Baby shower ideas?

[maslex]

So my brother is having his 3rd child (well actually his girlfriend is)

They already have 2 boys (ages 5 and 8). She doesn't have any baby stuff anymore, so is it weird or out of line to have another baby shower? She had one for her 1st.


Anyhow, this baby is a little girl and my mom and I was thinking of throwing her a shower (baby is due beginning of Feb) What types of food, games, gifts? It's been FOREVER since my boys were itty bitties. Thanks!!!

 

[HelenePA]

Nothing wrong with celebrating the life of ANY new baby if you ask me. (I had showers for #1 and #3) There was a very long thread about baby showers a few days ago... here is the link http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1957807 there was this one as well http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1961396

 

[MegaDisney]

Well, you'll get a variety of opinions on this one. My advice would be to look at what's done in your social circle and follow that. Where I'm from, baby showers are done for first babies only. Period. End of sentence.

However, that doesn't mean that subsequent babies are not celebrated, of course! The notion that babies can only be celebrated through a shower is ridiculous. But if it is something that your family and friends do, go for it. Some folks might see it as a gift grab, but most won't and will probably come and have a great time.

Good luck!!!

 

[goofypooh]

I've also always heard that baby showers should be for the first baby only. However, I agree with HelenePA, a new baby should always be celebrated! (I also had showers for baby #1 and #3). Especially if there are several years between babies. My DD#3 came almost 7 years after my DD#2! She was our little "surprise"! We had not saved any of our baby stuff because we didn't think we would be needing it again. Your brother is having his first girl.....I definitely think they should have a shower.

There are a lot of fun games to play at a baby shower. At my last baby shower, we played a game where everyone had to taste different baby foods (fruits, veggies, meats)& guess what they were tasting. Another one we played at a shower I planned was to name the children from different TV shows. We used shows such as The Brady Bunch, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, etc. Have Fun!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Also from NE and here showers are held for first babies only. My nephew, who is now 14 days old, will receive baby gifts, but no shower held for my SIL

 

[mjkacmom]

Also in the NE, and it's very rare for more than one shower. However, I was surprised with a very small, intimate shower for my twins (who were totally unexpected). Mostly clothes and diapers - I either had what I needed, or knew enough moms with older kids who were very happy/anxious to find a good home for their baby stuff. If you choose to have a shower, make it simple - maybe even just freezer meals?

 

[aprilgail2]

I've also always heard that baby showers should be for the first baby only. However, I agree with HelenePA, a new baby should always be celebrated! !

Here it is very rare to have a baby shower for any kids after the first one and if you do there are always people "talking" about how wrong it is to have more than one shower. I would not be comfortable having people bring me more gifts for another shower after I had the first one either but to each their own. The new baby does get celebrated- when they are born people bring gifts just like they do for the first one (even if you already gave a shower gift) but the mom does not get a shower for every single kid she has.

 

[goofypooh]

Like I said, I've always heard there should be a shower for the first baby only. And believe me, my mom is one of those people "talking" if someone has more than one. I just really think it depends on the circumstances. And that is just my opinion, personally! I didn't expect a shower for my 3rd baby, but 2 of my friends planned a surprise shower for me. I was very grateful & thought it was a very sweet thing for them to do. I think things are different in different parts of the country, too. I've also always heard that a family member should not be the one throwing the shower.

 

[cristit14]

I went to a shower yesterday and they had a really cool thing they did. They had each guest pick a number out of a hat and then everyone was given a pretty blank card and envelope. We then wrote the baby a letter (this shower was given after the baby was born so we knew his name). We mentioned how we knew his mother, told something about her, something about what is going on in the world right now and something about the year he was going to be. For example I drew number 10 so my card would be opened and read when he turns 10 years old. I thought it was a great idea.

We also played this silly game where they took popular candy bars, melted them and they were in diapers. You then had to guess what the candy bars were. They got some funny pictures of us looking in and smelling diapers.

 

[HelenePA]

Here it is very rare to have a baby shower for any kids after the first one and if you do there are always people "talking" about how wrong it is to have more than one shower. I would not be comfortable having people bring me more gifts for another shower after I had the first one either but to each their own. The new baby does get celebrated- when they are born people bring gifts just like they do for the first one (even if you already gave a shower gift) but the mom does not get a shower for every single kid she has.

