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| Baby Shower Hostess Etiquette by Randy Wilson Does baby shower hostess etiquette allow for gift suggestions, if yes, how? Here you will find numerous ways how the baby shower host can provide the baby shower gift suggestions to everyone invited in a most systematic way.Although, gift giving is something very personal based upon the individual liking and disliking along with the affordability. But these days baby showers are becoming more trendy and generally geared towards convenience and suitability. These days people are more understanding. Most of the time they are willing to give suitable gifts (that can be utilized by the recipient). Theme parties are invading the old den of great traditions. Now the baby shower guests can be given gift ideas by the hostess according to proper baby shower hostess etiquette. There is nothing wrong with giving gift suggestions according to proper baby shower hostess etiquette, provided everything is done in a systematic manner. If you are giving a long distance baby shower, then instead of attending these parties physically, people are able to send their wishes and baby shower gifts online too. Obviously, your baby shower hosting duties can include providing gift suggestions to the baby shower guests. It is useful, especially if it is a long distance baby shower. Knowing the type of gift, baby shower guests would find it more convenient to send the suggested baby shower gifts. But remember, if you are providing the gift suggestions, then you need to stick to the main party theme, if you have any. The baby shower guests would be thankful to you, for your baby shower hostess etiquette, and they will welcome your suggestions. Before you send out baby shower invitations, find out the guest of honor’s gift preferences. In many cases it is advisable to consult the mom-to-be and her other family members regarding their specific needs for proper baby shower hostess etiquette. Like what would be the most suitable gifts for the baby. Just in case someone contacts you to ask what the new baby needs. Gift suggestions become more important for the subsequent showers as mom already may have some of the items. Remember the stores at which the new mom is registered. Then keep a list of baby shower gift ideas that coordinate with the baby shower theme.For guests planning to give baby clothes, suggest sizes other than just newborn to three-months (the size of many babies’ wardrobes shrinks at six months!).Also be prepared to host or delegate a gift pool for those who want to contribute to a larger gift for the baby.Best idea is to include a sheet with each baby shower invitation that lists the vital information like name, telephone number, customer id, location of the store etc. This way the baby shower gift reaches the right hands at the right time. However, in case mom is not registered, include a note in the baby shower invitation that if gift ideas are wanted you can contact the following person. You could also include your telephone number and email address. So, if you are following proper baby shower hostess etiquette, then it would be much appreciated if you can provide gift ideas to the baby shower guests well in advance. This can be done in different ways, depending on what are more comfortable with. A second mailing of gift ideas or registry cards can follow the baby shower invitations, or baby shower guests can call you with questions. Gift ideas are not generally given with baby shower invitations. Although baby registry cards or information are common. Again, it depends on how intimate the group of baby shower guests are. Like in certain groups you can inform them using just a simple phone call. The key here is to know what the mom-to-be needs and wants. Then to be able to get that information out to the baby shower guests to make it easier for everyone. Definitely, baby shower hostess etiquette provides that you want to help the mom-to-be and wish to share her happiness in the best possible manner. While the mom-to-be awaits the arrival of her new baby, the baby shower is a great diversion and honors her as her pregnancy comes to an end. Organization is the key to an entertaining, successful baby shower. And knowing how to plan this special event can help make it fun for everyone involved.Planning a baby shower should be fun for the baby shower hostess, not a chore. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to organize this special event. Most importantly, remember that your positive attitude and caring spirit while baby shower hosting will set the stage for a memorable shower for your honored guest. If you feel short of ideas then discuss, discuss and discuss with your friends. A little homework will pay you in multifolds.Last but not the least, baby shower hostess etiquette means thay you know that selecting a baby shower gift is a very personal thing. Only you will know mom-to-be better to decide on what is the right gift for her. Try to think about what interests them. Or maybe a luxury item or experience they would like but would never buy for themselves. Choosing a suitable baby shower gift will also depend on your individual budget, willingness to give and how much you can afford at the time.Whenever you get responsibility to suggest gift suggestions always be moderate and be practical (put yourself in the shoes of others to understand them). It should be something that suits everyone involved. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower for Mom and the Ladies by Randy Wilson Baby Shower for Moms who just wanna have fun! This type of baby shower is not the only type of shower given today. Traditionally, baby showers have been thrown for mommy-to-be and the guest list was strictly women. These days, many families choose to have different types of showers, including back-yard barbecues to include the men. These are a nice idea since they remember that Daddy is a part of the new baby’s life, too.But there is something to be said for a Sunday afternoon gathering of women to ooh and aah over Mommy’s belly without disparaging looks from the men. One reason to plan a baby shower for mom only.When you have only women at the shower, you have the opportunity to really "girl it up", so to speak, at your baby shower for Mom. You can do really girlie things and not have to worry about the men being bored or embarrassed. Here are a few suggestions for making a shower extra-girlish: Have Tea and Cake. Find a few really pretty tea sets and order little delectables like petit fours, tea cakes or maybe bring a cookie basket. Drink your tea like ladies, with pinky finger sticking up! See if you can find pretty lace doilies for napkins. Pick up some baby shower party favors to go along with your ladies only party. You might even want to fake a British accent, dahling!At your baby shower for mom and the ladies only, let them all be pregnant. Maybe purchase some baby shower decorations to match the pregnant theme. The guys definitely wouldn’t go for this!Ask each guest to come with a pillow or other make shift stuffing to pretend that she is pregnant, too. Give a prize to the most authentic pregnant lady (excluding the guest of honor, of course) at your baby shower for Mom. You can pick up the prizes at any local party favor store or online party favor supply site.Have everyone tell a story from their childbirth experience, or, if they have never had any children, let them rehash the stories their mothers told them ("I was in labor for 72 hours with you..."). Be sure there is a mixture of funny, touching, and gruesome stories to round it out. Decorate with extra-large maternity bras and undies (or get them in mom-to-be’s size so she can actually keep them after the party).Play baby shower games for your baby shower for mom. There is no way you would get away with this at a couples shower! But at a baby shower for mom and the ladies, you can play Guess the mom-to-be’s weight (go easy on her - guess low). Paint her belly, do crafts like paint matching tees and onesies for Mom and baby, or play a game like baby bottle bowling. Ask guests to come up with other baby shower party ideas or baby shower party themes.Don’t Husband Bash. But you can tell funny or touching stories about other new Dads or dads-to-be. You don’t want to scare the mom-to-be. But she should be aware that some Dads will try to stop for coffee on the way to the hospital. Even though Mom’s contractions are 3 minutes apart.Drink Girlie Drinks at the baby shower for Mom. Well, except for the mom-to-be. She can have non-alcoholic versions of girlie drinks, though. Try Strawberry Daiquiris, Cosmopolitans and other fruity drinks.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Cake as the Centerpiece by Randy Wilson When you’re holding a baby shower one of the most important items that you’ll serve is the baby shower cake. Cakes should be the highlight of the food lineup and should be served with a selection of desserts, finger food and cookies. Cakes can come in all shapes and sizes, including baby cakes, diaper cakes and bootie baby cakes.When you’re planning what type of cakes to prepare for the baby shower you’ll find many babyshower cake cookbooks from which to make your selection. If you know the baby is a girl you can decorate the cake in a pink style. The same goes if the baby is a boy, in which case you’ll want to focus on blue or green colors. Baby shower cakes can be either one large cake, or you can make several smaller individual cakes which can be created for each guest that is invited. The main focus of cakes is of course the expectant mother. Baby cakes make a great centerpiece that will bring a smile to any expectant mother. Diaper cakes also continue to be popular and are easy to make and assemble. When you’re planning which cakes that you want to make you can be as creative as you like. There are cookbooks available that feature some great ideas for cakes that you can adapt to fit your baby shower theme. If the theme of the baby shower is the alphabet you can find cakes that highlight this theme. There is no limit to the types of cakes that you can choose from for the shower.Many times the cakes themselves create the theme for the shower. This is because the cakes can be the focus and centerpiece of the entire party. You can plan all the decorations, food and themes around the type of baby shower cake you decide to feature.When you’re looking for baby shower cake recipes you can find cookbooks in the recipe section in your local bookstore or library. You can also find a selection of recipes for baby shower cakes and diaper cakes on the internet. If you can’t find the exact cake that you have in mind for your baby shower you can make any adaptations that you need to modify the cake to your liking.Cakes should be as fun and creative as possible. There may be times when you want to hire someone to make the perfect cake. But keep in mind that half the fun of a baby shower is doing things yourself. Using your imagination, and a little help from cookbooks you can come up with the most amazing cakes imaginable.There are many different types of cakes that you can choose from or that you can use as a starting base for your own babyshower cake ideas. Baby Shower Diaper cakes can often be paired up with edible cakes. This way you have the fun of a cake made from diapers and the deliciousness of an edible cake that everyone can enjoy. Distinct Deliveries is an online merchant which offers not only Baby Shower Diaper Cakes, but much more. Distinct Deliveries.com offers baby baskets, baby announcements, baby books, shower cakes, baby jewelry, engraved items, plush items, baby shower items, gifts baskets, chocolate & candy, baby gifts, book packages, flowers & plants, bath & body, fruit packages, gourmet & snacks, seasonal, pet gifts, specialty gifts, monthly clubs..Some themes you might want to use include:Sports theme for boysPrincess cakes in pink for girlsJungle animals for boysFairy theme for girlsNo matter what type of cake you take into consideration your final choice should somehow reflect the theme of the baby shower.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Decorations by Criss White When decoration for a baby shower, there are a few key aspects that should be considered: 1) Will your baby shower adhere to a theme? Visit our baby shower theme for ideas about selecting a theme. If you are using a theme, then it is good to be consistent. People are most often impressed when decorating follows a selected theme. However, note that it doesn't have to be as specific as just rubber ducks. You can use baby items as a general theme and mix it up if desired. 2) Plates, cups and napkins. If you are serving food, like most baby showers do, then baby themed tableware is often appropriate. If possible, try to make sure that the plates, cups, and napkins all match. Some places also have baby themed table cloths that are great for showers. 3) Confetti, banners, and streamers The most common banners and streamers are "It's a Boy or Girl" streamers and can be attached around the walls. These decorations are usually very affordable and an easy way to decorate. Confetti can come in shapes like rocking horses, ducks, or bears. It usually takes more time to clean up confetti, but it may be worth it for some parties. 4) Yard signs Yard signs, particularly the popular stork yard sign, is a good way to announce a new baby and also let your neighbors know about your baby shower. Another benefit is that guests will be able to easily locate the house that the shower is being held at. 5) Centerpieces and placecard holders A baby shower cake is the most common centerpiece for a shower. Other ideas include floral arrangements, baskets, and bouquets. Themed placecard holders are commonly available for purchase online. You can also make your own by purchasing a regular placecard holder and attaching a clip-on stuffed bear for example. Flower shops often carry such items. Decorating can be a challenging, but fun task and carefully selected decorations can really set the atmosphere for your baby shower party. Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits and resource box remain in tact and the hyperlinks are active. About the Author: Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. See Baby Shower Decorations(http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/decorations.htm) for baby shower decorations and Baby Shower Supply (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/sbags.htm) for other related baby shower supplies. Source: www.isnare.com |
| Baby Shower Food Items by Randy Wilson Baby shower food items are one of the most important features of the baby shower. When guests arrive at a baby shower they are expecting food that includes desserts, appetizers, and baby shower finger food. You don’t really have to plan an entire meal, it isn't really expected at this kind of event. When you are planning a shower you will want to have a wide selection of baby shower party foods on hand. This is going to keep your guests around long enough to enjoy the games and gift opening.You can be as elaborate as possible or keep things simple and manageable for yourself. If you are planning a meal you’ll want to start with some baby shower appetizers. Then you can move onto the main meal, followed by a selection of desserts. If you want to keep the food a bit more simple you can plan to serve a variety of appetizers, baby shower finger foods and desserts. If the baby shower food menu is going to be a selection of foods that are eaten by your guests throughout the party, you may want to prepare a side table to reflect the baby shower theme. Decorate the table so that the baby shower desserts are featured in the center surrounded by the other food choices spread out to the side. You may want to prepare only baby shower finger food so that there is no need for the guests to juggle cutlery and plates while visiting with each other.Baby shower food items are often prepared as part of the theme. If the baby is a girl you can prepare desserts that reflect this by using pink as a primary decorating color. This means decorating cakes and cookies with a pink icing, then adding decorative touches that continue in a pink theme. If the baby is a boy you can concentrate on blue and green colors when preparing the babyshower food. There are available recipes for cakes, cookies, appetizers, and much more. You could check out your local library, book store and online to check out recipes and recipe books on babyshower food ideas.The baby shower appetizers can be made in replacement of a full meal that you might otherwise serve. Baby shower appetizers can be as complicated as baked spring rolls or as simple as rolled sandwiches cut into bite size pieces. Try to serve as much of a selection as possible, so that there is something for all of the guests. If there are any guests that have food restrictions, try to have some of the food take these restrictions into account.Preparing baby shower finger food needs to be as mess-free as possible. If the guests are wandering around and visiting they won’t want to be juggling plates, cutlery, and drink glasses. This is where finger food comes in handy as the perfect baby shower party food. Prepare finger food that is easy for guests to pop into their mouths without getting their fingers too dirty. Finger food can include vegetables and dips, mini sandwiches, sausage rolls, and crackers and cheese.The desserts that are served can be as sinful as possible or they can be on the healthy side. You’ll want to serve a variety of desserts that center around the party theme. There should, of course, be a baby cake that is the centerpiece of the dessert table. Other smaller desserts can be displayed around the baby cake in a continuing theme. Some desserts that you may want to consider include iced cookies, squares, petit fours, and bowls of seasonal fruit. No matter what type of food that you decide to serve. Try to make sure that there is something for everyone and that there will be enough food to last for the duration of the party. You don’t want to run out of food before the gifts have been opened and the games have been played.You might want to look up babyshower recipes to help with the baby shower food ideas. There are recipes for cakes, cookies, appetizers, and much more. