Category — Baby Shower

Baby Girl Shower Ideas

Sugar and spice, and all things nice, that’s what little girls are made of.
Sunshine and rainbows, and ribbons for hair bows, that’s what little girls are made of.
Tea parties, laces and baby doll faces, that’s what little girls are made of.

Listen to women as they look at baby girl outfits: “Ooooooooh how cute is that?” “That is so adorable.” “How precious.”  Baby girl items seem to come with a natural sweetness. That’s what makes planning a baby girl shower so easy. How about starting by asking each guest to bring a frilly pair of booties or hair bows?

Here’s a fun idea for a shower. If you know that the mother-to-be is going to have a girl, then get her a little girl baby doll. Get the doll the frilliest, laciest outfit you can find (mom will keep all these after the shower). Try to find some little lace tights and hair bows. Make the doll as girlie as you possibly can.

Mom has to care for the “baby” all throughout the shower. Tell the guests ahead of time that anytime mom says “cute, adorable or precious” someone has to cry like a baby – thus causing mom to pick up the baby and check the diaper, see if she might be hungry or maybe just tired and need some rocking.

Carry on the shower festivities as planned, but mom has to do it with baby in tow. It’s fun to see if mom delegates grandma or all the other ‘aunties’ in the room to take care of the baby, or if mom tries to do it all.

Then for one of the games you can play “Baby or insert baby's name if it has been decided” is now in puberty” and then “Baby is in high school”. Have all the guests ask hypothetical questions about how mom will react when asked; questions related to menstruation, boyfriends, sex, squabbling best friends, no one asking her to the dance etc. 

Give mom a dry run of what she has to look forward to at her baby girl shower. It’s guaranteed to be a memorable one.

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Baby Boy Shower Ideas

Frogs and snails, and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of…. apparently!

So you’re having a boy -your little buddy, pal, your man, champ, little guy, handsome devil. Don’t dare call him sweetheart, angel, princess, peanut, honey or baby, right? Of course not!

Before your newborn son is shaving and off to college, let’s get through the baby boy shower first. Some obvious themes or décor for boys include: sports – baseball, basketball, football, or soccer; fire trucks; policemen; robots; doggies; cowboys; or super heroes.

You won’t need a lot of frilly lace or dainty bows at a shower for a baby boy. You can never go wrong with anything in the color blue – and lots of it.

It’s a horrible experience for new parents to have strangers in the store refer to their little man as a precious girl. Baby boy shower gift-giving made easy – give outfits to dress the handsome boy up in blue, blue, and blue. Even if his little sleeper has footballs all over it, the well meaning fan won’t take the time to notice the boyish pattern. Give them bold blue to clue them in.

Back to shower ideas. Generally baby showers are a female-dominated event. Your mother-to-be may not have much experience raising a boy. You could center the games on boy things. Make a list of questions that pertain only to boys – perhaps how to change a boy diaper or ”what will you say when your son comes up to you and tells you …”

Another idea would be to play: “what not to do to embarrass your son,” such as lick your finger then attempt to get the toothpaste off his cheek, in front of his friends. Or, shout embarrassing honey-pie comments to your son while he’s playing with his friends. You can even do a football quiz - Mom may need this information some day!

Guests who have sons will be able to help with this one. Raising a boy is not the same as raising a girl. Have fun but make it informative and fun for all shower attendees.

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Throw a Great Baby Shower On a Budget
 by: Amanda Pinkston

So you are in charge of throwing a baby shower. Whether it is for a friend or family member you want to make sure that your guest of honor has a great time and feels special. Here are some tips to ensure that you throw a spectacular party.

Invitations: Talk with the guest of honor and discuss possible themes for the shower. If you are throwing a surprise shower, choose an appropriate theme. For example, if you know that the mom to be is having a boy, try a teddy bear theme. You can find free printable baby shower invitations at The Craft Café.com and at Momsbreak.com.

