Baby Showers

[MissCalamity]

My best friend's sister wants to organise a baby shower for her, actually that should read she rang me up saying you're better at organising things you can do it!!

My first reaction was, does BF really want a baby shower as it doesn't seem like her to want one - but more her sister & mum to want it...

So, what happens at a baby shower - I have never been to one?! How long are they supposed to last, who to invite etc....

If I can get some information, then it may make my 'job' easier!!

Thanks

My American friend had one. It was lots of women getting together for afternoon tea and cakes. All the other Americans brought her big presents, the other nationalities varied. I got her a few bath things and saved the baby stuff for after it was born. I was glad I brought her something though, because opening the presents in front of everyone turned out to be a big feature!

There were also games. The ones I remember are: we all had to take a piece of string and guess how long it would be if wrapped around her belly, we all had to think of words beginning with each letter of baby..something. If you picked the same word as her you got a point. Sorry, can't remember the other games, there were lots though. Internet for ideas?

Oh, and she sent really formal thank you cards to thank us all for coming later. By real post!

I'm having an Afternoon Tea in place of the more American baby shower; my best friend is hosting it at her house.

It will be about 6 weeks before I'm due. The invitations are baby shower ones (from Vistaprint website, v good value) but really it's just a tea party

My best friend is making sure that people don't feel under lots of pressure to buy gifts, and we see it more as an opportunity to indulge in some girl time, tea, cakes, scones and gossip before the baby comes and I have less free time.

So.....baby shower light? Without the games and huge gifts (although I wouldn't say no to a couple of small gifts like bubble bath or a candle!!)

Thanks for the ideas, gives me something to think about!

I'm not too keen on games... Let's hope mum & sister aren't on board with that game!

I hosted a Baby Shower last month. We went for a Mad Hatter's Tea Party Theme. Guests wore hats and we ate lots of cakes, scones, sandwiches, nibbles and served cocktails in teapots (I have a great Lady Gray Mojito recipe).

For games, we had one where 2 teams each had to guess the flavour of a series of baby foods. Also played "The Price is Right" with pictures of various things from Mothercare website. We all sucked at that! I managed to pick up some Alice in Wonderland stuff on sale from Claires Accessories for prizes.

I made a 3 tier diaper cake using a pack of 60 nappies, a bottle of wine and plenty of ribbon. I asked guests to bring a small baby present and we hung them on the cake. Diaper cakes are all the rage in the US - google or Youtube to see examples. Took me a while to grasp the concept!

Have fun with the planning!

Next time I'm asked to host a shower, I think I'll go for a pickle and ice cream theme!