Baby Shower Question

[Otto's Doll]

I just found out yesterday that I am going to be an aunt again! Hooray! My brother and sister-in-law have a 5 year old, and she is due with this one in April. My question is should we have a shower for her, or not?
I gave a shower for my other s-i-l in December, but her other child is 21, so she had nothing at all. I am sure that the one who is expecting now has things left, but would love to have one for her. I just don't know if it is "proper". (For me, I don't care, however her family is very "proper" and might not feel the same way.)
Any thoughts? (She did have a shower for the first one, btw.)

 

[Cebhfhionn]

I think you should definitely give her a shower. 5 years is a long time and she probably doesn't have alot of the stuff from the first baby.

 

[Beth76]

generally, showers aren't given for 2nd (or more) babies. But, if you want to then go right ahead.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

If you're okay with it and she's okay with it, go for it!

I preferred doing a smaller lunch with some of my closest friends instead of the big official baby shower when DS#2 and DD (3rd child) were born.

 

[NMAmy]

I say go right ahead if you want to give one. I'm sure she could use new items--baby items change so quickly and have new safety requirements. Five years is a long time between kids.

 

[Crankyshank]

Around here we do showers for each baby.

 

[lilpritch04]

In MN we do showers for each baby. But we don't do large, lavish showers either.

 

[GoofItUp]

Not to start a debate, but I always thought it was inappropriate for a family member to give another family member a shower. I always thought that friends should give the showers. Have any of you ever heard of this?

Otto, I would think it would be appropriate to have a shower for the second child. What if the first one was a boy and this one is a girl? They don't wear the same style clothes. Plus, there's always diapers and wipes...I'm sure she still doesn't have a supply of those laying around!

 

[coliebird]

I gave a small, luncheon type shower at my home for my sister's 2nd (her son was 4 1/2). It was me, my mom, our sister-in-law, her mother-in-law, her 3 sisters-in-law and a few close friends. It was very small & intimate and a lot of fun. Go for it, I'm sure she'll really appreciate it. Even if she has all of the big ticket items she could still use diapers and stuff.

 

[nkjzmom]

I don't understand why people get so hung up on not having baby showers after the first one. It's a celebration for a new little person coming into this world. I would never expect to get all of the wonderful things that were given at a first shower, but each child deserves to be honored.

Instead of baby showers I have been part of open houses...where guests are free to come and go as they choose. We do have light refreshments and most do bring small gifts...nothing fancy, no games. Sometimes we wait until the baby is here so that we can ooh and ahh over him/her.

Sorry if I'm a little edgy over this. I recently threw a "shower" for a friend who is having her 2nd child. I couldn't believe how many people gave me snotty remarks about having ANOTHER shower for her. I say it's all for the little one.

 

[nkjzmom]

I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS on becoming an aunt again!!!!

My sis is having her first child next week....I'm so excited to be called Aunt Amy!!!!!!

 

[mommytotwo]

My cousin who is due in three months, has a daughter that just turned five and she does have some baby things, but not much because it has been years since her daughter was a baby/infant. She had also given away alot of the baby items, and because this new baby is a boy, she will need a bunch of other things.
People that she knows will be throwing the baby shower for her which is very nice of them, and she registered online at two different places.
Maybe you could have a small shower for her.

 

[mep319]

goofitup--"technically" you're right....at one time family was not suppose to give showers...it was seen as "begging" for gifts. I think that has changed. It is a lot to expect a friend to throw a shower...most folks are way too busy w/ their own lifes! I have a DD7 and if I ever would be lucky enough to get pregnant again I would need another shower b/c everything is gone! I think if they were a year or 2 apart another baby shower would be tacky but there are so many years in there it is probably necessary. I just got an invite from my sil and brother's baby shower....it states on the invitation that money and gift cards are greatly appreciated in leiu of gifts....it also says that on the registry.......now that is tacky! I love my brother but yikes! I can't believe they did that!

 

[tkyes]

Goofitup - I just read about this on MSN the other day. Traditional etiquette says it should be friend, not family member, but that has pretty much gone out the window. It's no longer improper for a family member to host the shower.

I don't see a problem with a shower for the 2nd. If you think some people might be bothered by it I would just do an open house to come meet the baby. People who really want to give gifts will do so.

What I do have a problem with (sorry for the side rant) is my SIL who wanted a shower for her 3rd and even went out and registered for gifts Mind you her oldest at that time was only 4, so she wasn't far out of the baby loop. I guess I wouldn't be so bitter if she had ever sent out a thank you note to any of us, including me who hosted the first 2 showers for her. sigh - Can't wait to see if she demands one for her 4th!

 

[kimwim8]

I say, if you want to give her a second shower, go ahead! I had a second for my sister, and her in-law basically boycotted b/c they don't do that on their side of the family. That was fine with us. It wasn't a big thing, just held at my house, but like a pp said, it's all about the new baby!

We also had something very little for her 3rd (3rd boy). Just a little luncheon (didn't even call it a shower). More for the existing kids in our family...We let them open the presents & they felt like they were helping get ready for baby Kyle.