Baby Shower Ideas by My Baby Shower Favors

Tips on Baby Shower Gift Shopping

While there are no very strict rules when it comes to the gifts that you give to expectant mothers who are having a baby shower, there are certain norms that you need to observe.

Tips on Baby Shower Gift Shopping

Shop around first. This is a very healthy shopping habit that will save you lots of money and enable to you find the best possible gift there is. Just because you see something that looks great does not mean that there is nothing better out there.

Set a budget. It is a known fact that money is tight these days for almost everyone so it would not be frowned upon if you get something that is not too fancy. In fact, it would be much appreciated if you give a gift that is extremely practical rather than something pricey but will not be utilized for a long time.

Check the invitation if the mom have registered for gifts at a registry. A lot of moms to be decide to register for shower gifts to make it easier for their guests to choose a gift. This is a very practical arrangement for both invited guests as well as the recipient. If you want to get the best items (or the most affordable), make sure that you RSVP as soon as you receive the invite and go straight to the registry.

Check out which gift items are most in or most popular. There are many gift items to choose from but if you really want it to be special, make sure that you do a little bit of research.

Buy Something Practical and Durable. If no gifts have been registered for, just pick out something that the baby or the mommy can use for a very long time such as breast pump, bottles of various sizes and designs, baby mobile, soft blankets, oscillating chair, play pen, pacifiers, etc.

Make sure the gifts are safe. There is nothing more important than making sure that whatever you give will be safe to the baby as well as to the mother.

The saying “its the thought that counts” is very true. However, you should be able to translate all that thinking to a proper gift you will bring to a baby shower.

When it comes to gift giving, it is always a must to put the interest of the recipient especially if it is a young child.

Baby Shower Themes

Choosing among hundreds of possible baby shower themes can be exciting and quite daunting at the same time. If you are planning to throw a baby shower, there is no escaping this part especially if you want to have the novelty of the event.

Some themes are classic and traditional such as Stork or Cherubs but these days there are so many other options that you really have to think long and hard before choosing just one.

One of the basis in choosing the theme for a baby shower is the sex of the baby. While this is acceptable, it is no longer very strictly imposed.

Here are some of the most popular choices in baby shower themes you ought to look at:

Candy Land Baby Shower- They always say that having a child is one of the sweetest blessings there is so it is only fitting to have Candy Land as the theme for a baby shower. You can have a cake made entirely out of cotton candy or one that is adorned by various types of candies such as gummy bears, candy canes, and many others.

Puppies- Dogs are believed to be second to babies when it comes to being adorable and as such, they would make for a great theme for a baby shower. Hundreds of balloons can have puppies printed on them or even better, toy balloons shaped as puppies are to be tied everywhere.

Baby Mini Cakes- Sweetness and blessings. These are the two things that you can say about cakes as well as babies. Aside from being a theme, this can also become a nice idea for the dessert menu for the shower.

What if mommy does not want themes?

Some mothers to be are just too hip to indulge in all that cutesy stuff and if your friend have been specifically instructed not to have a theme for the shower, you might be thinking that the event will be too boring for everyone. This does not have the be the case at all.

The thing about themes is that they are too blatant which makes some expectant moms quite uneasy. You can still make the baby shower fun by dressing up the location in such a way that it will not look too plain but also not too baby-like.

Accents can be used as well as plain colors which can just blend in the backdrops or wherever. Just make your imagination soar so that you can still throw an event that will feel like a shower but will remain very dignified and less childish.

Do it Yourself Baby Shower Invites

Throwing a baby shower with a strapped budget? There are certain corners that you can cut like the invites which you can do yourself. All it takes is a little creativity and a lot of hard work plus some help from your good friends in order to have a very nice bunch of invitations that will not cost a lot.

Here are the set of materials that you will need in order to accomplish do it yourself baby shower invites:

Special Paper- Make sure that you choose something that is sturdy and has a fun color as well. Since it is a very cutesy affair, you need to get all the cuteness that you can find. You can select from all the types of special paper that are sold at a stationery store. There are also those scented ones that stays really fragrant even days after they have been mailed.

Glue Gun- If you want to go all out and dress up the baby shower invites, you would need a glue gun to paste all the add-ons such as ribbons,etc.

