10 Keys For Hosting a Successful Baby Shower
Article 9 of 11: Free Printable Babyshower Games
10 Keys to Hosting a Successful Baby Shower
Although there's no right or wrong way to throw a baby shower, there are some things you can do to help make sure your baby shower is a success.
Planning a baby shower may seem simple - you think of some fun baby shower games, scatter some balloons around the room and get a cake, right? Well, there's actually a little more to it than that, and following the advice below will help make sure things run smoothly for everyone involved.
Communicate with the Mom-to-Be
How is the expectant mother feeling? Does she like large parties or more intimate gatherings? What kinds of gifts does she need for the baby? Does she do well with surprises? Is she starting to tire easily? By talking with the guest of honor about these things, you'll be able to determine the size of the baby shower, what time of day is better for her, who should be invited, what kinds of gifts are needed and much, much more.
Send Invitations in a Timely Manner
If possible, you should mail the baby shower invitations 4-6 weeks prior to the event. This gives the guests plenty of time to purchase gifts and make travel or childcare arrangements, if necessary. If at all possible, you should try to avoid having the baby shower during the month of December. Why? December is a hectic month for everyone, and could mean a poor turnout for a baby shower.
Thorough Planning
A baby shower is not something you should start thinking about the day before it takes place. You'll want to make sure you have all the details worked out ahead of time: ample seating, food, games, decorations, favors. There's nothing worse than finding out 10 minutes before guests arrive that you don't have enough of something.
Don't Go Overboard
Don't go overboard! Trying to pack too much "fun" into the roughly 2 hours of the baby shower is not a good move. The mom-to-be and baby shower guests will not enjoy themselves if they feel like they have to stick to a strict schedule of events. Everyone involved needs a little time to socialize, as well.
Greet All Guests
Try to be available to greet all of the baby shower guests as they arrive, especially if they may not know many people who are attending. This will help them feel welcome and also allows you an opportunity to make introductions and help break the ice.
Have a Helper for Mom-to-Be
The mother-to-be is probably feeling anxious, tired, thirsty, hungry, achy and possibly not very coordinated. So that the expectant mom will be more comfortable, ask someone ahead of time to act as her helper during the baby shower. This person can bring her food and drinks, give her presents to open, and keep a list of who each gift was from, prop pillows behind her back or under her feet, and just generally be available to help her. You could do this yourself, but you will probably have other matters to attend to.
Be Generous with Your Favors
It's always a little awkward to run out of favors. Sure, there are people who graciously say, "Here, take mine," but it's best to have enough prizes for the winner or winners of each game (plus extras in case of ties, extra games or extra visitors) plus a baby shower favor for each attendee. The game favors or prizes are usually fun, inexpensive items, and are fairly easy to budget for. The baby shower favors are usually a little more personal, but still don't need to be expensive.
Have Enough Food
No matter what you decide to serve (full meal, snacks, cake and mints), make sure to have enough. It's better to overestimate the amount of food you will need, and then with any leftovers, you can create a care package to send home with the mother-to-be.
Be Flexible
Sometimes a game is a bomb with a particular crowd. Maybe the mom-to-be isn't ready to eat just yet. Or maybe those great aunts just aren't quite finished comparing photos of nieces and nephews. That's ok. Stay flexible and everyone will have a more enjoyable time. It doesn't matter if you don't complete everything on your agenda – no one will know but you. After all, it's just supposed to be fun!
Take Pictures
The mom-to-be will want to preserve memories of the baby shower, so it's important to take photos - lots and lots of photos. Either use your own camera and make copies of the photos for the guest of honor or use a disposable camera to two to capture those precious moments. Make sure to take photos with the mom-to-be's camera, too, if she so desires.
By following the steps above, you can help ensure the baby shower you're hosting will be a rousing success for the mother-to-be and everyone who attends.
Need some baby shower invitation ideas? Click here!
Want to know more about baby shower favors and game prizes? Click here.
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