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Favors to Spice up Your Baby Shower by Randy Wilson Baby Shower Favors should be at every baby shower for its guests. Cute little items, items that are easily available, are perfect for your baby shower. You have a great variety of party favors, such as gift certificates to choose from for your baby shower. Your party favors need not be expensive to be appreciated. You will have fun giving out party favors, and your party guests will enjoy getting those party favors. Baby Shower Favors will also be a reminder of being at the baby shower. Plus, they will serve as a small thank you letting them know you appreciate their attendance at the baby shower. After all, the shower guests had a helping hand in celebrating the coming arrival of the new baby to be. You also might want to have some extra Baby Shower Favors on hand. You never know if someone you didn't expect might drop in. Plus, there is always the possibility that you might misplace a couple of Party Favors. It will be good to be prepared with extra party favors, just in case. You can give out the party favors as the guests arrive. Another way to give out the shower favors would be to have them placed around the table/s where the baby shower guests will be eating. If you are not serving a meal, hand the party favors out when you serve the appetizers. Or you could hand out the party favors as the shower guests are leaving. This is the time to thank each guest for coming to the baby shower. And to thank them for giving the baby shower guest of honor a gift. You could also choose to have baby shower favors you can make yourself. One suggestion would be to personalize your favors. Check out baby shower favors crafts at any crafts store and let your imagination run wild. Your baby shower guests will love the idea of having baby shower favors homemade by the hostess. Talk about being unique! Many different kinds of local stores carry items you can use to make party favors. There also are numerous online merchants that carry the items you need for party favors. If you choose to make your own party favors, favors are not hard to make. Most of the items needed for making party favors are available locally. They are all easy items to find, so you shouldn't have any problems getting the items to make your baby shower favors. Your baby shower will be appreciated by the party guests by this gesture. Even though baby shower favors are usually token items, the favors show that you have put a lot of effort into the baby shower planning. Making for a very enjoyable experience for yourself, your baby shower guests, and your guest of honor.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you can get more tips and ideas for your baby shower. You can also purchase and find free baby shower games. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. |
| Baby Shower Game "Distraction" by Randy Wilson The best baby games for baby showers to entertain all of your guests and let the mother-to-be benefit from the experience of others. Your baby shower then will become more than a party. It’s an entertaining learning experience. One of the most educational baby games for baby showers for new moms is also often the most fun. It’s called Distraction. This is for two or three players at one time. The supplies you need will be two to three dolls. Because baby showers are usually held in the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy. It’s probably more relaxing and fun for the mommy-to-be to only watch. This is because this is one of the more active baby games for baby showers. Two or three volunteers (perhaps one or two people who don’t yet have children?) are the actors. They begin simply by holding the dolls. The baby shower hostess tells them their babies are crying. They each try to console the baby. This is where the distractions begin. Members of the “audience” (your other baby shower guests, including the guest of honor) begin yelling out distractions one at a time. All of the acting mothers have to deal with each distraction, while still comforting their crying baby. As baby games for baby showers are for the entertainment of the baby shower guests, let them get as creative as possible. Potential distractions can include the dog needing to go outside. Then maybe they waited too long to let the dog out and have to clean up a doggie accident while not dropping the crying baby. Meanwhile, the UPS man comes to the door needing the mommies to sign for a package. The phone might also be ringing while something is burning on the stove. Get the picture? It’s hilarious to watch the ways the mommy actors deal with all of the distractions. These types of baby games for baby showers are also good for the real mommy-to-be to pick up some words of advice from veteran mothers. She might get a few ideas while enjoying a good laugh. Maybe when the time comes for her to actually deal with similar distractions. She will think back to the baby games for baby showers at her party and be able to smile. Other great baby games with an educational twist - both for the mommy-to-be and the baby-to-be - include birthday card or videotape advice activities. With the birthday cards, each guest gets an age.It’s a good idea to start with age 10 or so. The baby shower guests then write a special message to the baby. They write this message on a card that will be opened once the child reaches the age specified. Each baby shower guest should read her card aloud before sealing the envelope. Videotape advice requires a camcorder or digital video camera. However, if those are not available, it can also be done with a tape recorder. But that isn’t quite as nice. The baby shower guests simply each give words of advice to the new mom. The hostess can guide the baby shower guests as far as advice. Possible ideas for your baby shower games are “When you’re feeling stressed, you should…..” or describing what to expect with different ages. Not only are these activities fun baby games for your baby shower guests, they will be cherished keepsakes for Mom to enjoy over the years. Instead of just rehashing the same old baby games, try to bring in some creativity to provide more entertainment to your baby shower guests. And always think of why you’re all there – to celebrate the birth of a child and help prepare a new mother. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of Profitable Home Businesses, How to Plan a Baby Shower and Las Vegas Weddings. |
| Baby Shower Centerpieces That Double as a Gift! by Randy Wilson Here you will learn how to make and where to purchase your baby shower centerpieces. As the centerpiece is the focal point of the baby shower, it is very important for you to design or purchase the right one. You need to place them above eye level at the table to keep from blocking the view of the and the guest of honor from seeing each other at the table. There are many different types of baby shower centerpieces to choose from. One very popular type of centerpiece which doubles as your baby shower gift is a baby diaper cake. Once you have picked your theme you need to keep it featured around that theme. If making your own baby shower centerpiece, many of the supplies needed will be available locally. However, going online will add to the variety of baby shower centerpieces you have to choose from. Many baby shower centerpieces will be made with candles surrounding them. Such as floral centerpieces, using fresh or artificial flowers. Fresh flowers will be more economical if you choose flowers that are in season. When choosing artificial flowers, you can go with silk, chocolate flowers such as roses, plastic flowers, or light-up roses. Use a wicker basket and fill it with baby items. You could put a cloth diaper, diaper pins, baby bottles, bibs, baby socks, pacifiers and other small baby items. Surround the basket with small candles or put a couple of helium balloons tied to the handle.If using a beach theme, use a beach bucket and place a flower arrangement inside, with candles around the outside. Or put small tools for the beach inside the bucket.Fill a small goldfish bowl with water and fill it with floating candles and flower buds. Or you might even add a goldfish to the water. Use votive holders and candles that match your theme. They will provide a soft type of illumination to the event.Go to a craft section or a craft store and purchase small pink and blue gemstones. You could place these in votive holders, or small glass vases of different sizes. Add shredded tissue to the mix and you will have another lovely baby shower centerpiece.You could get different glass figurines of a stork, swan, castle, teddy bear, or whatever would fit with the theme. Put them in a box filled with colored shredded paper and put the figurine on top. Any of these would be a great addition to your baby shower.Hang an umbrella from the ceiling filled with stuffed animals. Or you could put flowers inside and add balloons, dolls and/or ribbons.Fill a bucket, bowl, or basket with candy, small stuffed animals, or flowers. If the baby shower is in the fall or winter. Use small pumpkins, headstones, or leaves of different colors. Pumpkins could be made of tissue, or small figures of pumpkins. Tropical Themes could use many different items to make your baby shower center piece. Pineapples, tiki lights, small palm trees, hula dancer center piece, or a flamingo. Nautical themes could use small boats, ships, sailboats, anchors, or a treasure chest.Spring themes could include items such as hearts, leprechauns, or bunnies.Western themes could use straw, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, western badges and rope.These are just some ideas to choose from. Think about them, mix and match, or add your own ideas to make baby shower centerpieces that perfectly match your theme. You and your guests and guest of honor will have a fun day. They will be getting away from reality for a short time to rest and enjoy themselves. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you can get more tips and ideas for your baby shower. You can also purchase and find free baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Checklist for Planning a Baby Shower by Randy Wilson A Baby shower checklist is a great way to ensure that you stay on track. Planning a baby shower can be a hard work. With a complete checklist you can organize everything you need to do. Without a checklist of some sort you may forget some important details. Most shower checklists will suggest you start planning approximately four weeks before the intended shower date. This will give you enough time to do everything you need to without feeling rushed. The most important task is to pick a date! You should confirm this with the new mom and her immediate family as well. You don’t want anyone to feel left out. The baby shower invitations should be sent out approximately three weeks before the baby shower date. Be sure to include RSVPs or request people to phone you by a certain date. You want to have a final number by the second week.This is important for ordering food and planning your menu. If you don’t receive all your RSVPs don’t by shy about calling people up and asking if they plan to attend. If you are planning a large baby shower you should consider asking for help. Ask best friends, sisters, and anyone else you think might enjoy helping out. Be sure to let the new mom know who lent a hand in planning the baby shower. Everyone should feel appreciated. If you are ordering food. Be sure to check with local catering companies. Best to check about two to three weeks before the baby shower. You don’t want to find that everyone is booked solid. If you are ordering a cake this is best ordered at least two weeks before the baby shower. Most baby shower checklists will remind you to buy some baby shower decorations. You don’t have to be extravagant if you’re on a budget. You can find some adorable baby shower decorations that will liven up the party space. But really all you need are perhaps some streamers, and a banner. Planning party games is another important task on your baby shower checklist that must not be forgotten. Be sure to take some time deciding on the games you wish to play. If you think it sounds boring, it probably is. Trust your instinct when looking for fun baby shower games. With all that’s going on, don’t forget to wrap the gifts! You may also want to wrap gifts such as party favors or prizes for the baby shower guests. If you want to do a good job try and not leave this until the last minute. The above are just a few of the many things found on a baby shower checklist. Planning a baby shower is a lot of work, a checklist can help to make things that much easier.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Baby Shower Invitations, Baby Shower Games and Baby Shower Favor Supplies. |
| Baby Shower Checklist-Hostess by Randy Wilson Using baby shower checklist-hostess are the best way to stay organized if you are planning a baby shower. The more organized you are the better the shower will be. You also want to make things as stress free for yourself as possible so that you don’t come across as the frazzled hostess. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if the checklist seems overwhelming. Invited guests will want to help in any way that they can. Your goal is to host the perfect baby shower and this many times means delegating the tasks that need to be done.By using the following baby shower checklist-hostess you’ll be able to organize the perfect baby shower. Use the free baby shower checklists to help with your organizing.Baby Shower Checklist-HostessOne MonthSet a date for the baby showerMake guest list Choose location for hosting the showerChoose a theme Decide what type of a menu you want to serveChoose the type of invitations you’re going to send outDecide what games and activities to includeEnlist help Three WeeksSend Invitations (be sure to include RSVPs deadline and directions)Order foodOrder cakeTwo WeeksBuy baby shower decorations and party favorsPlan gamesBuy favorsBuy a guestbook for the guests to signMake sure that your menu is finalizedOne WeekWrap giftsTake a final count of the accepted guestsPhone those guests that haven’t yet respondedConfirm food and cakeConfirm guest listMake sure you have enough film for the cameraPrepare and clean your home (if the location of the shower) One Day Before the ShowerStart putting up the decorationsPrepare the party favors; make sure that you have enoughMake sure all the games and activities are organizedIf the cake was ordered pick it up or have it deliveredSet up the chairs and tables; add more decorationsMake sure you enough ice and beverages The Day of the ShowerDo any last-minute decoratingBlow up balloonsPrepare the punch and other beveragesSet up the food and cakeHave a guestbook ready at the door for guests to signHave a side table ready for the giftsGreet guests at the doorEnjoy!Hope this baby shower checklist-hostess will be a great help to you. Now you just need to get on with making all of the above start happening. Good luck and have a fun time!© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you can get more tips and ideas for your baby shower. You can also purchase and find free baby shower games. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. |
| Baby Shower Etiquette by Cathy Cripps PROPER ETIQUETTEYears ago, baby showers were never hosted by a family member. This practice was thought by most people to be tacky, appearing as if the family was asking for gifts. Thankfully, that tradition has changed where now it is acceptable for family members, friends, or co-workers to host the shower. The only exception to this rule is that the parents should not throw their own shower since this is considered inappropriate.Regardless of who ends up hosting the baby shower, it is important that they spend time with the expectant parents to determine the individual they would like to invite and the types of gifts needed most. Additionally, it is highly recommended that the soon-to-be parents register the gifts at their favorite stores. With this information, the host can make sure invitees know where to shop and can provide recommendations if needed. About the Author Cathy is the Owner of Baby Shower Moments and the author of Baby Shower Moments A to Z Guide. If you are looking for baby shower host pay Cathy a visit. |
| Baby Shower Favor Ideas by Adriana Copaceanu With so many different aspects of a shower to plan, coming up with a baby shower favor idea is often the last consideration on a long list of planning. There are several unique, exciting and interesting baby shower favor ideas that will work well for almost any shower. Whether traditional or alternative in nature, the following are popular baby shower favor ideas:
Bath and Body Items Notepads Pictures Gift Certificates Coupons Gift Baskets Designer Candles Baby Bottles with Candy
No matter what baby shower favor idea you come up with, keep in mind that the majority of your guests are coming with one intention in mind, and that is to spoil and entertain the mom to be. Some important considerations when planning a shower include the food items, cake and games that will be played by visitors. The mom to be or any friends of the family is likely to take an active interest in your planning efforts. If you are uncertain what favors might be well received, go over the guest list with your mom-to-be and try to get a feel for the personality of the ladies attending. You might find for example that a large majority of the moms that will be attending have children of their own. If this is the case don't hesitate to include helpful childcare or baby items that any mom would be appreciative of. Some baby shower favor ideas are generated from the party theme itself. For example, if the motif of a shower is a color, such as green, you might consider acquiring some melon, lime or pear flavored hand soaps and lotions (that will of course, be green in color). You might even consider some "gag" gift items as party favors including stickers (which are sure to be well received from the children of guests). Planning a baby shower requires an investment in time and energy. There is no reason to spend the majority of your planning time attempting to find appropriate party favors. There is a vast selection of products available, and ideas are easily discovered when one takes a moment to consider the shower theme, guests and mom-to-be's expectations.