Printer- Before you even think of accessorizing the invites, you first have to make sure that the wordings have already been printed. If you have a reliable printer and computer at home, this would be very easy to accomplish. All you have to do is pick a template and a color scheme and in under an hour, you can have more than 50 invites printed up nice and neat.

Mailing List- Finalizing the guest list is important before you start printing up the invites to make the process more efficient. The mailing address should be printed on the outer portion of the envelop plus the stamp post. You might also want to provide for a separate RSVP card to make sure that you will have an accurate count of how many people coming to the shower.

Other tips

When you create do it yourself baby shower invites, your goal is not only to save money but more importantly, to personalize the invitations handed to the guests. Baby shower is a very intimate event and as such, it has to be celebrated in every way possible, including the seemingly unimportant aspects such as the invites.

Celebrating a new life is a rare occasion that needs to be cherished. Whether it is your baby shower or one that you are throwing for your good friend, creativity and active imagination will always come in handy.

Baby Shower Catering Services

If you have certain misgivings about the menu for the baby shower you are throwing, make sure that you consider hiring baby shower catering services. There are companies that provide catering services for almost all occasions such as weddings, christenings, and yes, baby showers.

How to find the best baby shower catering services

One of the first things you will have to do is to scout for the best catering companies in the area. If you live in the City, you will probably see hundreds of companies in the yellow pages that offer this type of service so it might not be the best place to look.

You might want to consider asking around for information especially from friends who have had baby showers of their own and hired a caterer. Ask all about the reputation of the catering company, menu packages and the corresponding price, and the reliability of the service.

Negotiating about the price of the Menu

Depending on the number of guests you are expecting, you should have a budget for each person invited whether they have RSVP’d or not. Always take note of the number of dishes you are looking to have for the event and make certain that you already have a fixed budget for each.

While some catering services have a fixed menu they offer to clients, others are more flexible when it comes to the dishes they prepare and the prices as well.

It is always best to compare prices of the catering companies that you are considering for the job so you will have an idea as to the average expense that you are likely to make in contrast with your allotted budget.

Food Selection

There are certain types of food that are expected in baby shower parties such as finger foods. Fish and chips are very popular as well as simple hors d’ oeuvres. It is practical to have more foods that are not too difficult to prepare as they are much cheaper and the cleanup will be easier afterward.

Stay away from raw foods such as Japanese cuisine since it is potentially harmful to the mommy. Chicken is usually among the dishes prepared so you might as well include it in the menu to be catered.

Hiring baby shower catering services is definitely optional but is extremely practical especially if you are a working professional who have no time to slave over meals in the kitchen.

Baby Shower Venues

Planning for a baby shower is really fun especially if you are doing it for someone you really care about such as a long time friend who have just recently embraced the challenge of parenthood. As soon as you decide that you would throw a party for your expectant friend, you should start looking up possible baby shower venues.

Where to hold baby showers?

Home of the expectant mom- This is probably the most practical venue because you will not have to spend any money to book the place. All you have to do is inform your friend that you are throwing a party for her and the baby and that you will need the house for the event. Certainly, she will not say no to something like this because it is very thoughtful.

Small rented hall- If the home of the parents to be is not available for the event, you can also consider renting a small hall for the party. The space does not need to be too big but there has to be a few couches and chairs around since there will be a lot of sitting throughout the party.

At the office- Yes, this is pretty unconventional and it might be a little tricky to arrange but if you can convince the boss to allow it (mostly, you would have to cajole the boss into coming to the party first), it would be a blast.

Your house- If you are single and living alone or if you have a nice house that has a lot of space to hold parties, it might be practical to use it as a venue for the shower. The clean up afterward would be a little bit of hassle but it will be well worth it because you are doing something really nice for a friend.

Negotiating for a lower price for rented baby shower venues

If you do not want to use your home or anybody else’s for the event, renting a hall for the party would be one of the top alternatives. With this, you also have to be aware of how to get the best deal on the rental price. Make sure that you choose a place that is clean, and near the home of the mommy to be.

In negotiating for the price, know exactly how much you are looking to pay and stick to it. If you do not get the price you want, move on to another venue.

