Posted by Michelle Kersey on Mon, Feb 08, 2010 @ 02:07 PM
One of the most enjoyable days of your pregnancy is when a bunch of the women in your life get together to celebrate your baby. Whether it's ten or thirty people, there is a lot of time and thought that goes into preparing for a Baby Shower.
Baby Registry
Before you start to plan your baby shower, you will want to complete a baby registry. This is the fun part where you get to make your wish list of all the baby items that you want for your friends and family to buy from. You will need this information to include with the invitations. Gift registries can be made everywhere from large to small stores, don't forget to ask your local baby speciality store if they have a registry program, you can typically find a lot more unique and high quality items that can't be found elsewhere. Most registries are also able to be viewed online, that way, if important people live out of town, they still have the option of purchasing what you really want. Also, if guests are not able to attend, they can have a gift shipped to your home.
Themes
While a theme isn't necessary, it certainly adds something special to the event. There are lots of directions revolving around themes. Use anything from the nursery décor to the location as inspiration for a theme. Is it spring? Throw an outdoor garden party. Is it Summer? Have a faux barbeque. (Works great for co-ed showers too) Is it winter? Decorate with snowflakes, ornaments and play holiday music. If the location you're going to use has a fireplace, then that could pull it together even more! The possibilities are endless when it comes to themes; if you are running low on inspiration then Google will become your best friend.
A recent shower I attended had a ladybug theme due to the nursery décor choice. The hosts made centerpieces for the tables using mirrors, white candles with ladybugs, a hurricane shade, and ladybug ribbon. The result was a very whimsical and cute centerpiece. Also, scattered around the shade was candy for the guests. Since it was so close to Valentine 's Day, the hosts found lots of pink candies; Hersey's Kisses wrapped in shades of pink and red, little baggies full of girly colored M&Ms. The cake was even a ladybug! It all tied together to make a very adorable shower.
Favors
When it comes to favors, edible is a great option. I don't know many women that would turn down a little bit of chocolate to munch on later. You can also tie the favor into the party.
If you're throwing a garden party, you can give personalized flower seed packets or make birdseed ornaments for guests to hang on a tree in their yard. Also, in today's society, you can't go wrong with hand sanitizer as a favor; you could even get sticker paper and print your own label for the miniature bottles.
Food
A good baby shower requires yummy food. The key to pleasing everyone is to go simple. At my baby shower, we had little party sandwiches (Ham and Turkey) and everyone got to choose their cheese and condiments. There were cocktail shrimp (yum) and the fan favorite, taco dip. At my sister-in-laws baby shower, her family made amazing chicken salad sandwiches that I've never stopped thinking about.
Next to mini-sandwiches, fruit salad is also standard for showers. You can dress it up by making a baby carriage out of a watermelon if they're in season. We have all dug through a fruit salad for more strawberries, or in my case, blackberries. So, instead of a mixed salad, make a platter with all the fruit separated, which allows for guests to choose what they like most.
An assortment of drinks is also important. You can make punch to coordinate with the theme or gender. If it's a girl, use raspberry sherbet. For a boy, use blue Kool-Aide. If you are doing a summer themed party, you don't have to skip the wonderful frozen drinks! Most cocktails can be turned non-alcoholic with just a little research.
Games
Finally, what every guest dreads, baby shower games!! Personally, I love them but maybe I'm an oddball. For each game your guests play, have a small prize for the winner. If there is a tie, have them play "paper, rock, scissors" to decide the ultimate winner. Soaps, lotions, and hand sanitizer, are all great options for gifts that don't have to be expensive. Here are some of my favorite baby shower games:
Choose a word that is forbidden for the shower, such as baby, and tell each guest as they arrive that if someone says the word, they can take their safety pin.
Another variation is to not allow leg crossing. You can also use clothes pins instead.
Take real diapers and melt miniature chocolate bars in them. You can mush the diaper after it's melted to make guessing a little more difficult for the guests.
Every guest gets to decide how big the mommy's belly is and the closest one wins!
You can use all sorts of mediums for the measurement. Toilet paper works for large groups because you don't have to cut it. String or ribbon can work for smaller showers.
- Baby Bingo for gift opening
This game works best with larger showers. If the shower is large, the gifts will take a long time to open. So, this will keep the guests entertained while the mom is opening all the generously given gifts.
Take blank bingo cards, you can make or buy them, and have all the guests fill in the boxes with specific items they think the mom will receive. Instead of just "pacifier", have them write the brand of pacifier too. Or, instead of just "blanket" have the guests write the color too. First one to get bingo wins! (You can also print off cards already filled in)
Craft Time
If the host or mom-to-be is anti-games, you can involve the guests in other ways. You could buy different sized onesies or bibs and craft paint or fabric markers. Then have guests decorate one for the new baby however they choose. At the end, the guest of honor can pick out her favorite and give that person a little gift. You could also have each guest write a word of advice for the mom-to-be to keep in a keepsake box or photo album.
