The purpose of a Baby Shower is to "shower" the parent(s) to be with love and to celebrate their new arrival. Planning a baby shower can be stressful. The key in planning any event is organization. We hope the following tips will help you stay organized when planning that special baby shower. You should enjoy the shower just as much as the parent(s) to be and guests.

Who should host a Baby Shower?

Anyone can plan a baby shower. Family, friends, or even co-workers can throw a baby shower.

How much should I spend?

A budget is important when planning the baby shower. A few things to take into consideration when planning your budget:

1. How many guests are invited?
   
2. Where will the shower be held? (i.e., the home of the host, the office, or a restaurant)
   
3. What menu will be served?
   
4. What type of favors will be given out?
   
5. What kind of games will be played? Do you need prizes for the winners?
   
6. What decorations will be needed? Do you only need invitations or will you coordinate the entire shower with plates, cups, balloons, etc?
   

Should I have a theme?

A theme can be as simple as a girls only shower or a co-ed shower. There are also many themes available in terms of decorations, invitations, and creative ideas. Here are a few:

1. A Spa Shower - Have assorted spa items such as manicure kits, lotions, and face masks. Have fun pampering yourselves. As a favor idea you could buy bath salts and fun containers so guests could create their own bath salt favor.
   A Tea Party - Does your mom to be like tea? Host a tea party! Centerpieces can be made with inexpensive tea pots filled with flowers or a bouquet of baby shaped lollipops. Favors can be personalized tea bags with cute sayings like:
   A baby is brewing!
   Julie's Baby Shower
   June 6, 2003
   
2. An alternative to a Tea Party is a Mad Hatter Tea Party. Use the above suggestions but have all of your guests wear crazy hats! The guest with the craziest hat wins a prize. You could give away your centerpieces as prizes.
   
3. A Nursery Rhyme Baby Shower - Create a game where your guests need to complete Nursery Rhymes. Place a Nursery Rhyme Diaper Cake as a centerpiece on the gift table. This doubles as a practical gift for mom. Get a baby bath and fill it with punch. You can cut a plastic drinking cup down to size and place three figures in it for "Three men in a tub". Serve little cakes or one large cake marked with a B.
   
   

Menu and Location Planning

Your menu and location are determined by how many guests you are inviting. If you have less than 20 guests you may be able to host the baby shower in someone's home. As a host you will want to participate in the baby shower as well. You may feel that the cost of hosting a baby shower in a restaurant or hiring caterers is worth the trouble. It has been my experience that hosting an event, such as a baby shower, at a restaurant is worth the expense when you have more than 15 guests. Every one is able to enjoy the baby shower, even the host.

Planning and Organization

A few things to keep organized while you are planning your party:

1. Create one guest list. A lot of unnecessary confusion comes into play when there are many guest lists. Have guest lists from both sides of the family? No problem. Consolidate them into one central guest list.
   
2. Plan to have the shower 6-8 weeks before the baby is due.
   
3. Have your guests RSVP 1-2 weeks before the baby shower.
   
4. If you are planning to host the baby shower at a restaurant, make your reservation early. Check with the restaurant for the latest date to submit your guest number.
   
5. Send out baby shower invitations at least 4 weeks before the baby shower, if not earlier.
   
6. To make things easier on the mom to be have baby shower thank you cards purchased and addressed with the guest list. If the baby shower has a theme you can coordinate the thank you cards with that theme.
   
7. Have activities planned. Baby Shower Games are a great way to break the ice among guests who may not know each other.
   

Christina Cermak is owner of BabyShowerDepot.com. BabyShowerDepot.com offers unique baby gifts, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies and free baby shower articles.