This is one of the most popular questions that first-time mothers get curious about. You know it’s a lot of excitement getting ready to welcome your baby home with your family and loved ones.
Baby showers have become one of the most popular events ever. It is a thing of joy for every mother. It is usually much more exciting for a first-time mother, but that doesn’t mean mothers who already had babies before don’t enjoy it too.
They do, but the only difference is that they may not go for very elaborate celebrations as first-time mothers do. In this article, we’ll answer the big question. When to have a baby shower along with other baby shower-related questions. Read on!
Who Organizes The Baby Shower?
Before we go on to explore when to have a baby shower, we’d first explore this important question. Who organizes the baby shower? Most baby showers are organized by family members or close friends of the intending mother.
Some of them organize the baby shower to surprise the expectant mother. Others keep her in the plans.
We think keeping her in the plan is cooler because she’ll be able to list things she would want and things she wouldn’t. That would make the baby shower more fun for everyone.
A lot of people wonder why the expectant mother doesn’t organize her baby shower. The truth is no law forbids the expectant mother from organizing her baby shower. But it is a rare thing to do.
Nowadays, a lot of moms organize their baby showers and do everything just the way they like it thereby making it more acceptable for other mothers to organize their baby showers.
If you feel no one would organize your baby shower to suit your taste? Take the great step and organize it yourself.
Which People Get Invited To The Baby Shower?
Knowing the guest list of the baby shower is just as important as knowing when to have a baby shower.
Having unwanted guests at a baby shower could ruin everything for the expectant mom and everyone else. That is why special attention should be given to the guest list.
A good number of intending mothers like to have only their friends and family at their baby showers. Sometimes, they invite a few not very people too. But that’s cool too.
Some expectant moms might have family members or friends that they wouldn’t love to have in their baby showers. You might wonder why this is so. Isn’t it supposed to be all about family?
Well, this is true, but you would also agree with us that people don’t necessarily have to be all sweet with everyone irrespective of who they are, right? The expectant mom and the coming baby are the most important people in a baby shower.
If the expectant mom doesn’t want a particular person at her baby shower, her decision should be respected.
Sometimes, it doesn’t happen this way especially if the baby shower was a surprise to the expectant mom.
This is why we advise that the expectant mom be kept in the plans one way or the other. Knowing and understanding her preferences would make everything much easier and enjoyable.
When To Have A Baby Shower
Now, we are back to answering the big question. There is no best time to have a baby shower. What works for the other mom might not work for you. You should understand this and not try to model your baby shower after someone else’s.
Just do your thing the way you love it. You’d be more satisfied that way. It is not bad to incorporate other people’s ideas and designs into your baby shower. There is nothing wrong with that. You’d only face troubles when you try to fit yourself into something that’s not meant for you.
Some intending mothers have their baby showers two or three weeks before their delivery date. Others have it two months before their delivery dates.
Do you see the variations? There’s no one-size-fits-all style when it comes to baby showers. It’s all dependent on you. You have to make a good decision and choose what would work best for you.
Read: 21 Fun Baby Shower Ideas For Couples
Factors That Could Influence When To Have A Baby Shower
There are a couple of factors that could greatly influence your decision-making on when to have a baby shower. These includes
Health
Your health is a very important thing, you must take it seriously. You have to plan your baby shower and have it when you are healthy and strong. This is why a lot of women love to have their baby showers quite early.
They’d still have some energy left after the baby shower to send thank you notes and engage in other fun activities. So, while you plan your baby shower, consider your health. Choose a time when you’re energetic and strong. Baby showers could be overwhelming sometimes.
Availability of Guests
This is yet another important thing that you have to consider while planning on when to have a baby shower. We know you would love your friends and family to be in attendance.
Choose a time when almost everyone would be available to celebrate with you. It could be during a work break, a brief holiday or some free time.
It wouldn’t hurt if you subtly ask your guests when they would be free. Knowing the guests to expect and the ones not to expect at your baby shower would save you a lot of stress.
Read Also: 22 Modern Baby Shower Games Ideas
How to Decide the Best Period for a Baby Shower
Several factors can help determine the best period for your baby shower; and they include the season, week, and day of the month.
1. The season
While a holiday season may sound like a perfect time to have your party, a lot of your guests would be unavailable or may find it difficult to make it to your shower.
If that is the only choice you have, you can make use of a scheduling tool to figure out the best date/time that works for everyone.
