Baby showers have been very popular and are one tradition that almost all mothers-to-be from almost all countries practice. Since baby shower is not only gift giving but also a social event. It is for this reason that some etiquette should be observed. These etiquettes may vary depending on your country but the following is the most common ones.

1. The best time to hold a baby shower is sometime before the birth. Usually, baby showers are held a month or two before the birth of the baby. Recently, some people practice holding the baby shower a month or two after the birth. Holding the party before the birth of the bay will give time for the mother to buy the items that were not given as gifts during the baby shower.

2. Traditionally, a close friend of the new mom hosts the baby party. Relatives and co-workers can also host the event.

3. Baby showers are not only for first-born babies but also for subsequent babies. Every pregnancy is a reason to celebrate, so there is nothing wrong to throw a baby shower to subsequent babies.

4. It is just proper to give gifts that are related to babies. Neutral colors can be picked for gifts so that it will relate to either a boy or girl. It is best to choose gifts that can be useful and something that a baby may need everyday like diapers, feeding bottles, bibs and baby blankets.

5. For the host, it is okay to have games to break the ice but it is not that required. Conversations, food and drinks are the thing that should be considered. It would also be a nice idea to have a book where the guests can write on their notes and messages to the new mom.

6. Usually, twenty people or more are invited but this will also depend on the number of people that can be accommodated in the venue. Sometimes, they hold a small number before the birth and larger group after the baby is born.

7. A baby shower is usually held during weekend since that is the most convenient day for the visitors and would normally last two to three hours. The time may be extended especially if everything is doing well.

8. The person hosting should shoulder the expenses on food and other things.

9. Ideally, the baby shower is held at the home of the person hosting the party. The new mom would be informed since a pregnant woman is not fit for surprises.

10. It is not necessary to have a special invitation printed. The host can buy stationeries or greeting cards with baby themes in bookstores. It will also be a good idea to have the invitations sent at least three weeks before the party. This will give enough time for guests to RSVP. Do not forget to include the directions.

11. A theme for the party is not that necessary but this adds life to a party. Wearing costumes and decorating the venue gives a happy and celebrating atmosphere.

12. It is only proper to welcome guests when they come and thank them when they leave. The host should always be present during the party and should be the one attending at the guests.

For most parents, especially to mothers-to-be, waiting for the new baby’s arrival is, indeed, one of the most cherished and much-awaited event. They would usually spend each waking hour counting the ticks of the clock, the droplets that tap on the window pane, and the days in the calendar just to confirm how many days are still left before the baby’s due arrival.

In order to lessen the anticipation of the parents, having a baby shower is one of the most feasible ways to cut back the long-wait.

A baby shower is actually one type of party wherein money or gifts are given to the expectant mother in lieu of the baby’s arrival. The relatives or friends of the parents are the ones who usually organize the party.

It has not been founded in any historical events and is slowly taking recognition in the United States and in countries where the way of life in the U.S. are incorporated.

The basic purpose of organizing baby showers is to help the parents manage and organize the items needed for the baby’s due arrival. It is also one way of celebrating the joy and excitement of having a new member in the family – the baby.

Hence, it is important for the organizers to come up with ideas or themes that they think would best suit the mother’s personality or the tone of the occasion. And because it is one type of merrymaking, themes that will be use in the baby shower should reflect the joy and happiness being felt by everybody.

In reality, coming up with a good theme for the baby shower can be very tedious for the organizers. There are so many considerations that you have to take into account before deciding on a specific theme. Best of all, it has to suit the gender of the baby.

Planning for the baby shower and getting some solid information for remarkable baby shower ideas would be a lot easier if the sex of the baby is known. It really helps a lot.

In this manner, you will be able to know which colors to use, what kind of games to play, and what theme to integrate.

However, there are instances wherein the sex of the baby is not known. In turn, organizers will be having a difficult time organizing things and arranging the details of the baby shower.

But this should not discourage the organizers like you in coming up with an excellent and fascinating baby shower. All you have to do is to do your homework and search for some generalized and yet amusing baby shower ideas. From games to party favors, you can make the party worth your guests’ time.

