low cost baby shower ideas?

Question

okay, so i'm going to throw myself a baby shower type of thing, for my friends only. (my mom will throw me one for her side of the family; i think my SIL or maybe paternal grandma will throw me one for the other side of my family)
my friends all a bit strapped for cash, and so am i! i'm not worried about gifts or anything, just want to have a fun get together!
I'm due at the end of February
when should i have it?
and neat ideas for the celebration?
it will be coed, and kids will probably be there.

okay, so i'm having 3 to avoid drama.
my mom & dad are divorced (recently) and their families fight like cats & dogs. i eloped to avoid having them in the same area. it's BAD (like, cops being called, restraining orders bad).

and i have more fun with just my friends...
i want something more than jsut a standard bbq or somthing (it'll be in the winter, so that wouldn't even work!).

something to make it more special than just hagning out with friends like we always do for no occasion

the thing is, i want ALL my friends to come, and i have different groups of friends, they don't all know each other.

i'm sure one of them would take over, but she's the type that would pretty much have me tell her exactly what i want, then make the arrangements for me. so i still have to know what i want!

ok, so "baby shower" might not be the best term, i agree. thanks for the ideas about what to call it instead!!

Answer 1

Just get together with them and play games.. Here's some Links you can check out.. to get some ideas for BABY shower games... OR you could just play cards or board games.. YOUR CHOICE>>

EDITED>>> SOME of you Answerers need to lighten up.!!! SHE SAID THIS IS JUST FOR FUN>> NOT TO GET GIFTS>> All she has to do is put no gifts please on the invites.. AND as for Her mom giving her a shower.. SO WHAT>> Maybe she doesn't have anybody else to do that.. AND she also said there would be 2 serparate showers for both sides of her family.. IT is not like the same people will be there and have to buy her something twice..

IGNORE SOME OF THESE ANSWERS> Yes by the books your friends or someone else throw you a "SHOWER" BUT if all you want is to have friends come over and be able to celebrate and have fun, even if they do bring you a present or two... This is up to YOU>>> And as for the 3 "showers" again it is up to you and the people who want to do it..

HAVE FUN WITH IT AND CONGRATS ON YOUR PREGNANCY>>



http://www.babydraw.com/


http://www.baby-shower.com/

http://www.baby-shower-games-etc.com/baby_shower_games.htm

Answer 2

I think co-ed is a GREAT idea! I had a co-ed/family baby shower for my 6th baby. My other kids are all waaaay older - 20, 15, 14, 12, and 11. There's NO WAY I would have considered a shower without inviting them!! So I went ahead and opened the invitation to the invitees families as well.

I think 1-2 months before you are due would be fine. However, you have to take into consideration the holidays, so maybe early November or late January. Not alot of money was spent on decorations for my shower. Because it was more family oriented, I opted for a barbecue, instead. For a winter shower, perhaps maybe a potluck? Just a thought . . .

Answer 3

suggestion for something to do is to have a diaper raffle. Raffle off a gift basket you can get things at the dollar store. If people want to participate then have them bring a pack of diapers so they can enter their name. have every one bring a passing dish (have it be finger foods) to share Letters to The Baby As the guests walk to the table where the gifts are being placed.....have a special station set up on the side of the gift table. At this station have cute baby themed stationary laid out with some Blue or black pens. Beside the stationary have a card out asking each guest to take a few moments to write a note to the new little baby. When the guests finish writing their notes, have them place their notes in a tray or basket to the side. Once all the guests have written the notes....the hostess can then do a raffle and draw, at random, one or two of the notes and announce the winner of the prize for this particular game. When the shower is over these notes can be placed in a scrapbook or album to be enjoyed by the parents now and by the baby years down the road. Sweet and sentimental and sure to be treasured by the new family!!! have every one bring plain onsies (3-6 months) of any color have fabric paint out and have them make their own designs and give to parents as a present.

Answer 4

BBQ is out. hmm. Let's see. You say you get together all the time, so you want to do something a bit different, but special. Boy, you aren't easy here, you know that? hee hee.

