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Written by Susan Anderson
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If you've never given a shower before, here's a crash course on baby shower etiquette for you, the generous person who has elected to bestow a baby shower on a loved one. If you've given enough baby showers to be considered an old pro, then take this as a refresher course.
I've tried to cover all the aspects for you, if I missed something, by all means let me know! Here we go.
The Invitations:
Send invitations in plenty of time for guests to plan to attend. Always let your guests know several weeks in advance, which will allow plenty of time for guests to RSVP. Include a phone number and an email address for your guests to reply.
Include any special instructions, such as if they need to have any written pieces for the baby shower. Some baby shower games ask for letters and notes be written, give your guests the heads up if you plan on doing this.
Consider the addition of directions on how to get to the baby shower in the invitations, just in case.
The Food
Of course there's always cake! Some opt to have mini cupcakes with tiny babies perched atop them, while others opt for the big spread of cake. In either case, too much is better than not enough.
Make other foods available other than cake and punch. Have snacks available such as nuts, finger sandwiches, and snack trays which consist of meats, fruits, cheeses and veggies. Slap a couple bowls of dip on the table and you're going to have a happy crowd!
You may also want to have a couple backup choices in case the non-punch loving crowd comes strolling in, such as coffee, juice or soda.
The Gifts
Make the gift receiving and unwrapping as easy on the mommy-to-be as possible. Bring the gifts to her and then set them aside for her as she opens them. She should be the center of attention, and should not be expected to jump up to retreive gifts to open.
Have a pen and paper handy and appoint someone to write down which guest gave a certain gift. The expectant parents will want to send out thank you cards to all the guests, and having a list of gifts and the gifters will allow them to express their appreciation for the exact item they were given.
The Baby Shower:
Be sure to always greet your guests at the door when they arrive. Let them know you appreciate them coming when they first get there, it puts everyone in a good mood to know they're welcome and appreciated.
If you have some guests who are not aquainted with the other guests, don't forget to do the proper introductions at the beginning of the party. This will alleviate some of the awkwardness of first meetings.
If you have a large gathering, it may be prudent to have name tags for your guests. Name tags can also be good for certain baby shower games. Providing name tags can also bring an added festive mood to the baby shower, if you use humorous name tags.
Make sure you have enough seating to accomodate the number of guests you anticipate on coming to the shower. Put up extra folding tables if neccessary to enable guests a proper place to sit and eat. No use making a mess of someone's carpet or clothing. Remember, cake (as in the food coloring in it) can stain some fabrics (such as silk) as easily as punch can.
Get the party started on time and keep events moving at a good pace. You would be surprised just how long it can take to eat, open presents, play games, talk and eat cake. Be sure to have enough party favors on hand. A little extra is good just in case!
During all the fun and games, there's one thing as the person who is giving the baby shower you must never forget, you're in charge of keeping things on track. This means that you should run the shower, and not be carried away into being a guest.
Be sure to attend to the mommy-to-be first in all things, including the food. She gets fed first, then the guests, and finally you can dig in. While you're enjoying your plate keep an eye out for someone who may need service of seconds on food or drink.
Finally, when all is done, be sure to walk your guests to the door and thank them for their participation and attendance. If you are lucky enough to get volunteers to help clean up, it's okay to accept, but it is bad manners to ask guests to help clean up.
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