About The Author
Corporate gift strategist Adriana Copaceanu specializes in helping entrepreneurs increase their referrals through the strategic use of gifts. She offers a customized worry free gift giving service to fit the budget of any size business to assist them in standing out from the crowd. See her gift basket gallery here: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com
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| Baby Shower for Second Baby by Randy Wilson Having a shower for second baby used to be considered greedy and unacceptable. But now it is not only acceptable, but it is actually necessary for some families to have a baby shower for second baby. Though mom-to-be may already have a lot of the major items from her first baby. Crib, stroller, high chair - she will need many other items. Moms-to-be always need things like diapers and wipes, undershirts, bath accessories, and feeding supplies. Second baby showers could actually be a “sprinkle” shower. A "sprinkle" shower is where guests buy only the necessities rather than having a full-blown shower. You could also consider finding out from mom-to-be what she wished she had but didn’t get the first time around. Then add those items to the suggested gifts. It could also be a “Bear Necessities” theme decorated with all sorts of bears for the shower for second baby. You could have baby showers for second baby for a caboose baby, or a baby born much later than other babies. Might be very similar to a first time baby shower. Most likely, if there are many years between babies, these parents no longer have any baby items and will be in need of all types of gifts for the second baby showers.For moms-to-be who already have enough for the baby, you might consider having a “mom” baby shower where everyone brings a baby shower gift for mom-to-be instead of for the baby. These can be items with which she can pamper herself, or items that she may need while she is in labor. Sometimes the mom-to-be doesn’t need anything for the baby or for herself, but she wants to have a get together with friends. For this type of party, you may want to ask guests to bring unwrapped baby gifts. You can all wrap these gifts at the party, label them, and then donate them to a charity in mom-to-be’s (or baby’s) name. Baby showers for second babies can be directed towards helping out a new mom after the baby is born. If you hold the shower close enough to the baby’s birth you can have a “Freezer Party.” This is where baby shower guests bring assorted dishes that can be frozen and heated up so mom-to-be doesn’t have to worry about cooking. At least for the first week or so that she is home from the hospital. “Helping Hands” are great for baby showers for second child. Ask guests not to buy gifts, coming instead with a homemade coupon redeemable for their services. These services can include babysitting an older child making dinner, or cleaning the house while mom and baby are still in the hospital. You may even want to throw a baby shower to remind the mom-to-be that she won’t always be pregnant. Suggest buying gifts like sexy lingerie, sinful chocolates, and exotic beverages. All those things she has to keep away from while pregnant. Keep in mind that if you give alcoholic beverages to a nursing mother make sure she also has a breast pump and knows how to use it! A gift certificate for a massage, dinner, or even a pre-natal class is a great idea as well. And don’t forget that mom-to-be will probably need nursing bras plus post-natal support garments as well (these might be fun as gag gifts). © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Diaper Cakes, Games for a Baby Shower and How to Plan a Baby Shower. |
| Facts You Should Know About Baby Shower Etiquette by Jessika Ryder Facts You Should Know About Baby Shower Etiquette Jessika Ryder Whether you’ve hosted baby showers before or not, chances are you’ve got some questions regarding the right baby shower etiquette. You want to create a truly special time for the guest of honor without any unintended faux pas. This guide was specially created to help you get there. The real basics Take the wishes of the mom-to-be into account at every stage. That includes the games, food, invitation list and all other aspects of the baby shower. You can have baby showers either before or after the baby is born. Generally, they’re held 1 or 2 months before due date. But they’re also held after baby arrives because of medical or other reasons. These days, it is perfectly ok for a close relative or even the couple themselves to host a shower. Those “rules” about only non-relatives hosting a baby shower are quite dated now. Before deciding on the kind of baby shower you plan to have -- girls-only or coed, theme or no theme and so on -- consult mom-to-be and find out what she prefers. Who can be invited Generally, anyone the mom-to-be feels she should call. She’s the best guide here. Do you always need to send written baby shower invitations It is usually the better choice. With a written invitation, guests have all details at their fingertips and need not rely on memory. Plus, you can and usually should include directions on how to get there. At the same time, it is fine to just inform people on the phone. Do tell them well in advance, though. So they have enough time to buy gifts, arrange for a baby sitter, etc. And leave your contact numbers with them so they can reach you easily if they need any clarifications. Can you hold a surprise shower Sure. It can be a wonderful feeling for the expectant mother. But do consult someone close to her mother, sister, etc to know about her likely preferences in all areas. The devil is in the details Here’s more in depth information on baby shower etiquette that’ll help you host a truly great party. Send out shower invitations at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Send them even earlier for out-of-town guests. Request an RSVP by a date 2 weeks before the baby shower. If you’re having a coed shower, you might turn the guys off if you send frilly baby pink invites full of baby talk. Stick to attractive, stylish invitations. Greet all guests at the door as they walk in, provide them with name tags if there are many guests and introduce them to others to get conversations going. Register for gifts at only one place. Even if there are reasons like another store being closer to some guests. Else mom-to-be may end up with duplicate gifts she may have to return. And guests will be disappointed if they find that someone else has chosen the same gift they have. While giving gift suggestions, include items at a variety of price points, not just high-ticket items. And do suggest that guests can get together to purchase higher priced items. If there are older siblings, make sure they receive a gift each. They may already be feeling somewhat left out with a new baby on the way, so this is a great idea. Irrespective of whether it’s a coed baby shower or not, buy a gift specially for dad. He should feel that he was remembered too. Record who gave each gift. Essential information when the time comes to send thank you cards! Sending thank you cards is essential baby shower etiquette. Hand gifts to mom-to-be for her to open and take it from her once she’s done with it. This will save her the hassle of continually getting up and moving about to pick up gifts. Sometimes, some guests may need to leave early. They’ll appreciate it if mom-to-be will open presents while everyone is eating. Food and related arrangements deserve special attention. For one thing, expectant mothers can’t eat everything they normally would. See this page for more guidelines on food at baby showers: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com/baby-shower-food.html Start the baby shower on time and keep it fairly short. Don’t get bogged down in any one segment like games. Be sensitive to mom-to-be’s energy level and any signs of fatigue she may show. End the party if she’s beginning to feel run down. Walk guests to the door as they leave and be sure to thank them for coming. Don’t expect perfection. No party ever is perfect. There’s always the unforeseen -- power goes off just as gifts are being opened, you forgot to dust one corner of the room, the pack of baby shower favors you opened just before the party turns out to be a different color than you ordered and so on. You can’t control it all. Special situations You might have a friend or relative who just lost a baby, or is infertile despite all treatments. Should you call her for your baby shower Attending may be a challenge for her. Being confronted with another’s pregnancy may be difficult for her to bear. The rule in such situations is -- ask. Check with her and find out if she is up to attending the baby shower. Don’t just send an invitation in the mail. On the other hand, don’t presume that she can’t come and not call her at all. If she’s close to the mom-to-be, she may well want to come. Or at least, she may send her good wishes and a gift. But if she tells you that she can’t make it, accept the situation with grace. Never hold it against her in any manner. Even if she said she would come and later backed out. Remember, it is probably one of the most difficult times she’s ever had, so be generous and supportive. Once you’ve understood these simple baby shower etiquette guidelines, you’ll be far more confident about hosting a baby shower. Have fun, and create a special time that will live on in everyone’s memories!
About The Author Jessika Ryder is a successful writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide party planning tips and other useful insights. See more articles at: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com |
| Five Essential Baby Shower Gifts by Jessika Ryder Five Essential Baby Shower Gifts Jessika Ryder Ask first time parents-to-be what baby shower gifts they would like to receive. Watch their response -- you’ll quite likely see a look of real confusion on their faces! Or maybe they’ll come up with a stock answer like “diapers” or something similar. Exactly what a new arrival needs is not obvious to someone who’s never had a baby before. And many times, guests are in no better position either, when it comes to deciding on baby shower gifts. Of course, there’s a lot more to baby showers than just gifts. But helping parents to stock up for the new arrival is an important part of these celebrations. That’s why the following list of top five baby shower gifts can be quite useful. Top gift #1: Monitors Monitors are excellent anxiety-busters, especially for first-time parents. That’s why they hold the No.1 position on this list. Once they can listen to the baby from anywhere in the house, parents find their confidence levels zooming. The latest monitors are very sensitive and can pick up the slightest sound from baby, even her breathing. If your budget allows for it, take it one step further and buy a video monitor. That’ll really ease anxiety. However, they are much more expensive, so perhaps this can be a joint baby shower gift from two or more guests. Top Gift #2: Playtime mate for baby Babies love to play. Anything that helps them play and be active not only keeps them engaged, but also stimulates all round development. One of the best products for them is an activity gym or playpen. This is a soft cloth mat surrounded by a baby-friendly structure of bars and arches with many different toys suspended from various points. Baby gets to play in a safe environment. Basic activity gyms are excellent baby shower gifts. There are also more advanced ones that include noisemakers and a variety of toys. The suspended objects have different colors and textures to help develop baby’s cognitive abilities. There are also excellent portable gyms and playpens available to help parents move around with baby. These are lightweight and designed to be easy to carry around. Most babies love being carried around in a sling. It’s the next best thing to being cuddled in mom’s arms. Many parents have had the experience where babies get restless and cry while they use other types of carriers, but immediately calm down when put into a sling. Baby slings are believed to foster a closer parent-child bond. Whether that’s true or not, slings do have another great advantage -- they leave your hands free to do other things. That’s definitely a big plus and is a reason why this baby shower gift is highly appreciated. Top Gift #4: The baby travel pack Moving around with baby can be a chore -- you have to pack a seemingly endless array of baby stuff even for short outings. One way to ease this problem is to have one or more baby travel packs handy. What’s a travel pack Essentially, a diaper bag filled with baby necessities. It can include disposable diapers, a small toy or two, bib, complete change of clothes for baby, safety pins, and other supplies. It’s a great advantage if the parents receive more than one travel pack. Then one pack can always be kept ready whenever they want to go. No need to mess around with picking up and stuffing items into a diaper bag at the last minute. Top gift #5: Car seat Lots of parents say that a well-designed car seat is a wonderfully useful baby shower gift to receive. In fact, it’s useful from the moment they leave hospital with the baby. There are infant car seats available as well as infant-toddler convertible seats. The former can be used only till the baby is up to 22 pounds or so typically. While the latter can usually be used till the first birthday. Want more special gifts for showers Check out this page for more information: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com/diaper-cakes.html Make sure these top five baby shower gifts are part of the event you’re hosting. The guest of honor will end up thanking you long after the party gets over!
About The Author Jessika Ryder is a successful writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide party planning tips and other useful insights. See more articles at: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com |
| Wrap Adorable Baby Shower Gifts by Abigail Beal Wrap Adorable Baby Shower Gifts Abigail Beal Are you going to a baby shower Gifts for babies are always so cute – here are some ideas to create gift wrapping that is just as adorable as the gift you are giving. If you know the baby is expected to be a boy or a girl, sometimes it is fun to wrap a gift in “baby boy blue” or “baby girl pink” – but remember we have many other colors in the rainbow to choose from! Here are some other options to get your creative juices flowing. Going to a shower and the mother is not sure if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl Wrap the baby gift in white paper and tie the gift with two ribbons instead of one – use one pink and one blue. Tie the blue and pink ribbons together and tape to the back of the package. Then have the ribbon form a bow on the front of the package from the two colors of ribbon. Want to add a cute topping to any baby shower package Add a rattle, teething ring, baby mittens, hairbow, small picture frame, Christmas ornament or a small stuffed animal. All of these items can be fastened with the ribbon you tie the gift with – and these items can also be used by the baby. Love teddy bears Do a teddy bear gift wrap! Use gift wrap paper that has teddy bears on it, or a soft cocoa colored gift wrap paper. But a small teddy bear on the top of your package and tie with a brown or a white bow. You can often find teddy bear rattles or teething rings that have teddy bears on them. Quack quack quack! Wrap with a duck theme! Use yellow paper or paper with ducks on it and tie with a large orange ribbon. Top your gift with a traditional yellow rubber duck. For a pretty look for a spring baby shower consider a very floral look. Wrap a gift with floral or plain but colored paper. Use a green or purple ribbon and tie it in a bow. Top the package with some fresh spring flowers. Cut the stems of the flowers very short. Add the flowers the morning of the baby shower for best presentation. Does the baby have an older sibling Consider giving a small gift to this sibling. A new baby is often a hectic time and seeing their new brother or sister get so many gifts can sometimes be overwhelming, and leave many children feeling a little forgotten. Consider getting an older sibling a storybook or a stuffed animal as a special big brother/big sister gift.
About The Author Abigail Beal © 2004 Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess” teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers. To subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCraftsTeachers/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GiftWrapGoddessWraps/ contact: creativecraftsteachers@yahoo.com giftwrapgoddess@yahoo.com |
| Heres What to expect at a Baby Shower by Mike Yeager Heres What to expect at a Baby Shower Mike Yeager A baby shower is a great way to welcome a new child and congratulate the new mother. Many mothers appreciate the help in purchasing the items they will need for their new baby. Commonly, baby showers are given only to new mothers or mothers who have not had a child in a long while. This way, friends and family, can help give the family the things babies need. Baby showers are a tradition, but what happens at a baby shower is less formal for sure. Sometimes, friends and family members will hold a baby shower for a new Mom as a surprise. Often times, new mothers will get several showers thrown for her first child from different groups, such as one from friends, one from the mothers side of the family, and maybe one from her friends at work. Regardless of how many, these get-togethers are a great way for people to welcome the new child. Planning a baby shower can be a lot of fun. For baby shower ideas, try checking online at the many websites that offer new parent information. Another place to get some ideas is at craft supply stores where there are aisles and aisles of ideas. Some things to consider for your baby shower are baby shower invitations and baby shower favors. Other things to think about are baby shower decorations! Baby shower games can make a boring party a lot of fun. Most of these can even be free baby shower games by using items from around your home. For example, you can take a roll of toilet paper with you to the party. Each guest has to guess how many individual sheets it will take to circle the mother to be. Giving away small gifts can make these games even more fun. Planning a baby shower and attending them can be a lot of fun. Take a trip to the craft store and look around at all the baby shower decorations, games, and favors they have to offer. Pull together some friends and plan a few baby shower games and make your own decorations. Pinks and blues in streamers and tablecloths can fill a room with excitement. Either way you are sure to make the mother to be happy and feeling loved.
About The Author Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-party-supplies-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com |
| Baby Shower Favor Ideas by Adriana Copaceanu Baby Shower Favor Ideas Adriana Copaceanu With so many different aspects of a shower to plan, coming up with a baby shower favor idea is often the last consideration on a long list of planning. There are several unique, exciting and interesting baby shower favor ideas that will work well for almost any shower. Whether traditional or alternative in nature, the following are popular baby shower favor ideas: Bath and Body Items Notepads Pictures Gift Certificates Coupons Gift Baskets Designer Candles Baby Bottles with Candy No matter what baby shower favor idea you come up with, keep in mind that the majority of your guests are coming with one intention in mind, and that is to spoil and entertain the mom to be. Some important considerations when planning a shower include the food items, cake and games that will be played by visitors. The mom to be or any friends of the family is likely to take an active interest in your planning efforts. If you are uncertain what favors might be well received, go over the guest list with your mom-to-be and try to get a feel for the personality of the ladies attending. You might find for example that a large majority of the moms that will be attending have children of their own. If this is the case dont hesitate to include helpful childcare or baby items that any mom would be appreciative of. Some baby shower favor ideas are generated from the party theme itself. For example, if the motif of a shower is a color, such as green, you might consider acquiring some melon, lime or pear flavored hand soaps and lotions that will of course, be green in color. You might even consider some "gag" gift items as party favors including stickers which are sure to be well received from the children of guests. Planning a baby shower requires an investment in time and energy. There is no reason to spend the majority of your planning time attempting to find appropriate party favors. There is a vast selection of products available, and ideas are easily discovered when one takes a moment to consider the shower theme, guests and mom-to-bes expectations.
About The Author Corporate gift strategist Adriana Copaceanu specializes in helping entrepreneurs increase their referrals through the strategic use of gifts. She offers a customized worry free gift giving service to fit the budget of any size business to assist them in standing out from the crowd. See her gift basket gallery here: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com |
| Fun & Unique Baby Shower Favors by Adriana Copaceanu Fun & Unique Baby Shower Favors Adriana Copaceanu A baby shower is often the highlight of an expectant mothers pregnancy. Planning a baby shower requires some thought and consideration for the expectant mothers special event. Baby shower favors are among the items that must be considered when planning a shower. Baby shower favors do not have to be complicated to make an impressionable impact on visitors. Most people are happy enough to come to the shower just to visit the mom to be in all her pregnant glory. Baby shower favors however can provide a memento of the unique event and offer a simple way to thank guests for visiting and celebrating the mothers time of joy. Baby shower favors come in every size, shape and form. Some simple gift ideas include the following: Candles Miniature boxes of chocolates or candy Bath and body items Pictures Gift baskets Lotto tickets Movie tickets Keep in mind that to make any party even more fun and eventful, baby shower favors that coincide with the "theme" of the party are even more fun to pass out. For example, if the expectant mother is carrying twins, and the theme of the shower revolves around multiples, it might be possible to offer baby shower gifts that coincide with this idea. Some ideas in this situation might involve the following: Double Bubble "Twix" Candy Bars 2 pairs of anything Identical picture frames Manicure and pedicure set Pair of coffee spoons One neat idea for baby shower favors is to have each guest bring a "white elephant gift". The idea of white elephant gifts typically surfaces during Christmas time, when guests are invited to bring a "mock" gift to a party for exchange. This may include silly items such as used household appliances, a roll of toilet paper or an open box of Oreo cookies. Guests are encouraged to wrap the gifts, then each member of the party can select a number and draw gifts. Using white elephant gifts as party favors is a great way to share laughter and joy in a shower situation.
