Baby Showers

[Chelyanne]

Are you bothered for one or not?

I didn't have them with our older 5 so not at all bothered for one this time, tbh I find it a bit weird to be made a fuss of when pregnant. No bugger seems that bothered about me normally.

I hate them. I much prefer to celebrate once the baby is safely delivered.

Dreadful. Attended a few, all god awful. Refused to have one for myself. Big fat no.

@Warrickdaviesasplates I hadn't even thought about having one until asked, I don't remember it being a thing when I was pregnant with our 1st (now 15).
My SIL said "even though it's your 6th I hope you still want a baby shower?", when I told her I wasn't bothered for one she said "aww I was looking forward to a family get together" felt a bit like I was expected to want one, still a no from me. We will most likely have a christening for baby, we're not particularly religious but my mother always asks us to.

I found it weird to celebrate before the arrival of my baby safely. They were still unheard of in the U.K. then but friends where I lived (USA) threw one for me and I felt very awkward, like tempting fate. With my British burn children friends came to visit after the birth, far better (and they got cuddles too) I loved my friends coming around straight after having my kids

@Chelyanne we are having one, just a quiet small one with six of us, sister and sister in law and three best friends, having not seen them throughout whole pregnancy I'm really looking forward to it x

It's cringe, in Asian culture you celebrate the baby's birth after a month/100 days. I suppose some people like the attention.

I find them insensitive and cringey. Have always refused to attend and put a stop to plans for one when I was pregnant.
Gender reveals are just as bad.

I think it's wrong to celebrate a baby before it arrives safely in this world and then inviting female friends who you don't know if they have suffered miscarriage as it can be very private and they attend out of politeness and loyalty all while potentially bringing up potential hard memories.

I hate them as much as I hate gender reveals. To me it's like saying I'm having a party so everyone buys a present for my unborn baby. It's tacky and grabby. If people want to buy something they will, you don't need to have a party to encourage them to do so.
It's like gift registries or even worse requests for money in wedding invitations or saying bring a bottle to a party. Again you don't say come to my wedding but buy us a present or give us money. Or expect party guests to contribute to food or drink. If you host you provide it all.

I wasn’t that fussed about baby showers when I had my first but now I love them. We always throw them for our friends for their 2nd/3rd babies etc not because they need gifts but because it’s such a nice excuse to all get together without our children and eat nice food. I hate baby shower games though sorry

Showers are often criticised on MN for being American but what many posters don’t seem to realise it that there is very clear etiquette around them in the US which helps everyone to know where they stand. The mother-to-be never hosts; someone always does it for her. They are strictly for first children only. Finally, by definition a ‘shower’ is a party for giving gifts. If you want a get-together then that is lovely but don’t call it a shower.

Not a huge fan. I had own for my first and it caused problems because I invited a handful of people and when certain friends and family found out they got offended they didn’t get invited. I didn’t bother having one for my second to avoid that issue. I won’t be having one for this pregnancy either, my friend donated money to charity instead of a baby shower and I loved that idea so will be doing the same.

Having read the explanations on this thread about how they work in the USA I still feel they shouldn’t be imported here but understand the USA perspective more. Thinking about the lack of maternity pay and time as well as the medical costs of having a child I can see why baby showers came around there.

I’ve never been invited to or thought of having one. Like others say if people are going to buy you gifts they will. And while I’m not superstitious I also dislike getting presents before baby is born.

I went to a friends yesterday, who was very hesitant to throw anything (in Aus so covid ok).

Instead of a traditional shower she had a baby bbq with close friends and family from both her and her partners sides. It was such a lovely day.

If I become a mum in the future, I plan to do the same.

I think it is a sweet concept but not for me. I would not want gifts before the baby is born but that is just down to personal preference. Culturally I tend to get gifts given when baby has arrived so by having a baby shower people might feel obliged to give twice. I know you can state that they don't need to bother with gifts and you would prefer the pleasure of their company but most people will still feel like they need to give you a token. I'll be lucky if I get to see my family in person before this baby arrives!

I think there can be nice versions of them as a sort of get together before you're out of the picture for a bit. But the big, instagram worthy, professional cupcakes style ones I think are for people who are a bit of a show off. But my opinion might be based on one or two people I know 😂

Had mixed views on having one.
But friends wanted to organise one and if friends and family want to celebrate baby then why not I don't need one thing for him so it isn't about the gifts just excited for everyone to be excited about the baby
Each to there own though.