Spring and summer seasons are the perfect period to plan a baby shower outdoors; however, the secret to planning an outdoor shower is to harmonize with the weather.
Too hot, too cold, or unexpected rains can ruin your dream baby shower and of course, make everyone present uncomfortable.
Finally, avoid planning a shower during the holiday period where you’d already been getting gifts or even birthdays. Remember, you need those gifts, and the more gifts you get, the merrier it becomes!
2. Time of the week
Some people plan their baby showers during weekends when people don’t have to work and can have fun at your party.
Saturdays and Sundays are usually the days specially dedicated for all kinds of celebrations.
In a situation where the weekend is looking, you can plan it on a weekday but make sure to inform your guests much earlier so they can make out time to attend your event.
3. Time of the day
Lunchtime is usually the best time to host a baby shower; however, we now have other different options that popped up recently to make things more memorable and entertaining.
Some people prefer starting the shower earlier so they can have a little more fun and throw a brunch to the guests.
While other moms may prefer hosting it at the ‘happy hour’ when their guests are more relaxed and better enjoy their soft drinks.
When To Send Baby Shower Invitations
It is recommended to send out invitations early enough to give the guests at least three weeks’ prior notice.
That way your guests have enough time to fit in the shower on their monthly schedule and as well shop for the perfect gift. You can do this by sending the invite by mail or email, or by scheduling an event online.
Read Also: 18 Zoom Baby Shower Games and Activities to Entertain Your Guests
Other FAQs
Is a surprise baby shower a good idea?
Well, you must be 100% positive before throwing a surprise shower party. If your guest of honor is not into surprises or was imagining a specific type of event, you could put them in an awkward position.
On the other hand, if you can slightly allow the parents to be in the planning, you can be confident that they’ll be happy with the outcome.
Must baby showers need games and a theme?
No. The person anchoring the baby shower should follow guidelines from the mom-to-be. There’s no rule stating that games must be involved, or that the color scheme should be pastel. Most memorable baby showers have unique, non-traditional themes!
Can I have a baby shower for my second child?
Every pregnancy is worth celebrating, but since the main objective of a baby shower is to assist new parents in acquiring baby gear and supplies, you don’t have to host one for second or third children.
Rather, you can plan on throwing a baby shower designed to make the parent’s life easier when they’ve got a newborn and other children to juggle.
What are co-ed showers?
Nowadays, it is very common to include men—friends, spouses, and relatives—on the baby shower guest list. But keep in mind that inviting male forks does change the chemistry of the party.
As the mom-to-be, you should decide whether you want that traditional “female-bonding ritual,” with all those excitements over cute baby clothes and sharing labor experience, or whether you’re looking for a more co-ed experience.
You should also consider the personality of the dad-to-be or the male forks you’re inviting. Some of them may relish sharing in every aspect of the pregnancy experience, while others may be uncomfortable with the thought of being a guest of honor at a baby shower.
It is important that the host, discuss with the mom-to-be about her preferences on the subject.
Even at an all-girls party, the dad-to-be usually makes an appearance especially towards the end of the baby shower to show appreciation.
Should I register for gifts?
Some parents may have a different opinion about registering for baby shower gifts. Some guests have a different view about it, some think it’s selfish to create a “shopping list” for the guest, while others feel excited about the thought of helping parents-to-be stock up on essentials.
As a new mom-to-be, if you do decide to register your gifts, you can do it through an online store like Amazon, catalog, or online service.
These options are quite practical and save a lot of time for the guest of honor, who can avoid duplicates and returns. Also, having a registry can help guests who may not know what to get for you.
Here are two important rules to follow when creating a baby shower gift registries:
- Do not include the registry information on the invitation rather put it on a separate piece of paper, or let any interested guests get the information from the host.
- Do not insist that guests must use the registry (You should always give them the opportunity of gifting you whatever they’d like).
Read: 40+ Baby Shower Prize Ideas To Keep Your Guests Engaged
Conclusion
Baby showers are a lot of fun. You would enjoy it much more if you plan it properly and put everything in place just the way you like. Don’t get overwhelmed by any negativity you might hear or see concerning baby showers.
Yours would turn out just fine. Now, when to have a baby shower won’t be a problem anymore. Would it? We hope this article helps you greatly as you plan towards a mind-blowing baby shower for your coming baby!