About The Author Corporate gift strategist Adriana Copaceanu specializes in helping entrepreneurs increase their referrals through the strategic use of gifts. She offers a customized worry free gift giving service to fit the budget of any size business to assist them in standing out from the crowd. See her gift basket gallery here: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/ |
| Baby Showers For Adopted Children by Cathy Cripps ADOPTED CHILDRENCouples around the world have opened their hearts and homes to children through the adoption process. Just as with a biological baby, parents are just as eager to celebrate the life of their newly adopted baby. In fact, a baby shower for an adopted baby is ideal not only for the parent’s sake but it also begins the process of bonding for the baby.With this type of baby shower, timing is crucial. If you were the host, you would need to work with the expectant parents to organize the shower around the time the child would be arriving. The parents may choose to wait a month or so after bringing the child home, allowing him or her to become acclimated to this new life. Therefore, always be respectful of the parent’s wish.Another thing to consider with an adopted baby shower is that because the mother is not or has not been pregnant, the types of games chosen would be very different from those played at traditional baby showers. However, that does not mean you cannot use some of the games used in this guide.Additionally, the adopted child may be older than a newborn. In this case, you can simply have a shower, still celebrating the child’s life while modifying activities slightly. The key is to work closely with the adoptive parents!SECOND/THIRD CHILD Typically, a baby shower is thrown for the first-born but today, we see baby showers for second, third, and even fourth children. In truth, there is no right or wrong, simply what you want to do. After all, the second baby’s life is just as wonderful as the first baby’s life.While this type of baby shower is not as common, if someone offers to host a shower for you, accept and be gracious. If you have other children, then you know how quickly clothing and toys can wear out. Therefore, if the children are spaced several years apart, chances are new items are needed and would be appreciated.Another possible scenario is that the couple has a second or third child more than six, seven, or eight years apart. In this case, technology and baby items have changed significantly so for fun and safety purposes, a second or third shower may be needed to replace outdated items.While there remains, many unanswered questions about the history of baby showers we do know this is a beautiful time of life and celebration. For this reason, it is unlikely that baby showers will ever stop being an important part of our culture.©2004 Babyshowermoments, All rights Reserved About the Author Cathy is the owner of Baby Shower Moments and the Author of Baby Shower Moments A to Z Guide for hosting that perfect Baby Shower Party. Visit Cathy for all your baby shower ideastips and tricks |
| Top Cookie Flavors for Baby Showers and Other Parties by Criss White Cookies are a very popular treat at any party event and as a snack in general. There are now hundreds of different types of cookies that can be served to your guests and at parties. In case you are having difficulty choosing which flavors to serve, here are the five most popular cookie flavors based on our research study: 1. Chocolate Chip - This should be no surprise but chocolate chip tops the list by a landslide. Every cookie maker offers chocolate chip cookies, a delicious combination of batter and chocolate. Chocolate chip cookies were actually invented in the 1900's by Ruth Wakefield and have remain strong in popularity since then. 2. Fortune Cookies - Fortune cookies have also become popular at many occasions. A simple sweet cookie with a message inside that can be customized for any occasion. The history of the fortune cookie dates back to the 13th and 14th century, when secret messages were placed inside of moon cakes to coordinate an uprising against the Mongols, who were known to have no interest in lotus paste. In the mid 1900's, Chinese railroad workers exchanged happy messages in biscuits instead of cakes for their moon festivals. The first automated fortune cookie factory was started in 1964. 3. Sugar Cookies - Sugar cookies are also popular and embody the simple sweetness that people often think about when they think about cookies. This cookie is one of the easiest to make and is a great treat at kid's parties. 4. Peanut butter cookie - Peanut butter has become a favorite flavor among chidren and adults as well. Although use of peanuts in recipes dates back to the early 1900's, it was not until the 1930's when peanuts became a listed cookie ingredient. Since then, peanut butter cookies have enjoyed popularity at bakeries and cookie shops. 5. Oatmeal cookie - In today's health conscious society, oatmeal cookies continue to remain popular. Although they are not entirely healthy, the typically contain less fat than other cookies and still taste great. Other popular cookies include Oreo cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate cookies, and Girl Scout cookies, which contain a variety of sweet cookie flavors. Whichever cookies you choose to have at your party, your guests are sure to enjoy this sweet delicious treat. About the Author - Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For baby shower cookie favors, go to Baby Shower Cookies (www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/cookies.htm) and for more baby shower articles and ideas, see Baby Shower Ideas (www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/articles). Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active. |
| A Daddy Baby Shower - New Twist on the old Baby Shower by Randy Wilson Try something new, a Daddy Baby Shower. Even though no one would realistically expect a new daddy-to-be to sit around with his closest buddies, opening baby shower gifts and playing party games while oohing and aahing over the imminent birth of his child. That doesn’t mean that Dad can’t have a baby shower-type celebration. Daddy deserves to celebrate the birth of his child, too!Of course, the term baby shower does invoke visions of baby themed parties. Like the one described above when planning a baby shower. So perhaps “baby shower” is not an appropriate name for this get-together. Why limit yourself with a label, anyway? Call it a “celebrating-Jim’s-impending-fatherhood” party, if you want, instead of baby showers for dad. Here are a few suggestions to make this type of party one for daddy-to-be to remember:Play Games:Well, not baby shower games. But you can play poker, horseshoes or even a game of shirts-n-skins football in the back yard.Eat, Drink, and Be Merry:Have tons of fattening and not-good-for-you foods. Make spareribs, cheese steaks, wings, and anything else you can eat with your hands and make a mess with. The wives won’t be there to complain and you can grunt all you want. Have some beers (or soda if you prefer) and barbecue.Last Night Out:Take the dad-to-be out for a night on the town to rival his bachelor party. Do some bar hopping, play some pool, shoot some darts, and don’t go home until you are kicked out of at least three places. Keep Dad safe, though, and designate someone to stay sober and make sure everyone gets home in one piece. You might also want to check with mom-to-be to make sure she is okay with this plan. She is, after all, pregnant and might not be all that amenable to the last-night-out-before-fatherhood party.Gifts for Dad-To-Be:Let the official baby shower take care of the baby necessities. Give Dad gifts for himself, or gifts that he would have chosen for the baby. Buy him a diaper tool kit, complete with goggles, rubber gloves, tongs, clothespin, and of course, diapering essentials, or a Daddy Gear Diaper Bag.Gag gifts are fun, too. Or you could buy clothing for the new baby with Dad’s favorite sports team’s logo or matching Dad and Baby t-shirts. Think about necessities like batteries, too. Most likely they won’t be on Mom’s registry, but all parents know that batteries are a hot commodity in any house with children. Be creative. And don’t forget that Dad might need some reading material to get himself up to date on the latest parenting trends. Consider getting him a book on fatherhood, funny or otherwise, or maybe a magazine subscription for daddy, such as American Baby Magazine.Ask other new dads to think about what toys or objects were particularly helpful when their little ones were inconsolable, and either buy or recommend them for the times when dad-to-be is home alone with Junior.Comfort Dad:New Dads are usually pretty stressed out about what there life is going to be like after the new baby comes. Be prepared to have guests tell funny and helpful stories about their own experiences with becoming a daddy. Make it a point to reassure him that his wife is not really crazy, she is just hormonal and this, too, shall pass.Remember, daddy baby showers don't have to be like the traditional shower, or even called a shower, but you can have one for dad just the same.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of Profitable Home Businesses, How to Plan a Baby Shower and Las Vegas Weddings. |
| A Surprise Baby Shower Can Be the Perfect Way to Celebrate by Randy Wilson Throwing a surprise baby shower doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it can be fun for all involved. All it takes is a little patience, a few basic steps, and the cooperation of friends and family. A surprise shower does involve some secrets, so remember to be stealthy. But you will want to make sure that the mom-to-be will be up for a surprise. Early on in her pregnancy, try to ascertain if she is up for a surprise baby shower or if she would rather know in advance. This could eliminate surprising mom-to-be when she is not feeling up to it. (If mom-to-be knows she has a surprise baby shower coming up, she will be more likely to be dressed appropriately when the time comes.) Once you have determined whether the baby shower will be a surprise or not, make sure that mom-to-be has registered for baby gifts. Even if you are having a non-surprise baby shower, it is never appropriate to ask the mom-to-be what she wants for the baby. Let the registry do the talking so baby shower guests can feel free to choose gifts within their own individual budgets. You will need to enlist the help of those closest to mom-to-be, particularly the dad-to-be. He will be able to help determine a date and time for the surprise baby shower. As well as help to get her there with the least amount of suspicion. He can also make sure she doesn’t head out in a baseball cap and no makeup. Perhaps thinking she is just coming over for coffee! Close family will need to help with the preparation of a baby shower guest list. Since you won’t be able to ask mom-to-be directly. You will have to rely on her mother or mother-in-law and maybe a sister to get this information. Be careful when sending the surprise baby shower invitations. You will need to mention that this is a surprise baby shower! You don’t want anyone accidentally spilling the beans! You can keep in the theme of surprising mom-to-be by going the extra mile. By ensuring that an unexpected baby shower guest is able to make it. Ask close friends of this baby shower guest to help with the cost of travel. If this is necessary as part of mom-to-be’s gift. She will probably love that more than a baby shower gift! You can also play baby shower games with surprise themes. Try playing the “diaper surprise” game by passing out diapers to all of the guests. With one of them having a “mess” inside (you can use chocolate or bean dip, or use your imagination). The one who gets the messy diaper wins a prize. Or if mom-to-be is expecting a boy, you can play “pin the diaper on baby”. Just before your blind-folded guest of honor goes to place the diaper on the baby. Squirt her with a water pistol to simulate the “surprise” often associated with changing a baby boy’s diaper! Sometimes, no matter how hard you work to keep the baby shower a surprise. Your mom-to-be may find out about it. Don’t let this get you down, though. There will be some elements of surprise for her. Whether she is expecting the baby shower or not. It might be unexpected guests, party favors, or an exotic cake. There will be plenty there that she didn’t count on! About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Clipart for all your Baby Shower Printing Needs by Randy Wilson Baby clipart is the perfect accent to all of your baby shower printing needs. Whether announcements, invitations, thank you notes or stationery. Baby shower clip art can help you design the perfect original card or flyer for any event, but it’s most suitable for baby showers. Free Baby clip art can be found at many places on the Internet. Try browsing through the thousands of high quality baby clip art pictures to be found at Babycrayons.com. You will find lots of appropriate images for your free baby shower clipart needs. This is a wide category that contains many different style and designs perfect for any baby shower or baby clipart need including baby boy clip art and baby girl clip art. Baby clipart can be cute, funny, or sentimental. You have babies alone, babies with bottles, babies with teddy bears, babies with blankets or tucked in a cradle. You will find baby clip art pictures of babies with diapers, babies with no diapers, babies with a brother or sister, babies with a cute animal or pet. Everyone knows that babies are so cute! They are cuddly and adorable and we know that everyone enjoys looking at them, so adding baby clipart to your baby shower planning is a smart move to make. Baby shower clipart is not hard to find and often it is free for you to use as you need. Whether clipart is free or even if you decide to pay a small fee for access to even more baby shower clipart, there will be lots of things you can use it for.Don’t forget to think about the baby birth announcements, baby shower invitations, thank your notes or stationery. Baby clip art can be the perfect accent to any of these needs. Whatever baby shower clip art you decide to use, be sure to keep a common baby shower theme throughout all of your projects. For instance, having matching baby shower thank you notes is a nice compliment to your babyshower invitations. Also, having personalized stationery for the mother to write her own personal baby shower thank you notes would be a wonderful idea. Do not clutter up your projects with too many different baby clip art pictures. This can look messy and unprofessional. Also, you need to pay attention to things like size, color, and format. There are many design tips that you can refer to on the Internet. There’s no better way to have fun with a newborn’s arrival than to make all of the special mementoes yourself. If you use the Internet, you have millions of creative possibilities at your fingertips, and you can use your free time to create completely original designs using baby clipart. These will be your memories, you should make them as you see fit! And if you need an extra copy of an invitation or an announcement you don’t have to worry about the time it takes to reorder or have to wait weeks for delivery. You’ll save on time and shipping costs, and be able use your money for other special baby needs.Using baby clipart is a great way to save money, utilize your own creative talents, and design high quality baby shower clipart invitations and birth announcements. Don’t forget baby shower thank you notes! Whatever images or pictures you choose, whether sweet and playful or sentimental and formal, there are plenty of baby clipart options for you to choose from. You can use clipart to create beautiful baby shower keepsakes and scrapbooking accents for you and your family and friends. Experiment with sizes, colors and baby shower themes. You’re sure to find the perfect baby clipart images to suit any design need. A little practice and patience makes baby clipart perfect!© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses. |
| How to Make a Lovely Baby Shower Cake by Jessika Ryder How to Make a Lovely Baby Shower Cake Jessika Ryder Baby shower cakes are terrific centerpieces for showers. Guests always laugh when they see one and the expectant mom is thrilled to receive a very useful gift. Theyre also called diaper cakes because diapers are the main ingredient. It is quite easy to make one. Check out the detailed instructions below. The ingredients for your baby shower cake Heres the list of items you need for your cake: Naturally, youll need disposable diapers. How many Assuming you want to make a medium size diaper cake, youll need around 45 -- 55. You cant be sure of exactly how many until you make the cake. Any diapers left over can always be handed over to mommy-to-be. Your baby shower cake needs a base. Get a platter of metal, cardboard, or other materials that are reasonably stiff. Choose one thats about 14" -- 16". Buy a 10 foot length of 1" wide ribbon and about 60 to 80 feet of narrower ribbon. The latter is for tying individual diapers into rolls. Every diaper cake needs a focal point. The most commonly used one is a baby bottle. Rather than use an empty baby bottle, fill it with something edible. You could buy or make small chocolates shaped like various baby items, packed individually. Candies are another possible choice. Get other cute, useful items for babies. Such as pacifiers, teething rings, bibs, socks, baby hair brushes, small sized soap and shampoo and so on. Procure good quality, clear cellophane to provide the final wrapping. Get additional ribbons for tying bows at the top of the cellophane wrapping, if you so prefer. Have adhesive tape available. Baking the diaper cake -- putting it all together While making a baby shower cake is quite easy, it does require a bit of patience. But the end result is certainly worth it! Plus the fact that you made it yourself creates a terrific impact. While following through these instructions, have someone help you. It will get done faster. The first thing to do is to tie each diaper individually into a roll. Cut a foot length of the narrow ribbon. Roll up a diaper and secure it by tying the ribbon around it. Do the same for all remaining diapers. If youre working alone, you may want to spread this out over more than one sitting. Next, youll create three tiers. You can vary the number of tiers to make a cake of the size you prefer. Well make the top tier first, which is the smallest. Fill the baby bottle with wrapped chocolates, candies or whatever other item youve obtained. Arrange rolled diapers around the bottle. Youll use about 5 -- 7 diapers; place them around the bottle in a standing position. Pack them tightly. Secure the diapers into place by tying a length of narrow ribbon around them. That completes the top tier. Next, create the middle tier using about 13 -- 18 diapers. Make a small circle of about 5 -- 8 diapers and tie them together like you did above. Then stand 13 -- 18 diapers in a circle around this smaller circle; secure them by tying a ribbon around them. This completes the middle tier of your cake. To make the bottom tier, just repeat this process with about 25 -- 35 diapers. Finishing the perfect baby shower cake Youre well on your way to making the perfect cake! By now, you should be able to anticipate the thrill of presenting it to mommy! The next step is to secure the bottom tier onto the platter. Do this with pieces of adhesive tape. Dont use too much tape, because then the diapers become unusable. Next, fix the other two layers similarly one on top of the other. The tier with the bottle at the center goes on top, of course. Put in all those adorable baby items you bought -- pacifiers, hair brush, teething ring, etc. Fix all of these onto the cake. How Tuck them into the ribbons you used to secure each tier. Use additional ribbons if necessary. And now, for the grand finale! Transform your baby shower cake into a magical thing of beauty by using cellophane and ribbons. Spread a cellophane sheet on a flat surface, place the cake in the center. Gather up the edges of the cellophane and bunch it up artistically at the top well, with as much art as you can manage -- it will look great anyway!. Use ribbons to tie a cute bow. Now step back, and admire your creation! And be prepared for oohs and aahs from mom-to-be and guests at the baby shower!
