Welcoming a new baby into the world is an exciting time in every parent’s life! A baby shower is the perfect way to celebrate the new addition while helping the moms and dads-to-be gather everything they need. We have some sweet baby shower ideas to help you plan the perfect party.
Who should host a baby shower?
There’s no set rule on who’s best to throw the baby shower. It all depends on the expectant parents’ friends and family situation, as well as who may be best suited to host. Some common hosts include:
- Grandmother-to-be
- Sister, aunt, or cousin
- Best friend
If there are a few people who would prefer to throw the baby shower, it may make sense to ask them to work together and share the responsibilities. Sometimes it makes more sense to have a couple of parties — one for close friends and another for family. That may remove the burden of trying to mesh new groups of people and save the new mom some stress on the day of the baby shower.
Who should you invite to a baby shower?
The new mom should be surrounded by those who love and support her for such a big occasion! Knowing who to invite can depend a lot on the size of the party and the personality of the guest of honor.
More intimate parties should stay focused on close friends and family, while bigger showers can include co-workers and acquaintances. Work with the guest of honor to compile a guest list that she’s excited about.
It’s best to send out baby shower invitations about 4-6 weeks in advance. This gives your guests time to RSVP for the date and time, shop for gifts, and take time off from work or arrange childcare.
👶 You might also like: Adorable Baby Shower Themes for Moms and Dads-to-Be
When should you throw a baby shower?
A great time to host a baby shower is around the 7-month mark in the mother’s pregnancy. By then, most health risks have passed, and the gender of the baby is known (if desired). She’ll also have plenty of time to organize the gifts, make any exchanges, and have fun “nesting” for a few weeks until she delivers the baby. Check out our handy baby shower checklist to help you stay on track!
Create a gift registry
Make sure the new parents get all the best things on their wish list! Registries can help parents take inventory of what they need and inform guests about the best baby shower gifts to give.
The parents may have preferences on clothing material, toys, diaper brands, and more that can all be communicated with a well-crafted registry. Share the baby registry link(s) on invitations or Facebook events to make it easy for guests to purchase gifts.
💜 You might also like: Cute and Creative Ideas for a Gender Reveal
Choose a baby shower theme
Not every party needs a theme, but there are so many cute options when it comes to baby showers! We’ve compiled a few of our favorites to get you started so you can move forward with planning your decorations. There are choices for a baby girl, a baby boy, or gender-neutral!
💐 Baby in Bloom: A lovely theme for spring babies that’s filled with flowers and pastels.
🌮 Let’s Taco ‘Bout a Baby: A colorful fiesta for mamas that want lots of tasty tacos and mock margaritas!
🍓 A Berry Sweet Baby is On the Way: Mamas expecting in the summer can embrace this adorable theme that includes lots of charming decor and sweet treats.
⛺ Nothing S’More Fun Than a Baby: This rustic camp theme is perfect for parties that include both parents.
🐝 Sweet as Can Bee: Great for baby boys or girls because all babies are sweet! Mini honey pots are the perfect baby shower favor.
Plan the menu
Planning a baby shower menu can be a bit overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it all alone — that’s what friends and family are for! Get everyone involved by asking guests to bring their favorite dishes, drinks, or desserts. If you’re feeling fancy and have the budget for it, you can even hire a caterer to take care of the food.
Simple but satisfying bites
Remember to think about the timing of the event when you’re planning what to serve. If the baby shower is around mealtime, go for satisfying bites like appetizers, finger sandwiches, and salads. But if it’s between meals, you can keep it simple with fruits, dips, and a charcuterie spread. Don’t forget to ask the mom-to-be what she might be craving or really wants to have at the shower!
Cookies, cakes, and cocktails
Baby showers are all about yummy punches and sugary treats. Serve iced tea, mocktails, or even some fun cocktails for the guests (mom-osas, anyone?). And as for sweets, you can’t go wrong with cute cupcakes and themed cookies. A baby shower cake is the main event of any dessert table and can be tailored to fit your theme. Diaper cakes are always a hit, and they can certainly be created without gaudy colors for the modern mama.
Entertain the guests
Since the mama-to-be may be busy trying to mingle with all the shower attendees, it might be nice to provide some activities to keep other guests engaged. Depending on the crowd, you can plan some baby shower games that are low-key or some that are more interactive and silly!
Baby Shower Bingo
Print off some blank Bingo cards and let guests fill them in with their guesses about what gifts will be received. Then as they’re opened, guests can mark their cards, and the first to get Bingo wins a prize. For an extra lively crowd, hire a drag queen to host Bingo or baby trivia for the party!
Arts and Crafts
Help your low-key guests get into the fun with some arts and crafts. Offer fabric markers and solid onesies that can be turned into unique outfits for the new baby. As an alternative, book a painting party to lead the group in creating nursery art.
Diaper Words of Encouragement
Moms and dads will be changing a lot of diapers and may hit some tough moments along the way. Set them up for some laughs and encouragement by adding funny or supportive messages to those late-night diaper changes! All you need is a pile of disposable diapers and some markers.
Say thank you
Party favors are a sweet way to thank your guests for attending the shower and providing adorable gifts. Crowdpleasers like candles, soaps, lip balm, or even wrapped baked goods are all great options! They can also be easily customized to your theme.
Throwing a baby shower is a wonderful way to celebrate both the new addition and the new chapter for the parents. Enjoy this big day together before life becomes all about diaper changes and midnight bottle dates! 🍼
Need some help with your baby shower? Find caterers, photographers, performers, and more on GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.