Should the new father get a baby shower?

[MM27]

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.'

 

[redlight]

Why not? I think it's a good idea.

 

[amg35]

I think it's a nice idea. Heck, you work with the dad, not the mom! It will be fun and i'm sure both mom and dad will appreciate it.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

The new shower is esssentially for the child, is it not? Granted, what is given, the parents won't have to purchase.

Very kind and generous thing to do.

 

[diznygirl]

When I was expecting my first, my husband''s coworkers planned a party for us. I was invited in to the office on the day of the party to share the fun. They took up a collection and we received a glider rocker. I really appreciated their kindness.

 

[emma'smom]

What a nice thing to do to celebrate with a colleague! It doesn't matter if it is the dad or the mom--you are celebrating an important time your colleague's life. The folks at my dh's office had a nice shower for us when my first dd was born. I was invited...so technically I say "us". However, they were his colleagues and I really didn't know most of them. This was in NYC where you just don't drop-in to your spouse's place of business because I was working too in a totally different borough. However, his colleagues were very generous and it was much appreciated.

My own colleagues had a separate shower for me at the school where I was teaching. DD wasn't included in that one---but it took place at the end of teh school day (which was still in the middle of the work day at DH's office). That shower was for two teachers (me and another teacher) who happened to be having children around the same time. It was a nice gesture as well!

 

[MM27]

we actually invited his wife too. It's going to be tomorrow and she swore she wouldn't tell him, so I am hopeful that we can pull off the surprise. I know he will appreciate it.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I think it's sweet. Every baby deserves to be showered... whether it's through dad or mom.

 

[golfgal]

The new shower is esssentially for the child, is it not? Granted, what is given, the parents won't have to purchase.

Very kind and generous thing to do.

I agree-I thought the baby shower was for the baby but since most babies aren't able to open presents, mom helps . I think it is a great idea that you include new Dad's at work too. I don't know that I would play any traditional "shower" games there but you can still have a party.

 

[RitaZ.]

we actually invited his wife too. It's going to be tomorrow and she swore she wouldn't tell him, so I am hopeful that we can pull off the surprise. I know he will appreciate it.

Sounds like an awesome plan!

 

[MichelleVW]

I asked my DH what he thought and he just laughed at me and thought it was a dorky idea. Personally I really do too. 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.

 

[Golf4food]

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.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

The office threw me a shower for my first born. The girls at the office organized it all and had my wife come in for the party. Great memories. Sadly, most of those friends died on 9/11.

 

[MichelleVW]

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.

Lol....my DH is far from zero to little human emotion but he would really think it was weird.

Seriously to each their own, but personally I would think it was a little odd.

 

[Tweevil]

We do these all the time at work - babies, adoptions, etc....

They actually are more fun that the regular showers if you ask me. Lot's of fun gifts (the new Dad survival kit for example) are given and it's not all pastels and stuff.

I say go for it and whomever doesn't want to give doesn't have to participate. No big deal right?

HTH

 

[merryweather20]

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

 

[dislaney]

I think it was a great idea.

 

[mom2maggie]

A baby shower is a celebration for the baby - why would it matter if it was for the mom or the dad? With both of my children, my husband's work has thrown a shower, and he thought it was a nice gesture!

 

[camreesmom]

We've done it for guys in our office. They seemed to enjoy it. Think about it, like a PP said, it's essentially for the baby and we spend so many hours of the day with our co-workers that we do tend to get close to some of them. We've always invited their wives, too, and it does end up being more fun than some typical showers. We don't play games but have a nice luncheon & cake while they open gifts.

 

[clh2]

My SIL was on the planning group for the baby shower of a male coworker. They all had a ball.

"Dad's root beer" was the beverage that was served, and the main gift for the dad/baby was a baby-backpack carrier.

I don't remember too many more of the details...this has to be at least 10 or 15 years ago.To the OP - have fun with the shower...there is so much attention that the new-moms get...that the dad deserves a little attention too!