Has anyone...

ever planned a baby shower? I don't even know where to begin!

I was thinking of picking a theme - that way I can do favors, invitations all in the theme.

Any other advice? I could use any help! I am sort of planning this myself

I just had an idea My SIL is due in April - How about an "April Showers" themed shower? Any ideas?

Message edited 12/29/2007 12:08:35 PM.

Re: Has anyone...

i've only helped with one so far. it was for my best friend. it was pretty small, and her mom did most of the planning. it was just at her house, we just did finger foods mostly. the one thing that was bad was that it was a surprise, and her mom wouldn't let anyone take any food until my friend got there i guess she wanted everything to still look nice when she got there, but it was bad because people were sitting around waiting for her, bored. lol so definitely offer your guests food right away
i did the favors, and i made littls packets of lavender scented bath salts ( i got the kit at Micheals- REALLY easy!!) and then i attached a little rubber ducky key chain to it, with a tag saying " heather's baby bath" and the date... everybody loved them!

Re: Has anyone...

that sound's like a good idea... how about little umbrella's with tinsle that looks like rain on it. also maybe you can make games up with the printed paper of april showers.

Re: Has anyone...

I hope I don't get flamed for saying this, but I always recommend doing away with the cheesy games. Also, if she ends up with a ton of gifts, so the guests don't have to sit there for hours on end, maybe nominate a couple of best friends/sisters to help with the opening so it can move along quicker.

I agree that it's very important to let the guests start munching before the MTB arrives if it's a surprise.

Re: Has anyone...

Thanks for the advice

The shower will be at a restaurant, so we will probably do without games.

I've been searching on the internet, and there is a ton of information out there! It's just very overwhelming because I am doing most of the planning on my own.

Message edited 12/29/2007 12:32:33 PM.

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Message edited 3/3/2010 11:05:11 PM.

Re: Has anyone...

I planned my sister's baby shower a few years ago. If you are having it at a restaurant, I would keep the games to a minimum but I do think that the bingo while they open gifts makes the time go faster for the guests. You can also get some prizes to give out to the winners and play until you are done with the prizes. For my sister's shower, I sent her flowers the day before that said Suprise! Please join us for your baby shower tomorrow at.....
This way it was still a suprise until the day before but this way she was able to get there on time and spend more time with the guests. The only other advice I have is that I think guests are appreciative when showers last 3 hours instead of 4. Good Luck!

Re: Has anyone...

Yup! I threw one for my best friend last year :) We didn't have a theme, but I got some really cute paper plates and napkins from Target. I served appetizers and desserts, and we played shower games that I found on Google.

1. Toilet paper belly - everyone rips off a length of toilet paper. Whichever length is closest to fitting around the mom-to-be's belly wins a prize.

2. Word jumble - scramble up 10-20 baby-related words and have your guests unscramble them. Whoever finishes first wins a prize.

I think there was a third game, but I forget what it was.

Good luck! It'll be fun :)

Re: Has anyone...

I'm not much of a theme person. I think the baby itself is enough of a theme.

Cool things I've seen or heard:

Tea party - finger sandwiches & tea. For favors, they gave away tea with a teapot shaped teaspoon holder

When everyone RSVPs, they give a saying to put on a onesie or they make their own.

For centerpieces, they took the Mom-to-be's teddy bear collection with balloons.

Instead of a wishing well, a bookcase. Everyone brings a book with an inscription for the new baby. The hostess can get the bookshelf.

For my sister's baby shower, rather than help wrap all of the clothes my mother bought, I strung a clothesline across the wall with colorful clothespins. It doubled as decoration & we didn't have to sit there while she opened & held up tons of baby clothes because we could see them all.

My mom is into crafts & did someone's sister's baby shower invites. they were a cute rubber duck one.

If you want, I can help you on photoshop for an invite & you can print out 5x7s at Costco for 39 cents a print.

Re: Has anyone...

for my shower they did games like each table had a spool of ribbon and a pair of scissors and each guest had to cut a piece of ribbon and guess how big my belly is.

they also had a game where you couldnt say the word baby. everyone was given a pacifier on a necklace and who ever collected the most won.

for those games we made a huge basket filled with a fall theme ( since it was in the fall) everyone raved about them- we got most of the items from ac moore.

then with the gifts we had a timer who evers gift I was opening when the timer went off ( I think it was 10 min) got to pick a real lotto ticket from a fish bowl. a couple of people won some money.

on each place setting there were decorative cards for each guests to write down advice- this was great for when they first walk in, settle down, eating some appetizers and a good convo piece.

oh I forgot the clothes line too. the immediate family hung a piece of clothing from it.

I also LOVED reading all of those advice cards after the party too!

Message edited 1/5/2008 5:42:22 PM.

Re: Has anyone...