About The Author Jessika Ryder is a successful writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide party planning tips and other useful insights. See more articles at: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com |
| Baby Shower Gift Ideas by Adriana Copaceanu Baby Shower Gift Ideas Adriana Copaceanu A few guests can get together and get a big laundry basket. Place in it a long clothes line with outfits, diapers, bibs, etc. pinned to it. It can also be used as a room decoration. It has a bit of everything and something to carry it in! Baby Quilt - heres a great gift from those that love to sew and quilt. Find an alphabet quilt pattern. Each square has a letter of the alphabet on it and a picture of an object that started with that letter. It can have numbers too. Each guest can be given/sent a square before the shower and can embroider, quilt, or embellish it according to her own taste. If the quilt is meant to be a wall hanging, guests can also attach little items like rattles and toys. Be sure that everyone signs their own block in some way and have the blocks returned by a certain date in order to have it put together. This can also be used as a decoration at the shower. Make a scrapbook album. Take blank scrapbook pages and have everyone write down their well wishes without Mom knowing it for the new baby. This can be done at or before the shower and can be given at the shower or to Mom while she is in the hospital. If given after the shower, it can include photos taken there. Pass out sheets of heavy paper decorated with baby related stamps, stickers, or pictures several lines drawn on. Have the guests write their name on the paper and then write down some baby/parenting advice. Once everyone is finished, collect them, add a cover, punch holes in it, and tie it together with some ribbon. Then hand it to Mom to read aloud. This will be entertaining as well as touching and is a nice keepsake. There is tons of room for creativity on this one. Have each guest bring an extra gift small item recommended for Daddy-to-be and the host of the shower will then place them in large gift bag to present to him at the close of the party usually after the main gifts are opened. He opens this with Mommy-to-be at home or in presence of close family or friends. Diaper Shower – For a second or more baby, consider a diaper shower. Ask each guest to bring only a package of diapers as a gift. Some guests may bring other gifts also, but Mom will end up with a mountain of diapers … something shell really need! Items could also include anything associated with diapering such as wipes, ointment, powder, etc. Casserole Shower – For the mother who has everything already, how about a Casserole Shower Have each guest bring a casserole or other ready-to-cook meal that can be frozen or stored until after the baby is born. Be sure to have the containers clearly labeled with contents and any cooking instructions. How helpful that will be when Mom and Baby come home! Book Party – Have each guest purchase and give a copy of their favorite childhood book.
About The Author Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that dont blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby to Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas youll find at her site: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com. Want regular reminders on gift-giving Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm |
| Planning the Perfect Baby Shower by Adriana Copaceanu Planning the Perfect Baby Shower Adriana Copaceanu One of the most exciting events an expecting mother looks forward to is celebrating her baby shower. Deciding to Throw a Baby Shower Baby showers are often thrown by a friend or family member. Formal tradition dictates that someone other than a family member throws the baby shower, but this certainly does not have to be the case and many modern women go against the grain and welcome any offers from family willing to throw a party on their and babys behalf. Preparing Ahead of Time: The First Critical Steps Planning and throwing a shower can be a cumbersome task if you go into in unprepared. It certainly does not have to be however, if you keep a few things in mind. One of the most important considerations is planning where and when the baby shower will take place. The majority of baby showers are held before mom gives birth, but this is not always the case and certainly does not have to be. Some mothers are superstitious and prefer to have the baby shower after birth, to ensure the happy and healthy delivery of their newborn. Be sure if you are planning the happy event to check in with mom to be to ensure you plan it at a time that is comfortable for her. Most showers are held in someones home other than that of the new mom. Typically the person throwing the baby shower hosts the party at their house or at an alternate location such as a park or reception hall. Invitation List The next step in planning a shower is figuring out who to invite. The guest list should be the responsibility of the guest of honor. Letting mom develop the invitation list will ensure that no one gets left out. Most parties held are women-only parties, though this trend is rapidly changing. As fathers continue to become more involved in the planning for new babies, many couples are starting to hold co-ed parties that invite couples. Be sure to check in again with the guest of honor to ensure that the theme of the party matches her preferences. Themes and Thrills Deciding on a theme isnt necessary, but can add fun and excitement to the party. The theme of the party for an expectant parent who is having a boy baby might be something as simple as a color, such as "green". Guests might be encouraged to bring gifts that correspond with the nursery room theme as well. Many parents for example, design babys room with a certain theme in mind such as ducks. Guests might consider brining items that match this idea. Even the cake and decorations can be designed to incorporate a selected topic or idea. No baby shower would be complete without incorporating a few fun games. Deciding on games doesnt require a degree in rocket science. One popular and traditional game involves having everyone get together in a circle and write down one piece of advice for the mom to be. Another one might have everyone right down one prediction for the new babys future. These cards can be collected at the end of the party and stored in babys memory book for review at a later date, providing a wonderful memento for mommy to be and baby. Though it is not required, some hosts provide gag gifts for anyone participating in a game. This can be a fun way to allow mom and guests enjoy the gift giving bonanza. One last tip to consider prior to throwing the party is finding out where an expectant mom is registered. Including this information on the invitation or having it available to give out to guests will truly help mom receive special gifts that will match her preferences for babys first year. One of the reasons for throwing a shower is to help new parents collect much needed items for babys first year.
About The Author Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that dont blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby to Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas youll find at her site: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com. Want regular reminders on gift-giving Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm |
| Selecting a Baby Shower Theme: Easy as One Two Three by Adriana Copaceanu Selecting a Baby Shower Theme: Easy as One Two Three Adriana Copaceanu No aspect of party planning is more crucial and sometimes mind boggling to a baby shower planner than selecting the baby shower theme. There are almost too many ideas available today, and often the host of a party finds themselves suffering apoplexy at the idea of selecting a baby shower theme. A small amount of creativity however will be sure to generate success, regardless of the baby shower theme selected. Keep in mind that the mom to bes happiness is perhaps the greatest priority. Not sure what theme to select Worried about what might go over well with the guests Turn to the expectant mom for guidance, and you are certain to come out a winner. Selecting a baby shower theme should depend on just a couple of critical factors; For example, is the mother expecting a boy, girl, twins or more Twins are the perfect "theme" for any party of a mother blessed with multiples. You could for example, in this instance offer guests two of everything, including cake! In times of old a shower was only held for the first child. This tradition has changed however of late, and it isnt uncommon for a mom to be to have a shower for each child, celebrating their uniqueness and the joy at bringing another new life into the world. Sometimes a variation of the same theme can be used at subsequent showers. Still struggling for ideas Consider some of the following: Teddy Bears: What child does not love plush, stuffed and furry teddy bears! Teddy bear themes can be used for male or female children. Napkins, tableware and similar style decorations are sure to be found with teddy bears on them. Colors: Often a mom to be seeks out gifts and accessories that complement or match the color she has selected for babys nursery. You might consider a baby shower theme that matches the color scheme of babys nursery. Guests can also be clued in on the invitation, and invited to bring items that will complement the nursery or wardrobe of the baby to be. Cartoon Characters: Many parents select well known characters to incorporate into their nursery theme and these are easily translated into a baby shower theme. Some ideas include Strawberry Shortcake, Hello Kitty, or Bugs Bunny for example. Shapes: Some parents may decide on shapes or even objects such as lemons, fish, cubes, circles and triangles to decorate their babys nursery. Again, finding decorations and accessories for the shower that match this theme should prove beneficial and inexpensive. No matter what baby shower theme you select, you are bound to find hundreds of items to complement the event, including decorations, favors and even gifts. Once the baby shower theme has been selected, as a planner the next most important task is setting about planning for the actual party and getting invitations out to the guests to be. Traditionally, the shower is held at the home of the host; this is not always the case however, and exceptions to the rule might be welcome in some situations. Regardless of where you decide to throw the party, be sure to give guests enough advance notice to plan on attending. This usually requires three weeks to a months notice, as most people are already too busy in todays society! After selecting a baby shower theme, planning the party is easy. Once invitations have been mailed out and RSVPs have been received, plan on spending some time making a list of food items that will be needed, decorations you plan on acquiring, settling on party favors and deciding on a few fun games to play. Once you have all of these items sorted out, everything else is bound to fall together and you and your guests are sure to have a delightful time celebrating mom to be!
About The Author Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that dont blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby to Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas youll find at her site: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com. Want regular reminders on gift-giving Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm. |
| Best Baby Shower Invitation Ideas by Michael Oliver Best Baby Shower Invitation Ideas Michael Oliver The best baby shower invitation ideas help everyone to have fun without adding stress on the expectant mother. Planning for a newborn can be overwhelming to each family member, so providing the best baby shower invitation ideas with fun and little effort on Mom helps to give the baby shower lasting feelings of friendship and love. Many baby showers focus on one or two fun areas that make the shower a party, but the best baby shower invitation ideas also create cherished memories as a gift that lasts for years after the celebration. These baby shower invitation wording ideas can help you get your messages across best - http://www.invitingsmiles.com/baby-shower-invitation-wording.html One of the Best Baby Shower Invitation Ideas is the Children’s Book Theme. Ask each guest to include her favorite child’s book for the new baby’s library-to-be. Most guests usually bring more than one book and it’s a great way for everyone to reminisce about special memories at the party. Include a separate note in the invitation reminding each guest to write a short message for the new baby to eventually read why that book was your guest’s favorite. Second on the list of Best Baby Shower Invitation Ideas is the Handy Week Helpers for the Couple Theme. Organize a week of short, but helpful activities as part of the group event, where some of the invited guests offer an hour of assistance one day of the week just before the Baby Shower. Some suggestions for the week: No-Cook Monday: One or two of the guests brings dinner for the couple. Foot Massage Tuesday Walk-The-Dog Wednesday Wash-The-Car Thursday Mow-The-Yard Friday Have this Best Baby Shower Invitation Idea on Saturday when everyone shows up in casual handy helper clothes to either enjoy time together or to finish projects around the house agreed to in advance. The Handy Week Helpers is a lot less work than it appears and it can be one of the most rewarding Baby Showers you’ll ever attend. Best Baby Shower Invitation Ideas three: Baby Grows Up Theme – Guests arrive dressed as their parents and write in a memento book the most treasured item their parents taught that made their lives most meaningful. Each guest reads her contribution at the shower and the book becomes an added keepsake for the baby. Add your Favorite Baby Shower Games or see some free baby shower games here: http://www.invitingsmiles.com/baby-shower-games.html Remember husbands, too! Increasingly today, the best baby shower invitation ideas include mothers with proud husbands. Click here for more of the Best Baby Shower Invitation Ideas for girls only, couples together and even husbands only http://www.invitingsmiles.com/baby-shower-invitation-ideas.html
About The Author Mike Oliver is a programmer/analyst who develops internet database applications and assists non-profits with SEO placement on restricted budgets. Mike successfully developed his first informative SEO project after surviving injuries from a serious multiple car accident. - http://www.car-accident-advice.com. Today Mike Oliver has helped many businesses reach profitable status quickly using free search engine traffic and PPC opportunities. |
| How To Make Your Own Soap Favors For Weddings And Baby Showers by Criss White Want to make soap as a gift for your party guests? Here are some simple tips for making soap gifts and favors: 1. There are literally hundreds of different ingredients that can be used for soap making. Basically, you will need the following - soap chips or soap base, essential or fragrance oil for scent, and colorants. You will also need a soap mold and a pot to melt the soap in. 2. The easiest way to make soap is to take an already made bar of soap and melt it down. The bar will already have all the ingredients you need in it. You can then pour the soap into a mold of your choice or shape it as desired. Or you can use a cookie cutter or knife to shape it while it is still warm. 3. If you are using raw ingredients, simply pour and mix them in the mold of your choice. 4. Heating - Make sure to heat the soap slowly to prevent combustion or degradation of smell. 130°F - 155°F is a good general range, although there are slight variations depending on what ingredients you use. Try not to leave the soap unattended for long periods of time while heating. 5. Scent - You won't need too much fragrance oil to scent your soap because scented oil is generally highly concentrated and strong. 0.5-1oz of oil is sufficient to scent a whole pound of soap. The amount you use will depend on the strength of the oil, which varies based on the scent. Mix the oil in with the soap while heating. 6. Coloring - Once again, you will probably not need to much coloring agent. Add a few drops at a time and watch the color change. 7. Mold selection - You can select molds that are themed to your occasion or just use a standard bar mold. For weddings, angels, hearts, and wedding cakes are popular shapes. For baby showers, baby carriages, bottles, and Disney characters are some common themes. The soap can also be carved. If you use a standard bar mold, you can still add personalized themed tags. 8. Finishing touches - After your soap is made, seal it inside a cellophane bag, organza bag, or gift box. Add a favor charms, personalized tag, and message and you have a nice favor for your guest. Generally, you will want soaps that are 1oz - 3oz in size. These gifts will be used by your guests and are a simple, but effective way to say thank you. Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits and resource box remain in tact and the hyperlinks are active. About the Author: Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. See Baby Shower Soap Favors(http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/bb.htm) for more soap favor ideas and Make Your Own Baby Shower Favors (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/make-your-own.htm) for other related baby shower supplies. Source: www.isnare.com |
| Unique Baby Shower Gifts: Diaper Cakes by Regina Taylor All of us know that when we are about to attend a large party, especially a baby shower, we want to bring the perfect gift that will stand apart from the rest. You don’t want the recipient to go through the gift book register later in order to recall what you gave her. You also want to present a practical gift that will actually be used! Diaper Cakes are wonderful gifts to bring to baby showers. What is a Diaper Cake? It’s a wonderfully handcrafted baby gift. This inedible creation is arranged with premium diapers coiled in bountiful layers and filled with baby accessories and toys. The outer layer is adorned with hooded towels, bibs, t-shirts, booties, and many other baby items. All cakes are sealed in cellophane wrapping and topped off with a big bow. CAKE INGREDIENTS Below you will find a list of what may be included in your diaper cake. You will also find a listing of the small baby accessories that come with it as well. Overall, diaper cakes come in many themes, colors and sizes. The larger cakes contain more items than the smaller cakes. Cakes might contain one or more of the following: - Disposable diapers - Hooded towels - Receiving blankets - Undershirts - Snap-shirts - Burp cloths - Bibs - Socks - Shoes or booties - Baby bottle Small Baby Accessories may include: - Pacifier - Pacifier holder - Comb and brush Set - Scratch mits - Rattles - Teethers - Washcloths - Feeding sets - Nasal aspirators - Small baby lotion - Small baby shampoo - Small baby powser - Small baby bath - Squeak toys - Bath books - Baby hangars - Wash mitts - Bath thermometers - Boo bunnies Diaper cakes are ideal for baby shower gifts, table centerpieces, gifts for new parents, and welcome-to-the-world gifts for babies. Make your gift stand OUT -- consider purchasing a baby diaper cake for your next affair! IS-001 About the Author: When mother and architect Regina Taylor discovered the scarcity and cost of baby shower gifts, she decided to start her own business to provide high quality, affordable baby products to consumers online. The result is The Diaper Cake Depot at http://www.DiaperCakeDepot.com. Visit The Diaper Cake Depot today to find the perfect baby shower gift! Source: www.isnare.com |
| Choose the perfect baby shower gift by Allan Wilson |
| Liven Up Your Baby Shower With A Few Games by Roy Thomsitt |