Where to Get Baby Shower Ideas?

For most people, coming up with great baby shower ideas is a breeze. They can easily think of something that can be really appealing.

However, there are people who really cannot generate feasible and remarkable baby shower ideas. And so, it is best that they seek the help of some magazines, advices from relatives and friends, and the Internet.

Indeed, with the advent of information technology, coming up with a notable baby shower idea is not difficult. With tons of web sites that cater to those who are planning to organize a baby shower, you can never run out of great baby shower ideas.

Boiled down, people should always remember that whatever baby shower ideas they will use in the party, it is best if they will always reflect the joy and happiness of everybody for the baby’s arrival.

Uses:

1. Baby shower graphics can catch the attention of your guests.

2. Baby shower graphics can give a hint or a suggestion to your invitation, about what the affair is all about and the theme of the affair.

3. It is used in invitations to catch the reader’s attention.

4. A baby shower graphic, without any wording, can provide a clear demonstration of the occasion.

5. It gives beauty, attraction and life to any invitation.

Your own printable baby shower invitations

1. Giving the invitation a design. Using a simple and easy to understand word processor such as the Microsoft Word, decide on and pick the right dimension for your invitation after which you can print out a test on a plain paper to make certain that the size is right.

2. Think of a theme, wherein all colors, designs and graphics will be based from it.

3. Look for and choose a card stock that appeal to your taste, so you can print on your invitations to it. Your local craft or office supply establishment have a variety of designs and they are very affordable too. Remember to choose a paper with not much color in it, as then it would compete with the colors that you may have on your graphic. A simple lightly colored textured paper is best.

4. Using a word processor, insert text boxes; in the text box, type in the wording that you want on your invitation. Here, you can have choices as to what font and color to use. Do keep in mind to keep it simple. Do not be overwhelmed by all the colors you see. At the most, you should only use three colors as too much of it can make your invitation look more of a mess then what it really is.

5. In the net, many sites offer and provide baby shower graphics for free which you can readily use in your invitation. By searching for “free graphics” on any search engine the results will be plenty, and you will surely find a site offering free graphics. All you have to do is to look at the graphics, choose one, then download and insert them into your invitation; you can change its position, resize it and place it in a position and location that you desire.

6. If you plan to use the baby shower graphic as background, it should not block the wordings on the invitation. Preferably, images set on a background must be watermarked. Almost all word processors allow background images to be selected and chooses them as watermarks.

7. Need a catchy poem for your invitation? Do a search in the net once more for verses related to your invitation. For instance, you can search for “baby shower verse” and results are sure to come in.

8. It is important to save the original copy of your finished invitation and print it out. A sample on plain paper should first be printed in order to see what it looks like. If the results are good, you then can start printing and personalizing each invitation on a stock card.

9. If you have no printer, you can save your file on a disk and bring the disk to your nearest local print shop to have the disk printed out.

Having a baby shower soon and planning to make you own invitation, decorations or party favors? Then baby shower clip art is for you. Putting baby shower clip art is the easiest and most affordable way to make your invitations, announcements and even party favors more interesting. They can help you design the perfect card, poster, flyer for the up and coming baby shower. And the best part about using baby shower clip art is that you don’t need to be an artist to use them. Aside from invitations and favors, you could also use baby shower clipart to create baby shower keepsakes and scrap booking accents for you, your family and your friends

There are many types of baby shower clip art. The range goes from the outrageously funny, irresistibly cute to the heartwarmingly sentimental. Of course on top of the list are drawings of babies in various positions. You have babies alone, babies with bottles, babies with teddy bears, babies with blankets or babies 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, etc.

Everyone find babies cute, cuddly and adorable and everyone simply loves looking at baby pictures. Putting baby shower clip art in your wedding invitation or flyer is a wise decision since it will definitely attract attention.

