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Baby shower - ideas and tips?

27 replies

Marina · 28/04/2004 15:15

I'm organising a baby shower for dd's godmother who is expecting her first. I've never been to one so has anyone got any ideas for fun things to do? She is a low-key, gentle sort of person so nothing too hysterical or raunchy is required
TIA

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hana · 28/04/2004 15:24

I love baby showers! But they aren't really done in the UK, are they? Very American ( I'm Canadian) try a search on google and you should get loads of ideas for games and themes and stuff.
What a great idea, hope you have a great time!

one game I've played is 'guess the flavour of the baby food jar'......always gets lots of laughs

you could get everyone to guess the date, time and weight of the baby to be, see who's closest

do a match up with baby names and what they mean

CountessDracula · 28/04/2004 15:25

squirt everyone with water

hana · 28/04/2004 15:34

or breast milk?

LadyMuck · 28/04/2004 15:47

Well the main thing is that all the gifts have to be unwrapped and passed around and "oooh"ed and "aaah"ed over. Have someone on hand with paper and pen to note down who gave what.

Games: guess the birth weight of the parents, pass around a ball of string and everyone cuts a length that they guess will fit round the waist of the mum to be, word shuffles relating to babies and birth, clothes-peg game, where everyone starts out with 3 pegs, but pegs can be captured by others if you say the word "baby". Get everyone to bring a baby photo and guess who it is. Place a different "aroma" in a nappy in a nappy sack and get guests to guess (watch out for pg people whoo may be sensitive to smells - we've had one woman start up-chucking with this one).

Really tame would just be traditional afternoon tea with the present bit.

Codswallop · 28/04/2004 15:49

this does sound bizarre. cant you a ll just get pissed on champagne and talk about piles?

Original poster
Marina · 28/04/2004 15:58

Nothing bizarre about wanting to do something for a friend who is having pregnancy-related health problems and a lot of unhelpful, upsetting interference from her family. Hardly anyone is being positive, silly and cheerful for her. Sure a baby shower's a bit childish, but it's what I think she needs. Pile talk is right off the menu. She can find out about that later .

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Original poster
Marina · 28/04/2004 15:59

Forgot to say thanks for the suggestions Hana and LadyMuck! If it's warm we might take up CD's idea too...

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BIBIBOO · 28/04/2004 16:03

I think a shower for your friend is a lovely idea Marina. I'm sure she'll appreciate the thought even if you do only do tea, biscuits and presents. Just having lots of friends round and getting exciting about her new baby will be great. How about a pregnancy themed afternoon - the non-pregnant people have to wear maternity clothes stuffed with pillows or something

pamina3 · 28/04/2004 16:10

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helenmc · 28/04/2004 18:10

another game is to get the mum-to-be to change a large doll's/teddy's nappy whilst blindfolded - so she'll be up and running on night time changes.
we also has a name the children of famous mothers and father quiz.

WideWebWitch · 28/04/2004 20:59

Marina, isn't Google great? Here's How to hold a memorable baby shower! It's American but then it's an American tradition.

Tommy · 28/04/2004 21:52

Some friends of mine organised one for me - it was lovely! We had it on a Sunday afternoon and they'd all baked cakes and bought really cute presents for the baby. I did one for my SIL and we played "Guess the Girth"

LadyMuck · 28/04/2004 21:57

Coddy my dear, that's what comes of living out in the sticks! John Lewis will even do a registry service for baby showers now. Had one for ds1, and been to a dozen or so over the past few years. Wonderful excuse for mum2be to get tarted up and feeling good. You'll just have to get pg again for the experience .

Batters · 29/04/2004 11:23

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LouBeeLou · 29/04/2004 12:42

Hi Marina
What a lovely idea to do this for your friend!
I went to my friends baby shower last year, organised by her sister. At first I thought it was all a bit odd (and so did my pregnant friend!), but in the end everyone had a great time. We did the guess the bump size thing with string that LadyMuck mentioned, and ooh'd and aah'd over all the pressies.
Just remember to get something for your friend that is not baby-themed, like a massage or spa voucher so she can pamper herself after she's had the baby.

Codswallop · 29/04/2004 12:44

Still think its odd

Mum2Ela · 29/04/2004 12:49

Do you have to but presents for the shower AND again after the baby is born, or just for the shower?

pamina3 · 29/04/2004 13:07

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Original poster
Marina · 29/04/2004 15:16

Mum2ela, wasn't thinking so much of presents (might set a ceiling of £5 each and see how ingenious people can be!) and don't think friend will be either. Especially as she doesn't have a clue what's going on...
She could really just do with a laugh and being surrounded by friends who are pleased for her. I know some showers are very present-focused but this is the thrifty version! Any gifts will be aimed at her, as per someone else's wise suggestion not to forget the mum in all this.

