Planning a successful baby shower for a friend, sister or cousin. It can be easy, the key is to be organised, and can be quite fun to plan. Using the key details below, you won’t forget to plan anything. The day will run smoothly and both the mum to be and yourself will be relaxed.

Set a date

Most baby showers are generally on a week end starting after lunch (early afternoon). You will only need to put on a light afternoon tea. Generally held 4-6 weeks before the mum to be is due.

Make an invitation list

Family, friends, work colleagues. Type it up on a spreadsheet and add their address, it will make it easy for later on when you need to write up the envelopes.

Work out the Budget

Is mum having a gift registry at her local baby store

If mum to be doesn’t, maybe she has a wishlist of what she would like.

Venue

Is it to be held at home, a friends place, cafe, restaurant or club. If you are having it at home do you need to hire chairs & tables???

Decide on the menu

Examples:-

Mixed sandwich’s
Cheese and biscuits

Fruit platter
Muffins ( Blueberry, Choc Chip etc)
dessert ( cakes, cupcakes, slices)

served with Champagne and a dash of raspberry coulis.

For more baby shower food ideas click here, we have put together some great recipes:-
Buy/make the invitations

The invitations are a big part of the planning process. You can be creative with themes, or if you know the sex of the baby. They can be fun, why not have a diaper on the invitation with miniature pins or the invitation in the shape of a rattle. Remember to send them out 3 – 4 weeks before the date to give everyone plenty of notice. Make sure to call up anyone who hasn’t RSVP’d, as this could impact from having too much or not enough food and drink.

Decorations

Miniature plastic dummies/rattles which can be bought from most junk shops scattered around the table. If the sex of the baby is unknown why not have a blue and pink themed party. Blue plastic plates with pink napkins, tablecloth, balloons etc.

Themed

Themed parties can be quite fun, why not have a Zodiac party based on the child’s star sign.

Organise the games

Examples of some baby shower games which guarantee some fun at the party:-

Baby

On arrival of your guests hand out dummy’s to each, tied with a string/ribbon so they can hang it around their neck. If anyone says the word baby, they loose their dummy. The person with the most dummy at the end of the day wins a prize.

Dress The Baby

Need 2 dolls and baby clothes (singlet, top, pants, socks etc) for each. 2 people are timed to see who can dress the baby the quickest. Once everyone has had a go, whoever has the quickest time wins a prize.

Make A List

Have a basket of baby products. Approx 20 different items. ( nappy, baby book, bottle, bib, shampoo etc) Everyone needs a piece of paper and a pen. Show the basket of goodies for 30 seconds and then put it away. Whoever can list the most items wins a prize

The Price is Right

Need about 5 baby items, ranging in price. Everyone needs a pen and paper. Show 1 item at a time, everyone needs to write down how much they think it is. whoever guesses the closest to all the items at the end wins a prize.

Measure Mum’s Belly

You will need some string. Everyone needs to guess how long they should cut the sting to be long enough to go around the mum to Be’s belly. Whoever guesses the closest fit wins the prize.

Hanging Out The Washing

Need a clothes line, pegs, doll, mobile phone and several items of baby clothing. 1 person while holding the doll and talking on the mobile phone needs to hang out the clothes. Whoever can do it in the quickest time wins a prize.

Baby Bingo

Need a baby magazine or baby catalogue. Cut out the multiple pictures of the same items e.g bottles, dummy, blanket, socks. Stick 10 items on each piece of paper. Hand 1 out to everyone with a pen. Call out a category ( dummy) everyone who has a dummy can cross it out. Keep going until someone has all their sheet crossed out and calls “baby bingo”.

Guess The Baby Food

Need 3 different jars of baby food, spoons for everyone piece a paper and pen. Everyone needs to take a spoon and taste the jar. They then must write down what they think the jar taste likes ( banana & strawberry custard, Pumpkin and sweet potato etc. whoever guess the most correct or closet wins a prize. This is fun even just watching everyone’s expressions as they taste the food.

Buy the prizes

Small candles, Mini box Chocolates, mini bottles of champagne make great ones.

Thank you Goodie Bag

What a lovely way to finish the party by giving all the ladies a little chocolate Bag. You can buy the chocolates in packs and put a few in each bag. To save time why not add a thank you note, just tie it to the bag and this will save time in writing them up and sending one out later.
an example of one:-

Sorry i can’t be with you
to join in mum’s baby shower
But I’m very busy, you see,
I’m growing more each hour!

I’m really glad that you could come
And celebrate with my mother,
Sit down, relax, enjoy yourselves
and chat with one another.

Though I’m not there to thank you
for the happiness you’ve brought
my family is grateful
we appreciate your kind thoughts.

I’ll be arriving shortly
and I’m happy as can be
so, after I’ve been home awhile,
please come and visit me!

Thank you for spending the day
with mummy & me and
and for my wonderful pressies !!!

Love xxxxxx