I don't know if you are into sporting events - but have everyone over for the game or something and festivities. Otherwise, I would suggest having a potluck, no gifts required fun get together. Or, perhaps a potluck/diaper party. We had a beer and diaper thing for the guys while I had the more traditional shower with the gals. It was fun. All the guys brought their favorite beer to drink and a package of diapers.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Dont call it a baby shower if you are throwing it and you arent worried about gifts.

Call it something creative...like, " advice party" or "Welcoming party".

Just tell people it will be the last party you can throw for a while and you want to invite people over for a pizza party or a spaghetti or chili cook off.

Friends of mine had a diaper poker party and invited the guys too....to get into the poker game, the guys had to bring a bag of diapers.

Make something huge like spaghetti, chili or lasagna...and a salad. Tell people to bring a dish...thats always popular.

Have a pinata for the kids...take the focus off having a baby yourself..otherwise it looks like you are begging gifts.

Answer 6

You could have it anytime. I would recommend no later then 4 weeks before your due date.

I would also be watchout about calling it a baby shower. people may think it "rude" if you are throwing one for yourself.

Make it a no gift celebration of life!!!

As for cute ideas, I have a few. One thing my sister did for mine was for the napkins, she got some white ones. Then she got a pack of safety pins. Then some hershey kisses. She wrapped a few kisses in the napkins to look like diapers.

She also then served homemade lasagna, and for the cheese she out them in baby bottles with the caps cut off. It was really cute. She bought 4 of them at target for a few bucks. She also filled them with little candies and nuts. Then placed them around her house for people to munch on.

You don't need to do that much. Just make sure there is good food. "Hire" some of your better friends to help you cook the day before, and the day of. Cook a simple meal like spagatie, with garlic bread, and salad. Or something you are good at making. Or you could even have it in the mid day, and serve a bunch of finger foods and cake...that way you won't have to set tables.

Have fun!!! Keep it simple, and don't stress over it.

Answer 7

You can do many fun things. You can play games and give lotto tickets to the adults or a bag of M&M's to the kids depending on who wins the game. You could make cupcakes decorated with read frosting or heart shaped cupckaes because you are due in Feb. Have the kids who are invited to the shower make red hearts and other fun decorations. You can go to the dollar store and buy blue and pink leis for everyone to wear, to give it a summery feel. Have everyone bring a jar of baby food. Have a basket decorated to put them in and you will have a jump start on baby food. Have your guests write down one thing they will do for you after the baby, this can be their gift to you. for favors, fill small celophane bags with pink and blue jellie bellies tied with pink and blue ribbons. January would be a good time to have the shower. November and December are busy with the holidays. Have everyone bring food or have everyone chip in and buy pizza. Have fun!

Answer 8

If you are due in February, I would have the shower around 1/5/08. It's always cost effective to have everyone bring a dish. You could either mention this on the invitation or when your friends RSVP. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive (oreos, chips, dip, wings, hot dogs, etc.). You supply the cake and drinks. Buy a dozen balloons for decoration (1.00 each at the dollar store).

Answer 9

Have a pot-luck and a special cake for the celebration. On the invitaion just say that it's a celebration of your baby's upcoming birth. The people you invite won't feel obligated to bring a gift since they will all be bringing a special dish for the pot-luck.
You could have everyone write words of wisdom for your baby and make a scrapbook for your child to look at one day.
I would have it about a month before the baby is due.

Answer 10

a coed baby shower is a great idea for friends. do a pot luck where you can have everyone bring a dish and everyone gets to eat! have it at your house or the home of someone involved who is willing to help-you should not make them feel obligated to lend their home.

go to a party store and and see what kind of neat ideas they have and then create your own party favors rather than buying them. or go to a craft store for ideas. go to a library or better yet a book store and look through the books for do it yourself ideas.

having it be coed makes it a more fun atmosphere rather than a stiff boring babyshower. You can have a luau baby shower-or how about a halloween babyshower-and everyone dresses up, you can invite kids as well. or around thanksgiving you can have a pilgrim party and everyone brings a thanksgiving food item.