Games: Games are an essential part of any shower. Don’t worry; you don’t have to come up with them on your own. You can find an array of free printable baby shower games online. To encourage competitiveness among game participants, make sure that you have prizes for the winners. Great prizes include plants, candles, and scented toiletries. Most of these items can be purchased at your local discount store. To add an extra special touch, put the prizes in cute baby themed bags. You can find free printable baby shower games and gift bags at The Craft Café.com.

Food: Great food will make a great shower. Make sure you ask the mom to be what her food preferences are. Chances are she is craving something! Finger foods are usually your best bet. Chicken salad croissants, cucumber sandwiches, mints and punch are very popular with everyone and very inexpensive to make. Be sure to set out some peanuts and other snacks as well.

Gifts: A great inexpensive but personal gift for new mom and baby are wooden letters that spell the baby’s name (if known). These are great for nursery decorations and sell at baby stores for about $10 per letter! You can make them for about $2 per letter. Simply purchase wooden letters that spell baby’s name, acrylic paint, a foam paint brush and ribbon from your local craft store. Start by laying down newspaper on your work surface to protect it from any stray paint. Paint each letter starting with the front of each letter. Once the front dries, paint the back and then apply a second coat once the back is dry. Let the letters set for about an hour to ensure that they are dry. Next, cut ribbon into 5 inch strips (one for each letter). Loop the ribbon and hot glue the ends on the back of the letter. The ribbon will give mom a way to hang up the letters in the baby’s nursery.

Extras: To make the mommy to be feel extra special on the day of the shower, give her a personalized gift. A great idea is an expecting t-shirt or button to wear during the shower. Find free printable iron on transfers for baby showers at The Craft Café.com. To make an iron on transfer simply purchase a t-shirt and some transfer paper at your local discount store. Print the transfer according to directions and iron on to the shirt for a quick and inexpensive gift for the new mom.

Find everything that you need to throw a great, inexpensive baby shower at The Craft Cafe.
About The Author

Amanda Pinkston is a writer for The Craft Cafe. Find card making, scrapbooking, free printables, recipes and more at http://www.thecraftcafe.com. 

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Baby Showers for Adoptive Parents
 by: Amanda Baker

We all hear about baby showers for expecting parents, but what about for adopting parents? An adoption baby shower is more than acceptable – it’s encouraged! Adopting parents have the same needs as any other new parents would, but with a few minor considerations.

You should steer clear of planning a surprise celebration on the day the family brings their child home. This can be a very emotional time – the new parents and child (especially if the child is older) will need a period of adjustment. It is very important to be sensitive to their needs. In this case, delivering care packages and planning your celebration for a later date would be acceptable and appreciated. Be sure to talk with the new parents and find out what their wants and needs are before you set a shower date.

Your shower invitations should be sent out three to four weeks in advance, and should include the time, date, and location of the shower. Don’t forget to set an RSVP date with your telephone number and address. If it is at all possible, include the child’s birth date, as well as when he or she was officially adopted or welcomed into the home of his or her new parents. This will help your guests to pick age appropriate gifts. In the case of foreign adoptions, you could also add information about the birth country to inform your guests.

As with other baby showers, the theme for an adoption baby shower should be the same. However, if the child that was adopted is older, you should tailor your party to suit their age and favorite things. For example, a small girl might love everything that involves the Disney princesses and may go absolutely crazy over the color pink. In turn, an older boy may be fascinated by soccer and anything green. Don’t be afraid to be a little creative to help make the party a special celebration to welcome the new child into your circle of family and friends!

Baby shower games are important too! However, stay away from games that are maternity-related. It’s very important that you keep in mind that you are celebrating the gift of adoption. Your games help set the tone of the party, and should be mixed in with any other activity going on. An average shower lasts about two hours, so look at playing two to three party games. If the new parents are adopting an older child, make sure your games reflect that as well. One great adoption party activity is to organize a Welcome Book for the new child. Ask guests to bring pictures of themselves and their families to assemble into a scrapbook page they will create at the shower.