Baby Shower Menu

Thinking of throwing a baby shower party for one of your closest girl pals who is happily expecting? One of the things that you should first consider is what to include in the baby shower menu.

Top 5 considerations when putting together a baby shower menu

1. Number of guests- If you are having a smallish baby shower party, you can prepare less food but with more substance,that is, heavier entrees such as pasta and chicken wings, etc. If you are preparing a menu for more than 20 people, you might want to consider making finger foods instead of full on entrees so accommodate the larger number of guests.
2. Time of the event- Some prefer to hold their baby shower in the morning, late afternoon, or late evening. Depending on your choice of time, you should choose the appropriate foods and drinks. Pastries are always acceptable at any time of the day while heavier dishes are best served for late afternoon parties. Just remember to stock up on beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
3. Venue of the baby shower- If the baby shower is to be held at your residence, you can choose to prepare the foods on your own kitchen. On the other hand, if the shower is going to be held at a designated hall, you might want to have the food catered instead to avoid the hassle of transporting the foods especially if you live in a very busy city.
4. Budget- This is a very important consideration unless all your friends are chipping in for the entire expense of the event. If you are shouldering all the expenses, determine what you will spend for each guest. Finger foods and punch is a good combination that the guests will definitely appreciate.
5. Time- If you have more time to prepare for the menu and the event in general, you can still look up some recipes that you might want to try. However, if you are pressed for time, you should definitely consider ordering the food instead or have it catered.

When planning for a baby shower menu, always make sure that there will be no shortage or excess of food and beverage. Naturally, leftovers can be expected but there should not be too much of these since it is an awful waste of money. Also, avoid too much alcoholic beverages especially since the expectant mom will not be able to have any. You will be surprised at how much expecting women can be very sensitive when it comes to not being able to have any drink when everybody else is.

Homemade Baby Shower Invites

Thinking of having a baby shower? One of the first things that need to be accomplished is the invites for the event. Homemade baby shower invites have become very popular because they are more practical and more importantly, they are more personalized.

Here are what you need when putting together homemade baby shower invites:

Special Paper- You need to pick a sturdy type of paper which you can easily run through the printer. It can be one of those scented ones that you can buy from stationery stores. There are actually special types of paper that are intended to used as invites for special occasions.

Glue Gun or Simple Glue- If you are thinking of putting a little decor on the invite such as ribbons or glitter and whatever else that might be appropriate to merchandise it, you will need the right adhesives. Just make sure that you use these things carefully and try not to leave any distinguishing marks on the invites that would make them look dirty or rushed.

Guest list- Before you start on the homemade baby shower invites, you should first see to it that the guest list has already been finalized and that no one important will be left out. Make sure that you ask guests to RSVP as this is important in determining how much food you need to prepare as well as how many party favors to you need to stock up on.

Printer- This is very important because the whole point of homemade baby shower invites is to save money. Make sure that the printer has enough ink to finish the job and if not, have a spare around just to make sure. Get the dimensions of the paper right on the printing set up of your PC and make a trial run before proceeding.

Invites design ideas

There are many available designs that you can choose from and they are all available online. All you need to do is browse through all the options and choose which one is the most appropriate for the occasion. Consider the sex of the baby for the color as well as the theme of the shower.

Important details

While aesthetics is important, you should never forget the most important details that need to be written on the invites. Such information as the location of the shower, time, attire, and gift registry (if applicable) should be double checked to avoid any confusion on the part of the guest.

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Coming to a baby shower can be fun and exciting but the novelty of the occasion tends to wear off when it is time to pick out which present is most appropriate to give. Not all parents to be actually sign up for a baby shower gift registry and as an invited guest, you cannot really compel them to.

So now, here you are flying blind in trying to find the perfect baby shower gift. Below are some tips that will help you make a decision:

• The gift item should be practical. It has to be something that the parents and/or baby can actually benefit from
• The gift should neither be too extravagant nor too cheap. You know the drill-if you have the habit of looking up the price of gifts you receive from other people, chances are, the recipient of your gift does as well. Besides, you will be present during the opening of gifts and you certainly would not want to get that “are you too cheap to get something more decent” looks.
• Look up the most “in” baby shower gifts for the season. Yes, there are fads too when it comes to gift giving even when the gifts are for people who are expecting a child.
• Buy something that is safe. Remember that you are essentially shopping for baby essentials so make sure that you always look at the safety info on the packaging.

