baby showers

Hi my sister wants to help me have a baby shower but everyone keeps saying they have gone out of fashion.

Whats your thoughts on them

I had one! But any excuse for a party in my house!:)

I think its great to see everyone before bubs comes so you have time to catch up!

Good luck!
x

Everyone that i know has a baby shower. Its great to get all your girlfriends over for a good old chin wag . lol now that sounds old fashion chin wag!
Go for it have one your will regret it otherwise. Some people will have like a homewares party, candle party or linen party and incorporate it with your baby shower.
HTH Nikki

I think theyre great! Lots of fun, and great for getting good pressies :)

I know this might offend some people, but you have asked for opinions!!!

Personally, i think baby showers are wrong. Its basically saying, "hey, come round for a cup of tea, as long as you buy me something". I just find them plain rude - i am going to give my friends presents because i want to, not because they invite me over so i can buy them something.

I never have been, and never will go to a baby shower (or kitchen tea for that matter!!).

My friends are hanging for me to get far enough along so they can organise one. Im happy to have one as long as its at home so I dont have to go far....

Everyone I know can't wait for me to have one... I have 3 people who want to organise it for me. I don't think they're all about presents, well they aren't for me anyway (but of course, its great to get lots of gifts lol!). I don't think they're out of fashion... I do think they get a bit daggy when you play those games! A friend of mine had one this time last year, and mostly it was about sharing experience and having a morning tea all together. And some time together before bubs came!

Who cares what anyone else thinks anyway, you want one then you have one!

I totally agree with catrionalee.

I know some people just love baby showers, have lots of fun at them and find them a lovely excuse for a get-together.

But, I will never have one or go to one. I think they are self indulgent, insensitive, greedy and rude. But of course that is JMO.

Please, please, please don't be offended by my opinion if you love baby showers (I am not saying that you are those things above). This is just how I feel, and I feel really strongly about it.

each to there own!! have one if you want one..

i didnt have one because i dont like being the centre of attention!! and also i hate opening presents with everyone watching you and you dont like it!! LOL!

aww....no way are they selfish. You mostly find other people are nagging you to have them (I do it to ppl, lol) rather than you making people come and buy you presents!!!!!!! It's more about celebrating a new baby coming into the world, not being greedy. When I have one I think I'd write on the invitation that presents aren't neccessary that I just want to have a nice day with the girls!!
Do what you want, if you want one, have one!! It's a great time to celebrate!!

AImes, if you want one hunny, you go right ahead. Obviously if people don't agree with them then they'll decline your invitation.

I didn't want one and had 3 thrown for me. I asked for no presents, but some people truely delight in buying your new baby something.

To me there's not much difference between a wedding and a shower - it's a celebration of a momentuos occasion.

And, considering the only self indulgent thing you're going to do for a little while is go to the loo on your own or have a shower - why the heck not be a little bit self indulgent.

I had a celebration of women for mine - I invited all the women who had inspired me in my life and supported me, becasue right before the birth of my first baby I needed more support and inspiration than I ever had before.

Please, please, please, I'm not saying that that is what baby showers are, I'm just saying that is how I feel about them.

To all of you who love baby showers, please enjoy them with my very best wishes, they're just not for me.

Aimes, If you do have a baby shower, I hope it is just lovely, and if any one declines then just think they must be a cranky, old, party pooping, weirdo like me :)

i had a baby shower @ 32 weeks, we had it at mums place, and just invited all the girls in the family, and a few close friends, had some nibbles and wine (my cousin and i had soft drink of course - we were both pg) and had a chat/catch up, it was great!

When get pregnant, I'm definately having a baby shower! My best friend has already started with party ideas, themes, etc because we both love entertaining and party planning. And I'm going to have all the corny games as well.

But I also would like something memorable like people to write in a book or similar thoughts or encouragements for me to be a loving mother. As I'm Christian we will also spend some time praying for our family and for the new bub. In fact I might get people to write in prayer journal or something...

It's a special time and if you want one go for it! Re presents, I've been to a baby shower when the present I bought was a hand written letter of encouragement and 2 baby face washers (cost $4).

I had one, organised by my sister for me and it was a great catch up with heaps of girls that I hadnt see for a long time. As far as it being selfish, I guess it depends on the person who is having it, but I know that I received gifts that as Ruth mentioned would have cost hardly anything and others that were extravagant (from family!) and I couldnt care less, it was more about celebrating the baby to come and having a catch up.
I dont think they are out of fashion and think they can be done tactfully. Enjoy!

I don't think they are out of fashion at all. I wouldn't throw one for myself but would let someone else do it for me (my sister has already started planning!). I see it as a great opportunity to catch up with family and friends before the baby arrives and I'm not worried about gifts at all (by then I probably would have gone crazy and bought everything myself :P ). Your family and near and dear friends will most likely buy bubs gifts anyway. What woman can resist buying cute baby stuff? :D

I agree with Catrionalee too...