Another good thing about baby shower clipart is hat it is very easy to find. And usually you can get them free of charge. And even if you have to pay a fee, it is often very affordable. And the money you shell out will definitely be worth it since baby shower clipart have hundreds if not thousand of uses.

The Internet is a treasure throve of baby shower clipart ready for you to download. There are literally thousands of available baby shower clipart on the world wide web. You wouldn’t have a hard time looking for them.
And whatever baby shower you are planning to do, for sure there is a baby shower clipart that is appropriate for it. That’s because there is a very wide category of baby shower clipart which contains different styles and designs that are perfect for any baby shower needs. And it doesn’t matter if the baby is a boy or a girl. For sure there is a baby shower clipart made for specifically for each gender and there are many that are made for both.

The only real rule that you need to remember when using baby shower clipart is to use a single theme all throughout your project. For example, your invitation and thank you notes should match so you must use the same style or design of baby shower clipart when making both.

Another rule is not to clutter your project with too many different baby shower clipart. Doing so would only make your project look messy. You must also pay attention to things like color, size and format of the baby shower clipart.

You must also learn how to experiment with sizes, colors and themes. Put some clipart together and see what works for you. All you need is a little practice and patience and you’ll soon be creating your baby shower masterpiece.

Save money by using baby shower clipart. You need not spend a fortune on baby shower invitation and favors. All you need is your creativity and some baby shower clipart and you’re ready to make the most memorable baby shower.

To help you plan yours or a friend’s baby shower, use this checklist to ensure you have all the supplies you need for a wonderful baby shower.

Printed cards

The invitation card is the primary element in the baby shower. It should carry the theme of the party to let the guests know what to expect. It will also guide them in buying the baby shower gift. Send the invitations at least a month in advance. Make sure to RSVP so you can plan against the right number of guests.

Depending on your budget, you may choose from a variety of invitations. The Internet offers such a variety, from the free and already printable to the online-purchased customized invitations. If you are computer savvy, you may use your home printer and a desktop publishing software to create-your-own themed baby shower invitation.

While on the subject of invitation cards, prepare the thank you cards at the same time. Ensure that your theme emanates in the layout of the thank you card. Sending out thank you cards provides proper closure to the party and gives your guests a lasting memory of the fun they had.

Games and Activities

While your invitations are being produced, plan for the party activities. Games will enliven each activity and entice participation from the guests. Depending on your theme, choose the games that are suitable to the theme, or customize them to suit. For example, the traditional bring me game can be customized by asking to “bring me” pink colored items, for a baby girl shower theme.

Prizes are as important in making the occasion memorable, so be prepared to give prizes to all game winners and sometimes, even participants.

Prepare or add on to this list as required by the activities that you have planned. Make sure that you have listed all the things needed to make the activity successful and to avoid last-minute paraphernalia substitutes.

Party Venue Set-up

As dictated by the theme, set-up the party place accordingly. If it is a layette party, hang a clothesline all around the room and clip colored paper cutouts of baby clothes and stuffs. For the Hollywood theme, copy the set-up by having a red carpet where guests will walk-in.

Food and Drinks

The other half of a lively party is overflowing food and drinks. Make sure that as you finalize the number of guests, you are able to buy enough food and drink supplies for the headcount. Buy an extra 10% more to make sure that hungry guests get their fill. Like the games and activities list, expand this section to include details on the supplies needed for your specific menu.

Baby Shower Souvenirs

Aside from the game prizes, give your guests a thank you token for attending and participating in the baby shower. Note that this is different from a thank you card, which will be sent to individual guests as a thank you for their gift. Thus, guest who may not have brought gifts can still receive this baby shower souvenir. It does not need to be expensive, especially if there are game prizes given out. Just be sure to have it in-line with your theme to complete the effect.

Celebrate the coming of a newborn in an organized fashion. Use this checklist of baby shower supplies to plan for a successful baby shower.

A baby is always a reason to have a celebration. Thus, there is the baby shower.

Baby showers have gained considerable popularity in the past decade. This may be attributed to families becoming smaller; therefore each child gets more individual attention.

What is a baby shower?