| Baby Shower Guide - 10 easy steps by 1. Who will plan the Baby ShowerBaby showers can be hosted by anyone for the new "parents to be." It can be afamily member, a friend, or a co-worker. If it is a surprise shower, then the family can help out with the guest list and gift items. 2. Baby Shower BudgetTo determine how much the shower will cost, you will need to know the number of guests, the location of the shower, the menu, what type of party favors, and how many game prizes you will need.3. Guest listOrganize your guest list by asking the parents-to-be who they would like to have at the shower. Usually this includes friends and family, but a few close co-workers may also be invited. Get address, phone numbers, and email addresses. Decide if it will be a "girl's only" shower or "couples".4. Baby Shower ThemeBaby showers are fun when having baby shower games! Be a kid again with teddy bears and stuffed animals for decorations. Or, invite couples and do a buffet or outdoor party. Whatever theme you choose, remember this will be the baby's first party. Baby shower party favors are fun to hand out at the end of the party. Have fun!5. Selecting the menuAlthough your menu should reflect your theme, the time of day is asimportant - as well as the number of guests. Make this a day of celebration for the Mother-to-be or parents-to-be, her guests, and yourself. Consider the amount of time and room available for the shower, as well as any special dietary needs of the Mother-to-be and her guests.6. Location of the Baby ShowerChoose a location that is easy to get to and will accommodate the needs of the party. Generally, baby showers are held at the home of the host. Have an idea of how many people you expect before arranging any final details.7. Select the Baby Shower dateThe baby shower is normally around six weeks before the due date of thebaby's birth. However, some mothers are electing to have the party after the baby is born. Showers are held on weekends and during the week. Try to make the time and day convenient for everyone including any out-of-town guests.8. Selecting the timeIf most of the guests attending the shower work, then an evening or weekend shower will work best. Consider a weeknight for a change of pace if everyone lives near each other. If you choose a weekend date, plan your shower early enough in the day for all who must travel to attend. Be sure to keep in mind the Mother's schedule (naps, doctors appointments, etc.).9. Baby Shower InvitationsBaby Shower Invitations can range from the casual (a phone call) to the most formal (printed invitations). You decide what will work for your shower. Be sure to include all necessary contact information. Consider also including your email if you check it every day.10. EntertainmentAs guests arrive, introduce them to one another. As a unique conversational item, ask your guests to wear a small photo of their child on their shirt. Who doesn't love to brag about their child?!? Another way to break the ice is to provide name tags with a small note, such as, "I attended grammar school with Susie." This is a sure way to start conversations. Make sure to offer your guests liquid refreshments and whatever else you have provided. Printable baby shower games are a blast! Set the mood with lighted candles, flowers, and baby shower decorations. You want your guests to enjoy the day (or evening) as much as the guest of honor.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on giving the best possible party, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. |
| Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties by Criss White One of the biggest challenges for planning a baby shower or any other party is picking the right food. Appetizers and snacks are great for all types of parties, big and small. Here are some delicious appetizer ideas that you can make yourself or buy for your party: 1) Stuffed Mushrooms - Stuffed mushrooms are a tasty treat for any party. Larger mushroom caps of course are better and you can be creative with your stuffing choices. Some popular ingredient choices are cheese, bacon, and breadcrumbs. 2) Cheese and Crackers - Cheese and crackers are a simple snack idea for any party. This snack is also great for health conscious people. For upscale occasions, cheese logs or gourmet cheese balls can be used. 3) Fruit Platter - Another healthy and simple idea is fruit salad or a fruit platter. These platters can contain canned fruits, fresh fruits, or a mix of both. Some popular choices are apples, pears, grapes, and strawberries. Add in marshmallows or raisins if desired. 4) Chips and Dip - Chips and dip are a good idea for any party. Tortilla chips and potato chips are both popular and salsa, sour cream, cheese dips, and artichoke dips are great for parties. 5) Mini Sandwich Squares - Sandwiches are easy to make. The bread can also be buttered, seasoned, and toasted if desired. Apply any toppings you like and then cut the sandwich into bite-sized squares. Then stick a toothpick into each square and place them on a nice tray. 6) Brownies - If you don't mind doing some baking, then you can make your own brownies, or you can purchase them at a bakery. There are many possibilities as far as flavor goes, including traditional chocolate, fudge, and peanut butter. You can also add nuts and candy, but be sure your guests are not allergic. 7) Cookies and Cake - Cookies and cake come in many flavors and are great party treats. Popular flavors for cakes are cheesecake and carrot cake and for cookies are chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter. 8) Ice Cream - Finally, ice cream is another great party treat, especially during the summer. Vanilla and chocolate are the most popular flavors, but parties are also a great opportunity to offer unique flavors like blueberry cheesecake ice cream. About the author: About the Author - Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For related products, go to Baby Shower Recipes (http://www.101babyshowerideas.com/bsrecipes.htm) and Baby Shower Candy Wrappers (http://www.101babyshowerideas.com/bscandywrap.htm). Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active. |
| How to Host a Long Distance Baby Shower by Jill Manty Sometimes there is just no way to gather everyone together in one place. Perhaps you are having a shower for friends and family locally, but she has many others who are scattered in different locations. Obviously, it would be best if any out of town guests could attend. If possible, the shower should be scheduled so that it is possible for them to be present, but if there is no way to accomplish this, there are still a few things you can do. One option is a videotape shower. This means that those family members and friends who are at another location actually host a separate shower. They can designate someone to be the "mommy-to-be", and that person can open the presents and act in the place of the real mommy-to-be (a pillow under the shirt is optional). There should be cake and games, just like any other shower. The shower is videotaped and then given to the mother-to-be. The tape can either be sent directly to her and viewed at her leisure, or if an in-person shower is being held, it would be a nice touch for the tape to be presented and perhaps even viewed at the "live" shower. It would also be thoughtful to make sure that you tape the live shower and send it back home to the friends and family who are unavailable. Recently, a high-tech option has become available in the form of online showers. Invitations are sent, and live chat rooms are available. There are message boards and online games. While it certainly won't soon replace the fun of sitting in a room together any time soon, it provides an opportunity for sharing in the excitement of the pregnancy when gathering together is not possible. Another high-tech option is setting up a live video feed on a computer. If you have a computer and a web camera, and there is one available in the out of town location, it would be fun if out of town friends and family could gather together while the local shower is being held. They could either hold a simultaneous shower (similar to the videotape shower) or send their gifts to the local shower and be "present" for the opening. If games are going to be played, any handouts should be sent to the out of town guests, so that they can "participate", as well. Perhaps they could even serve the same food. Friends and family are so important in the life of a woman expecting a baby. Providing an opportunity for them to be present in some way for her shower is probably the best gift that you could give her. If at all possible, find a way to involve those who can't be physically present. About the Author Jill Manty is a stay at home and co-owner of www.delightfulchild.com, an online business dedicated to providing information about baby showers, breastfeeding, and natural parenting.This article can be reproduced in whole or in part, providing this byline is included along with a link to: http://www.delightfulchild.com/baby_shower.htm |
| How to Throw a Baby Shower on a Budget by Jill Manty So, you want to host a great party, but you have limited funds. Can it be done? The answer is ABSOLUTELY!!! There are numerous ways that you can cut costs when planning a shower. Perhaps the easiest way is to split the hostess duties among several friends. Homemade food, favors, and invitations are another way to make things less expensive. The time of day you have the shower may also influence the cost. A mid-afternoon party with cake, punch, and light snacks is much less expensive than a dinner or a spa afternoon. Having the party at a restaurant may be less expensive if the guests all know each other and are willing to pay for their own meals. This may be somewhat awkward, though, so it definitely is a plan that will only fit certain situations. Handmade invitations are a very easy way to cut corners. With a computer, a printer, and cardstock or specialty paper, you can make invitations that will look practically professional. Or you can choose to make a crafty invitation that perfectly complements your theme. Another option for invitations is to email invitations. Sites like sendomatic allow you to send invitations and maps, track responses, and even send weather reports for the big day for less than $15 dollars for 100 invitations. Sending email invitations saves on the purchase of invitations, as well as the postage. Food for a shower can be very simple. If you have an early afternoon party that falls after lunch but before dinner, you can serve cake, punch, mints, nuts, and perhaps a fruit tray very inexpensively. The presentation is often more important than the actual food that is served. Use nice bowls and silver for a formal atmosphere. If you do not have crystal or silver, you can usually get plastic that looks like crystal and silver and will still look nice. Finger sandwiches also add an elegant touch and are inexpensive and easy to prepare. If you want a more casual feel to the shower, a vegetable platter and chips and dips are always welcome. Or get everyone in on the act and ask each person attending to bring a snack. You might want to have a sign up sheet, though, so that you don't end up with 5 bags of chips. Believe it or not, even if you don't consider yourself a baker, there are several alternatives to expensive bakery cakes. Cupcakes are very easy, and sugar or plastic decorations in baby themes are fairly easy to find. You can also use frosting to "glue" small plastic baby decorations to the tops of Little Debbie snack cakes. These are precious, and they look like you spent a lot of time. Another option is to skip the traditional decorated cake, altogether, and go for individual cheesecakes (easy to make in muffin tins) or a delicious chocolate cake (make sure that the mom-to-be isn't avoiding chocolate first). Cookies can make a great sweet treat also, and there are some really cute cookie cutters readily available. Finally, if you think you can make and frost a rectangular cake but are concerned about trying to do fancy decorations, you can find edible cake art images online. These are easy to apply to the top of the cake, and they are the same images used by bakeries. Many of the games and activities for a baby shower are free. There are printouts available online if you want to play games like bingo. While party favors are a nice touch for a shower, they certainly are not necessary. A personal thank you, in person or written, is all that is necessary to thank the guests for attending. Throwing a baby shower is a wonderfully generous thing to do. It does not, however, have to break the bank. Remember, the most important thing when hosting a shower is to create wonderful memories for your friend. Years from now she will remember the laughter and the thoughtfulness of her friends more than she will remember fancy favors or expensive cakes. About the Author Jill Manty is a stay at home and co-owner of www.delightfulchild.com, an online business dedicated to providing information about baby showers, breastfeeding, and natural parenting. This article can be reproduced in whole or in part, providing this byline is included along with a link to: http://www.delightfulchild.com/baby_shower.htm |
| Planning a Baby Shower : These Tips Make It Stress Free by Claire Bowes Planning a Baby Shower : These Tips Make It Stress Free Claire Bowes One of the most pleasant parties to plan has to be the baby shower. The mom-to-be gets so much attention and she can just sit back and enjoy all of the fuss. The key to creating this wonderful event is organization. Heres everything you need to make your upcoming baby shower as festive and memorable as possible! Consult, Consult, Consult! Because the parents-to-be may have more than one shower, its a good idea to consult with the mommy-to-be. Before you send out invitations, sit down with the mom-to-be and ask her what she would like from this event. What is her idea of a fun shower and who she would like to attend Most people shouldnt be expected to attend several showers for the same parents, so find out what else is being planned. Let her know that you want her to feel comfortable and most of all, to have fun. What if you are having a surprise shower Don’t let that stop you from consulting! Talk to the dad-to-be to get ideas of a guest list and an appropriate time. You might even want to consult with other friends to be sure that everything works out smoothly. Again, consider the mom-to-be when having a shower. You want her to feel special, have fun, and be comfortable. After consulting with the mom-to-be, or others, it is time to plan! The Theme of the Day This is the fun part – deciding what you are going to do and how you are going to do it! This can also be the overwhelming part if you have never planned a baby shower before or if you don’t feel that you are the creative type. Luckily, you don’t’ have to have experience or creativity to throw a great baby shower. Some showers are simply a gathering of family and friends chatting, mom-to-be opening her gifts, and eating yummy food. Other showers are more elaborate with special games. If you are thinking of being more elaborate and having a theme, here are some great ideas to get you started: Consider inviting couples instead of just the ladies. You can play fun games like who can diaper the baby doll the fastest and make it the men against the women. This shower is great for first-time-dads and helps them feel a part of things as the ‘big day’ nears. Does mom-to-be already have everything she needs for baby, but you still want to celebrate this special occasion Why not throw a Mommy Shower Instruct guests to bring gifts for mom herself bath and beauty products, gift certificates, etc. You might also consider a “consumable shower” and have guests bring diapers, wipes, shampoo, and other items that run out! A recipe shower is a great idea. Instead of a card, ask guests to bring their favorite easy-to-make recipes for mom-to-be to use after the little one arrives. Or go one better and have the guests bring a dish ready to be frozen for the mom-to-be for those days when she is just too worn out to cook! Here’s a fun shower that will help the guests determine what to bring as a gift. In the invitations, assign each guest a random time of day and have them bring an appropriate gift. For example, blankets for naptime. Or assign each guest a different room of the house, like the bathroom, and have them bring an appropriate gift. Have guests bring something that was a favorite of theirs from their childhood for the new baby. Books, movies, security blanket and etc make great gifts with added special meaning. Have a birthday party! Get a birthday cake, streamers, party hats, and party games! Can you think of a better way to celebrate a birth Once you set a date and make a guest list, and pick your theme, you will need to choose a location. It is perfectly fine to have the shower in your own home, but it can be anywhere with enough space. Depending upon your theme, you may even choose a restaurant or an out of the way tearoom! As the Date Nears Now that the big decisions are over, you can take a deep breath. You are almost there! As the shower date approaches, however, you may again feel a bit of stress. Do you have everything Have all the details been taken care of Here is a great list to help you know the answers to those questions. Two To Three Weeks Before The Event: Prepare and mail invitations with directions to event. Be sure to keep one for the baby book! Place order for the cake if ordering from a bakery. Choose and purchase decorations and party favors. Purchase prizes for games. One Week Before The Event: Determine an accurate guest count. Make follow-up calls, if necessary. One Day Before The Event: Purchase food and prepare platters and/or pick up any special food platters ordered. Purchase beverages. Make sure camera has film and/or video camera is loaded and has batteries, etc. Wrap gifts for game winners and review instructions for games. Clean house and party area. Day Of The Event Decorate Buy any last minute items Prepare area for gifts Prepare table for the food And most importantly – HAVE FUN! That’s all there is to it! You are now ready to throw a memory-filled baby shower for a special mom-to-be. Copyright. All rights reserved.
About The Author Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com where you will find further tips on http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com/baby-showers.html, and unique baby gifts http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com/baby-personalized-gifts.html. |
| Baby Showers 101 by Dana Williams Baby Showers 101 Dana Williams Are you ready to host the best baby shower ever but dont know where to start Baby showers are fun, but planning one can be tedious. In this article well cover the basics to get you started. So who should host the baby shower Traditionally, only non-relatives are to host a baby shower -- co-workers, church groups, etc.; however, it has become more common and acceptable for mothers and sisters to host showers too. The important thing is that someone take the initiative to host the shower -- what a wonderful display of caring for a growing family and a special way to help welcome a new life into the world. It is also perfectly acceptable for more than one person to host a baby shower. It can be fun for a group of friends to share the responsibilities and excitement of planning and hosting this special event. When it comes to inviting guests, you likely have some idea of those you want to invite to the shower, but it is always a safe bet to run the guest list by the mom-to-be to ensure you havent left anyone out. You can invite guests via a phone call or an e-mail be sure they check their mail regularly!, but the written invitation is still the most preferable way to kick off a shower. You can even find baby shower ecard invitations online. Just do a simple search online and Im sure youll find one. No matter what type of invitation you use, be sure to include pertinent information -- whether it regards a theme, a note of where the mom-to-be has registered, a map or written directions to the shower, or any special item you want the guests to bring for the mom. Showers are normally given a month or two before the moms due date. Its a good idea to give the mom enough time following the shower to shop for items she didnt receive, yet wants to have before the baby arrives. And of course you dont want to hold the shower too close to babys due date in case he or she makes an early arrival! Baby showers are normally held in the home of the hostess. If desired though, you can certainly host a shower at a church fellowship area, a favorite restaurant, or even at a banquet hall -- it really all depends on what atmosphere you are looking for and how much money you want to spend. If the shower will be held in a restaurant, make reservations at least two weeks prior to the date. At one- week prior, one of the organizers should speak with the manager to confirm the details. The shower should last around one and a half to two hours. Things may wind down early or they may likely continue on as guests chat together. There are many variations on showers, but we have devised a general "schedule" for baby showers. You can add/remove any part and re-order it to your liking. Greet Guests - serve light appetizers After all or almost all guests have arrived, go around the room and have each guest introduce themselves and identify how they know the mother-to-be. Play 2-4 Shower Games. It is good to play games at the beginning as ice-breakers. Remember some guests may not know *anyone* but the mother-to-be. Let everyone go get whatever food may be available and then once everyone has been served, the mother-to-be can begin to open her gifts. Be sure to have someone write down each gift and who it is from. It will make sending thank-you notes a lot easier. People chat and usually leave a few at a time. Make sure the mother-to-be gets to say goodbye to everyone and the hostess thanks the person for attending. If the hostess has shower favors, they should give this to the guest now.
