Baby shower idea and invite wording

[sconeonamission]

I want to have a baby shower for this baby. For DS, I had a baby shower, that was more my sister's Chocoholics Anonymous party. It was both, but the majority of guests were for her. I'm not complaining though

This time I wanted something specifically for me/the baby. This will most likely be the last addition to the family, so I wanted to do something.

I wanted to invite family, friends, friends from uni etc and have them bring their kids and partners. I wanted DH to 'entertain' the partners and children outside, then put on a lunch of sorts.

Does that sound silly?

I also have no idea how to word the invitation.

DS got heaps of soft toys/ stuffed animals when he was born... and really, what use does a newborn have with a stuffed animal? Surely DS could lend the ones he got to the baby? How would I word "no stuffed toys" on the invite without being rude? No toys in general, really. I do have some stuff I kept from when DS was a baby...

I don't want to sound ungrateful... just practical.... iykwim.

Also, we're going to use cloth nappies. I didn't want to further insult guests by saying no nappies (coz I'm sure for the first few weeks we'll alternate with cloth and disposable -especially with the weather QLD has been having lately)

These people, if they want, are gifting out of the goodness of their heart. I don't want to insult them.

I'm so torn as what to do and what to write/say.

Any ideas?

[Fleur]

Hmmm... maybe instead of telling people what you don't want, tell them what you do... sometimes soft toys are an easy fall-back when you don't know what someone has, or wants. And nappies are one of those things people just assume will be useful.
So, cloth nappies - what I would do - include a slip of paper with the invite, with links to a few sites that you do / will buy from... be specific in what you want.. or ask for gift vouchers, if possible.

Can you word the invitation so it's something like

'We would love to have you come and celebrate our bundle (something like that ) with us...gifts aren't neceesary as we already have all the stuffed animals we will need... if you can't resist buying the cute stuff, here's what we do need...'
obviously crap wording, needs fixing, but you get the idea