IS IT BEFORE OR AFTER THE BIRTH??
2006-10-02 02:37:32 · 16 answers · asked by missnikid 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Hi,
I had my very American baby shower thrown for me in England in January for my daughter. Baby showers should be be fun, entertaining and social able, and NO MEN!!!! Unless you want to do a couples baby shower, which sometimes are more exciting, and you can play more games.
Baby showers are usually thrown about a month before the baby is due, so the mum to be is really big. All the gifts should be for the baby, or for the mum to enjoy after the birth. Everyone must bring a gift or purchase one off of the baby shower gift list at a store set up by the mum to be. John Lewis does them here in England.
The host of a baby shower is usually the Grandma of the baby to be, or a sister or aunt of the mum to be. You only throw baby showers for NEW mums. You should offer snacks and drink for your guests and a bottle of champagne should be popped.
Its a celebration for the last moments of silent, baby free life, and also a congratulations and best wishes for the new baby.
Here are some links to baby shower games. Little gifts should be given to those who win the games.
Have fun!
2006-10-03 21:08:55 · answer #1 · answered by hilfigirl1o1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A baby shower can be held before or after the birth. Either way is perfectly fine. I have had baby showers, given baby showers, and attended lots of baby showers. Typically, you invite friends and family of the mom-to-be. You provide food which can be simple like cake and coffee or more elaborate with sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. A lot of times there are some games. Some pretty common ones are for each woman to take a piece of yarn the length of how big around they think the mom's tummy is. The one whose piece of yarn is the closest, gets a prize. Also, put many different baby items on a tray, let each guest take a look at the try then take the tray away. Ask the guests to write down as many items as they can remember. The big event is opening up the gifts. Mom-to-be sits in a centrally located chair and reads the gift card so everyone knows who it is from and then the gift is opened so all can "ooh" and "aah" over the cute little baby things. You can also have a couple's baby shower. Both mom and dad-to-be are there with other friend and family couples. A fun game for a couple's shower is to see which couple can dress a baby doll fastest with each couple having one hand behind their back - it is hilarious. Basically, a baby shower is to share in the joy of a new baby plus help the new parents with some of the the things they will need for the baby. Food, games, gifts, and visiting make for a fun afternoon out for the mom-to-be or the new mom.
2006-10-02 03:54:09 · answer #2 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time it is before the baby. This way mom and dad don't have to run out and buy everything before hand. I guess If they had to purchase everything before the baby there would be no reason for a shower? You can have only so many little pink dresses. And it is up to you as to how you host a shower. Some people have it in their homes during the day and have a lunch they prepare or have catered for all the guests. Some people have more of a couples party in the evening and have drinks and snacks/appetizers and no real meal. Some people will have it at a banquet hall so they don't have to prepare anything, but that can be quite expensive. However you decide to have it, you will need to get a list of family and friends of the mom to be so you can send out invitations several weeks before the shower and find out where the mom is registered so you can put it in the invitation so people know what to buy for the baby. Some people will play a little game at the party, like how much string will it take to make it around moms belly and then you have a little prize for the winner. So basically think of it as a child's birthday party except for adults. Have fun with it, there are no real set rules, just some examples of the types of showers I have been to.
2006-10-02 05:51:50 · answer #3 · answered by sooz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Traditionally, baby showers are held before the baby's birth, usually in the 6-8 month period. However, lately, in the states, women have begun waiting until after the birth of their child to have a shower, especially if the sex is unknown.
The shower normally is thrown by a person other than the expecting mother, usually her mother, sister, close friend, etc....Invitations are sent out, sometimes with a registry list telling what the knew mommy needs. There are normally refreshments, sometimes small sandwiches and potato chips, or perhaps little h'or duerves, and almost always there is cake, or cupcakes, usually decorated with a baby theme ofcourse, such as little booties on each piece. There are decorations, perhaps a big banner saying "Congratulations" or "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!". There are sometimes games as well......here are a few suggestions.
1-Women unroll toilet paper to the length they think will fit around the pregnant mom's belly, and whoever gets closest wins a prize.
2-Everyone gets a clothes pin or diaper pin to wear on their shirt. If someone hears you say "baby", they get to take your pin, whoever has the most at the end of the party wins.
3-Tasting baby food and trying to figure out what it is.
4-Drinking some sort of liquid from baby bottles, whoever drinks it all the fastest wins.
5-A baby pool, such as guessing whether it's a boy or a girl, or what day the baby will be born on.
6-Name suggestions can be passed around, or all written out on paper.
Just things like that. Another one I just thought of is that because pregnant women waddle, you can place a blown up balloon between your knees and have a race walking with it there.
Also, there are usually presents given, baby clothes, strollers, car seats, high chairs, bassinets, just about anything an expecting mother could use can be a good shower gift.
Good luck!
2006-10-02 13:01:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A baby shower is given before the birth of the baby to "shower" the mom-to-be with gifts to help prepare for her newborn. It is generally given for a first time mother since they will need everything. Many stores have baby registries, for mom & dad to go ahead of time and list all the items they will need. This helps the guest to purchase gifts and prevent duplicate gifts. The shower is usually given 1-2 months before the birth of the baby so mom & dad can prepare the nursery for when the baby arrives. The shower is usually attended by women only. However, in more recent years it is pretty common to have the father-to-be there, along with other men (siblings, grandfathers, friends, etc...) Many showers have games to be played by the guests before mom opens her gifts. If so, then it is proper to give small gifts for the winners of the games. Since most baby showers are held in the afternoon, lunch is usually served. Most showers have small snacks on each guest table. Games are usually done first and then lunch is served. The cake is usually served while the mom opens her gifts. A close friend or sister of the mom-to-be will make a list of all the gifts and who they are from to help mom & dad with their thank you notes afterwards.
2006-10-02 02:53:42 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is before the baby is born. All the female friends and family of the expecting mother get together for a party. There are baby decorations, all the kinds of baby gifts that you can think of, games with baby themes, and food.
It is one of the most wonderful parts of being an expectant mother, the beautiful party that i missed because i live in Eastern Europe where people think it is bad luck to buy anything before the baby is born! I mean, even diapers.
The in laws had a fit when i got everything ready before i went into labor! Like I would have had time to do that with a new baby!
2006-10-02 02:44:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not American, or a Mum, but I do know that a Baby Shower is held before the birth and is a gathering where the mum-to-be's friends gather for a party (more a tea and cake party than vodka and strippers one) and they give her gifts for when the baby is born. Sounds like a plan to me!
2006-10-02 02:52:09 · answer #7 · answered by peggy*moo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most are held before but I know several people who waited till after the birth to have a shower. Especially those that didn't want to know the sex of their baby.
Let's see...there are usually a few games played punch and cake are usually served and then the gifts are opened and passed around for everyone to see...
2006-10-02 02:43:06 · answer #8 · answered by "Urban" 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most people have them before. I had mine AFTER, when my baby was 3 weeks old only because it was high risk and nobody wanted to have a shower only for me to be disappointed. Go online, and find shower games...pick about 3 or 4. Get some cheap prizes from the dollar store..serve finger foods and cake...open gifts and it should be about 2-3 hours long
Have fun.
2006-10-02 02:40:59 · answer #9 · answered by Tammyorr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A baby shower can be before or after the birth of baby. Many women ususally do it before so you can prepare your nest before baby arrives. They "shower" you with gifts for you & your baby, play baby games, eat food, & enjoy eachothers company. This is also a good time to get parenting advice.
2006-10-02 03:49:47 · answer #10 · answered by twinkle toes 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