Hello everyone, I am 36 weeks pregnant and really unsure about when to have my baby showers. I am having two one for my city friends and then one back home where I grew up with my family and friends. Some people say it is bad luck to have them before you actually give birth. Most people want a person to have the baby shower after the baby is born so you can come and spend time with the baby. My main concern is if it is decided to have it after how long do I wait?
2007-04-20 10:10:55 · 43 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
After is much more fun. People get to come and see the baby, and the mom doesn't end up with a whole bunch of green and white. I'd say 2-3 weeks after the baby is born.
2007-04-20 10:13:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Holy Guacamole! I guess I'm the only person on earth who thinks you should wait!
Actually at 36 weeks, baby might make this decision for you. At this point you could go into labor at any moment. Why not have one shower now, and one after the baby comes? I think I would have the "city" shower now, because those guys see you more and they will get to see the baby after s/he is born. Having one shower before baby comes will insure that you have a few things and you're all ready for your new arrival.
Then, after baby comes, head home with your newborn for your second shower. These people won't get to see you as often and they will be just *delighted* to get to see your infant child, as it may be the only time for a while. Also, you will be able to update your registry between the two showers, so you can scratch off things you thought you'd want or already got at the first shower, for things you know you could use more of now that baby is actually here.
Plus, traveling with a newborn is cake - they sleep like rocks in a moving car, and if you fly, you can hold the baby on your lap, so no extra ticket $$. If you drive, you will have to stop every 2 or 3 hours to feed and change the baby, but you will have to stop *at least* that often if you try to make the trip pregnant.
There's really no reason not to wait until after the birth for *both* showers, except that it's true you really don't want baby around a bunch of people for the first month. If you do decide to wait and have your baby showers after the baby arrives (which will make it much easier to choose gifts - you will know the sex of the baby, the size of the baby, and whether baby prefers a breast or a bottle) then *insist* people wash their hands before touching your newborn. You might also have trouble squeezing 2 showers into the first 4 weeks of baby's life. You aren't going to want to do much the first week or two, and if you have a Csection, you are going to be unable to walk at all for the first week or so, with slow going after that, and forget travelling. If that turns out to be the case, I'd try to schedule my "home" shower around 6 weeks post-birth. Although I wouldn't wait too much longer than 8 weeks after baby's arrival, my guess is that the folks back home will be thrilled to see the baby no matter what age you bring him to visit, and would love to throw you a shower. Just don't wait until he's 6 months old.
Here's a link to my favorite baby shower idea ever - a diaper cake. Take a look, you'll love them. Congratulations on your new baby, and enjoy your baby showers!!!
2007-04-20 15:01:04 · answer #2 · answered by Diaper Cakewalk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, although I haven't had children yet, I believe it is understood in the States that typically a baby shower is had before the child is born. I believe the idea behind having it before is that it would be more useful to have many of the gifts before you bring your child home from the hospital, as they may be very useful as a new mom. I think the main reason to have it afterwards may be superstition. Sometimes when a person has difficulty becoming pregnant, or has troubles during the pregnancy, the parents may not want to count their chickens before they've hatched.
A suggestion may be that you have one shower, the city shower for example, before the baby is born, and one shower afterwards. Good luck with your pregnancy!! I hope this was helpful.
2007-04-20 10:20:17 · answer #3 · answered by b_lobi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Generally people have baby showers before the baby is born. This way you have time to register and get things that you may need and you can work on organizing the baby room and just prepare for the baby. However, if it is not possible you could have a baby shower after the baby is born. Either way I'm sure the parents won't mind getting free gifts.
2007-04-20 10:15:12 · answer #4 · answered by Tickle me 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone I know including myself has had one before the baby is born. You get things that you will need before the baby comes. But it's up to you and/or whoever is giving you the shower.The tradition is to have one before though. IF you decide to have one after then I would wait a month or so before you have it. This way you and your baby can get your rest before you have a big shower. If you do it to early then the baby will get sore from everyone holding it so much and you don't want that. Hope I helped and good luck
2007-04-20 10:21:32 · answer #5 · answered by lem 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you know what you are having, have the baby shower before the baby is born. It is not good to have alot of people around the baby right after he or she is born. The baby is new to the world and is not ready for all the bacteria that people carry around. You do not want the child to get sick. My wife had hers before the baby was born. We then had stuff all set up to take care of the child. You will have your hands full after the child is born. A baby shower will be the last thing you want to worry about.
Good luck with everything
2007-04-20 10:15:40 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe it's a personal decision. If you have one before you have brand new baby clothes already set up for the baby, plus some useful equiptment that may have been purchased. If you wait until after the baby is born you know whether to get boy or girl clothing. Neither is wrong or right. I did it both ways, and both worked out just fine. Since you are having 2 have one of both.
2007-04-20 10:19:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go ahead and throw two, the first one with your city friends like now and the secound with the people back home after the baby is born. That way your city friends who will have plenty of time to see the baby after it is born can give you stuff you need and you can buy what you don't have and then your friends back home can see and hold the baby and they will know what size clothes and diapers it needs
2007-04-24 00:26:46 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Ani♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the baby showers I've been to were before the baby so that the mom had all the things she needed for when the baby came.
I suppose you could have one before and one after so that everyone could see the baby and spend time with you.
because it's probably going to be worm when the baby comes I'd do it any time after. (2-3 weeks after)
GOOD LUCK
(You might want to consider having a close relative or friend throw it for you) but it really doesn't matter
2007-04-20 10:21:48 · answer #9 · answered by shamlik996 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they are mostly done before the baby comes. I have been to way too many of them and the only after baby shower I have been to, is because the baby was born way too early therefore the mother didnt get to have one. The point of a baby shower is to provide the mother with things she will need for the baby when he/she arrives. Kind of defeats the purpose afterwards.
2007-04-20 10:17:02 · answer #10 · answered by Stephanie S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