PARENTING ARTICLES & TIPS

Planning A Baby Shower

This article provides some great tips and information for planning a baby shower ...

Planning a baby shower is not the easiest task on the face of the earth. There are so many details to consider when organizing such an event that it is easy to become lost in the confusion. It is always a good idea to create lists and it is always a good idea to delegate responsibility when planning a baby shower.

One of the mistakes the organizer commonly makes is trying to do too much on her own. Why run from store to store when you know that Cousin Sally works right next to a great discount store? She can run one or two errands for you. Include Cousin Sally when you are planning a baby shower. You will be surprised by how delighted she will be to help. If she isn’t, then there is really no loss. You just have to work around it.

Creating a sound list is the best starting point when planning a baby shower. Never, ever rely on your memory when there is pen and paper handy at your fingertips. Your memory may be excellent but the list is always better. Planning a baby shower includes too much to try to keep your lists in your head. Write it down. It is very important.

You may be faced with an unusual dilemma that seems to be creeping up on many new couples. More and more adult children are products of divorce. Many of these divorced families are still in turmoil even though many years have passed. When you are planning a baby shower make sure that you are perfectly clear on who to invite.

You also may want to let divorced parents know that the other party is invited. I ran into a very ugly situation at my baby shower. Two dear friends teamed together in planning a baby shower for me. One friend invited my mother while the other friend invited my mother’s arch enemy; my stepmother. 

I get along with both very well but when they faced each other in the same room, there was an ugly scene that will not be forgotten by anyone anytime soon. Unfortunately, you have to consider such rifts in families when planning a baby shower in this day and age.

Sometimes surprises should be left in the gift wrapped boxes rather than in the guest list. It is a good idea to go over the guest list with the mother-to-be while planning a baby shower for her. This works out well. The guest list will be one less thing you have to remember.

For more information about caring for newborns, babies and toddlers, see the "resources" section of this website, or go to articles about baby.