A baby shower is an occasion usually organized by a friend of the mother-to-be. It’s a celebration of the upcoming birth or expected arrival of a new baby or the woman’s transformation into a mum. Baby showers are not just for girls but there are also baby boy baby showers, which are quite common these days. In a baby shower, friends and family gather together to celebrate the upcoming little one. Usually the guest list includes family and close friends of the expectant mom.
During a baby shower, the first thing that arrives at the home is usually a gift. Traditionally, the gifts given to the guests are usually handmade and presented by the hosts or parents of the occasion. However, nowadays, many hostesses and co-hosts opt to give out baby shower etiquette gifts, such as jewelry pieces, personalized handbags, baby rattles, baby outfits and the likes. The purpose of giving baby shower etiquette gifts is to let the guests know how much the hostess and the family appreciate the time and effort they had given to welcome and care for the new member of the family. These items may not be too much expensive but make a great impression nonetheless.
The traditional baby shower tradition is to exchange handmade “birth announcements” for the arriving baby. This tradition originated way back in ancient times when it was believed that mothers would make these note papers for them so that they’d remember to take care of their little ones. The birth announcement, also called the announce, is a written document that lists the mother’s name, the date and location of birth, the baby’s gender and other relevant information. These note papers are still used and are often handed down from generation to generation.
New years resolutions, wedding band, baby shower favors, baby shower invitations and the like are also included in the traditional baby shower. These are considered as great mementos by the guests as they help them remember the fun and good time they had with the mom-to-be. However, it’s no longer mandatory to give out these sorts of gifts. There are some new trends in baby shower etiquette that encourage the invitees to contribute gifts to the celebration instead. For example, instead of handmade or engraved gifts, the guests can now bring in baby accessories.
Baby accessories are generally anything that the mother can’t have at her own day-to-day life, such as baby bottles, baby dishes, baby clothes and a baby swing or bouncer. Baby accessories are usually personalized with the name and birth date of the infant. One great baby shower gift idea that’s becoming very popular nowadays is the “My Little Pony” dress for the expectant mother and her closest friends and family members. The dress itself comes in different styles and designs. You can order the dress on its own or have it made to your own specifications.
Other practical gifts for baby showers include baby care products, such as baby formula, washcloths, baby oils, diaper bags, strollers, baby carriers and more. These are usually items that the mother can use daily for her baby, as most mothers find it hard to change their everyday diaper. Diaper cakes and other baby shower cakes are also a great idea. These cakes are often decorated with various cartoon characters, which makes them adorable souvenirs. Aside from these, you may also want to consider an all-in-one gift such as a crib bedding set. These sets include a sheet, pillowcases and comforter.
When it comes to gifts for baby showers, practicality doesn’t mean that it has to be boring! If the expectant mother loves animals, you can consider buying her toys or stuffed animals as gifts. These types of gifts are usually personalized and can be really cute. If you know the gender of the baby due to which she is soon to be born, then there are many gifts that are available for this type of guests. You can choose gifts such as diapers, burp cloths and bibs, as well as bottles, rattles, pacifiers, safety pins and blankets.
