day before the event to purchase perishable goods like fresh flowers.

Planning the Activities

This part might seem a little overwhelming for a first-time party planner, but don’t worry. You’ve already got the food and drinks nailed down at this point.

One of the activities will, of course, be the opening of the gifts. Serve drinks and snacks while guests are arriving.

Once everyone has arrived, serve food and play games. After the games, serve dessert and coffee and open the gifts.

Don’t Forget the Party Favors

It’s traditional to give the guests a parting gift to thank them for attending your party.

This gift doesn’t have to be fancy but should remind the guests of the theme of the party. Choosing a party favor comes down to the preferences of the guests.

Here are some ideas for favors. 

Most Importantly- Have Fun

Planning a baby shower doesn’t have to be stressful.

Now that you know what to do, it’s time to dive in. Being chosen to be the official host or hostess is an honor and an opportunity to develop your party planning skills.

For inspiration and to design your online invitations, click here.