Baby Shower

Who says "they are expected to buy another gift when the baby arrives"? Penstemon's father gave her mother beautiful ring to celebrate Pen's birth. Is that what is meant by a labour gift?
Honestly, I do believe it's better to embrace new customs that harm no one and bring, from my observation at least, a lot of fun to mothers to be, their close friends and loved ones. My own daughters were given practical items, nappies, wipes, etc and baby grows, some friends clubbed together to buy a baby bath or other bigger items. What's to grumble about?

nanatobe I like your attitude in embracing this occasion, and hope it goes well.

When I saw the heading, I thought "uh ho - here comes another bout of American-ism bashing" .
Got it in one. ??

A damp flannel for her brow, perhaps?

What is a labour gift? My dad gave a beautiful ring to my mum after I was born. I have it now. Is that what you mean ...or is it something actually to do with the labour??

watermedow, yes they are expected to buy another gift when the baby is born but an even worse trend (from America !) is a labour gift for the mother from the father

The point is to gather at and share the time, right before her life is going to change forever, and if anything tragically happens to the baby after that, well, that'll change her forever too.

either way it's a pensive time of worry and excitement and it's wonderful when women rally round a first time pregnant woman like this to share that with her and to celebrate her and what she's going through and facing.

I love babyshowers, if gathering to celebrate that time in a womans life is an american import, well thank you america - much appreciated

OP I will say though, that the more game oriented ones are less enjoyable than the more relaxed gather for afternoon tea and making a fuss over the bump ones, people don't enjoy the game bits, they don't work very well, they sound fun on paper but end up cringey in practice.

The nicest ones have been BBQs or tea parties without stifled sitting around doing enforced fun games. Baby themed decorations and cakes and favours (baby bottles filled with milk bottle sweets) and just chatting and spending quality time with the mum and her friends family before the arrival.

Also, sorry but what if something goes awfully wrong? Shouldn't celebrations wait until it's safely arrived?
WTAF????? If a woman tragically loses a baby, that doesn't erase her pregnancy OR the baby, they were and will always be a major part of her live, and if I lost a baby it would make a baby shower an even more important memory, because I'ld know that the pregnancy and unborn baby meant something to the people who gathered to celebrate the pregnancy with me, and my child existed to them as it did to me, even if it was for a short time!

I have to be honest - perhaps I am a pessimist! - but I would not feel happy about a big celebration like that till babe has safely arrived. At what stage of pregnancy are these events held?

I worked in hospitals for too long and saw the sad side of things so often.

It all sounds like lots of fun though. - good luck with it.

I have googled and now gave a selection of games, all harmless fun I think. One of her friends is making baby themed cupcakes and of course I will do sandwiches etc. I'm now really looking forward to it. Thanks for the ideas.

I'm disturbed by this American import. Are the guests also expected to give a present when the baby is born?
Also, sorry but what if something goes awfully wrong? Shouldn't celebrations wait until it's safely arrived?

Nantobe if you ask your daughter's friends they'll give you lots of ideas. I was about to organise my daughter's baby shower when her friend said she was having a surprise one for her. We didn't have games as my daughter is not really into them just guess the baby's birthdate,sex,weight,name etc. If you go onto Amazon and Google baby shower that will give you lots of ideas whether you buy from them or not. Hope it all goes well and have a great time. My daughter is due her first baby in one weeks time. Good luck with your new grandchild.

My DD gave a baby shower for one of her friends, because she knew that the mum-to-be desperately wanted one. It was a lot of work but went very well. She made lots of decorations on the "shower" theme, e.g. cardboard clouds with raindrops, rainbows, umbrellas, etc, and loads of yellow and white streamers. She also did the buffet (with my help) and created a lovely album containing letters from all the guests (written well in advance), offering advice and encouragement for the new mum.

She did draw the line at organising the games, though, and got another friend to do them. I remember there was "guess the baby's name and weight," and a blind tasting of "guess the baby food" and "pin the nappy on the baby." It was all a bit daft but mum-to-be-was-thrilled by it all.

