Did you have a baby shower? Who organised it?

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I'm not too sure if I'm going to have one. Am I right in thinking it's usually organised by someone else? Like a hen-do?

My friends aren't interested in my pregnancy and my family live far away so am not sure if it would be a waste of time as no one would come. Also don't want people to think they have to buy things! Having mixed feelings about it.

I didn’t have one, but have organised several for friends who wanted them. You’re right, it’s like a hen do and usually organised by a friend or family member.

Baby showers, like big hen dos or expensive weddings are largely hated by people on here, you’ve been warned!

The ones I’ve been to have varied, a couple of big fussy expensive ones with games (horror) or activities, and several smaller/more relaxed ones where a nice bunch of close friends ate cake, drank tea and enjoyed spending time with the mum-to-be and those were really special and lovely.

People would feel obliged to buy gifts. That’s what happens.

Who would you want to be there if you had one?

This is my second baby, but has taken many years, lots of cycles of IVF and losses on the way. I have organised my own!! Just an afternoon tea at a local ‘manor’. Will have no decorations and told everyone to strictly not buy presents, but I wanted to go out with a few of my lovely family and friends to celebrate me getting somewhere I never thought I’d be! I don’t want anyone to have the stress of organising and don’t want any fuss or gifts, just some time with them, and cake!! X

Nope. Couldn't imagine anything worse really but then I don't like being centre of attention 🤷🏼‍♀️

Honestly sorry, I think there so grabby and tacky especially if organised for yourself. But I also don't like engagement party's and gender reveals, so I'm a grinch when it comes to these things.

It's your baby though, so if you want one do it, don't let people like me put you off x

Congratulations :)

I didn’t have one because they’re usually incredibly boring and I feel like you may as well say on the invitation “please come to my boring expensive event just to buy me presents”

Yes I had one. A close friend who had supported me all the way through my ivf journey and pregnancy organised it.

No. And I had to absolutely insist that friend didn't organise me one. She was having none of it until I told her I wouldn't go

personally I don't like the idea of celebrating a baby that hasn't safely arrived yet. Things can and do go wrong so I would rather wait until my baby has hopefully arrived safely before having a get together

Am having one which I have organised my self for last baby and this baby but I have also paid for it all so I have hired a venue and providing afternoon tea for everyone with a few games with prizes nothing tacky and decoration wise I have hired a florist to come in and decorate the table and room with flowers and candles so they can be done tasteful and people do enjoy them xx

They're so tacky. Don't do it!

By all means organise a little get-together before baby arrives, but if you don’t want people to feel they have to buy gifts don’t call it a shower. A shower is by definition a party for the giving of gifts. If it’s a shower it’s poor etiquette to organise it yourself.

I know they're popular now but I wont be having one....each to their own but i just find them a bit presumptuous. What if something happens to the baby? It would feel like tempting fate to me, celebrating a baby before they've arrived safely.

My cousin had a gathering when her baby was about 5/6 weeks old and it was very similar in format to a baby shower but the baby was there for cuddles and it felt like a lovely celebration. I think I might arrange something like that instead x

I organised my own. It was just tea and cake with some relatives though at my house.

I organised myself a nice lunch with a few friends about a month before I was due but it was more a "I'm not going to be getting out for a while so nice to do a bit of socialising now" type thing - I deliberately didn't call it a shower and said no presents.