While traditional baby showers consist of women only, co-ed baby showers are becoming more and more common. However, if you're looking to throw a traditional baby shower and still have the dad-to-be attend, this is completely acceptable and appropriate as most dad-to-be's will want to thank guests before they leave.
Who should be invited to a baby shower? Anyone can be invited to your baby shower. This includes as few or as many of your grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, cousins, friends, neighbors and coworkers as you'd like, as well as those of your partner.
A baby shower is technically a party to honor the mother, so her name goes on the baby shower invitation by default. However, many modern baby showers are co-ed and also include the father. If that's the case, the mother's and father's names can both be included at the top of the card.
Traditional showers were strictly ladies only, but, times have changed, and sometimes the male partner or male friends go along too. Ask the mum-to-be what she would like. Whether you send printed invites or electronic ones, you'll need the name and contact details of each guest.
Who Hosts a Baby Shower? Most baby showers should be hosted by a sister, mother, mother-in-law, or close friend. Baby showers were traditionally thrown by family members who weren't close with the parents-to-be, to avoid the assumption that close family members wanted to collect gifts for themselves.
Strict rules like “female guests only,” “the parent-to-be or their immediate family can't host the shower” and “you shouldn't have a shower for any baby after your first” were largely indisputable 60 to 80 years ago. Some people love sticking with those traditions, but with new decades come new flexibility.
From parents to college roommates, and anyone else who plays an important role in the parents-to-be's lives. It's safe to say that those who weren't included in the initial guest list are the people you shouldn't invite.
The host pays for the expenses of the baby shower. That being said, co-hosting a shower with one or two others is a good way to split the costs (and the planning).
Hosting a baby shower doesn't have to mean only including the ladies. Instead, consider inviting every close friend and family member to a co-ed baby shower. Co-ed showers include fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and any other male loved ones in the celebration.
As a fast rule, baby showers are often held at the end of the second trimester or early to midway through the third trimester — usually four to six weeks before the due date.
It's becoming increasingly common to include men—friends, spouses, and relatives—on the baby shower guest list. But inviting men may change the chemistry of the party.
A coed baby shower is an event that takes place to celebrate *both the mom and the dad to-be. Traditional baby showers only focus on the mom-to-be and typically only include female guests. Whereas a coed baby shower celebrates both parents and invites both men and women to join in on the fun.
Come Up with a Fun Theme for Both Men and Women
Join us for the “Women Friend and Men Kin Shower.” Have the invitation explain that the nature of the shower is to include both sexes. “We want our baby to know that they are surrounded with love and care from not only women in our lives but the men.
Traditionally the host will pay but this will depend on many factors. This includes the venue, budget, size of the guest list, and how extravagant it may be. For instance, you can't expect your best friend to throw a huge baby shower and pay for it all herself.
How Many People Should Attend a Baby Shower. Every baby shower is different, but most ladies agree that 15 to 30 is the perfect number of ladies at a typical baby shower or about 30-40 for a coed. These numbers change depending on the size of the family, number of friends, and even work colleagues involved.
Who organises the baby shower? Baby showers are traditionally thrown by a member of the expectant parent's close circle of friends. However, it is just as common for a close family member such as a sibling or cousin to throw the shower.
Sometimes referred to as the “Manshower” or the “Dad-chelor,” the male version of the baby shower has, in recent years, become a thing. (Really.) In some ways, the all-male version of the baby party resembles its female counterpart: Manshowers involve a group of (usually) friends.
We'll break it down by relationship: For coworkers or acquaintances, people tend to spend around $30 to $50. For friends or distant relatives, many people spend between $50 and $100. For close friends or family members, most people spend between $100 and $200 or more.
As much as guests would love for the mom-to-be to open their gifts, proper etiquette is respecting her wishes and not asking her to open the presents during the shower.
Though a gift is expected if a guest attends, guests should only be invited to help celebrate the upcoming arrival, not for the gift they bring. If a guest is invited to a shower but can't attend, there is no obligation to send a gift, though they certainly may if they want to.
What is a baby sprinkle or a baby sprinkle shower? A baby sprinkle is a type of baby shower to celebrate a family's second child. Instead of a traditional shower, the gifts are often diapers, wipes and a few outfits since many families who are expecting their second child already have a lot of the gear they'll need.
If you are attending a summer baby shower, you'll want to wear a lightweight outfit that won't leave you wilting in the heat. It's considered “bad form” to go for an overtly sexy look for a baby shower, so try to avoid the body-hugging, shear, or low-cut items in your wardrobe.
Don't Schedule It Too Early or Too Late
A baby shower should not be held before the 20-week mark in pregnancy. Showers held too late, after 38 weeks, run the risk of the baby joining you for the baby shower.
No, the child's father is not required to attend a baby shower. Traditionally, baby showers are celebrated by the female friends of the expectant mother.