Sprinkle question

If you've had or have been to a sprinkle, how did it work? Same as a shower? Much smaller?

Several friends have asked me recently if I'm having a shower and I know one friend I've become close to since DD was born really wants to throw me something, but I'm awkward about inviting the same people who came to my baby shower 2 years ago -- especially those I don't see very much anymore and have barely seen in the past two years. I do want to celebrate this baby and would love to get together with some of my close friends, but I'm kinda at a loss how to do it.

We had my shower at my home and it was fabulous. About 25 people and my family came up from FL for it (and at the time, my mom down from NY). This time, I doubt my family would be able to come (except my mom who now lives nearby). My guest list at the moment looks like it would be about 10 people, if that. Almost all have children now ranging from 0 to 4.

Invite just the women? Do it at a restaurant for brunch? Invite the women with their children? Invite families and make it just like a party? Keep it at the house and invite everyone? At the house with just women?

I have no clue what to do. I don't care so much about "appropriate" -- I know people frown on showers for 2nd children, especially 2 under 2, but my friends do want to celebrate and I'd like to as well. (We're having a boy this time but I'm not even sure that makes a difference.) I plan to pay for it myself and let my friend who is so eager do whatever games she'd like.

I just don't know... sorry I'm so long-winded. I've kinda been running this around in my head for a few weeks and am still at a loss. But three friends have asked in the past week when I'm having a shower, so I think that's my hint that they do want to celebrate with me so I think maybe a sprinkle is a fun solution. I just don't even really know what a sprinkle IS lol... TIA

Re: Sprinkle question

I'd love to know the answer to this! I've actually never been to one, I'm not sure if it's just the circle of friends/family I have, but no one has ever hosted one or had one for a family or friends.

I'd totally go to a women's only brunch or a family thing as a sprinkle. I think it's a fun way to celebrate a new baby!

Sprinkle question

I've been reading through some of the threads below that came up and I talked to DH about it and he doesn't see what the big deal is either way. He suggested we just host another bbq later on this summer and invite anyone who wants to celebrate with us. He said "it'll turn into a celebration for the baby either way, right?" and I guess he's right. We can get a little cake celebrating the new baby. Maybe put up some "It's a Boy" decorations or something.

I really don't need much -- just little things -- for the little guy. I've already bought tons of clothing and have been building up supplies (got my bedding I loved for him already... still trying to figure out if we need another crib or if we'll just use DD's).

So he's thinking why not just host a bbq here, invite friends and their families, let the kids play in the middle, order a few platters along with the bbq food, and leave it at that. Maybe we can do some crafts (we did design the onesies at my shower which we loved -- we can do that again for #2 since all the girly ones won't really work for him) but mostly just make it about coming, mingling, letting the kids play, and eating.

I won't include any registry info on it (I registered on amazon but really just so I can get my completion coupon) and I'll word it as a "celebration" not a sprinkle or shower. Then people can bring a token or not and we'll still feel like baby boy is getting some pre-birth attention.

That's just what I'm thinking now... we aren't in a place where the culture is to celebrate post-birth and last time I only had 2 visitors at the hospital -- my SIL and one friend. So it would be nice to have a celebration of some sort.

Re: Sprinkle question

My friend had a sprinkle a few years ago when she was having her daughter which was less than two years after having her son. It was very nice, we all had a lovely time. It was small, maybe 20ish people and it was at her moms house. They had some trays of pasta, a hero, some snacks, and cake. Very simple. It was just a nice way to celebrate the new baby, I thought it was a sweet idea. I had a great time..........and we were able to bring our kids at the time but most of us had babies so they were a tiny little crew of munchkins.

In fact, my mom just mentioned giving me a sprinkle with baby #2 and I think it's a fun idea. It will be way less people than my shower was, just my close family and close girlfriends.......maybe 20ish people. I think it will be a nice afternoon. I am excited for it.

Sprinkle question

See, that sounds like my baby shower... it was 25 people at my house with platters and cake. It was wonderful!

I think we may just do this as a co-ed and children gathering. Then we wouldn't have to plan games or anything too lol.

Sprinkle question

I have been to them and they have always been much much smaller. They have been at someone's house too.

Sprinkle question

Looks like we're going to do a bbq (which they call a 'cookout' where I live now) and call it a "family celebration in honor of baby's pending arrival" and make it super casual and invite our friends, their families, and grill and get some platters while the kids play in the living room or on the deck/backyard.

I'm glad I typed all this out -- it made working this out much easier! Thanks everyone!

I think taking the whole "baby sprinkle" thing out of the equation helped a lot. We can still do some baby-related activities, but it's mainly just going to be a party.

Now... evite or invites?

Re: Sprinkle question

Yes; I've been to a few (going to one this weekend for 2 under 1!!). And I threw my sister one 2 years ago.

First sprinkle I went to was at the Mom to be's house (thrown by her Mom & sister). It was just women; about 10-15; her husband came towards the end and was there while she was opening gifts.

When I threw my sister her sprinkle (DD was 3; new baby was a boy). It was at my house. I invited about 20 people but we ended up having closer to 25-30; some of the girls did brinng their husbands/boyfriends. But that was fine; we didn't play any games; it was more like a party (ended around 9pm!) And we ate; opened gifts; had cake. It was a little different b/c my sister lives OOT and I threw the sprinkle forher AFTER the baby was born and she was visiting NYC (baby was about 4 weeks). So we had more people come that wanted to see the baby so it actually word out really well. And yes-two or 3 guests brought their kids too. Maybe if it were at a restaurant they would have left them home; but since it was in a house it was more laid back and everyone was welcome.

Sprinkle question

I love your BBQ idea! I would personally do mail invites, I'm not a fan of evites and I feel that would make it a bit TOO casual IMO. I love the idea to make it a co-ed family event, I would enjoy attending something like this. It sounds perfect to me and I think the wording of "celebration" over "sprinkle" works nicely.

Sprinkle question

I did an evite for my sisters sprinkle; the sprinkle i have this weekend was via evite; and the sprinkle i went to 3 years ago was mail so everyone does things differently. I think mailed invitations is a nice touch though.

ETA: i like mailed invitations; but love the simplicity of confirming rsvp's through evite! And the automatic reminder so you're not hutning people down to see if they'll make it or not.

Message edited 7/16/2012 11:55:06 AM.

Sprinkle question

I love doing mailed invites too so I think I'm going to do that. Thanks for your help!

I just got home from lunch with DH and his coworker. His coworker said "oh a Baby-q?" -- I thought that was such a great idea! Apparently his sister did that!

Re: Sprinkle question

My mom is throwing me a sprinkle, despite me not wanting one since I just had a shower 2.5 yrs ago. But this time she only invited 12 people and is having it at the restaurant she works at. So it’s nothing big at all.