Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Have baby showers always been a thing? Or is this just a recent thing?

103 replies

ThatPeachSnake · 29/05/2024 02:32

I can’t remember anyone having a baby shower up until around 5 years ago. Am I correct? I’m guessing it’s down to SM and I hate to be a party pooper but doesn’t it all seem a bit … grabby and wasteful?

I see this big rubber balloon arches that are terrible for the environment. Loads of shit bought for the baby. I get it might be nice to get together with your loved ones for a horah before life gets crazy with sleepless nights etc but I guess the excessive-ness of it all really puts me off.

I don’t have children and many of my friends don’t so I am only going off what I see on social media!

OP posts:
JerseyCrow · 09/02/2025 09:40

The first one I went to was 25 years ago in the UK. I've thrown three for friends and one of those babies is 18 so no, definitely not new.

NMc16 · 09/02/2025 12:09

SleepingStandingUp · 03/06/2024 13:42

Well the only ones you hear about are the OTT ones "published" on SM. You're missing the tons of small, sweet ones that fly under your radar.

I had one 9 years ago, well I didn't cos I had a prem labour and a poorly baby but it would have just been a meal with friend's, a few presents for the baby which wouldn't have been given after the birth etc.

My sister's (7 years ago) was in a quiet room in the pub, a home made cake, silly games. My friends was lunch in the local pub. Lots of people just having quiet fun with their loved ones.

I get it’s nice to have people together. I just find the idea of celebrating a baby that isn’t born yet a bit bizarre. Why not just have something when the baby is born? It makes more sense. I personally find baby showers awkward. I’ve been to two and they definitely aren’t my thing. Men were pushed out at both like they do matter as well

GrouchyKiwi · 09/02/2025 12:13

isthismylifenow · 09/02/2025 09:39

Same in SA.

They have always been a thing, more so for first baby. Usually arranged by the mom-to- be's mom or female relative.

They have never been over the top or extravagant, there would be small but useful gifts like baby toiletries or extra nappies etc. It is usually a few hours in the afternoon at someone's house.

But with everything these days, the innocent fun of it has been overshadowed and it seems from reading these posts, there is so much expectations of big gifts and high expectations and posh venues.

It's a shame really.

Show quote history

I wonder if this is a thing that came out of colonialism. Like, young women move to the "new" country and no longer have that village/family support system that existed back in the home country, so the women got together to support other women about to give birth, and it continued from there.

It's not surprising to me that people from Oz, NZ, SA and the US all do this, whereas Brits think it's weird.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page