The hostess traditionally pays for the baby shower and its associated costs. However, the hostess can divide up the responsibility and costs by asking a few close family members or friends to co-host.
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 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.
It is actually against baby shower etiquette to ask your guests to pay for their own lunches at a baby shower. As a hostess, it is your responsibility to cover the food costs for your guests. The baby shower is "your gift" to the mom to be.
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.
While giving “cash” can sometimes be viewed as a cop-out from putting some time and effort into finding a great baby shower gift it really just depends on the recipient. If the mom-to-be has everything or you know there will be many people at the shower then cash might be just the thing the new mom wants.
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.
While a hostess gift is not a necessity, but it is certainly a very kind gesture. Even though a baby shower is given out of the goodness of one's heart, a baby shower hostess gift just says, "Thank you." If someone throws you a surprise baby shower, you are not expected to have a hostess gift immediately.
While the current trend is for anyone to throw a baby shower, strict shower etiquette says a shower should be hosted by a friend or not-so-immediate relative, such as a cousin or aunt. The host will greet all guests personally, take their coats, indicate where presents should be deposited and offer them a beverage.
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.
What happens at a baby shower? At a baby shower, people celebrate the pregnancy and celebrate the soon to be the arrival of the baby. The venue is decorated, drinks and food is served and games are played.
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.
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 Shower Seating Etiquette
If this is not her first child, her other children should sit with her. Any woman who will be closely involved in the baby's life, such as Great-Grandma, Grandma, and the mom-to-be's mother-in-law, should be seated with the guest of honor.
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.
When you start your baby shower guest list, begin with those who are nearest and dearest to the parents-to-be. This should be easy (but not always). Your list might include mom, siblings, mother-in-law, grandmother, best friend, etc.
But the only things you really need to make a baby shower special are beautiful fresh flowers and a few baked treats. The impending arrival of a new bundle of joy is cause enough for friends and family close to the mom-to-be to get together and celebrate.
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.
Traditionally, baby showers are held in the third trimester of pregnancy from 28 to 32 weeks.
Traditional etiquette rules
Traditionally for an in-person shower, a friend or relative hosts the baby shower and pays for the costs. It is unclear how these traditions developed initially, but it is clear that this is the expected practice to abide by today.
No one wants you to go into debt to buy a 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.
Baby Shower Gifts from Grandparents
Etiquette states that they will likely select a gift around $100 for the new baby. Grandparents are also traditionally known to hand down items from their own children that had sentimental value or that are family heirlooms.
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.
No one is obligated to give you (or baby) a gift, so what to give should be totally left up to the gift giver. (Help them out by registering.) Saving for something specific? Well, in that case, it's okay to throw money out as an option if—and only if—someone specifically asks what you need.