Baby Shower Ideas

Throwing a baby shower means making a lot of choices. When the To-Do list starts growing it can be easy to let all the details and creative panache fall by the way-side. But it's those very things that make a baby shower a fun experience and a great memory. So what do you do when you're swamped and stumped? Here are some suggestions and tips that can help any hostess throw a wonderful baby shower.

Themes
Decorations
Food
Music
Party Favors and Prizes
Gifts
Games

Themes
Not every shower has to have a theme, but those that do can be very memorable. Themes tie everything together, from decor to music to food. Having a theme can even make some choices easier. If your theme is ABC's and 123's, for instance, then not only will letters and numbers turn up in your decorations, but some alphabet soup may find its way into the party mix along with the peanuts and pretzels. If your theme is baby-animals then little stuffed lambs and lion cubs would make great game prizes.

A list of possible themes might include:

• Nursery - If there's a theme for the nursery, borrow it for the shower; cartoon characters on the walls mean stuffed toy characters as decorations, zoo animals on the sheets suggest animal crackers for the menu.
• Twins - If the mother to be is expecting twins then think in pairs; play games that require partners, have twix and double-mint for snacks!
• Pick a Name - Decorate with various names, both funny and serious; print the meanings of your guests' names on their place-holders.
• Every Moment - Each guest brings a gift for a specific time of baby's day: bath-time, play-time, bed-time, etc.
• Pamper Mama - A great theme for mothers who've already had a few babies and/or are stocked up on baby-gear; most of the gifts are for her - clothes, books, certificates for massages or pedicures, several pre-paid nights with a reputable baby-sitter, etc.
• Holiday - If the shower is scheduled near a holiday then make the most of it; candy and tiny costumes for Halloween, carols and personalized ornaments for Christmas, etc.
• Daddy Too - If the father-to-be and other male family and friends will be coming then find a nice balance between the masculine and feminine; decorate in pink and blue, serve salty and sweet snacks.

Decorations
Your decorations may be dictated by your theme, but they should remind everyone of mother and baby. A small ( or not so small, depending ) banner somewhere may be a nice touch, especially for pictures.
If there is no over-riding theme then you're free to do whatever you think the mother-to-be will find pleasing. Ribbons, streamers, and balloons are basic favorites, but you should look for interesting ways to use them, like filling a toy strollers with them and placing them around the room. Flowers also work in any situation. Just make sure to include lots of babies-breath.

Food
Like any party, there will likely be a lot of eating at a baby shower. It's best to stock up on finger-foods and snacks, anything you can pour in a bowl. Remember to include cakes and candies along with your standard dips and salsas. Heavy meal foods are not typical, as there's to much mingling, chatting and game playing to eat them, but a pizza slice is a welcome visitor anywhere. If the shower has a theme, make an effort to include it in the food. For example, if the mother's expecting a boy and there's a Li'l Slugger theme, peanuts and crackerjacks are a must.

Music
A little pleasant background music will set a nice mood, just keep the volume low enough to talk comfortably over it. Music selection is one area that shouldn't try too hard to closely match a theme. If it's even close, go with it. Otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy searching for two hours worth of songs to go with a Cool Kitten or Li'l Princess theme, with the end result being more annoying than enchanting.

Party Favors and Prizes
If you're going to play games, then you have to have prizes. Food is always a fine reward, but there are lots of choices. Obviously you don't want to break the bank, but here are some suggestions for nice little prizes and gifts.

• Candy
• Small Gift Baskets
• Bath Accessories
• Candles
• Gift Certificates
• Small Picture Frames

One great idea is too pass out a number of disposable cameras. This will aid in the creation of a Shower Memory Album that the mother-to-be can cherish the rest of her days.


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