An Easy Step By Step Guide To Planning a Baby Shower

Now that celebrations are slowly starting to take place in person, baby showers are back on - and for many, one of the happiest celebrations to plan.

If you have accepted the task of planning a baby shower for a friend or relative - and it’s your first one - you might be at a bit of a loss for what to do next. Here are some tips to keep in mind when putting together your to-do list to make sure that the baby shower is a memorable one for the expectant parents and the guests. 

Determine a Theme

There are practical reasons for determining a theme for a baby shower. They make it easier to plan things like invitations, décor, food, games, and party favors - and to keep focused amongst the zillions of options out there. If you know the baby’s gender and the parents-to-be are okay with it, you can choose a theme based on this - however definitely check in with the parents first to be sure. Otherwise, gender-neutral themes run aplenty for baby showers and can be incredibly stylish. If you’re struggling, consider using the future parents as inspiration, keeping their interests, personalities, or even their lines of work in mind. 

Put a Guest List Together

Put together a list of people that are going to be invited to the baby shower. The easiest and least drama free way to do this is to ask the expectant couple or mom for a list of people that they want to invite. If you are planning a surprise baby shower, ask a relative or close friend for a guest list, complete with contact information for the people you are planning to invite. Get guest lists at least two months before the date of the baby shower so that you have got plenty of time to plan around the guests that decide to attend and those who decline. 

Send Invitations

Once you have decided on the theme, time, and venue for the baby shower, the next step is to put together the perfect baby shower invitations to get guests excited and set the tone for the day. You can use Greenvelope to get more ideas for baby shower invitation wording and to create unique invitations to send. Using fun baby shower invitation wording will set the tone and provide guests with the information they need about their special day. If you are hosting a virtual baby shower, don’t forget to include a link to the meeting room or tech tool that you’ll be using on the day. You can also add links to gift registries created by the expectant parent in your invitation, so that guests know what they need and the best gifts to bring. 

Decorating for a Baby Shower

Decorations and centerpieces will set the tone for the event. There are plenty of decorations that you can buy in retail stores or online; however, it’s a good idea to also include some custom and personalized decorations. A diaper cake, for example, is a fun idea that can be both a centerpiece and a gift for the new parents. Order balloons that fit in with the theme of the baby shower and personalize them where possible. If the new parents have already decided on a name for their baby that they don’t mind sharing before the birth, then consider incorporating this into your decorations. 

Getting the Cake

The cake is often one of the major highlights of a baby shower as it’s a big part of the décor and the theme, along with of course being a favorite party food. There are several things to consider when you get a baby shower cake, including any allergies that guests might have, such as nuts or gluten. If the expectant parents are also planning to reveal the gender of their baby at the shower, then you might want to consider doing this with a cake that reveals whether they are having a boy or a girl once it is cut into. You can also get baby shower cakes that are shaped like onesies, pacifiers, and other baby accessories, or consider getting cupcakes instead decorated with cute icing babies and baby accessories. A plain cake can be brought into the theme with a topper; check out Etsy for personalized baby shower toppers that you can add to pretty much any cake. 

Planning the Baby Shower Games

While they might seem rather cheesy at first, baby shower games can help to break the ice with guests who don’t know each other very well, and make it easier for guests of different generations and genders to get to know one another. There are plenty of fun game ideas that you can plan for the baby shower including traditional favorites like pin the pacifier on the baby or a cute game where you can use fabric pens to decorate personalized onesies for the new arrival. 

Saving the Memories

It’s a good idea to include a way for the parents to save the memories of the baby shower with keepsakes. There are plenty of ways to do this. One popular example is a board or large card that all the guests can sign with their best parenting advice for the mom or couple. Guest books are also a good idea, or you can get a frame and wooden shapes for guests to sign their name and best wishes on that can be later displayed or hung. Photos are a simple and effective way to save the memories of the day; consider getting a photo book or scrapbook dedicated to baby shower photos. 

Party Favors

Finally, send guests home with something to remember the baby shower by. There are plenty of fun, DIY baby shower party favor ideas that guests can take as they leave, such as candies and cookies in the shape of baby footprints, cupcakes, a small, personalized champagne or wine bottle with a label that includes information about the day, and more. Consider the theme when choosing favors that are going to fit in well with the rest of the day.

If you are planning a baby shower for a relative or friend, there’s lots involved in making sure that it is a fun and memorable day.