A baby shower is a party thrown in honor of a couple who is expecting their firstborn. Baby showers are held with the purpose of bestowing gifts upon the first-time mother so she’ll have the items needed by the baby on its arrival day.

Baby showers also serve as a welcoming event for a new member to the family.

Who can have a baby shower?

By tradition, a baby shower is held only for the first baby. Today, a shower is held for every baby. After all, each and every baby is special, don’t you agree?

Who hosts the baby shower?

Traditionally, a close friend or a family member from either side organizes the baby shower. But, you can have anyone throw a baby shower for you. Be it family, friends, or co-workers.

When is the best time to have the baby shower?

Usually, the baby shower is held in the later stages of the pregnancy, around four to six weeks prior to the due date.

Sometimes, people purposefully wait for the baby to arrive for some reason.

Who are to be invited to the baby shower?

It depends. If it is a work place shower, naturally you might only invite co-workers of the mommy to be. Or if it is a family shower, invite family members. But you may also opt to just hold one big baby shower where everyone is invited.

These days, couples showers are also becoming popular. During a couples shower, both men and women are invited. And surprisingly, guys enjoy baby showers as much as women do.

Be also mindful when inviting friends who have recently experienced losses or are having problems having a child. Most may feel left out if uninvited. What you can do is to ask them personally if they would be able to come in respect to their current situation.

And to avoid leaving out someone uninvited unintentionally, write a guest list beforehand.

What themes are appropriate for a baby shower?

Themed baby showers are of course a bit more difficult to organized. The more famous themes include,

1. Mother Shower. Shower the mommy with gifts to pamper her. This is a nice twist over the usual gifts of baby items.

2. Dad’s Shower. Gifts for dad like coffee, Tylenol, etc. will be appropriate.

3. Baby Safety Shower. All presents must be of a safety nature.

4. Nursery Theme Showers. Concept of the baby shower is based on the nursery’s theme.

What to serve the guests on the baby shower?

If you are adopting a theme, try to match the food you will serve with your particular theme.

The time of day when the baby shower is to be held also plays an important factor. If you are having the shower at about noon or at dinnertime, serve a full meal as this will be what your guests expect to be served. For early afternoon or early evening baby showers, finger foods, cake, and a light punch will do.

As with the choice of food, as much as possible serve those that may also be ingested by the mother-to-be. Which most likely does not include alcohol. As a substitute, serve sparkling cider instead.

There are a lot of things to consider during a baby shower. But of course, nothing beats proper planning and early preparation.

Have a great baby shower!

What comes to mind after hearing the four magical words, “We’re having a baby?” A baby shower, of course. Organizing a party with the expectant parents’ closest friends and family members is the perfect way of expressing “Congratulations,” or “We’re happy for you,” or “Best wishes.”

Aimed at further boosting the parents-to-be’s excitement for the future member of their family, the baby shower is usually hosted by a close friend or relative, at any time during the last months of the pregnancy.

Just like any other party, a baby shower requires careful planning to ensure that it will go as smoothly as possible, and be memorable for everyone. Although there are no rules cast in stone in preparing for a baby shower, there are some helpful tips to follow to help the host organize every aspect of the event.

1) Decide on the location.

Most baby showers are held at the parent-to-be’s house, since the expectant mother’s health needs to be considered. It is recommended for small, intimate parties, with only the closest friends and family members. Guests also tend to be more comfortable if the party’s setting is at home.

If the expectant parents love the outdoors, a barbecue party at their garden, or a local park may also be an option. Naturally, the weather must be considered – baby shower does not literally mean soaking the guests in the rain.

For less complications, the host may reserve a secluded area in a restaurant or bar. It may be more costly, but at least the decoration, food and drinks, as well as the post-party cleanup will already be taken care of.

2) Choose the party’s theme.

For easier decoration ideas, a theme may be decided upon. Consider the expectant parents’ favorite movies or hangouts. Another option is to decorate the party site by re-creating the place where they had their honeymoon, such as a cruise ship, or Paris-inspired café.

