Who Should Throw the Baby Shower?

It is perfectly acceptable for anyone except the expectant parents to host and throw a baby shower.

Take it easy and stop worrying! It makes no difference whether you're the Mother-to-Be's boss, co-worker, best friend, sister, cousin, aunt, grandmother, or even great grandmother.

Forget about what Missy Manners says. You're not enrolled in the school for avoiding scandalous baby showers. Missy Manners' rule stating relatives shouldn't give Mom-to-Be a shower is simply applicable today. This is the 21st Century and Miss Manners' rule against relatives is terribly old fashioned.

Pick a theme and a few baby shower games and enjoy your self. Most of all it should be a day of fun.

New Baby Shower Games

Baby Shower Games The Fun Part of the Baby Shower

By Varun Thakur

I ran across this article and thought you would enjoy more baby shower information.

So you're holding a baby shower? Then you will need baby shower games to keep the guests entertained. While the baby shower is a good time to pamper the mom-to-be and make her feel very special there are also a number of guests that need to be kept happy for the duration of the event. Our focus here is on baby shower games, since these are always the most memorable part of any baby shower.

Baby shower games can be both silly and entertaining by overall they should be plain old fun. Some are intended to embarrass the mom-to-be, but others can really be fun and may even teach the guests something or visit www.baby-care-book.com. The promise of a prize, even something token like, always adds to the enjoyment too.

Games can be a great way to get guests to mingle at a shower especially if they don’t know each other and it is also a great ice breaker. Here are some ideas for choosing the right baby shower games.

In the planning stages of the baby shower, be sure to discuss potential game ideas with the mom-to-be. She may have some definite dislikes when it comes to baby shower games, and since it's her day, you want to be sure to plan something she'll enjoy and be very comfortable with.

Plan the first baby shower game for early in the party because it can make for a great icebreaker, so try to schedule it for just after everyone arrives but just before the main food courses and gift opening.

Pick a game that is connected to your theme. Whatever your decorating and food plans, you can tie it all together with a well-chosen game in the same theme.

Prepare in advance. If your game requires writing, be sure you've gathered up enough pens and pencils beforehand. And the same thing goes for other objects: have it all ready to go so guests don’t have to wait.

Choose creative but inexpensive prizes as token items for guests. The fun of the game should be in the playing, but it's nice to have a prize and enters a little competitive spirit. Take pictures during the baby shower game. They make great additions to a mom's scrapbook and as a long term keepsake for the baby.

Choose Easy Baby Shower Games

Games should be easy to explain and easy to play. Anything confusing or difficult takes all the fun out of it and people get bored before the game even begins.

So now that you know how to plan for the shower games, here are some of the more popular shower games for you to incorporate into your event:

Guessing the Baby Food - Remove the labels from a few jars of baby food after marking the lids by numbers. Make a list of the contents of each jar. Each person has to taste the food and try to guess what it is – pear, potato, custard, beef etc. Let everyone write down the number from the jar and what they think is in it. The person with the most correct guesses wins the game!

The Tray Game - Place a number of baby items on a tray. (Usually about 15-20). Slowly circle the room allowing each guest a chance to examine the items. Remove the tray from the room and see who can remember the most items on a paper in 2 minutes. Usually the items on the tray go to the expectant mom and the winner gets a small prize.

Guess the Girth - Check with the guest of honor in advance on this one. All you need is a ball or two of string. Ask guests to cut a length of string that they think will stretch around the future mom's belly. After everyone has had a turn, the mother-to-be measures and cuts a string that fits her belly. Compare her string to all the guests' pieces of string. The person who was closest wins a small prize. This is a great icebreaker and always good for some laughs.

Baby Picture Match Game - In advance, ask all the guests for pictures of themselves as babies. Assemble the photos on a pin up board and assign a number to each photo. At some point during the shower, pass out sheets of paper to the guests so they can match each baby to the appropriate grown-up. If the guests don't know each other well, name tags can help the process. The person who gets the most correct answers wins.

