Food for Baby Shower

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Please, can anyone suggest what to serve at a baby shower? And now to do one.

My new DIL is really wanting to have a baby shower and it would appear that if I don't plan it no-one else will. Its just not the kind of thing we go in for. Anyway we were having an afternoon tea for her this week so Ive decided to do a shower instead - but how do I? Just what is a baby shower, what do I do and what do I serve? I love cooking and entertaining so am not worried about the work involved.

This is our 5th grandchild and Im really keen that she gets what she wants rather than what we normally do a few weeks before the baby arrives.

Thank You

[ShatnersBassoon]

What is it that you normally do a few weeks before babies are due?

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Have a tea party at home with traditional tea things but Ive seen pictures of baby related food, and I'm told games are played, but I have no idea how to put it together.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Oh and we do presents that are special to the family, things like a baby quilt made by one of my daughters. Intimate family gifts. Its a family get together.

Im needing to jazz it up a bit to take account of my DIL being very young and into different things.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Perhaps you're not the right person to organise it. Have you been asked to?

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

No, but its something I would like to do to make her happy.

She would like a baby shower and if I can make it possible I will.

[SunnyRandall]

I've never had baby related food at a baby shower, just normal buffet stuff. All the guests have brought something to contribute (all surprise showers).

For games we have done "guess who" from guests baby pics and a celeb version of the same. Nothing complicated. Also a baby fact quiz. No prizes though!

Your traditional family do and the presents sound absolutely lovely imo.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

But you know, something tells me that you're not actually asking questions in order to try and help. But thank you anyway.

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

I'm American so I have been to many and hosted a couple. When I had one for my niece, we did it late afternoon and had elegant snack type food including tea sandwiches. We served punch and iced tea. A cake is traditional with a baby theme. I don't like the games much. The only one we did was to ask each guest to bring a picture of themselves as a baby and then we guessed who was who.

[ShatnersBassoon]

I was actually. I was trying to work out if you wanted to do something out of your comfort zone or felt obliged.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Thank you Sunny, I saw a picture on FB of one her friend had and there were mini chocolate shaped baby bottles and rattles, stuff like that. There's no time to make it or buy it in and I couldn't anyway because of where we live, so I think I will go with the kind of tea I'd normally serve and just get balloons and do a few games. I'll do a blue theme because its really original , and thanks for telling me about the games.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

My apologies Shatner, I obviously got it very wrong.

I dont feel obliged, I really want to do it for her. I love any excuse for a 'bit of a do'.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Thank you Scone. The cake I can do and the baby photos also sound great.

Id heard of things done with peanut butter in a nappy and was kind of keeping my fingers crossed it wasn't the most favourite baby shower game in the world.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Shatner, our usual family kind of 'do' would be held from around 4 and involve all of the children and their families, two very close aunties who are considered 'the family grannies', and about 8 cousins who are part of our close gang. In all there will be about 35, plus some of her friends.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Shatner, I feel really bad for reading your posts the wrong way - my apologies once again.

[SunnyRandall]

Baby shower balloons and bunting are easy to get from Amazon or ebay if you have time. The baby photo game is a nice one to do.

You sound very thoughtful

[Bunbaker]

From what I've read about baby showers on MN I think an afternoon tea sounds lovely and would appeal more to the guests.

MN posters seem to cringe at the idea of baby related food and the silly games that are forced upon them and I think some people stay away from baby showers because of this (plus the general grabbiness of them).

[SunnyRandall]

Also if you are feeling creative, a nappy cake makes a good centrepiece. Basically it is rolled up nappies and muslins, decorated with dummies, nappy pins etc to look like a big cake.

youtube tutorial here

[SunnyRandall]

Afternoon tea theme sounds perfect. Basically what you would normally do with a few tweaks.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Thank you Sunny. Its just that I can still remember what it was like years and years ago being pregnant and living in a strange foreign country. I just don't want it for the lovely girls my sons have married because they are as much entitled to being spoilt and looked after as my eldest daughter was and my youngest one will be one day.

[ShatnersBassoon]

I think afternoon tea would be much nicer than naff games and novelty food. Much more civilised.

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

I just saw the nappy cake lololol

Thank you :)

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Thank you Shatner, truth be told I'm actually quite excited about this now. :)

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

I won't be back in till morning now. Its late here and time for bed.

Thank you :)

[SunnyRandall]

[GrannyOnTheSchoolRun]

Ok, so I have a plan :)

Im going to do an aeroplane nappy cake because of my sons job, well not that I'll do it, my other DIL will and if its too hard we'll get my other son who's an aircraft engineer in with some of his workmates to sort it out for us.

The game will be the one where you get pictures of the mum and dad and cut out the features and let people play around with who the baby will look like.

I'll also do sweeties in baby bottles and people can guess how many they are. Ive bought a nice present for the winner who I hope is going to be one of her pals.

Food wise i'll stick to what they all like best but we'll do baby boy cupcakes and one of the desserts will be this.

www.food.com/recipe/watermelon-baby-carriage-305441 with ice creem instead of pavlova.

Also my son has a Uk flight today and he's going to bring home some Mr Kiplings Apple Pies because my DIL has a bit of a craving for them just now. Its worked out really well.

Thank you all for your help