Baby showers

[rosedahlialily]

First time Mum here, I don’t know where to start with my baby shower.
it seems that everyone is having big, extravagant get togethers but I don’t know the etiquette behind it all.

Does the mum organise everything or friends or family? Does the mum foot the bill for everyone, or is everyone expected to contribute (ie. If it’s at a restaurant)

I had a big beautiful wedding so feel cheeky asking people to turn out for me for a baby shower as well; but seems like everyone does this and it’s really typical now ?
I don’t want to miss out as it’s my first baby

Higher standards & class! Glad I’m not the only one who thinks they’re just for charvers!

And gender reveals….. what the fuck are they all about? Everyone cheers when the pink/blue is revealed. Would they all groan & look miserable if it was the opposite colour?
In all honesty no one really cares what sex the baby will be as long as it’s loved.
And why ‘gender’ but I suppose a sex reveal might be a somewhat different event!

I think me and @Gall10 are cut from the same cloth!
Bloody gender reveals
Nobody
Gives
A
Flying
Fuck!
There that is the truth.

I’ve been to a few, I’m not a fan, I think they’re quite boring and grabby. I also feel like I end up buying twice as I don’t want to turn up to the shower empty handed and then also don’t want to turn up to see the new baby empty handed either (appreciate I may be in the minority though). At the ones I’ve been to they’ve also opened the gifts in front of everyone, which I really hate.

This.

There will be plenty of celebration then. No need to organise anything beforehand.

lol. This. 😂
Same category as those awful, tacky cake smash first birthday photoshoots!!

I've got two young children, so very much in the baby zone, yet have never (thank God) been invited to a baby shower or heard about a friend or even acquaintance having one. Came home to an absolute mountain of gifts after having my first DC, so if that is what you're worried about, don't worry as I'm sure you will too. If you want to go out for a full meal, and are expecting everyone to pay for themselves, it would be very cheeky to make it a baby shower with the expectation of being the centre of attention and showered with gifts.

Amen!!

I never had one. I think it’s often sisters, sister in laws, grandma’s to be or a close bestie that organises these things. I have many close female friends but no one stand out as a bestie. I don’t think our British Grannies to be were very on board with these new American traditions.

I have acquaintances who have had a shower and a gender reveal for each child. To be honest, they felt very grabby. I do appreciate you can do things lower key and not each gift on the register needs to be £50 or more. One acquaintance even collected for a baby moon to Vegas!!

I hate this new tradition. People having food all over their face gives me the ick and I keep having to mute group chats and mates on social media for posting millions of pics of their babies with dribbly half-chewed cake all over their face and hands.

At least nobody's invited me to one, I suppose!

I think your friends are key to this. It’s something some parents love but many of us don’t post messy photos of dc. Ever!

My dh organised mine, it was a total surprise!
My family, next door neighbours (who we are good friends with) and my close friends came.
It was brilliant and I had so much fun.
The weather was sunny and warm, so we spent most of it in the garden, we had a bbq, my mum made a lovely cake, we played a few silly games, it was pretty chilled out, just the way I like it.

You should have one, if you want one op. It’s a lovely celebration and a chance to get together with friends & family, don’t overthink it. It could be something as simple as a meal out, a little gathering at your house or a picnic in the park, or you can go big and hire a venue!

Mumsnet hates baby showers though , we are all grabby, attention seekers, apparently🤣