OP posts:
Mum2Ela · 29/04/2004 15:25

Marina, I think its really nice that you remember 'mum'. I know when anyone I know has a baby I make sure I buy mum and dad a bottle of wine, as well as something for baby.

x

Davros · 30/04/2004 10:35

Haven't read all of this thread so sorry if you've already had these ideas. An American begged me to let her throw one for me last year. I thought it was very bad taste but I wasn't going to complain about having a lavish do with MY friends and lots of pressies
Some of the things she did:

  • hung "washing lines" in the kitchen and pegged baby suits and sock (mostly Hennes) up whcih I got to take away
  • did "baby bingo", I think she got the cards from the internet. As I opened my gifts each guest could cross off what they had guessed I would get from their card, quite general like "toy", "bib" etc. Everyone somehow won and got a small gift (rather lavish imho)
  • filled baby bottles with sweets and everyone took one away with them (their kids all scoffed them and were sick )
  • bought a load of plain baby bibs and we all sat around the kitchen table decorating them with fabric paints and pens. This was really excellent as it was fun and baby now has her own designer souvenirs of her shower. I know she'd done this with all-in-one suits for her sister which might be more practical use than 30 bibs! Can't think of anything else, lots of food and drink, big cake with storks on.......
tomkitty · 30/04/2004 15:02

I'm American but I have lived here 12 years now. One of my friends is throwing me a shower and it's been such a long time since I had been to one, I'd forgotten what people do at them. My friend has asked me who I would like her to invite and it's put me in a real dilema: should I let her invite my English friends or no?

I had forgotten all about the games. When I left the States all my friends were having the both sexes-champagne type. The old fashioned kind are all-female and more like tea parties with corny games. I think that's what I'm getting, although I hear some of the rowdier element intend to bring something sparkly, which I think is not such a bad idea. Might liven up those games.

People do give presents, but it really doesn't have to be anything big, even a pair of booties or a bib is fine. Gifts are given at the shower or after the baby is born, not both.

Also, mama mustn't throw herself a shower - it's always initiated by somebody else. That would definitely be bad form - as would mentioning piles.

I think it's the nicest thing anybody has done for me for ages.

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 15:12

Marina - its a lovely idea. Don't get upset at Coddy - she's just teasing you!!All I would add to the good ideas already is be mindful that some of the women present may be trying to conceive or having fertility treatmentt or otherwise be childless but not by choice. So avoid any games that single them out or embarass them in any way eg making them put pillow up dresses or quizzes about caring for babies. Does that make sense?

I think the emphasis on having fun and being silly and not on expensive gifts is a good one.

Rebi · 30/04/2004 15:27

I think this is such a lovely idea - especially in the late stages of pregnancy when you feel uncomfortable and that you will always feel this way! To be given centre of attention and lots of good feeling is lovely.

As per Lesley76 posting - my friend had infertility problems for 10 years and finally adopted a beautiful little girl from Russia last year. The process was so long winded. She went over to meet her baby and then had to leave her there for 6 weeks for paperwork to be finalised. She was given a surprise shower during those endless 6 weeks. A very emotional and heartwarming event. I'm sure it must have helped her get through the wait and to feel very special.

champs · 30/04/2004 15:54

hi marina!!! how r ya???
I LOVE baby showers, have been host/organiser to a few and organised my own (although had a host too)

are you going to have refreshments? have some ideas for fun food ideas.

Heres some games that havent been mentioned yet
Sweet Guess.
count out sweets (jelly beans are good)and put into baby bottle, everyone writes down guess, closest to number wins sweets and mum to be can get the bottle. good idea to count a certain colour and if there is a tie you can ask those who tied to guess how many of the colour sweets there are.

Cotton Ball.
Get two large bowls/plates, fill one with cotton wool balls. get a large spoon, blindfolded, person has to use spoon to pick up cotton wool from bowl into the other in a minute. it is harder than it sounds as the cotton wool is so light!! most cotton balls wins.

Memory:
variant 1--
put 20 or so baby stuff on a tray everyone looks for 1min. take tray away and people have to write down what they remember.

variant 2--
put the items into a pillow case, everyone feels items in case and writes down what they remember.

Pin Dummy to Baby/ Baby to Mummy:
Just like pin tail on donkey but using different pictures.

Baby scramble.
scramble baby stuff words, eg moses basket, talculm powder, bottle etc. about 20 words and people have to work them out in a set time 3-5mins is good. (I have some of these if you want them)

Baby Animals:
match baby animals to the adults, eg, lambsheep, goosegosling etc try to find animals that are not too common, 3-5 mins to match. ( I have these aswell!! if need)

Guess Baby lottery
guess statistics of baby-- time of birth, early /late arrival, date of birth, lentgh, weight, gender etc. closest can get prize,

..... I have lots more but dont want to swamp thread!! if want more I will add.

Gift lottery.
when the gifts are being opened, you can set a timer so every time it goes off, the person who gave the gift being opened gets a prize.
talking about gifts, remember to write down the gifts and who gave them as they are oppened this helps when writting thank yous and also is nice for mum to be to have.

Also have you sent the invites already? a nice touchis to send blank paper/ note cards and guests can write thoughts, advice, poems anything they feel really for mum to be and baby. you can then make a scrapbook with these notes and makes a nice keepsake.

As you can see... I really LOVE baby showers

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