Since the party will also be a celebration of the future baby, a childish atmosphere may also be considered. Choose cartoon characters, bright colors, and other designs depending on the baby’s gender.

3) Finalize the menu.

The party’s menu will depend upon the time of the event. In most baby showers, the host serves finger food, pastries and other baked goods for convenience. However, if the event will be held during lunch or dinner time, heavier meals will naturally be served. Alcoholic drinks may also be prepared, depending on the guests’ preference.

4) Design a fun program.

Contrary to what most people believe, a baby shower is not only limited to mingling around, gift giving, eating and drinking. Fun games may also be included, such as charades, or those which will bring back the guests’ childhood memories. Remember that the main point is to make sure everyone will have a good time, and various games will surely liven up the event.

5) Create the guest list and send out invitations.

Prepare a list of the expectant parents’ closest friends and family members. Make sure to seek their approval before sending out invitations, to avoid any embarrassing mistakes later. Bear in mind that it’s the parents’ event, and not the host’s, so their choice of people should matter the most.

Ready-made baby shower invitations are readily available in gift shops and craft stores. However, homemade invitations may also be used to provide the host’s personal touch.

Send out invitations out two to four weeks before the party to give time for the guests to fix their schedule. Baby shower invitations follow the same format as any other invitation – it indicates the date, time, place, attire preferred, gift registry, if any, the host’s contact numbers for RSVP. Just to be organized, prepare a final list of attendees a few days before the baby shower.

It is always a great joy to have someone added to your family, especially if it is a cute little baby. And how else would you celebrate the joy of having one? Plan the most fun and unique baby shower you’ll ever have. Preparing for a baby shower should be fun and exciting. You can be as creative as you want. Go simple or go real extravagant. As long as you will make your party special and unforgettable, you can go ahead and experiment on the different themes you can have.

You can go traditional or get a little creative and make your baby shower a lot more unique. You can spice up the party with different themes that can either be serious, adorable or humorous.

Below are some popular themes ideas that would surely be a hit in any baby showers.

Color themes
The usual color themes for girls are pink and blue for the boys. These are simple themes that can be just as fun as other themes. Decorate your venue with your chosen color theme. In putting up colored ribbons, intertwine them with a white ribbon too. This would give the room an elegant look. If you are unsure whether your baby would be a boy or a girl, settle for neutral colors like green or yellow.

Baby bottles theme
You can have a baby bottle as your centerpiece in this particular theme. Use them as cute containers for game prizes. You can make fun of them too by using baby bottles as cups or mugs.

Teddy bear theme
Everyone loves these cuddly teddies. They are perfect for decorations. You don’t have to buy teddy bears though to fill up the room. Old but presentable ones will do. It would be memorable to have the guest of honor’s favorite teddy as a centerpiece.

Diaper theme
Begin with sending cute diaper cut- out invitation. Guests should bring their own diaper gifts with a particular size. This way, you can save on diapers even up to three months!

Nursery rhyme theme
It’s a good idea to make nursery rhymes as theme for your party. You can make use of famous character like Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, or the famous Mother Goose. Pictures could be nice as decorations but it would really look nice if you have some kind of a replica. You can also add on some of the line to your invitations.

Themes for twins
Remember the famous Noah’s ark story? All animals are paired in two’s when lodging the ark. It’s the perfect theme for expectant mothers of twins. Don’t forget to note in your invitation that you will be having twins, this way; guests will have to bring two gifts of either the same kind or two different ones.

Fairytale Themes
There are thousand of fairytale characters that have been a tradition throughout baby shower parties. Cinderella and Snow White are the most common ones for girl. Peter Pan is the most suitable character for boys. This kind of theme can be made interesting with colorful decorations and creates a fantasy- like atmosphere.

Having a theme in your baby shower can add a little more coordination in the things you need to prepare. A theme would dictate which kind of food you need to prepare, the look of the invitations and how you would decorate your chosen venue. With a theme, you would have to be groping in the dark on how you would create that perfect baby shower.