Baby Shower?!! Bother or Don't Bother??

[PreggoGaGa]

Hi I just wanted to get an idea of if a Baby shower is a good idea?? . Apparently it's tradition for someone other then mum to be to organise and host the event, but no friends have offered my family don't really know how to throw one. So it's up to me at 32 weeks now to plan my baby show, I will be 38 weeks at the time of the shower!! Any ideas of how to throw a shower or how to hint to my so called friends that I really want one. Or shall I not bother with friends and just get my family to do something for me?? X

What's wrong with being showered and spoilt?! Absolutely nothing I say- all ladies who have been carrying a baby for 9 months should get pampered...Sometimes the British attititude stinks. My friends and family have already said that they are definitely planning a shower/party before babba arrives.

Go for it PreggoGaGa!

When a couple of my friends were pregnant last year we met up for afternoon tea - it was a nice final catch-up and a chance to wish them luck. No one felt they had to buy presents and we didn't have games. We had a lovely time!

I threw a shower for my cousin - we are both British but living in Canada. She felt very awkward about the whole obligatory present thing but I made it very clear on the invitation that presents were not expected. As it turns out, everyone brought something anyway, and she had a lovely time.

It was my friends baby shower today.
It was lovely, all of her friends and some family all in one place talking about baby and pregnancy. it was really nice.

Hi PreggoGaGa,

sounds like you deserve to celebrate! And it is lovely to see your friends and family all together.

I agree with some of the suggestions above - how about you invite your friends around for a 'Pre-baby party' and ask them to bring a plate of food instead of a gift?

By not calling it a 'shower' you'd be taking the pressure off yourself and others.

Also, perhaps you could ask a friend or family member to hold it at their house? That way, you're not stressing about cleaning the house and the host isn't burdened with making all the food. All the host needs to do is tidy up a bit, and have a clear table ready for the food.

I agree that people will probably buy you lots of stuff once the baby is born.

Good luck and CONGRATS!

I organised a girly tea for my close friends when I was first pregnant and close to due date. It was strictly no presents but instead had a collection for the charity Tommys www.tommys.org/ They sent me a certificate in my baby's name when he was born which is in his baby book - I am keen to imbibe him with charitable values.

Zipitydoda, having a charity collection is SUCH a wonderful idea. I might steal that idea, if you don't mind.

I found out by accident yesterday that my sister us holding a shower for me. Months ago it was mentioned and I expressly said I DID NOT want one. How they are going to tell me I don't know. I am not the easiest person to get to agree to anything at short notice, let alone when I am pregnant!

Don't mind at all! I choose Tommy's because it's connected to babies and recognising that having a baby is not all about little clothes and cuteness for many people. I contacted them beforehand and they sent me some information leaflets about what they do so I could let people know in the invitations

We had one! We weren't even considering it, but a lot of friends asked if we were having a party or a baby shower - a lot of them had heard about them and were really keen. I'm 22 so imagine that a lot of my friends got the idea from American TV shows.

Friends helped organize it, and we made it very clear that presents were not obligatory at all - some people brought presents, and some didn't. It was in December so we had a Christmas theme and provided all the food and drinks (juice, mulled wine etc) - had about 35 people in total and it was more like a party than a shower.

We also invited as many men as women - it wasn't a girls only thing at all, DP and his mates were there as well as parents/grandparents from both sides, so it genuinely was a 'baby celebration' rather than just sitting around, giving presents.

To be honest, we would never have done it unless people had suggested it. It was a novelty, and great fun. I think that a lot of my friends, when they get pregnant, will consider a shower just because they've heard of them.