That said, my baby shower is this weekend. My friend was absolutely insistent and i think it's probably part of the reason i cannot stand her at the moment.
All well and good to throw the party and force me to turn up but i wanted nothing to do with the organising of it or anything.
And as far as im concerned if everyone wanted to make time to see me before i had the baby they could have done so of their own accord.

In saying that i'd easily have a get-together with friends just to catch up but i'd want it strictly known that it was not to be baby related. I don't want people fawning over or touching my belly and i can't say im looking forward to that fake 'thank you for your gift' if its something i already have or dont need. I have the pregnancy b!tchypants enough as it is!

I dont think ive really articulated what i wanted to say - but im sure you get the point! I think they may be wonderful for some people - but for me - i havent had the support from my clueless 'friends' my entire pregnancy and i dont want it on one day because somebody has put in the effort to make it so.

I absolutely agree with CATRIONALEE !!!!!

That's exactly how I would look at it.

BESIDES who can afford buying a baby shower gift, ... then a gift when baby is born , ... then a gift when baby turns 1 .... ALL WITHIN A YEAR & 1 DAY !!! Gee, wouldn't want a christening OR name day on top of that :doh:

No gift is cheap !!! :rolleyes:

That's the thing, when i have parties or etc i dont expect gifts - they make me feel really uneasy and thats mostly why i probably dont do them. Like i really want to invite family and friends to the christening but the christening is in march, a month after bubbys edd... and i dont want people to feel obligated to buy a gift - but even when you say 'strictly no gifts' someone always does and then the next person feels uncomfortable because they didnt iykwim...

Hi,

A blessingway is a lovely event. Sort of a babyshower with more heart and soul. Surrounding yourself with supportive women who will be with you for the journey. You need not have gifts, or just the home-made and heartfelt ones - poems, wishes, offers of genuine help and support.
If you google "blessingway" I'm sure you'll find some good ideas
Barb

Barb thats what i wanted to do but ended up running out of time! Its such a beautiful idead:)

Another gorgeous thing to do is instead of a gift you get all the women to bring a bead( can be new can be old) that can be thread onto a necklace that you can wear whe you give birth! That way you will have all the wonderfull strength from your friends!

Best of luck with your baby shower hope it goes wonderfully!x

My sister threw me a baby shower before DS#1 got heaps of amazing gifts and a really fantastic time, now her bub is due in 8 weeks so I am throwing her a really great day, bring gifts if you want to but come a long for some fun, a chat (and the occasional horror story)!!! LOL. Everyone to their own but give me a baby shower anyday - so not old fashioned but certainly a lot of fun... go for it!

i have put on the invite Presents are not needed just your presence is perfect

That's sounds lovely - but I am sure that people will bring gifts as well - have a fantastic time.. xxoo

I am having a baby shower in a month and i cant wait. My baby shower will be with both males and females, it will jsut be one big get together to have a bbq and a good time. I think it is great to catch up with all your mates before bubs arrives i am not expecting gifts but i know that alot of my friends cant help themselves just like me :) I lvoe going to baby showers and i love being able to buy a small gift for the mummy to be i know i am not expected to buy anything but who can help themselves hehehehe i say go for it and have a lovely day enjoy the attention that will be on you because when bub arrives all eyes are going to be on him/her :)

How many weeks should you be at when you have a baby shower?

My friend was going to throw mine when i was about 5-6 months but i was barely showing, so she waited until now. It probably depends how comfortable you are. I wish i'd had mine earlier i was so not in the mood on Sunday, and there were people everywhere, wanting to touch my tummy and see the baby move and i just wanted to tell them to p**s off!

ETA - That's not to say i wasn't grateful for the effort she put in, but everyone else was just, argh!

I had many offers of a baby shower when I had my twin girls but declined....if anyone wanted to buy them a gift they could when they were born...I never had a kitchen tea or hens night either...these thinks just get out of hand..

I have only ever been too 1 baby shower in my life and it was my best friends back in November..She did'nt really seem too into it and when I commented to her days later that she got some nice things she said..."yeah I was too tired to notice"...looks like that will be the one and only baby shower I will go to. Her SIL when she had hers gave everyone a list of things she wanted including the brand....what a scab..

Sorry must say they are not for me..I had so much fun purchasing things myself for my girls...

I

i had a shower for both of my babies, this time i wasnt planning on having one, we have everything we need and i know alot of people cant afford things, plus i didnt want to come across as someone that wanted pressies. My mum however has insisted on having a shower with family and close friends, so that we can celebrate the new life, this baby is due a year after my granddad passed on the exact day of his passing. My mum and her sisters have lost their mum and dad in a short time, They wanted to finally have a get together and celebrate something positive in their lives, how could i argue with that.
The birth of this much wanted and longed for baby is truly a blessing in our family at this time.