About The Author For more information on hosting baby showers, visit http://www.danasgiftbasketexpress.com or send a blank email to babydiapercakes@sendfree.com for a Free Guide to Hosting the Perfect Baby Shower. dana@danasgiftbasketexpress.com |
| Guide to Easy, Affordable Baby Shower Decorations by Jessika Ryder Guide to Easy, Affordable Baby Shower Decorations Jessika Ryder Great baby shower decorations are more about using your imagination than your pocketbook! You can create a wonderful party mood with simple, high-impact arrangements. This article details some of the best ideas for baby shower decorations. Use balloons artfully Balloons make it feel like a party! Always have balloons at your events. Heres a money-saver tip -- your local 99¢ store will usually have balloons at a much lower price than most party stores. A basic use of balloons is to create color spots around the room or area where youre holding the baby shower. Tie a bunch of helium balloons to an anchor. Use baby items like booties, soft toys or baby bottles filled with water as anchors. Always use an odd number of balloons in a bunch. If you have multiple tables, get a few baby items like shampoo, lotions, bottles, diaper packs, wipes, refill packs, baby formula packs, soft toys, etc and place them in the center of each table. Tie a bunch of balloons to them. Each table now has a color spot. If you have large gifts like strollers or cribs, tie balloons to them to create a special look. Choose balloon colors according to the sex of the baby. If that’s not known, use both pink and blue balloons. Use balloons to decorate mommys chair. Tie balloons in bunches to her “throne” and treat her like royalty! Also add streamers, satin bows and ribbons to her chair to give it a special look. If youre using a specific table for gifts, make sure it has several balloon bunches floating over it. That helps to create a focal point for the gifts. How to use tubs and umbrellas for baby showers decorations Use baby tubs as a punch bowl. Get one of those tubs that look like a whale. Fill it with clear punch and put in a small rubber ducky. The tub makes a wonderful present for mom-to-be after the shower. Heres another way to use the tub -- fill it with individually wrapped presents. That can include diapers, shampoos, lotions, washcloths, etc. For an added effect, put some balloons into the tub too -- they will look like floating bubbles! And fix a rubber ducky atop one of the balloons using ribbons. You know whats a perfect fit for any baby shower Umbrellas. After all, its a shower, right Heres how you can use them. Collect several different umbrellas from your home. Open them up, fix streamers in various colors not just pink and blue, though those are fine too to the umbrellas. Next, fix the umbrellas so that they hang upside down from the ceiling, and the colored streamers flutter above your heads. This makes a great sight! You can also fill up umbrellas with balloons or even yarn in pastel colors. Hang them upside down at strategic points. More baby shower decorations that enchant Heres a centerpiece idea thats perfect for these celebrations -- baby shower cakes. Not sure what those are Baby shower cakes also called diaper cakes are essentially diapers arranged in multiple tiers to look like a cake, with many small baby products tucked into them. Theyre very eye-catching gifts, just right for baby showers. Place one on a table as a centerpiece. Heres how to make your tables more appealing. Place small boxes of different heights on them. Drape baby items like receiving blankets over them. Your tables will end up with a more interesting look and feel thanks to varying levels. Spice up your tables by sprinkling confetti on them that says "Its a boy" or "Its a girl." If the babys sex is not known, use both. Instead of piling gifts onto tables, try using a large item like a stroller or a baby crib to display gifts. This is just right for a baby shower! Another tried and tested idea is to string a clothesline across the room. Use wooden clothespins to hang cute baby items from the line. Use diapers, baby clothing, booties, socks, bibs, hats, toys and other such items. These products make excellent gifts to mom-to-be after the shower. Alternatively, hang disposable diapers on the clothesline and using permanent marker, spell out the babys name. If the name is not known yet, just write BABY SHOWER. Clotheslines with names and baby items on them are quite common at showers, yet they invariably become a conversation piece -- they look quite cute! If youre having a baby shower around Christmas, try this one. Buy an artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with little baby items. Like diapers, clothes, booties, socks, small bottles of lotions and so on. Use twinkle lights as well. This is a wonderful centerpiece for the room. You can even do miniature trees on each table, similarly decorated. It creates a lovely effect. There are no limits to the number of ways you can create dazzling baby shower decorations. Combine the above ideas, add your own twist and create an unforgettable shower!
About The Author Jessika Ryder is a successful business writer providing valuable ideas on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide party planning tips and other useful insights. See more articles at: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com. |
| Baby Clothes for Your Baby Shower Gift by Randy Wilson Baby clothes are one of the most popular types of gifts for new and expectant parents at a baby shower. Shopping for baby apparel and baby stuff is something a lot of people especially new parents enjoy. Baby boutique clothing is one of the most popular baby shower gifts you can buy. If you live in a larger town or city. There is bound to be many baby boutiques in your area. Baby boutique clothing is an especially nice gift when you purchase a fancy little outfit. The parents might not normally choose to buy this for their baby. There are many different types of baby clothes that you can buy for a baby shower gift. There are also different shops and boutiques where you can find baby apparel. Try to find something unique as the new parents will probably have more sleepers than they will know what to do with. Baby boutiques offer designer infant clothing which may seem somewhat extravagant and unnecessary to some. But baby boutique clothing really does make a wonderful baby shower gift. Little dresses for baby girls and overalls for baby boys make especially adorable gifts. Online infant clothing gives you pretty good deals:Baby clothing shopping can take you all over your local mall. But some of the best baby clothes can be found online. There are literally hundreds of online baby clothes shops. And you can find some excellent deals. If you are unable to attend a baby shower that you have been invited to you can always purchase something on the Internet. Then have it sent directly to the new parent’s door. This is especially convenient if you live out of town. Department stores also have great baby clothes sections. They offer a wide variety of styles, sizes, and brand names. The most popular type of infant clothing to give at a baby shower seems to be sleepers and pajamas. Why not get something a little different. You can find some adorable dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts for the little one. Baby slippers for little feet are also very popular. And why not add a tiny little hat to the whole ensemble. Baby clothes are one type of gift that you can pretty much guarantee the parents will get much use out of. Baby clothes can be fancy and expensive, or simple and frugal. New parents will always appreciate getting gifts for their little one that they can use. Keep in mind what the parents tastes are, because normally they often they dress their baby in a similar fashion. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses. |
| Baby Boy Clip Art to liven up your Baby Shower Cards by Randy Wilson Loads of baby boy clip art images are available, once you click your computer's mouse and get connected to the Internet. First, you must know what clip art is all about. Clip art is about copying / cutting the pre-existing images. Yes, these images are already mostly in the books that have made their entry into the public domain for that purpose. You can have your feast of logos, mascots, identity and business cards, invitations, letterheads. In addition, there are no hassles of license terms. The electronic clip art available on the Internet is an extension of this clip-art concept. These images are digitized drawings on low resolution used for decorating Invitations and E-greetings.Clipart, including Baby Boy Clip art, are meant for defining digitized drawings and not photography. There are many files in many shapes, sizes and formats. Some of the most widespread formats are PICT, Paint, GIF, TIFF, EPS and JPEG. If you are unsure which format to use, just use PICT. This format is compatible with most programs, and can also adjust to another format type easily. Standard clipart is usually not a very detailed drawing. Mostly they are images that have little detail or are outline drawings. The standard clipart is for use on the web for in documents.Baby boy clip art is the most wonderful way of splashing your work with images that you think can do the magic. It is also the cheapest and the most colorful way of doing so. Most of the clipart you will find will be free printable clip art.If you want to make your own baby shower clip art, software is available for just that purpose. Most software is easy to use, and can convert your pictures/snapshots into clipart quickly. There is a huge collection of free baby shower clip art images and free baby clipart images available on the internet. These will be very usful for your baby shower invitations, thank you notes or baby announcements. You are bound to find baby boy clipart to you liking on the internet for your baby shower needs. This gives you the choice of making your own invitations versus purchasing ready-made invitations or other baby shower cards. With baby shower clipart you don't need any special artistic skills for you to make your own beautiful baby shower cards. Not all websites provide baby clipart for free, but many do. If you want more detailed clipart you might opt to purchase clipart. But with so much free baby clip art available, you really don't need to purchase unless you really want a particular design.Some online sources for your baby boy clip art are listed below:Acclaimimages.comThis is a paid website featuring a huge collection of baby clip art images. This website specializes in clipart images for ethnic babies.Classroomclipart.comSmall collection of free baby clipart. So, click your way into the digital world of art and design your own greetings and baby shower invitations.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Gift for Dads by Randy Wilson Gift for Dads:The mom is always on the limelight when she is pregnant. Poor Dad! He is also excited as mom. It is his proudest moment too. After all it is his son or daughter too.. It would be nice to invite dad to the shower. If it is a ladies only shower, you could still get the proud Dad-to-be a gift. In this piece you will see some of the suggestions which could go as gifts for Dad. It is the thought that counts:The gift for dads need not be necessarily expensive. There are plenty of ideas for the perfect gift for dad to choose from. They would range from the inexpensive to the very expensive. It all depends on your budget and what you are willing to spend. Remember, it is the thought that counts, not so much the gift. If you remember the gift that you got in the past, even the small inexpensive ones which came as a surprise were the memorable ones. They made you glad by reminding you that your friend or relative thought of you. Some of them you probably still have, like a figurine, or something more elaborate. So the future Dad would feel just as good about getting the perfect gift for dads, especially if he wasn't expecting to get a gift. So a surprise gift would add to his pleasure even more. An expensive gift for dad would be nice too, but most people cannot afford to buy them. You could however all get together and get the father-to-be one gift. Let him know it came from all of you. That way nobody would feel left out of the giving. You don't all have to give the same amount, just what you can afford. A gift for Dad should be something which he likes or has a soft spot for. Some of the less expensive gifts could be cologne, after shave, a money clip, or gourmet coffee. If he writes letters, you could get him some manly looking stationary supplies. Or maybe something for his desk: A letter opener, paper weight, pen and pencil holder, drawer organizer, postage stamps - for the ugh! bills he has to send. Thank you notes would be the perfect gift for dads, he wouldn't have to get them himself to thank the guests for the gifts. Want a unique gift for dad, try a Coffee Tasters Club from DistinctDeliveries. Coffee lovers enjoy coffee from around the world. You get to taste smooth Nicaraguan coffee or the exotic flavor of Malawi coffee. With each monthly shipment they send you two different 12 ounce bags of fresh roasted coffee from around the world. You can choose either ground or whole bean delivered to you. Some gifts for the bedroom would be a small reading lamp, table for eating in bed, candy if he has a sweet tooth. Or maybe a bath robe, slippers, or a bath towel wrap. The perfect gift of this type is the "Time Out Gift Basket" by DistinctDeliveries. Dad will enjoy the treats of Assorted Milk Chocolate Sport Balls, Fruit Flavored Hard Candy, Hunter Nut Mix and Deluxe Mixed Nuts, and a tin of Assorted Imported Butter Cookies if he has a sweet tooth! If he likes jewelry, then you gift him jewelry as well. Remember, not all men like to wear jewelry. You might want to ask the mother-to-be about Dad's tastes. An ID bracelet, necklace, earring if he wears them, or a nice ring. If Dad works out at the YMCA or local gym, or just likes to jog he might appreciate a jogging suit, sports clothing, sport accessories, jogging shorts, ball cap, gloves for weight lifting, shirts for the gym, or maybe some sweatbands. Golf balls or a golf club or set of clubs. Does he like racketball or tennis? Some tennis balls, a tennis racket or racketball racket for the worn out items he has now. Does Dad like to go fishing? Pick him up some fishing lures, or a book on fishing. Maybe a gift for dad like a new reel, or rod, or rod and reel. A tackle box, some fishing accessories included, or just as is. Hunting might be something Dad does. He would appreciate some gear related to hunting. A hunting jacket, orange cap, orange gloves, or some scents to attract the animals. A magazine subscription about one of the sports he likes. A new watch to change his look or just to replace his old worn looking watch. Then add a billfold to make it complete. Does he collect memorabilia? Get him memorabilia that he collects as the perfect gift for dad. Or just get him started collecting by buying him something. For example: boxing memorabilia, sports cards, or sports memorabilia. An autographed ball, autographed jersey, or an authentic jersey of his favorite team would be good gifts for dad. There are so many sports; dad probably has a favorite sport he likes best. If Dad likes to read, maybe he would like a magazine subscription, book or book gift basket. Lastly, a good gift for dads would be to get him a gift certificate for the local sports store, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, hardware store, or sports clothing store. Again, ask his wife for help on this one. As hostess, give out some of these for a gift idea for dad in a list to the guests you are inviting. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of Planning the Baby Shower where you can get more tips and ideas for your baby shower. You can also purchase and find free baby shower games. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. |
| Baby Shower for Twins (Or More) Peas in a Pod by Randy Wilson Baby shower for twins or multiples can be given when the mother-to-be is expecting twins or more. Having twins is twice as nice. But it’s also twice as much work and twice as expensive. Fortunately for Moms expecting twins or multiples, there is usually someone willing to throw a baby shower to help ease the strain on the wallet. Two of the most popular themes for a baby shower for twins or more are “Noah’s Ark” (two by two), or Peas in a Pod, which can be for any amount of children. For your twins baby shower, Amazon.com has a book on themed baby showers which will give you many ideas on different themes for your baby shower for twins. Noah’s Ark baby shower party supplies and gifts are easy to find. Not only is this a popular theme for a baby shower for twins, but it is a popular theme for single births as well. Search for ‘Noah’s Ark nursery’ on your favorite search engine. You will find an overwhelming number of choices. Decorations for Noah’s ark themed baby showers are in abundance. You shouldn’t have any trouble decorations for the twins baby shower. Many families choose to decorate the nursery with tons of colorful animals. If you know that the nursery theme is going to be Noah’s Ark, then you can use some of the themed gifts as decorations. Most toy makers sell a Noah’s ark toy or two. These will make lovely decorations as well as gifts for the baby shower for twins. Most baby retailers carry lines of bed linens in this style, as well. Check with the mom-to-be, though, to see which design she is going with. Because it is a popular theme, there are many different Noah’s Ark designs out there that don’t coordinate with one another. Guests who want to buy Noah’s Ark gifts should check with Mom’s registry, if she has one, to compare the styles. Many upscale giftware retailers, like Lenox and Swarovski, make Noah’s Ark frames, banks, clocks, hardware, and trinkets of all shapes and sizes. Stationery stores carry Noah’s Ark invitations and thank you cards. If you are purchasing Noah's Ark invitations, you might want to purchase the coordinating thank you cards to put in the wishing well. You can have all of your guests fill out the envelopes with their addresses so Mom has less work to do when she is sending thank you notes. You can also use these pre-filled envelopes to draw for a door prize. “Peas in a Pod” is another popular theme. This is one that goes with twins, triplets, or even more. Just change the number: two peas in a pod, three peas in a pod, and so on. And this is another theme that has a lot of coordinating party supplies. You can use twin baby shower invitations from a printer, or as an alternative, you can hand print invitations and attach them to packets of pea seeds. You could also use pea seeds as party favors. Remember the game “guess how many jelly beans”? You can do a variation on this with “guess how many peas”. Prizes can be frozen or canned peas. Sounds silly, but everyone can use some extra veggies! Decorations in green can include green balloons tied in bundles according to the number of babies. Many online retailers sell “peas in a pod” apparel. That can be personalized with the babies’ names for baby showers for twins. So what are some appropriate gifts for a baby shower for twins or multiples? Diapers. Need we say more? Twins can go through almost 20 diapers a day! Buy the smallest size available, usually newborn, as they are likely to fit into them for a while. Another possibility would be giving a supply of baby cloth diapers and plastic pants. Moms of multiples can always use an extra hand. You can either give her one of yours by offering to baby-sit or help out around the house, or you can buy her a bouncy seat to keep one of the little ones occupied while she tends to the other. If you offer your services to Mom, make sure that you follow up on that offer. Don’t make her ask for help because she may not feel comfortable doing so. Purchasing more expensive items for the baby shower for twins will help parents a great deal, since they will need two or more of everything. Several people could get together and make one larger purchase, like a double stroller. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and |
| Baby Shower Gifts Are Not All The Same by Dominic Ferrara When one talk about shower baby gifts, it is clear they can vary from the very practical to the extremely bizarre. If you have ever been invited to a baby shower, you know that there are two different kinds of presents you can give the new mom: the gifts that impress her and are useless, and the very practical stuff. If you choose the latter is best, as things given are useful and the shower baby gifts are about having a baby. When we speak about useful baby gifts, we refer to casseroles, or anything you can just heat up to prepare dinner, or the book "What to Expect the First Year", in which the mother can find a lot of useful information. Commonly baby gifts can vary from extremely practical things, like disposable diapers to things that are bizarre such as a grinder for turning steamed veggies into homemade baby food. It is normal that the preferences both of the mother and of the infant vary greatly, so that what is "essential" for one mother can be completely pointless for another mom. We will give you some examples: Diaper Genie (a fancy diaper pail), baby-wipe warmers, baby washcloths, hooded towels, Boppy pillows and baby swings. Anything that is related to feeding, like bottles, pacifiers, formula or breast-feeding supplies, breast pads, pump, milk storage bags, can be risky as a present, since it's hard to know what a baby will like. But here are some baby gifts that will be highly appreciated by any parent: diapers, wipes, burp cloths -- quilted cloth diapers are the best, and make great dust cloths down the road, blankets, terrycloth covers for changing-table pads, crib sheets, especially nice flannel or soft jersey cotton. We can add to the list waterproof mattress pad for the crib or practical clothing in larger sizes. A lot of parents said they had too many newborn-sized outfits and too few for 6 months or older babies.
