The Complete Baby Shower Checklist: Baby Shower Invitations, Favors, Games And More

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Checklists are an excellent way to make sure that everything gets done while keeping stress to a minimum. Checklists can also help you allocate tasks to willing helpers, making the job that much easier. The essential components of hosting a baby shower include creating a guest list, ordering baby shower invitations, party decorations, and favors, organizing two or three games, deciding upon the food and beverages that will be served, and, above all else, ensuring that the mother-to-be will be happy with the results.





1. Guest List


Before other decisions can be made, the budget, date, and time must be determined, and the guest list created. Generally, the celebration is held six to eight weeks prior to the estimated birth date. Keep in mind that, as the delivery date nears, activities can become difficult for the expectant mother. It is a good idea to agree upon some sort of 'secret signal' between the guest of honor and the hostess that says, 'I've had enough.'


Traditionally, guests were women, the point being to provide the new mother-to-be with knowledge, supplies, and furnishings she would need. Today's event is more of a celebration and anyone can be invited, men included. Once the number of guests is determined, the fun begins!


2. Select A Theme And Location


Theme and location are selected once the guest list and budget are determined. Themes often feature Mother Goose rhymes, ABC's, Dr. Seuss, teddy bears, or something more seasonal or unique to the family, such as a favorite sports team. Color schemes are no longer limited to the pinks and blues of before. Now, earth tones or pastels are popular. Online providers of birth announcements and invitations allow you to create one-of-a-kind cards that share this joyous news in unique colors, fonts, and styles.


3. What To Include On Birth Announcements and Invitations


Unique baby shower invitations set the tone for the party, making them a crucial part of the planning process. They include all the traditional information, such as day, date, time, and location. They also include the name and contact information of the hostess, in case guests have questions, and RSVP instructions. They also incorporate gift registry information and directions to the party venue.


Creating unique birth announcements and invitations allows family photographs of the couple, customized messages, and other special touches to be used that no one else can, all while looking stylish and coordinated. Matching thank you cards can also be ordered - an excellent idea with so many gifts on their way and so little time!


4. Set The Stage

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Depending upon the venue, there are plenty of decorating options to choose from that will correlate with the theme set out in the baby shower invitations. Restaurants and other public buildings will have requirements of their own, making most decorations of the table top variety: diaper cakes, stuffed animals, and balloons are easy and affordable ways of making the party more festive.


If the party will be held in a private home, the decorations can be more lavish and playful: a clothesline strung across the room, decked out with infant clothes and cloth diapers, or streamers that match the color scheme of the baby shower invitations. Tableware can also carry on the color scheme. Ideally, many of the decorations will be able to serve double duty as gifts for the new infant.


5. Favors And Games

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As soon as guests receive baby shower invitations, they will begin wondering what sort of games and activities will be planned. They can be riotously funny team events that challenge one partner to feed the other while blindfolded, to see who can diaper a doll the fastest, or infant-related charades. Other activities may include creating a memento of good wishes and parenting advice from guests. There are also fun sit-down activities such as baby bingo, nursery rhyme Jeopardy, and the ever-popular mystery baby food tasting game! Edible favors are always appreciated. Live plants, gift certificates, and bath oils have become more popular than the more traditional trinkets that, more often than not, find themselves tossed out.


6. Food And Beverages


Depending upon the guest list and the time of day, the menu can be a nice collection of appetizers, sandwiches, a dessert menu, or, if time and money permit, a sit-down meal. Generally speaking, alcohol is not served at a shower. Instead, sparkling juices, punch, or other healthy choices are offered. Finger foods are always an excellent choice for a party, as they allow guests to mingle and participate in activities.


Using the baby shower invitations as a hub to the planning process results in decorations, activities, and favors that are all tied together. The baby announcements, when that time comes, will reconnect shower guests to the wonderful event they shared with one another in celebration of the new bundle of joy!




About the Author
Chris Harmen enjoys creating and sharing custom designed photo Christmas cards and baby shower invitations with family and friends around the world.

Throw the Perfect Baby Shower With the Perfect Party Favors

Author: Sandra Canfield

Having a baby is a significant and often life changing event so it's defiantly worth celebrating! What better excuse do you need than a new arrival to round up your closest friends and family to celebrate bringing your new born into this world?

A baby shower represents a party in which the expectant parents receive gifts for their newborn baby such as baby clothes. The original intension of a baby shower was to help parents gain items they need for their baby; this is still true to a certain extent but they are also an excuse to get everyone together for a celebration. Baby showers have always been popular in the US but they are now becoming more common in the UK and around Europe.

Thinking about the traditional sense of a baby shower again it is held only for the mother-to-be, and only women attend. However, in recent times, men are also starting to participate in a couples baby showers. The person who normally organizes the baby shower isn't the expectant mother, it is normally a close friend or relative and the baby shower can be held at any location but normally it takes place at someone’s house.

If you are planning on throwing a baby shower for an expectant mother then the best time to do it is during the last trimester of the pregnancy. It is then up to you whether you keep it a surprise from the mom-to-be or you tell her what you are planning so that she has something to look forward to in the last few weeks.

One consideration that you may want to keep in mind when you are planning a baby shower is if you want the shower to have a theme. Typically baby showers generally do have a theme and this theme is generally a baby theme in order to get everyone in the mood for the new arrival. Some popular themes include the following:

• Pink or Blue theme – this only really works if you know the sex of the baby. If you are expecting a girl then the theme of your baby shower should reflect this through the use of pink, fairytale decorations. If you are expecting a boy then blue should be the dominant color.

• Nursery rhymes – place toys that relate to certain nursery rhymes around the room and get your guests to name as many nursery rhymes as they can.

Whatever theme you do decide on you can use this as a basis for the type of baby shower favors you will have to thank your guests for coming. Some examples of the baby shower favors that would work well for a baby shower are as follows; 

• personalized baby shower mint tines, 
• muffin mix favors, 
• personalized sugar cookie mix favors, 
• bun in the oven mix, 
• bun in the oven candles, 
• baby bottle candles, 
• crystal baby strollers, 
• chocolate lollipops, 
• personalized baby photo frames 
• baby chick salt and pepper shakers.

The above are just a few examples of the type of baby shower favors that are available. Just remember your guests took the time to look for the perfect baby shower present so you should take the time to say thank you properly through the perfect baby shower favor.

Baby shower favors allow your guests to remember the night always and if your baby shower party favors are personalized then your guests will keep the importance of the day with them always.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/throw-the-perfect-baby-shower-with-the-perfect-party-favors-586911.html

About the Author

S Canfield, owner of Accent the Party selling many different types and themes of unique wedding party favors, baby shower favors and party favors.