Oh well let em talk, if they dont come oh well. NONE of dh's side of his family came to my 2nd shower and ya know what? I didn't care. Didn't miss em at all. I had just lost my mom and MY friends and family wanted to celebrate the birth of a new baby all together in one room with food, cake and a YUMMY chocolate fountain. I didn't have a shower for this baby... but guess what... I'm planning a meet the baby bbq after he is born Oh the horror. I'm not doing it for gifts. I have everything I need. I'm doing it to celebrate. (sorry if i'm snippy... i'm hot, uncomfortable, and want this freaking baby out NOW! )

 

[koalababy]

As an aunt I would just buy lots of girl clothes. They can take care of all the other stuff they need. It's not other people's responsibility to stock their nursery because they got rid of all their baby stuff. Let them host a baby welcoming party after the baby is born and I'm sure they'll get some clothes and diapers and such.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

As an aunt I would just buy lots of girl clothes. They can take care of all the other stuff they need. It's not other people's responsibility to stock their nursery because they got rid of all their baby stuff. Let them host a baby welcoming party after the baby is born and I'm sure they'll get some clothes and diapers and such.

I pretty much agree with this. While I truly do think all babies should be celebrated, having what we consider a "shower" is imo tacky. By shower I mean the registry etc. Have a luncheon and to celebrate that you are having a baby with no expectation of gifts or have a welcome home baby party. That to me makes sense. If people want to get you something they can but they should not feel obligated. Having an all out shower to get your nursery stocked is rude imo even if your kids ar 10 years apart. JMHO.

 

[goofypooh]

I pretty much agree with this. While I truly do think all babies should be celebrated, having what we consider a "shower" is imo tacky. By shower I mean the registry etc. Have a luncheon and to celebrate that you are having a baby with no expectation of gifts or have a welcome home baby party. That to me makes sense. If people want to get you something they can but they should not feel obligated. Having an all out shower to get your nursery stocked is rude imo even if your kids ar 10 years apart. JMHO.

I think maybe it might be rude if you threw yourself a shower & asked people to come "stock your nursery". That would be a bit nervy! But, if someone throws you a shower & you show up because it is in your honor, then I don't really think that is rude. If people think that they are being invited to a shower just to bring a gift, then they really shouldn't attend anyway. Usually, the people that are invited to a shower are close friends or family members & they would probably want to do something for the new baby anyway. JMHO.

 

[barkley]

I think maybe it might be rude if you threw yourself a shower & asked people to come "stock your nursery". That would be a bit nervy! But, if someone throws you a shower & you show up because it is in your honor, then I don't really think that is rude. If people think that they are being invited to a shower just to bring a gift, then they really shouldn't attend anyway. Usually, the people that are invited to a shower are close friends or family members & they would probably want to do something for the new baby anyway. JMHO.

maybe i'm out of the loop but isnt the exact purpose of a 'shower' (bridal, baby or other) to 'shower' the guest of honor with gifts? if my thinking is correct then what other conclusion is a person to come to than they are being invited with the expectation that the event is being held to facilitate a gift receiving event for the guest of honor? i can't speak for others but while i've been invited to many 'parties', 'celebrations' and 'warmings' that have an unspoken tradition of bringing a gift i've encountered a fair share that have had it clearly stated on the invitation that they preferred no gifts-i've never received or heard of a 'shower' invitation that had similar wording.

op-i think you have to look to what is comfortable within the group of people you would consider inviting. in some circles anything other than a first baby's shower is considered 'tacky', in other's it's completly acceptable. in the region i used to live in it just was'nt done except with immediate family and very close friends-and it was more of an informal thing where you just called people up and set a date and time (none of the invitations or games)-more like a lunch hosted at someone's home.

 

[goofypooh]

Of course when you are invited to a shower you know it means you bring a gift. My point is just that if you are invited to someone's shower that you do not know very well & feel that you weren't planning to get that person a gift & now feel obligated to get a gift, then you probably shouldn't attend that shower. Like you said, it all depends on where you live & how you view it. When someone threw a shower for me when I was pregnant with my 3rd child, it was just a nice time of getting together with a group of friends & celebrating the birth of a new baby. And yes, people brought gifts. But these were people that probably would have come to visit me and brought a gift after the baby was born anyway. It was just a nice way for a group of us to be together at the same time & feel that we were all a part of the new life that was about to begin.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I went to a shower yesterday and they had a really cool thing they did. They had each guest pick a number out of a hat and then everyone was given a pretty blank card and envelope. We then wrote the baby a letter (this shower was given after the baby was born so we knew his name). We mentioned how we knew his mother, told something about her, something about what is going on in the world right now and something about the year he was going to be. For example I drew number 10 so my card would be opened and read when he turns 10 years old. I thought it was a great idea.

I love this idea! I've never heard of it, but how cool!!