Most guests will bring a gift to the baby shower, however most people prefer presence over presents. Some attendees may choose to wait until after the baby is born to give something for mum or baby and others may choose not to give at all. It's up to you if you wish to give a gift and how much you want to spend.
So in summary, it is best to buy something for the baby off the registry. But the mum-to-be's closest friends could get her something too. However, a baby shower isn't all about gifts. It is about having fun and spending time with family and friends.
Baby showers are a time to celebrate, and the gifts don't always have to be for the baby. Soon-to-be moms need some love too, and with our list of the best baby shower gifts just for moms, you'll have some great ideas of what to get her so she feels appreciated and cared for as well.
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.
The best baby shower present to spoil the mum would be a beauty basket containing some products. Put some goodies together like a bottle of wine, dry shampoo, bath salts, a candle and hand moisturiser.
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.
Giving the host a gift isn't required, but it is a nice gesture and the host would appreciate it. A bottle of wine, a gift card, or something personalized make great host gifts!
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.
Classic baby shower etiquette rules state that a close family member or friend should be the baby shower host. And this is good advice. While you don't have to be related to the person, ensure it's someone close. What is this? If no one has offered to host yet, it's ok to ask someone to throw you a little soiree.
Most often, the host pays for the baby shower. This is not always one person. For example, several aunts and cousins might cover the full tab of a shower at a restaurant, or a group of coworkers may help coordinate all the decorations, food and fun.
Traditionally, the organizer of the baby shower pays for all the expenses associated with the event. The organizer can be one or more close friends or relatives of the mother-to-be. If the event is being held at a private residence, the hostess usually covers all costs related to food, drinks, and decorations.
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.
Guys do the same things when they go to baby showers that women do! That is, they celebrate the mom or couple, bring gifts, and enjoy the food and entertainment.
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. Expectant parents who are having multiples may prefer to have the baby shower on the earlier side.
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.
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.
TL;DR: The closer you are to the expecting parents, the more you'll spend on a baby shower gift. Typical gifts range from $25-$200 and more. Whatever amount you choose to spend, putting in extra effort to make the gift pretty and sentimental goes a long way.
You should always wrap a gift for the baby shower unless; The gift is too large – You may have pooled your money and resources with friends and family to buy one of the larger presents. Like the crib, pram or bassinet. In this instance, you aren't expected to wrap the gift.
Average gifts from family members range from $50 to $200. A cousin might spend $50, while a grandma or close Aunt might aim for a higher priced gift. If it's a really close friend, your budget might hover around $100.
Pregnancy is a perfect time for pampering gifts—like bath soaks or large body pillows—to help relieve the symptoms of common pregnancy ailments, as are items like clothes and footwear to keep her comfy. There are even beautifully curated gift baskets to mark the momentous occasion.
You should also encourage the new mom to engage in self-care. Make sure she spends some time each day doing something for herself. She could pursue a new or old hobby, go for a walk or take herself out to eat. Be available to help with the kids so she doesn't feel guilty about taking that time out.
In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex.