For centuries expectant mothers have been showered with gifts for the new baby from their friends and family, and baby showers are a long standing tradition. If you have a friend or family member expecting a baby, mix some old traditions with some new, creative ideas by hosting a baby shower of your own.
The perfect baby shower is an enjoyable gathering for the mom-to-be as well as the guests, and will provide the new baby with some much-needed items. As you plan a baby shower, find out what the mom-to-be needs for the baby and the nursery, if she’s registered for gifts at any stores, and whether the baby is a boy or a girl, if she knows.
Baby Shower Favors
Baby bottles filled with mints, plantable seeds in baby carriage packets, candles and baby powder scented sachets are among the many ideas for baby shower favors. One of the most original is a custom made fortune cookie, dipped in chocolate and pastel sprinkles and packaged in a pink or blue opaque container.
More ideas can be found at beau-coup.com and My Baby Shower.
Baby Shower Games
Guess-Mommy’s-Girth is a game your grandmother may have played at a baby shower – Guests snip off lengths of ribbon they think will wrap around the expectant mother’s waist. There are hundreds of baby shower game ideas that will fit your guest list.
Babee Baby Showers offers free instructions for baby shower games, including the Cotton Ball Game, in which blindfolded guests try to transfer cotton balls on a spoon.
BabyCenter has ideas, including Diaper Bag Memory Game.
Web Baby Showers
When the mother-to-be has family and friends spread out in great distances, Web baby showers come to the rescue with a venue for gift giving and sharing the fun. In a Web baby shower guests register online and order gifts to be sent to the expectant mother.
The Diaper Cake
These are adorable centerpieces, made with cloth diapers and stacked and decorated to look like a layered cake. At the end of the baby shower, the diaper cake goes home with the mom-to-be, who can disassemble it and use the diapers and supplies.
Best Baby Shower Web Sites
Baby Steps is a free e-zine with tips and ideas for throwing creative baby showers. The site offers ideas for baby shower themes, invitations, games, a baby shower planning guide and ideas shared from readers.
Baby-Shower.com has, in addition to games, decorations, cakes, recipes and invitations, an 8-step baby shower guide, timeline and worksheet to help you plan the perfect baby shower.