Non-Traditional
Now, if the mom to be is anti-baby-shower by all means, throw her a non-traditional party! These are becoming very popular. Games are thrown out, cutesy baby shower decorations are omitted, and pink and blue colors are no where insight. These showers usually involve co-eds, barbeques, and alcohol. Instead of doing a lunch shower with mini sandwiches, you could throw a brunch and even offer bellinis or mimosas. Don't forget to have "mocktails" for the mom-to-be. If the couple is a huge sports fan, you could throw a sports party with beer, pizza, and wings. Just make sure you inform your guests ahead of time on what to expect; which is done best with the invitation.
Second-time-mom "Baby Sprinkle"
Also, baby showers aren't just for first time moms anymore. Even with a second or third child, there is still reason to celebrate the new life! Therefore, "Baby Sprinkles" are becoming very popular. Since the parents have most of the baby gear already, gifts are small and normally kept to diapers, wipes and books.
Whatever you do, remember to assign someone to take lots of pictures. I've looked through the photo album my sister made for me a million times. It is nice to look back a few years later and see all the special people that came to celebrate my child and help prepare me for his arrival. I don't know what I would have done without the generosity of all my family and friends.
Posted by Michelle Kersey on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 @ 10:55 PM
It's Saturday afternoon. You are pregnant with your first child and you arrive at a baby store to create a gift registry. You feel empowered as you're handed a really fun scanner gun and then it hits you... you have no idea what to ask for. That is a common scene for most new parents, and I'll admit, I had that moment as well. It was two years ago when my husband and I looked at each other and had no clue what we were doing. Sure, they gave us a list of "necessities", and I scanned everything imaginable, but many things were just worthless. Being a mom for over two years, while not long in the grand scheme of things, allows me to remember what was wonderful and what wasn't.
Let me start with the baby room essentials:
- Crib with properly fitting mattress
- Dresser/changing station
- Waterproof mattress cover
- Sleep sack (replaces the comforter you won't use due to fear of SIDS)
- 3 Fitted sheets
- Bed skirt
- Bumper
- Video Monitor
- Stuffed animal net (trust me, you will receive tons of these plush space invaders)
There is no need to buy a bassinet if your Pack 'N Play fits in your room and has a bassinet attachment. Once your baby is sleeping in the crib, a video monitor is wonderful. When my son was an infant, it kept me from going into his room every two seconds to check on him. Silence is scary as a new parent, so being able to actually SEE that your baby is okay is incredible. Plus, it's always fun to just stare at the monitor and watch him sleep... I'm even peeking at him napping right now.
You will also need to think about baby/toddler proofing your living areas. Register for:
- Outlet Covers and cabinet locks (the magnetic kind works great, but are a tad expensive)
- Bumpers for table corners
- Bumpers for the fireplace hearth if you have one
- Toy box (see pictures below)
When my son was learning to walk, he fell head first into the fireplace hearth bumpers, got up and kept going. I was amazed each time that happened. While you're in your living room, take a look at your coffee table. First, your baby will want to take everything off of it; second, it will probably hurt him/her to fall into it. A great solution is to get a toy box that is covered in fabric or leather and has a lid that is reversible (see images above). One side is soft; the other is a table top. This way, when you have company over, you can hide all the toys inside and then use it to set drinks and knick knacks on. Most home goods stores will have one to match your decor.
My last suggestions are for things to keep your child entertained so you can take a shower, do the dishes, cook food, you know, normal stuff that can't happen with a baby in your arms. A bouncy seat is a great entertainer for infants. I remember bouncing my son with my foot while eating dinner, it was a life saver. A baby swing is also essential. However, for the first month my son only cried in his swing. When he finally caught on, he loved it until he was too big for it! Try to find one that is A/C powered and battery powered, or you'll waste a lot of money on batteries like we did.
There are no words to describe how much fun my son had playing in his exercauser while I accomplished many chores. However, my personal favorite entertainer is a Baby Einstein DVD. From 3 months to 2 years, your child will be glued to the TV when watching these movies. They make DVDs for different developmental stages; my son has even learned sign language, shapes and animals from them. These are also a great teaching tool to watch together and talk about the animals, shapes, etc. Caution: your husband will be glued as well.
In the end, the list can go on and on... as do the shelves at the baby store. Keep in mind, not everything that worked for my son will work for yours, but at least it's an educated start. Good luck and try to picture how you will actually use something before going scanner happy at the store. When in doubt, register for every small pack of size 1 diapers available, so you can find out which one works best for your baby before buying in bulk.
Print off this Shopping Checklist I created before you go register.