Talking about babyshowers.....

[MacMac123]

What happens at a babyshower? Are you meant to organise your own babyshower, or get someone else to do it for you? And what do you do at a babyshower?

Don't do it!

Ony do it at all if you are American or in the US. And then your best friend or your sister organises it and you don't really get involved. I think you sit around and chat and sometimes play slightly cutesy baby-related games.

DON'T DO IT, even if you are American (if you are living in the UK).

They are tacky and gauche.

ghastly

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I agree Pruners.

It doesnt have to be about nappies put in to the shape of a cake, crappy presents and all that cheese.
How many of us have gone on maternity leave and are totally bored out of our wits end waiting for baby to arrive, while family and friends are at work?

I think its a great idea and like Prun says, you can do it however you want.

I had a brilliant experience. My mum organised it for me as a surprise. She invited all my friends and we sat round and chatted and ate and drank, it was really lovely. It was only 2 weeks before I had dd, and so was a lovely, exciting time, and I was glad to share it with my friends.

Cheese alert.

I'd just have a get together with friends just before you pop. I'm not sure about labelling it a Baby Shower though, as it gets people all riled up! Just invite people round for drinks and maybe even order in pizza or chinese or something, saves on washing up!

I can pretty much guarantee presents will be present! Especially if you explain that it's to celebrate the baby and pregnancy, etc.

ugh ugh ugh

and I'd see it as tempting fate

And asking people for presents for the baby is just RUDE. Even worse than wedding lists

God Effie, that's a bit depressing. I got gifts from my friends, but no one was ASKED to bring anything. And those that did didn't then buy another gift when dd was born.

I think that you can't call it a baby shower, as the whole point of a baby shower is that you are showered with baby gifts. We need to come up with another name for a get-together-with-all-your-friends-before-you're-up-all-night-and-too-exhausted party. I vote that I don't invent the name though.

'Do'

'We're having a do before the baby arrives. There will be cake. Please come.'

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You see, I knew that there must be a more succinct way of putting it.

So would it be wrong if I just invited some friends round to mine for cake then? I don't want a list or anything, but don't want to burden someoen else with having to organise it either....

The one I went to was lovely. Organised as a surprise for a friend who was about to move to the other side of the world, so none of us would be meeting her baby.

It was very simple, just in someone's house, with little gifts - nothing extravagent- cakes and drinks.

It doesn't have to be like this

my sister threw one for me in lieu of a hen night (I had a shotgun wedding) .

She texted or emailed my friends and sold it as a chilled out afternoon in the garden with English afternoon tea, bucks fizz and cake.

It was a fab opportunity to catch up with everyone and of course having posh cakes and sarnies was lovely. People mainly brought practical things such as nappies,breast pads and baby bath lotions to shock me into the fact that I was actually having a baby (I was previously very un-maternal lol).

She made a prediction book where everyone filled out birth prediction cards about the baby (weight/date of arrival/future career/etc as well as parenting advice tips for me. She took pics throughout the afternoon and gave them to me in the predictions book after.

Have to say it was sufficiently low key and informal event for everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed. A perfect pre-wedding treat whilst my DH was getting bladdered lol.

My best friends mum threw one for her as well- a similar affair which involved a huge buffet and lots of cackling (from the many aunties!). All really informal and lots of fun. her mum had organised a questionnaire from her DH and my friend had to guess his answers. Lots of fun

Great link belgo

Personally, I don't see any problem having a girly afternoon before baby comes but I do find it ghastly when people are asked to bring gifts or worse still have a gift list. Pure greed in my opinion.

I want a 'Baby Do' just an afternoon to have a few friends round. Especially as I won't be going to the works xmas party this year

But most of my mates are blokes so would find it so boring unless there was beer and football(I love football but hate beer so no good)

I think if you don't have nappy shaped cake and a gift list, its ok.

I had a "baby shower" organised by my friends it was in a wine bar in the city with everyone getting wasted sipping champagne and it was more of a goodbye to my previous life iyswim?

I did receive gifts (beauty products etc) but didn't ask/expect any, was just thrilled to have one last night out with the girls.

once the baby is born you'll get pissed on all the time!

Tacky American custom, IMO. Always has been, always will.

Find it a shame it seems to be crossing the pond.

Sometimes, I understand a lot of the British dislike of these naff customs.