Baby Shower Expectations

[JBCG]

I am currently 25+3 with my first baby and my closest friend has decided to throw me a baby shower in a few weeks. I've never been to a baby shower and honestly wasn't very fussed about having one (not keen on being centre of attention for an afternoon) but she (who has been to and organised a few) was adamant that I should have one and it wouldn't be as bad as I think .. so I conceded as it would be a nice opportunity to catch up with a few friends.

She asked me for a list of people I'd like to invite but advised that aside from the date, and the list of invites .. I wouldn't know anything until the day as it would be a surprise that she organises.

So my question really is, what is expected from me?

Do I pay for the baby shower? Do I need to provide anything? A friend of mine recently went to a baby shower and said they were all given 'party bags' .. is that expected and if so do I organise that?

I think I ultimately need to just find out more details from my friend who is organising it .. but wanted to get an idea from fellow mumsnetters of what was expected before I do!

Thank you in advance and I apologise for my ignorance on this subject!!

You should only be expected to turn up, I think.
I threatened my friends not to do it, I don't like them, but I have attended a handful and a couple of times mum to be didn't even know it was coming, so definitely wouldn't expect you to have to lift a finger!

It's a party thrown for you by your family or friends, you shouldn't have to do anything. It's like a much more sedate hen party.

Thank you ☺️

Yeah, you just have to be there and eat cake. If she's adamant that she wants to organise it, let her take that mental load. You have enough on your plate growing a human. And hopefully eating cake.

Yup, she's offering so regardless of the people who plan it all, order in a cake to match the baby's sex and napkins with a monogram of the baby's initials and party bags, you aren't organising it so turn up, play some naff games and eat cake

@JBCG - think all the above posters have summed it up but sounds like you were in a really similar situation to me..I was totally unfussed about a baby shower and actually felt like I really didn’t want one but two close friends were very (kindly) insistent I should have one. Anyway I went along with it and like you, everything apart from guest list was a total surprise.

To say I wasn’t keen at first, it was an absolutely lovely thing to do and saw lots of friends I might not have otherwise had time to see before the baby arrives. It gave lots of friends who are spread around the country ‘an excuse’ to come up for the weekend and I was actually quite emotional at the effort people had made with gifts and travelling up - that being said I had said no gifts but I think people just lovely buying little things for babies so was very grateful in the end.

Hope you have a lovely time ☺️

@JBCG - think all the above posters have summed it up but sounds like you were in a really similar situation to me..I was totally unfussed about a baby shower and actually felt like I really didn’t want one but two close friends were very (kindly) insistent I should have one. Anyway I went along with it and like you, everything apart from guest list was a total surprise.

To say I wasn’t keen at first, it was an absolutely lovely thing to do and saw lots of friends I might not have otherwise had time to see before the baby arrives. It gave lots of friends who are spread around the country ‘an excuse’ to come up for the weekend and I was actually quite emotional at the effort people had made with gifts and travelling up - that being said I had said no gifts but I think people just lovely buying little things for babies so was very grateful in the end.

Hope you have a lovely time ☺️

Thank you all! Very much liking the idea of not doing anything but eating cake!! Maybe I can get on board with baby showers after all!