We used to hold baby showers at work for any women leaving for mat. leave. Nobody was expected to spend much money..a pack of bibs, babywipes, small cuddly toy etc. We would also have a collection for a voucher. Really it is just a get together for female friends/family to wish their friend good luck with her 'confinement'. Cannot see much wrong with that as long as it does not become competitive..like kids parties did a t one time. i think the tide is turning now though and there is less of that 'keeping up with the Jones' attitude now.

I too thought they were naff and grabby, but I have since been to two. One by a swimming pool in Barbados which was attended by the mother to be's friends and their mothers and the other in U.K. ; a lovely old fashioned tea party given by the mother to be's oldest friend. Both were lovely celebrations of friendship and sisterly solidarity. Yes there were presents, but these never seemed to be the main issue. Enjoy it nanatobe

I was very sceptical about Baby Showers until DD's friend arranged one for DD's second baby. It was lovely to meet all DD's friends. They all enjoyed the get together and mutual support. There were games like guess the size of the bump, measured on a piece of string, all pretty low key. Everyone brought a small present for the baby or DD. Such a happy time.

nanatobe one thing I organised for my daughter's baby shower proved to be an enormous success. I bought a pile of plain white cotton jersey bibs and a box of brightly coloured fabric pens. Each guest was given a bib and asked to decorate it in any way they chose. Some did pictures, some slogans (best one: "I'll have a bottle of your house white please" with a drawing of a baby bottle ). They were also asked to sign their name somewhere on the bib so that my DD would know whose it was.
Those bibs were in constant use throughout the bottle feeding period - they washed so well and being the pull-over kind, rather than velcro or studs, were so easy to use.
Note: cotton jersey is the best fabric - terry is nothing like as easy to draw or write on.

Nicely picked up Ana

Thank you everyone ???

I must admit I'm not a fan of the whole concept of baby showers. It just seems a bit odd all round - the guest of honour can't drink, so others feel obliged to hold back a bit (perhaps just me there! ); there are always guests who feel out of it for various reasons (we had tears at my daughter's baby shower from a friend who'd just lost a baby - the other guests hadn't known about this); presents are unwrapped in front of the donors, which seems very naff, and can be embarrassing; and nobody seems to know whether the gift they bring to the shower is the end of it, or is another one expected when the baby's born?

But we have to move with the times, and I agree that we should take the opportunity to celebrate whenever we can. So in that spirit, there are a few ideas that might be useful on this old Mumsnet thread. Have a lovely party!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/23519-baby-shower-ideas-and-tips/AllOnOnePage

My first baby shower was for my Canadian DIL, it was a friendly afternoon giving support to the new Mum. One idea which I though really personalised the shower was a pile of basic white baby bodies, in various sizes, some with short sleeves some with long, and a set of fabric pens. Guests were asked to draw/ write on the bodies. It has been really cute to see baby wearing these artworks.

I also wasn't sure but don't want to start my life as a gran stating all the things that never happened in 'my day'. She has all her lovely friends coming and family and it's an afternoon tea party theme so I'm really looking forward to it. I will order sandwich platters (good idea) and nibbles, plus Buck's Fizz etc. I have asked guests to send me baby photos and will do guess the measurement of the bump. Will check out pininterest for other ideas. Thanks for the input.

I think 'boy' as you've used it is an Americanism too, DIORisme!

Actually it is the American version that sticks more closely to the original language in lots of cases ! Some so called imports are English/Scottish /welsh expressions that evolved differently on each side of the Pond

I am quite happy for everyone to enjoy their own idea of fun. I think, though, that the "money-spinning" ideas we import from the USA lack taste. By the way, suzied, America may have imported the English language from us but, boy, have they mangled pronunciation and spelling!!

I've held 2 baby showers for my youngest daughter. Each was themed , one little ducks with an aqua and yellow theme and one little elephants with a grey and yellow theme .

We had a lovely afternoon tea spread on both occasions . We invited about 10 friends on each occasions and her best friend arranged some lovely games ( Pinterest has a wealth of ideas) .

I provided a suitable cake.

It's not a 'party' Dior it's a baby shower - whole different game .

Gifts for the baby were given in the first party , but just small tokens - baby socks, bibs , muslins etc. For the second one guests were asked to bring their favourite baby book and inscribe it. I would imagine all the books were under £10.

They were joyful occasions.