All of your shower decorations will naturally depend on the style, theme, and number of people attending. Balloons and streamers are standard, but there are a lot of creative and fun ideas to make the party extra-special. You’re truly only limited by your imagination here.

If the adoption is an international one, you could use decorations that reflect the child’s place of birth, and include recipes from his or her home country. For guests, it will be a learning experience.

As with decorations, party favors should match your shower theme and party size. Your favors can be used as place settings, prizes, or they can be handed out at the end of the party. A very popular idea for adoption showers is a special program for guests to keep. Written inside should be commitments to the child from his or her new parents, poems about love, family, and adoption, and prayers for the future.

When labeling your favor, keep in mind that your party is, again, in honor of an adoption, not a birth. Your wording on gift tags should reflect that.

Adoption is a very exciting time for the new parents. A baby shower or welcome party allows friends and family members to share in on the family’s joy. When you host or even attend such a party, it is very important to know the needs and wants of the parents. Be sure to know ahead of time how old the child is. Find out if the parents have registered anywhere. Parents who are adopting should be reminded that they can actually register for older children as well as newborns.

By planning and hosting an adoption party, you are helping the new family formalize the acceptance of their child into their circle. You will be creating an occasion that will be documented for the child to look at in the future and remind them how much they were welcomed and loved from the start.

About The Author

Amanda Baker writes for All Things Pondered: http://AllThingsPondered.com
 

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Creative Tips And Ideas For Hosting Baby Shower
 by: Rose Lenk

The addition of a new baby into the life of one of your close friends or family member is indeed a time to celebrate. One of the best ways that you can show that you care is by helping the mother to be get ready for her new arrival by hosting a baby shower.

More than just a way to shower the expecting mother with more baby bottles than she could possibly use, adorable baby clothes, and a year’s supply of diapers, the baby shower is also a great way to show emotional support and female solidarity during a time that is full of ups and downs. And the baby shower also presents the perfect opportunity for the whole gang to get together and have a ridiculously good time.

So, if you have been bestowed the honor of hosting a baby shower for someone who is close to you, you no doubt want to organize an event that will be truly appreciated and worthy of your guest of honor. While there are many wrong and right ways to throw a baby shower, you can ensure a successful one by following and using some of the tips and ideas in this article.

Choosing a theme

Choosing a theme for the baby shower is perhaps the easiest way that you can make your baby shower stand out from the numerous other showers that women attend in their lifetimes. A theme also presents the perfect opportunity to tailor the shower to suit your guest of honor’s unique personality and needs.

A baby shower theme can range from something very simple like choosing blue or pink decorations to coincide with the baby’s sex or to very elaborate such as hosting a day of pampering for the mother to be. What you choose will be largely decided by how much time you have to dedicate to organizing the shower and what type of theme would be most appreciated by your guest of honor. Here are just a couple of ideas to help you choose your baby shower theme:

Deep freeze.

I thought this was a novel and great way to help out the expecting couple who already has everything they need for their new arrival. In this themed baby shower, guests bring a frozen dish or meal that can be heated up and consumed during the early, hectic days after the new baby arrives. If you’ve ever had children, you can just imagine what a great help this would be to exhausted new parents.

Books for the baby shower.

You can take this theme as far as you want to. From having guests bring books to add to the new arrival’s library to carrying the theme into the decorations and refreshments, the limits of your imagination and creativity are the only limits you will encounter with this theme.

Choosing the right baby shower games

Baby shower games can be a great way to break the ice and add some fun and entertainment to your baby shower. When selecting the games to include in your shower, be sure to keep your theme in mind and the sensibilities of your guest of honor.

