Baby shower question, when to have it?

Question

I was wondering when is the best time to have a baby shower? After baby is born (thought u might be busy with new baby) or before baby is born so you can pay attention to the people who come? Also this might come off ungrateful but its not, I just dont want to waste things that wont be used. Anyhow is there a way to register for a new baby registry like a wedding registry? I wouldnt want people giving me things I wont use, thats mean since I wont use their gift, id be upset if I gave something and it didnt get used? More specifically I dont want TONNES of baby brandname toys and Dora/Pooh paraphanalia. I personally hate winnie the pooh :(

Answer 1

Baby showers are usually held before the baby is born, unless for religious or cultural reasons it is seen as bad luck to do so (for example Jewish women have baby showers about a month or so after the birth of their baby).

Most baby showers that are held before the baby's birth are held 8-10 weeks prior to the due date, however, if the mother is having multiples or the holidays are coming, etc, it isn't unheard of to have a baby shower as early as 15 weeks prior to the due date.

In this day & age, most stores will give you a gift receipt so if you receive and item that you won't use, you can return it for store credit. If you do receive a gift or two that you won't use & don't have a gift receipt for, remember to be gracious & thankful for the gift, and then put it on ebay or amazon later on.

As with wedding registries, baby registries are available at many retailers.

Babies R Us is the most popular baby superstore and friends & family can purchase gifts online as well as in stores. They carry a wide variety of furniture, layette items, nursery items, toys, feeding/nursing supplies, and any other baby gear that you could possible want. If you register in the store, you get a free gift with coupons & free samples which is also nice.

Stores like Target & WalMart also offer baby registries, but do not offer the wide variety of items that places like Babies R Us does. Family & friends can still shop online or in the store, but more items are available online than in most stores.

Large department stores often have baby registry services as well. The down side is that they usually don't carry all of the baby gear you are going to need to care for your newborn, and the items they do have can be pricey.

If you & your family like the convenience of shopping online, then you can even create a registry at Amazon! Since you can't see the items before hand, go to different manufacturer web sites to get the full details or go to stores to do your research before adding items to your registry.

Also, where you live may have a specialty baby boutique where you can register for your layette. Don't count these stores out, since they will often give you a discount if you purchase a large volume of items after the baby is born, and will often give special discounts at your little ones first birthday.

Most moms register at at least 2 locations, such as Babies R Us for the majority of the items they want, and a specialty store or Target to fill in the added items on their registry.

When registering, make sure you don't duplicate items on both registries unless you really want 2 of that item. Make sure you update your registry regularly so that if you purchase something for yourself or receive a gift before your shower, you can take it off the registry & you won't receive a duplicate.

Another tip that I was give was to not list the baby's gender on the registry. Once people know what you are having, they will be inclined to by you gender specific items that you don't really want or need. Where if you don't list the gender, you will be more likely to get the gear that you truly need for your baby.

Good luck & Congratulation!

Answer 2

You can register and put this info on the invites. If you register at babies R Us they give you little notes to put in the invitations that say where you are registered. also put the nursery theme on the invitations (if you have one)
You can usually take gifts back b/c you will still have people getting something not on the registery or not according to your theme.
A good time to have it is around 7-8 months. You can have it after the baby comes if you want especially if you don't get to see people often and want to show off the baby. I personally would have it around 7 1/2 months pregnant

p.s. How can you hate winnie the pooh?! ha ha, just kidding.

Answer 3

I had a baby shower for all 4 of my children. Like you, I no longer had the previous baby's items when I had the next one. (My 1st 3 children are 5yrs apart, the 3rd one was a girl and then my last child is 7 yrs younger than my daughter.) If people want to give you a shower then let them. The rule is that you don't give yourself a shower. But...It makes less things for you to have to buy. I see nothing wrong with having a shower for all of your children. Is the 1st one the only one who is suppose to get this special treatment? I don't think so. Back in the day when people had a child 10 months to a year apart, you didn't need to have another shower because you still had the baby stuff and most baby items were unisex-white dressing gowns and diapers-but nowadays most people wait a couple of years or more between children, so you end up needing to replace everything from the 1st or subsequent go round. It is not written in stone to have only 1 baby shower. The people who say that you shouldn't have another are either stingy, mean-hearted or just didn't get nice shower gifts themselves. ha ha ha. That is what you have to say to the negative people. Laugh it off and enjoy your Shower or Showers.

Answer 4

Baby registries are the norm. Target has a great one. That said, just like weddings, SOME people will get their own stuff.

Baby showers are more fun prior to the baby arrival, becuase its easier/less stressful, allows you to get stuff you need so you're prepared, and its just something exciting to do to fill the time before baby is born.

Between 7 and 8 months is the best time, imo, in case baby arrives early. Someone needs to host it for you and send out invites-- and its improper to state that you dont like pooh/dora, but your hostess can kind of informally mention it that you'd prefer 'practical" items and not pooh.

Answer 5

I hate winnie the pooh too! Normally the baby showers i have been to was in the last month 9 months, that way the stomach is really big. Yes you can register at any store you choose. I had my baby shower at 9 months, you can make the theme for it, that way you can get more of the character you want, just put on the invitations: Theme: ...

Answer 6

You should NOT plan your OWN baby shower.
This is something a girlfriend plans for you. You can privately tell your girlfriend your preferences, and also register at Target or someplace that isn't way more money than people can afford. That way, everything is up to your girlfriend and you don't come across as being pushy or greedy.

Be sure to understand that a gift is a gift. You need to be thankful and delighted because someone cared about you to give you the gift. You will probably get some homemade gifts, and things that are very sentimental. They mean a lot to people, and even if they aren't what you would have chosen, you should still appreciate it.

Answer 7

7 or 8 months is usually when pg women have their shower. I'm planning to have mine when i am 32 weeks.
You can register for baby stuff that you like and need at Target or Babies R Us. Those are the most popular stores and you guests can access it anywhere. I just did my registry the other day and didn't put any toys/clothes.

Answer 8

I had mine when I was almost 7 months pregnent because I wanted to get my babyies room ready and also wanted enough time to get the things that I didnt get from the party..but some advice dont wash all your new clothes right away you will see that your baby will not get to wear them all and if your the tags on you can always take them back and get something that you like and that fits..also I learned from my experience no matter what you register for people will always end up getting you what THEY want..when I regisitered i resigestered with everything in Lilac,sage green colors becuase I didnt want a load of stuff in pink .but regardless I still got TONS of pick stuff...so just be happy for what you get cuz you can always take it back or get store credit which babyies r us is really good about and get the things that you really need,,, congrats on the baby and best of luck!

Answer 9

I would say 7-8 months. This way you can set things up before baby gets here. You will have your hands full, and lots of sleepless night after you have the baby! Yes, you can have a registry just like wedding ones. Try https://www.toysrus.com/ControllerServlet?target=registry&operation=createRegistry®istryTarget=info1

Good luck!

Answer 10

You should have the shower about 1 month before you are due. You can register at babies r us, Walmart, and Target. If it is your family tell them please no winnie the pooh. I hate it also and told my family and close friends. I got some winnie the pooh and saved it for another babyshower. I also just gave some to my neighbor, they have an infant.