Should the new father get a baby shower?

[tw1nsmom]

I think it's a great idea. I know more hands-on Dad's that would think this was fun than I do dads who don't care about baby supplies or would think it was weird.

My DH is a very masculine guy, and I'm a SAHM, but he has no problem doing the parenting duties. He helped me research the products we wanted to use with our kids when they were little, and when he was home he was just as likely to be feeding/bathing/diapering/rocking the babies as i was.

 

[aprilgail2]

Showers are something that woman are forced to Oh wait, I mean get to go to. Why torture a man with one?

I think every new mother should get one because it's just the nice thing to do, but I think having one for a man is a little odd. But that's just my opinion.

My baby shower was a jack and jill shower---the men were there to be tortured along with the women!
Where I work we take up a collection and buy the dads to be some type of baby gift for their child once its born. When I had my daughter the guys came up with a great gift for me (I was the only female working there at the time)- digital cameras were just coming around cheaper and they bought me a nice digital camera to take pictures of the baby! They actually put thought into the gift and it was awesome!

 

[Go Saints!]

I think it is a great idea. What we do around here is on the day of the baby shower for the mother, the men throw a diaper party for the father. Everyone must bring a bag of diapers (different sizes) and a box of wipes. They BBQ or boil crawfish and drink some beer while the wives are having their party. This has become a nice tradition in the past few years.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

One of the teachers on my grade level team is having a baby at the end of next month. It is the first child for him and his wife. Me and the other two teachers on our team decided that it would be nice to do a shower for him.

As with all celebrations, we sent around a collection envelope so that we could get a group gift and most people were very generous. We were able to get him a big gift and we got a gift card with the rest of the money.

One person commented that baby showers are for new mothers and we were just looking for an excuse to hold a party I don't care who contributes, but really is there any need for the comment? Every woman that works with us that has had a baby has had a shower, and the men all contribute to their gifts. Isn't it fair for them to get the same treatment?

The three of us that are throwing the shower did a baseball theme (daddy is a huge Yankees fan) and ordered a cake that will say 'Welcoming the newest rookie of the year' and we put together a gift for him from the three of us that is filled with stuff for him and baby like My first Yankee T and bibs that say 'My dad is cooler than your dad.'

I think this is a fabulous idea! And I love the Yankee theme!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That was very nice of you guys.

 

[MarilIncredible]

We had on in my office last year for a father to be. I don't think it is something that is only for mothers. Maybe it was that way years ago b/c Daddy worked and Mommy stayed home, so Mommy would need things for House & Baby while all Daddy needed was a briefcase and a good martini afer work.

 

[puffkin]

When I worked for a large corporation, my department did this all the time. They actually had a committee that collected dues once a month and then they had parties for weddings, babies, service anniversaries and a monthly birthday party. It was actually kind of nice, I think the dues were $2/month. The dept gave the person (man or woman) a gift card and supplied a cake. Some coworkers would bring in small gifts as well but the giftcards was pretty sizeable, I think it was $100 for a baby. There were about 60 people in the department.

My husband worked for the same company at the time. His department threw a shower for our wedding and I was invited. For the baby they filled a basket with all sorts of stuff. It was very nice.

The last company I worked for did the pass the envelope thing. They always got a enough donations for a very sizeable gift card. They did not discriminate man or woman....however there was never a party at work.

 

[waltskids]

In our school, fathers will get a shower for first babies (or first weddings). It's not just for the female teachers.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I think it's a great idea, especially since you are doing the Yankees theme. No, most guys wouldn't want to play the corny shower games, (heck, I don't know any women who like them either) but I'm sure he will appreciate the gifts and the thought that you put into it. Besides, who doesn't like a party at work, no matter what the reason.

 

[paintnolish]

Every party has a pooper, right? I think it is common and acceptible!

 

[Laura]

We did that for a male co-worker's first child. Potluck, gift card to Babies R Us, etc. It was fun.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I think it depends on the man. A "manly man" type with zero-to-little human emotion would probably be offended. A man more in touch with the real world outside of Dirty Harry movies might be fine with it.

My boss, the Deputy Chief of Police, and his wife were expecting twins last year. We threw HIM a baby shower...gifts, decorations, cake, favors, the works. Everyone at the department that day was invited plus the Police Commissioners. It was a surprise...and boy was he surprised...and very humbled...but that grin on him in all of the pictures...SO worth it! I would totally call my boss a 'manly man', but not at all devoid of human emotion.

 

[Disney Ella]

My husband's office did that. We thought it was nice. And since it was at the office, it wasn't your typical shower with corny games.

 

[MichelleVW]

I think it is a great idea. What we do around here is on the day of the baby shower for the mother, the men throw a diaper party for the father. Everyone must bring a bag of diapers (different sizes) and a box of wipes. They BBQ or boil crawfish and drink some beer while the wives are having their party. This has become a nice tradition in the past few years.

I would rather go to the Men's shower and have beer and crawfish than a boring baby shower any day!! Seriously I freaking hate baby/wedding/whatever showers and think they are so boring. Especially when you have to play stupid shower games!

 

[Pigeon]

I much prefer baby showers (and wedding showers) that are inclusive of both members of the couple.

 

[Crystal0608]

Guys like baby showers too, I think it's a great idea.

At my first adult job at 19, the office manager gave me the duty of event planning, which we had a lot of (loved it!). I worked in the office at a factory and donations were taken up for deaths in the family, sickness, and baby showers. For the guys showers, I got the idea from dh's job. His boss was his other "mama" and his mom had worked there over 20 yrs so they had him a shower for our 1st and seriously filled up the back of his truck and I thought it was so nice.

I started having showers for the guys too, which was potluck and presents/cash and it was actually well appreciated and guys started showing up for the parties too. I remember for my 2nd baby, a guy friend bought me a snoopy gift set and was so proud he picked it out himself and some of the guys made good food for my shower, heck a few went in and bought me a new set of tires, excellent gift idea .

 

[onyx8]

Yes, we have had showers for new fathers at my office - why not?

 

[surfergirl602]

When one of the guys at my job was having his first child, we had a "shower" for him. his wife couldn't make it, but they were greatful. We just had it in the office as a little party, small military office, but it was nice for everyone to get together and celebrate.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

My BF's husband works at the Police Dept and they gave him a diaper shower, she said they didn't have to buy diapers for a year. I think it is a great idea, a great way to include dad.

Suzanne

 

[MerMom60_94]

I think it was contextually appropriate in your case.

However most guys I know are alot less interested in baby necessities. If someone through a shower for a couple they would "get" the new Mom baby clothes and a breast pump, and they would wrap new Playstation games for the Dad. If I gave a baby gift to a guy friend, they would take it home for the Mom to unwrap or say I'll bet Lauren will love this... really, how about you? its your baby too...

I'm sure there's the odd guy who would at least feign interest in new bibs and washcloths, but I haven't met them. It sounds like you picked out gifts that would peak his interst a little though

You just haven't met my husband. DH is a firefighter so when DD was a baby he watched her on his days off while I worked. It was not uncommon for me to come home from work and discover he had taken her clothes shopping and bought her lots of little outfits. It used to crack me up. Mind you, the outfits for his baby girl consisted of jeans and flannel shirts but, hey, somebody has to be practical! For the record, DH is very manly, yet he has a very sweet, compassionate side to him. I think it's pretty common now-a-days for men to want the full experience of raising their children.

To the OP, I think it's a fabulous idea. We had a shower for one of the guys in the office back in the fall when his baby was due. We have also had a couple of wedding showers for men who were getting married. Why not celebrate these milestones in their lives?