Here are a few ideas:

Baby Quiz. Ask the grandparents to write down what the parents were like as babies. Have them include vital statistics such as time of birth, height, weight, first tooth, first smile, age when toilet trained, and early indications of personality. Based on that information, make up a quiz about the future parents to hand out to guests. The person with the most correct answers wins a prize.

Guess the Girth.

Check with the guest of honor in advance on this one. Some women may find it a bit too personal, but if she’s not shy, it can be a lot of fun. All you need is a ball or two of string. Ask guests to cut a length of string that they think will stretch around the future mom’s belly. After everyone has had a turn, the mother-to-be measures and cuts a string that fits her belly. Compare her string to all the guests’ pieces of string. The person who was closest wins.

As you can see from just these few ideas, baby showers do not have to be ordinary and boring. If you have been asked to host a baby shower, incorporate some of these and your own ideas to create a baby shower that will not be forgotten any time soon.
About The Author

Rose Lenk

For more babyshower information visit http://www.trulybaby.com
 

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Baby Shower Theme – How to Find the Most Creative Baby Shower Themes that Please the Mom-to-be
 by: Qing Gu

So, you need a special unique baby shower theme to make your party different, huh?

A baby shower isn’t just about helping parents-to-be get ready for their little arrival, but about fun, encourage and memories for years to come. Why not use an unique baby shower theme to piece together a perfect party time for every invited person?

You can type “baby shower theme ideas”(“baby shower themes” or “theme party idea” and “party theme”) into internet search engines, such as Google, MSN Search and Yahoo! Search. The smart spider will lead you to the most relevant web sites for those coolest theme ideas.

Also, there are tons of ideas from party handbooks and experiences you already learned from other theme based parties, such as kids’ birthday parties and bridal showers.

Somehow, you can’t jump out from the endless mind bogging for the best baby shower theme ideas. I guess you just get into the wrong direction.

However creative you could be, don’t forget your best friend is about to be a Mommy, and this is the solely reason you want to throw her a baby shower! So chose the baby shower theme more personal to the mom-to-be, than yourself!

Before you run for the best theme idea, ask a few questions about the expecting Mommy:

* What does she like and dislike?
* Does she business like, shy, formal, friendly?
* Is the she expecting a girl, boy? Twins or More?
* How many people she’d like to invite?
* Does she plan to invite kids?
* Will she like to have her husband and other guys show up?
* Do you have a co-host? Does she have any idea?

More questions you ask the mom-to-be, more theme ideas come out with the answers themselves, automatically! And you may not be aware of this: The best baby shower theme lies somewhere in the depths of your imagination.

You can setup a ladies-only tea party in your house at a Sunday afternoon if the mom-to-be only feel comfortable when she stay with a small group of people. You can also throw a Hollywood glamour baby shower for parents-to-be who are super movie fans (so are their closest friends including you).

Or what if she is a second-time mom and her elder kids are Pooh lover? Phew, it couldn’t be more exciting than having a Winnie the pooh baby shower and arranging everything in the ways that Pooh-like.

And if you’re inviting the new daddy and his buddies to your party, the male guests would love to enjoy a western style BBQ in your backyard with beers and country music.

No matter how you plan the shower party, a good theme always serves as your inspiration when you’re picking the location and time for your baby shower.

You can use theme based baby shower ideas run through the invitations, decorations, games and food, especially in preparing a baby shower cake to fit the party setting. When you’re preparing the baby shower supplies, gifts and favors, the shower theme will practically tell you the best ideas to pick up.

In fact, baby shower theme can really make planning baby showers a snap.

About The Author

Copyright Qing Gu, All Rights Reserved. Reprint allowed with all the text and links intact.

Qing Gu is a Baby Shower Party Enthusiast who publishes the high quality monthly newsletter, Baby Shower Planet at http://www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/ezine.

You can take part in creating the Web’s ultimate baby shower ideas resource for everyone to share and enjoy at http://www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/contest. And you can WIN a cool prize and the chance to showcase your photos and write-ups for others to enjoy and learn from. 

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