Author Resource:-> Article FromNiche Article Directory

Planning a Baby Shower for the Mother of a Preemie

Preemie Baby Shower Etiquette

When a baby is born premature, and an expectant mom becomes a new mom before her own party, there are some baby shower etiquette tips that guests and hosts should follow. Typically the baby shower is scheduled for a month or two months before the child's due date. When the preemie decides to come out early, and surprise everyone, unique issues and questions arise, as does special baby shower etiquette protocol. Here is the best way to handle them, using baby shower etiquette applicable to when the newborn is a preemie.

Baby Shower Etiquette for the Host

When you are hosting a party for a new mom and the infant is premature, here are some tips to help you make the party go smoothly for guests and the new mom. As the host, it is your job to set the tone for good baby shower etiquette when the baby is premature. You even can go ahead and play baby shower games but keep them a little more low key.

No More Surprises
Baby Shower Etiquette Tip # 1

If the event for the expectant mom was scheduled as a surprise party, you may want to re-consider if the infant is premature. A new mom with a premature newborn just had the biggest surprise of her life. Right now she needs stability. She may not need any other surprises. It's good baby shower etiquette to help calm her nerves, not shock her.

Gift Detail
Baby Shower Etiquette Tip # 2

It's good baby shower etiquette to give a a new mom of a premature baby extra help in the gift tracking department. When a new mom is having the party and her premature child is in the hospital, she will need your help organizing the thank you cards. In addition to keeping a written list of which gifts came from which guests, you need to help the new mom a little more.

The host can pass along her good baby shower etiquette to the new mom, by giving her an extra helping hand with the thank you cards.

Give the new mom a basket containing the list matching the guest with the gift. Provide her with a list of addresses, a couple of boxes of thank you cards, some stamps, and a nice pen. The new mom can write out the cards while she sits in the hospital by her newborn's side. For the mom of a premie, many hours are spent watching a sleeping infant in the hospital, and it can be hard to pass the time. This will also help mom follow baby shower etiquette effortlessly when she has other issues on her mind.

Baby Shower Etiquette For Guests

"Where's the Baby?"
Baby Shower Etiquette Tip #1

It's good etiquette to expect the same experience you would when the child is not a preemie: the preemie will not be at the party. Try not to ask the new mom where the preemie is. For some reason, some people believe that since the preemie was already born, he or she should attend the party. It is unrealistic to expect to see a premature infant at his or her own party.

If the preemie is actually home from the hospital, he or she may no be ready to take on a large group of admirers just yet. Preemies have higher environmental awareness and the baby shower will over-stimulate his or her senses.

"Are you Breast Feeding?"
Baby Shower Etiquette Tip # 2

It's good baby shower etiquette to avoid asking the new mom if she is breast feeding. This is a normal question women ask new moms, but for the mom of a premature infant, breast feeding can be a painful issue.

Because the preemie is not by the mother's side all the time, breast feeding poses extra challenges when the child is premature. Asking this question at the party may upset the new mom who may be struggling with trying to breast feed a preemie.

"What do you need?"
Baby Shower Etiquette Tip #3

It's good baby shower etiquette to ask a new mom before or during her party is if there is anything she needs. This may seem strange because the new mom will be receiving many gifts at the party. However, having a premature infant can create different needs for the new mom.

Baby Shower Etiquette for the New Mom

Handling Health Questions
Etiquette Tip # 1

It's good baby shower etiquette not to bombard the new mom of a preemie with questions about the preemie's health. Because new moms of preemies will be bombarded with the same questions about the newborn's health, it's best to have an idea of what you are going to say before the party.

Give a general comment about the infants' overall health and leave out the details about the hospital care and procedures.

Bring Photos
Etiquette Tip # 2

One baby shower etiquette tip for new moms of premature babies is to share the positive aspects of the early birth. While you may not be able to bring the newborn, you can still share the positive. One thing you can do is bring some photos of the premature infant to the party for the new mom.

Overall, normal baby shower etiquette tips should be followed, just tread a little lighter when the party is for a new mom of a premature infant. You will need all the regular baby shower supplies you would need for any other baby shower it is just the intensity and etiquette that needs adjusting. Baby showers are so much fun and this one should be too!

Baby Shower