"Light alcoholic beverages are best, like wine, spritzers, Champagne, and mimosas," says Ehsaei. "Hard liquor generally should not be served at baby showers to prevent guests from overindulging." And if you're a guest, expect to sip, not shotgun.
Hibiscus sweet tea, lemonade, frosted lime-berry spritzer, ginger-orange mocktails, berry splash, pineapple-basil tea, and vanilla-rosemary lemonade are great non-alcoholic drinks that everyone at your party will enjoy. Punch is a classic drink for every feast, including baby showers.
One of the most basic rules of etiquette is that offering unsolicited parenting advice is a general no-no but is especially unwelcome at a baby shower, it's a party, not a stress-fest. Even WebMD warns others against giving parenting or pregnancy advice before they are asked.
5 Second Game Baby Shower consist of 25 rounds where you have just five seconds to guess three answers in a random baby related category. This is a hilarious game of speed and fast thinking.
When your guests first arrive, have them sign the baby shower guest book. Mom-to-be will look forward to flipping through the pages to remember her special day. Additionally, you can set up advice cards or a message wall where guests can write down words of wisdom or wishes for the baby and parents.
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.
Who plans and hosts a baby shower? According to tradition, baby showers should be hosted by a friend or distant relative (like a cousin or an aunt) instead of a close family member. This custom is believed to have developed in order to avoid the appearance that the family was simply on a mission to collect gifts.
Should you open gifts at the baby shower? Tradition would have you open all the gifts in front of the guests. But, times have changed and it's more common not to.
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.
As with any party, there should be a yummy cake on offer to mark the occasion.
If Alcohol is Being Served, Hold Back
It's not uncommon for light alcoholic beverages to be served at a baby shower. After all, often guests at a baby shower may be meeting one another for the first time, and a little alcohol can help people open up. But a baby shower drink is not a reason to over-indulge.
A baby shower usually lasts 2-3 hours. Budget about 30-45 minutes at the beginning for guests to arrive, nibble on some food, and mingle with one another before the games / entertainment begin. Spend the next 30-45 minutes playing games. And the rest of the time having cake and opening gifts.
Can I Wear Jeans to a Baby Shower? This one comes down to the dress code and location. If the dress code is casual, dressy casual, or, in some cases, business casual, you're in the clear for jeans. For smart casual, cocktail, and lounge suit dress codes, jeans are not appropriate.
Traditional Baby 100 Days Celebration Gift: ang baos
The amount given should end with an even number while favouring the auspicious number eight. Giving new parents an ang bao with $88 or an amount with “88” in it signifies wishing double fortune and blessings.
Traditional Baby Shower Length
Check with the guests of honor to see what they feel comfortable with and adjust if needed. Parent's magazine recommends a shower last three hours at the most. Don't be surprised if not all guests can stay for the entire duration of a particularly long baby shower.
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.
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.
Because gifts are central to showers, having a member of the honoree's (or husband's) immediate family host appeared self-serving. Today it is appropriate for anyone to host a baby shower, as long as there's a legitimate reason.
The classic time to host a baby shower is lunchtime, but recently tradition has given way to several different options. Some women prefer a slightly earlier time to celebrate and enjoy hosting a brunch. Others loved hosting a 'happy hour' shower with plenty of baby-themed mocktails at sunset.
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.