About The Author Dominic is the author of this article. This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to his website. If you would like more information go to http://www.babyshoweridea.info. |
| Baby Shower Games by Randy Wilson The perfect way to spoil the baby shower games is when there is less involvement and participation from your guests. Have you ever been to a baby shower party, any kind of party, and been bored to death? Well, I have, and let me tell you, they are as boring as they get.Also you don’t have a choice but to grin and bear it because you don’t want to demotivate or offend the guest of honor. Would you like to have that kind of baby shower game party for your guest of honor? I know the answer would be a big NO.Baby shower games keep the party lively and entertaining:No two ways about it. Baby shower games when introduced in the party and managed well will make the guest want to stay longer and give your expecting mother a lot of warmth and fun. The best thing about the baby shower games is that it relieves the expectant mother of the stress which comes with being pregnant. As you might know yourself, being pregnant can be a very stressful time. She gets to be involved in the fun and enjoy the baby shower games with joy.Tips on making baby shower games look better:There is a lot of pressure on the baby shower hostess to provide fresh baby shower game ideas. You have a lot to do with a limited amount of time to prepare for the baby shower.The best games for baby showers will be the ones which match the age group and gender group that is coming to the baby shower. The games you choose will also depend upon if you are going to be more formal, or casual in your clothing choice.Finally, if you have decided on a baby shower theme for your shower, the games should fit in with the theme. You also need to figure out how many, and how much time is needed to play the shower games. I would consider about three games for a two hour baby shower. This gives the baby shower guests plenty of time to do all the other things you have planned for the baby shower, like opening of the baby shower gifts, serving a meal or appetizers, getting to know each other and sharing time with the expectant mother. You might also consider giving out small but useful items as door prizes and/or prizes for the game winners. You don't need to spend much for the baby shower game prizes. Maybe a phone card, fancy bar soap, manicure set, picture frame, shampoo, notepaper, cookie cutters, sewing repair kit, chocolates, storage boxes, or other small but useful items that won't break the bank would be ideal prizes for the games.There are many kinds of games for baby showers, including free shower games and printable shower games you can purchase for a very reasonable price. Some online merchants sell kits that have everything needed for a baby shower. Then there are other merchants who sell themed baby shower kits with games, single games and/or baby shower game kits. Most of these come as downloadable games you can print off your computer, while a few merchants sell games that are shipped to you. Whatever your needs, you can purchase or find free games to fit all your baby shower needs.© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Gift Ideas by Criss White Selecting a present for a new mom or dad can be a challenging task. Baby showers are a great way to help support a new mother with her new baby. New mothers can sign up at a gift registry to avoid duplicate gifts and to indicate her gift preferences. Here are some good gift ideas for baby showers: 1) Diapers - Diapers are a popular gift for baby showers. Every new mother will need plenty of diapers for her new baby and this is a very safe gift to get if you do not have any other ideas or don't know what other people are getting. 2) Personalized Blanket - A personalized blanket is a nice gift for a new baby. Having the name on the blanket gives it a personal touch and makes it a great keepsake even after the baby outgrows it. 3) Stuffed Animals - A new baby needs plenty of toys to stay entertained. Stuffed animals are always a favorite among newborns. A teddy bear is the most traditional gift, but other stuffed animals are also acceptable gifts. 4) Baby Gift Baskets - Baby gift baskets can contain a wide variety of baby supplies in them, including baby wipes, diapers, clothes, and just about anything else that can fit. Gift baskets can also be tailored to the new mother as a token of appreciation. Such gifts can include gourmet foods, candles, and other decorative keepsakes. 5) Baby Clothes - A new baby can never have too many clothes. Clothes can come in a variety of styles and may include hats, booties, and other accessories. 6) Baby Accessories - New babies require many accessories. Baby bibs are popular as well as blankies. Other ideas include baby bottles, pacifiers, and high chairs. 7) Shirts for Mom and Dad - T-shirts can be a nice gift for new moms and dads. Some common sayings on these shirts are "New Mommy" or "New Daddy". Some shirts also say "Mom to Be" or "Dad to Be" - a way to let everyone know that a new child is on the way. 8) Keepsakes - Various keepsakes will also make nice presents at a baby shower. Baby picture frames can hold pictures of the new baby or family for years to come. Other keepsakes include figurines and decorative candles. About the Author: Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For more related articles, go to Baby Shower Ideas (http://www.101babyshowerideas.com). Source: www.isnare.com |
| Baby Shower Gift Registry by Cathy Cripps Baby Shower Gift RegistryJust as with weddings, couples today can now register in person or online at most of their favorite stores. This provides the couple an opportunity to determine the gifts they will receive, specific colors, sizes, and so on. Additionally, with so many companies offering online baby shower registers, both high end and affordable stores can be chosen so every guest can choose their price range.Interestingly, some people still consider baby gift registers as cold and impersonal. You want the guests to know that the gift is their choice since it is something that comes from the heart. To ensure no one is offended, wording is very important so the recommendation of using the gift registry is not seen as offensive.Remember, you do not want to include the information about the gift registry in the invitation. Now, some people will add this information on a separate piece of paper slipped inside the invitation but etiquette experts state this is an incorrect way of handling it. Instead, when the guests reply with the RSVP, you can then send them a note in the mail or via email, providing the gift registry information.This message could say something like, “Thank you for your confirmation for attending John and Sue’s baby shower. We look forward to you joining us for the celebration of life and enjoying this time of fellowship among family and friends. Although baby gifts are welcomed, they are not mandatory. If you are unsure what the couple needs, they have registered at a few stores to include…”With this, you are advising people that gifts are not necessary and that if they do not have an idea of what to buy, they can check out the registration if they like. By giving people options, they do not feel obligated to buy something specifically chosen by the couple. After all, some people may prefer to make homemade gifts and they should have the option of doing this if they wish.The great thing about baby shower registers is that the couple eliminates the potential of receiving two of the same thing. Therefore, rather than direct people what to buy, it becomes a practical approach to gift giving. Baby gift registration is also a time saving tool. Since most couples are tired and the mother-to-be may not be feeling full of energy, the option of choosing items online is a huge benefit. About the Author Cathy is the Owner of Baby Shower Moments and the author of Baby Shower Moments A to Z Guide. If you are looking for baby shower Gift Registry ideas pay Cathy a visit. |
| Baby Shower Invitation Cards by Randy Wilson Baby Shower Invitation Cards are a time saver for the hostess. It is also a good idea to have more invitations than you need. If you send invitations by mail, you want an envelope that stands out so that it doesn't look like junk mail. How many guests to invite:Usually you invite between 8 and 30 guests. The number would be determined by several things. One is where you are having the baby shower. In a dining room, a backyard, a rented room. What type of guests you are having. Ladies, men, ladies and men, and/or children. What type of Baby Shower Invitation Cards:You can get free baby shower invitation ideas, purchase printable invitations, make a handmade baby shower invitation, create your own designs, send ecard invitations, handwritten, personalized, blank cards, baby shower invite, or use a baby shower invitation kit. For more links and ideas on invitations you can go to our pages, Free Printable Invitations or Baby Shower Invitations Free. Where to get baby shower invitations ideas:You can get your invitation ideas from old invitations, online, books, or magazine articles. What styles of invitations to choose from:You can choose from several different styles: Elegant, embossed, formal, trendy, simple, ornate, or wacky shower invitations. Where to get Invitations:Online, party supply shop, Wal-mart, Shopko, Target, K-Mart, or office supply stores handle baby shower invitations. Who to send to:Everyone invited should get a seperate baby shower invitation card, even if they are in the same household. When to send:The invitatons should be sent out 3 to 6 weeks in advance. This gives your guests time to clear their schedules, purchase gifts, and return RSVP's. What to include in your invitation: Name of the guest of honor If surprise baby shower party, mention that on the card Theme of the party Date and time of the shower Location and directions to the baby shower Name and address of hostess/host Favorite colors of guest of honor Where guest of honor has a registry Suggested ideas for gifts Tell them if a meal is planned, refreshments, appetizers, etc Decorating scheme of guest of honor How and when to RSVP For those baby showers where you know that you are having a baby boy you might want to send out baby shower invitations for boys. If you have a girl, there are baby shower invitations for a girl also. © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. |
| Baby Shower Gifts by Cathy Cripps BABY SHOWER GIFTSWhile you want guests to bring a gift of their choosing, it is also important to encourage them to bring something that will make the parent’s life easier, especially to use right after the birth of the child. Therefore, let each guest know in person or via the invitation that if they would like to bring a frozen meal or coupons for baby products or even their services, it would be greatly appreciated.As a host, you need to consider the people that will be on the invitation list. Sometimes, finances are tight and buying gifts tough. You have a couple of options. First, you could set the tone on the invitations advising that while gifts are appreciated, they are not mandatory. This way, people know they can attend the shower but not feel embarrassed if they come without a gift.Another option is to purchase a few extra, inexpensive but nice gifts from the funds collected. As the host, if you know someone is one a tight budget, you could tactfully let them know that you had extra gifts purchased so if they need one, they are certainly more than welcome simply to take one to give the couple. This way, that individual could choose a gift to give without feeling bad.SIBLING GIFTSFor siblings, a new baby in the home can be a stressful and insecure time. After all, they are used to getting all the attention and now, everyone who comes to the door is offering something to the new baby, completely looking past them. To ensure siblings are included, we would highly recommend the following:•Always speak to the sibling before making over the baby. The sibling will know what is going on while the baby has no idea. Therefore, when you enter the home or place of the baby shower, take just a moment to greet the child. Instead of saying, “Do you like your new sister/brother” put the focus on them. Something as simple as, “How are you, you look so cute! I bet you are the best big sister/brother in the world.” You would be amazed at how such a small gesture can make such a big impact. Not only is the child getting the recognition needed but also, the parents appreciate this since they too understand the insecurities occurring with the sibling. •Bring a small, inexpensive gift for the sibling. Although the purpose of the shower is to celebrate the life of the newborn baby, a small $2 gift is important. You can take a plain brown lunch bag, draw pictures or paste cartoons or stickers on it, and inside, add a granola bar, a coloring book and crayons, book, toy car, etc. All these items are inexpensive and can make the baby shower more enjoyable for the sibling. About the Author Cathy is the Owner of Baby Shower ideas and the author of Baby Shower Moments A to Z Guide. If you are looking for baby shower gift ideas pay Cathy a visit. |
| Baby Shower Invitation Wording by Randy Wilson If you need ideas for baby shower invitation wording, then here are some great ideas for you. Baby shower invitations contain important details of the baby shower event, but they need to be cute and fun as well. Wording for baby shower invitations can be easy to create on your own or you can go to several Internet sites for some of the best baby shower wording ideas available. There you will find all of the baby shower invitation wording ideas you will ever need. What you say is as important as how you say it. Your baby shower invitation wording can be either generic or specific. If you know the gender of the baby, then you should try to create gender specific wording for the baby shower invitation. There are wonderful little sayings for baby boys, as well as wonderful sayings for baby girls. But if the gender’s not yet known, don’t worry. There are many standard wording options as well. You will find ideas online for twins, triplets, and even adoption baby shower invitation wording. You can search for ideas in many places, but the best place to look for anything in our world today is the Internet. Many invitation websites have what’s called ‘Wording Libraries’ where they offer hundreds of wording options for you. Your baby shower invitation wording could be in the form of a quote or baby poem. Wording for invitations can be casual or formal depending on the overall style and theme of the event. Just be sure to be consistent. People will assume that casual wording means it’s going to be a casual event! Your baby shower invitation wording needs to contain some important information, like the time, date, location, and the names of the guests of honor! Don’t forget to include where the mother or mother to be is registered for gifts. And perhaps you’re throwing a surprise baby shower – what fun! Just be sure to tell your guests to keep it quiet in the baby shower invitation wording. Here is a sample wording for baby shower invitations when you want to keep the big event a surprise: Shhh! It’s a Secret!A Surprise Baby Shower for Anne Marie Glennand newborn Joe StevenDate: Time: Place: RSVP: Registered at: Here is a sample wording when the invitation is for an adopted baby: Let’s rejoice with the Thompsons as they welcomeLily Mayto their family.Date: Time: Place: RSVP: Registered at: Whatever you decide to say on your baby shower invitation, be sure to proofread your baby shower invitation wording and spelling to make sure that all of the information is correct. It would be a shame to order and pay for so many baby shower invitations, only to find printing mistakes and have the shipping delayed because of waiting for reprints. Taking time to proofread in advance is always a wise idea. And if you’re not sure what to say, or if you’re not sure if the information is clear or if you wonder if it sounds all right, then don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. Family and friends can help you, and many vendors will have customer service representatives standing by ready to assist with wording for invitations. While you’re ordering or creating the wording for your baby invitation, don’t forget to consider the wording of your thank you notes! Often these are ordered at the same time and made to match the invitations. Again, your wording can include poems quotes, etc. and you will want to keep the same style, color, or theme. Hopefully, you know the mother well enough to know what her preferences are. And if you’re not trying to keep the baby shower event a surprise, then go ahead and ask her or her close family members about her opinions about the baby shower invitation wording. She may appreciate being a part of the decision making process, or she may be just as happy to have someone else make some decisions for her, so her mind can be on other important things, like preparing for the new baby’s arrival! © Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved. About the Author Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Baby Shower Centerpieces, Free Baby Shower Games and Baby Clipart. |
