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Do the parents already know that the baby is a bouncing baby boy? Then focus the theme on boyish items. Even if this is not the couple's first child, if the couple just has girls, while they may already have the basics, they may need clothes and decor appropriate for a boy.
 When you send out the invitations, make it clear that the baby is a boy. See our boy-themed announcements/invitations. When ordering, make sure you check out boy-themed wordings.
Decorations. Think blue! Think toy cars, trucks and all sorts of boy stuff!
If you know the baby is girl, then make then go crazy with girl stuff!
When you send out the invitations, make it clear that the baby is a girl. See our girl-themed announcements/invitations. When ordering, make sure you check out girl-themed wordings.
Decorations. Think pink! Think dolls, flowers, bunnies and all sorts of girly stuff!
When you send out the invitations, be sure to assign each guest an hour of the day or night such as 6 a.m. or 1 p.m. or a specific “time” in the baby’s day such as mealtime, playtime or bedtime. Ask guests to bring a baby/mom gift that applies to their assigned time.
Gift ideas. Review the mom-to-be’s registry for gift suggestions for each time. Guests may call for suggestions. For example, you can suggest pajamas for evening, toys for morning or afternoon, a baby monitor for the middle of the night; or 7 a.m. – clothes to get dressed for the day, 2 p.m. crib bedding for naptime.
Decorate using time themes, such as clocks, watches, moon and stars. Use inexpensive kiddie watches as napkin rings. Check out your local party store for watch party favors.
Activity. Start a pool to predict the baby's time of birth.
Activity. Set up several alarm clocks at the party scene. When one rings, award a small prize to the guest seated closest to the mom-to-be.
Activity. Beat the Clock Memory Game. Arrange several baby related items on a tray. Cover the tray with a towel. Set the tray in the middle of the room where everyone can see it. Lift the towel for several seconds. Then give your guests 60-90 seconds to write down everything that is one the tray. Use a timer.
Set up children’s books around the room. Ask your local bookstore or library if they have any old children’s book posters that you can have or purchase.
Ask each guest to write down their favorite children's book and favorite parenting books.
Do a reading. Pick a crowd pleaser, such as a humorous essay on the life of a mom.
Ask each guest to bring a copy of a favorite children’s book to give to the mom-to-be. Here are some great children’s books:
o You are My Perfect Baby, by Joyce Carol Thomas
o Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney
o Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown
o Pretty Brown Face, by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Favor. $5 gift cards to a local children's bookstore.
Favor. Bookmarks
This idea is great for a mom-to-be who loves gardening, loves flowers or if the baby’s room is has a floral theme.
Have each guest bring a flower bulb to plant in the mom-to-be's yard. Mom can watch the flowers grow along with her baby.
Decorate the room with flowers, flowers, flowers. If you do not want to use real flowers, visit Michael’s or some other craft store for inexpensive faux flowers. Use baby breath if possible.
Purchase a corsage for the mother-to-be to wear.
Favor idea. Decorate little flowerpots and add a package of seeds to each pot. Tie a ribbon around each pot and a thank you message on a tag.
Food ideas. Flower shaped cookies. Use cookie cutter to cut out flower shaped finger sandwiches.
Game. Fill a vase with several flowers—at least one for each guest. The flowers should have no more than about 5-8 petals. Each guest must pick a flower. The number of petals on the flower that a guest picks indicates the number of pieces of advice she must give the mother-to-be.
If you love scrapbooking, you will love this shower idea.
In the invitation ask guests to bring items they can use to scrapbook
o Pictures of the mom- or dad-to-be when they were children
o Pictures of mom while pregnant
o Newspaper article about current events
o A letter to the baby
Have scrapbooking supplies available
o Adhesives
o Scissors
o Paper
o Pens
o Markers
o Embellishments
o Album
Have a camera (preferably a digital or instant) on hand to take pictures during the shower and use the pictures to create scrapbook pages.
Page ideas:
o Photos of parents when they were children
o Family tree
o Letter to baby discussing mommy or daddy. This is great for people who cannot attend the shower – especial for out of town folks.
o Have each guest right down parenting advice and put on a scrapbook page
Each guest constructs one or more scrapbook pages using photos or articles they brought with them.
Favors. Mini photo albums
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