Here are some of the items that you should consider getting:

• set of feeding bottles (different sizes and designs)
• Baby swaddling blankets
• Breast pump for the mommy
• Car seat
• baby carrier
• oscillating chair
• baby crib (be sure the baby has no crib yet)
• diaper cake (cake made entirely out of diapers and other baby essentials)
• baby mobile
• Infant clothes (you can never have too many of these)
• Stuffed animals (can be used for later months or even years)
• Heating/sterilizing equipment (for the bottles and/or pacifiers)

These are just some of the most popular baby shower gift ideas. There are many more items you can find online or when you make a brief trip to the mall. There is an entire section in malls that is dedicated solely for baby care and all baby-related needs so in truth, you will not run out of options when it comes to shower gifts.

Just keep in mind three major things: safety first, no cheap/useless gifts, and be as thoughtful as you can afford.

Baby Shower Gift Registry

One of the most exciting things about having a baby shower is the gifts you will receive from the invited guests. Friends and family with whom you decided to share a momentous event would certainly be willing to spend some of their hard earned cash to buy presents for your baby.

While you would want to be as appreciative as possible for every single gift that you receive, you would also want to get things that you can actually put to good use, thus, the necessity of the baby shower gift registry. All you need to do is to register for a number of items depending on the number of guests that have RSVP’d to your invitation.

Advantages of baby shower gift registry

• There is no chance of getting identical gifts.
• Guests will not have to think too much about what they should give you.
• You can actually use the gifts you will receive since you chose them in the first place.
• It saves time especially if the shower is done on short notice

Disadvantages

• Some guests will be left with the more expensive gifts
• It is always first come first serve

As you can see, there are very few downsides to signing up for a baby shower gift registry so you better hop to it and tag all the things you need for when the baby comes. There is no better time for you to pick all necessities than before you actually become too preoccupied with the baby.

Which things to get

• Sets of blankets
• crib
• bottles
• baby clothes
• breast pump
• baby book
• baby album
• walker
• little me chair
• oscillating chair
• baby carrier
• baby toys
• baby mobile
• car seat
• diaper cake

There are many other things that you can sign up for in the registry. All you need to do is make a lit of the items that you would need immediately after the baby is born and a few months after that.

After the wedding shower, be sure to personally thank everyone who came. In addition, also send out emails and thank you cards for the gifts that you have received from the guests.

It is always great to get things from people who love you and love celebrating your life choices. When it comes to gifts, there are so many nice things that money can buy but the ultimate love and care from the people around you and your future child will always be the best thing to have.

Baby Shower Cake

If you are planning to throw a baby shower and you have no idea where to get a baby shower cake, you are in serious need of help. There are specialty bakeshops that make baby shower cakes upon order and you can even request for the cake to be customized to make it more special and personalized.

Baby Flower Cake Flavors and Designs

Depending on the baby shower theme you have chosen, you can easily pick out the most appropriate baby shower cake. You can always go for the cutesy designs such as storks or get something more mature if the mommy is not too fond of such themes. Some soon to be mothers do not really like cutesy baby showers so you should also consider this if you are throwing one for your friend.

Where to find personalized baby shower cakes?

Pretty much every bakeshop in the country accommodate orders for personalized or customized cake. All you need to to is specify what you want on the cake such as the flavor, design, or whatever additions. However, there are also bakeshops that actually specialize on cakes for these kinds of occasions. You can find a listing of the best ones online so you will not have to go and visit too many shops just to check which ones are the best.

Cost of the cake

Even if you are planning the baby shower on your own, you do not need to shoulder all the expenses. For instance, you can always ask colleagues or other close friends to chip in a little for the cake since they will be attending the occasion as well.

Another option that you can consider is making the cake yourself. If you have a little bit of culinary skill, you can try making a simple baby shower cake. The easiest to make is a chiffon cake with butter cream or chipped cream frosting. As long as it is edible and the presentation is decent, guests will not really mind if it is bought or homemade. In fact, it will be more appreciated if you would bake the cake yourself. It would show that you really care a lot to make such kinf of effort.