Increasingly popular, the baby shower originated in the United States as a way to celebrate the expectant mother and help her prepare for her new role. If you are organising a baby shower, this article will give you all the essential information to help you plan this special event!
Where to begin?
First, consult with the mother-to-be about her guest list, desired dates and whether she wants to receive gifts. Once you have this information and email addresses or phone numbers, you can pinpoint a date for the celebration. Once you know the number of attendees, you can consider a suitable venue. Will it be at the expectant mother's home, someone else's home, or perhaps a rented venue? If you choose her home, make sure she has as little work as possible.
Invitations
Now that the date, venue and guest list are fixed, it is time to send out invitations. You can opt for a traditional invitation card or a WhatsApp message. If desired, add a note about gifts to the invitation.
catering
Now that the initial planning is done, you can focus on organising the catering. The menu should reflect the time of the party. For an afternoon gathering, think about sweet treats like cakes and cupcakes, along with some sandwiches. If it is an evening event, prepare a more elaborate buffet, with things like sandwiches, vegetable dips, mini pizzas, quiches, salads and wraps. If you want everything to be perfect, hiring a caterer can simplify the process.
Foods suitable for pregnant women
Make sure the buffet is safe for the expectant mother. Avoid the following foods:
- Raw eggs (risk of salmonella)
- Raw meat (risk of toxoplasmosis)
- Raw fish and seafood (no sushi)
- Products made from raw milk (soft cheeses, fresh cheeses)
- Blue cheeses and sheep's cheeses
- Alcohol and energy drinks
- Wash all fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove any contaminants.
Decoration
A baby shower is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy time with friends! Choose a theme or colour scheme for the decorations. If you know the gender of the baby, you can choose colours that reflect this, or just use the favourite colour of the mother-to-be.
Game ideas
To keep your guests entertained, plan games or activities:
Guess the baby pictures: Guests bring their baby pictures, which can be displayed for everyone to guess.
Personalised baby fashion: Provide baby rompers and bibs that guests can decorate with fabric paint.
Baby food tasting: Guests can taste different baby food blindfolded and guess the flavours.
Artistic nappies: Guests personalise nappies with messages or drawings with markers.
Belly measurement: Guests guess the expectant mother's belly size using a string.
Gift ideas for the mother-to-be
Before planning the baby shower, check whether the mother-to-be wants gifts. Practical gifts are often appreciated. Here are some of our favourite suggestions:
- Nappy cake: A beautifully decorated nappy cake makes a great gift, or you can put the nappies in a basket with useful items such as baby oil and wipes.
- Gift voucher for nappies: A simple but useful option for new parents.
- Teething kit: A kit with teething gel, a teething ring and other supplies is a thoughtful gift.
- Aid coupons: Help the new mother by running errands, watching the baby while she takes a relaxing bath or offer to make a home-cooked meal.
If you follow the tips above, we guarantee you'll organise a fantastic babyshower!
