Baby shower etiquette

[HotI]

Why do you want one? do you want presents (toys,clothes,toiletries) or do you just want to get together with your mates?

I think you can make it what you want.

I went to one, and everyone was asked to bring their favourite book from when they were little for the bub. It was really good seeing all the different books that were given.

[DoubleK]

for me, i had a baby shower with DD1 because i wanted to get together with all the girls in my family who i hadnt seen for a while, and also, i had a cousin who was a week ahead of me.. so it was a good chance to catch up!

i didnt expect presents, but i knew i would get some- which ranged from a teddy bear, to a huge tub full of baby stuff!

i have been to a couple of baby showers, and bought a gift within my budget. i think thats fair enough.

if you were adamant you didnt want presents, you could say so on the invite... otherwise, i think people would bring a gift anyways!

[Fuzzywuzzy]

[QUOTE=DoubleK;1944123]for me, i had a baby shower with DD1 because i wanted to get together with all the girls in my family who i hadnt seen for a while, and also, i had a cousin who was a week ahead of me.. so it was a good chance to catch up!

i didnt expect presents, but i knew i would get someQUOTE]

:yeahthat:

I had 2 baby showers as well. One at my house with my close friends and work friends and another one with all of my family which my mum organised and i flew up for the weekend. The family one was purely a chance to catch up and for mum to go a little bit crazy in preparation for her first grandchild.

[Glamourcide]

I didn't have a shower for either of my girls, purely because I really only have one or two friends who live in town - everyone else lives a million miles away and it would have been waaayyyy too hard to get them all together - their social calendars are pretty packed!!
But I love being invited to showers, although I've only been to one (the other ones were out of town and we just couldn't make it, so I sent presents in the mail). It was a pretty small one, just her female relatives and me (as our men have been mates since high school and we were due just a few weeks apart), we all brought small gifts and just sat around the dinnertable all afternoon yarning about kids and eating cheesecake

I did hear of one friend being invited to a baby shower where the mum-to-be sent out her 'gift registry wishlist' with the invites - which sounds fine so that you don't get doubles of everything, but apparently there was not ONE single item on her wishlist that was under $150!! To me, that sounds a bit greedy, like you really do intend your baby shower to 'set you up' so you don't have to buy any big-ticket items... needless to say her guests weren't impressed and most just bought smaller gifts that were in their budget. But I don't have a problem buying a gift for a shower, I usually try to get something more for mum rather than bub, as I know I felt pretty ignored throughout my pregnancies... it was all, 'How's the baby?' 'Baby baby baby baby blah blah' and I was like, 'Wth am I, a cheese sandwich? Why doesn't anybody ask me how I'M feeling?!'.

To me, a baby shower is a chance for you to get together with the girls for an afternoon (or brunch, whatever ) and celebrate your impending motherhood. Gifts are optional, but obviously much appreciated

[surprised]

Glamourcide - with a name like that, I'm sure you're so much more than a cheese sandwich - you'd at least have a little pickle too

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful and helpful replies! It's good to know that if I do have one, people will probably be excited about coming, rather than offended!

[Inanna]

What about a Blessing Way?

This is where "Baby Shower" originated. It isn't about gifts or games it's about holding a positive Energy for the Mama and her baby. Letting her know she is "showered" with loving support during her birthing.
There are many rituals that can take place & there are things that can be said to the Mother. Sometimes the Mother is massaged, bracelets or necklaces are made for the mother - and always it's about connecting with Women.

It's about holding a positive Energy with the Women there and that united that Feminine energy will guide the baby's way...

Just a thought!

I have never been to a baby shower nor had one. But I have been to and had a Blessingway for each of my live babies....