Is one of your best friends expecting a baby soon? If so, you will probably be busy trying to organize a baby shower for them to celebrate their little bundle of joy! There is no better way to help your friend get excited about the birth of their child than showering them with all manner of gifts. However, there is a lot more to planning a baby shower than just getting all your friends to buy some presents for the expecting mum. Here are some tips that will help you plan a great shower, and will help the new mom go gaga over their bump!
Set Your Budget
Traditionally, the new mom won’t pay for her baby shower. Just like a bachelorette party, where the bridesmaids cough up the cash, the mom’s best friends should come together and pay for the shower. So it is very important that you take some time to think about how much you can afford to spend on this social event. It’s often a good idea to sit down and estimate costs for venue, gifts, and food, so you can work out how much you should expect to pay. Once you have thought of a budget, it is very important you stick to this. Otherwise, you might end up overspending.
Think About A Venue
Where will you have the party? Some ladies love to take their baby shower to a local restaurant, where they can swap gifts while enjoying a slap-up meal. Alternatively, you might like to hire out a function room or an outside venue if you are expecting a lot of guests. There is one major downside to these types of venues, though. And that is the steep cost! If you want to keep things fairly cheap, you could always think about hosting the baby shower in your own home.
Get Some Gifts
You will, of course, need to think about baby shower gifts for the mom and her new baby! Speak to all your other friends and decide if you want to club together to buy one large gift. If you are buying separately, it could be a good idea to get lots of little things. Think about the things she loves, or maybe expressed to you in a casual conversation sometime, so think back and get her some thoughtful things. Some meaningful personalized gifts that you can get well in advance could be a good idea to put a smile on the to-be-mom’s face! There are plenty of ideas to explore in this area. Lots of women buy practical gifts for their friends, such as baby clothes, bibs or even something thoughtful that makes travelling with a newborn a lot easier like a baby sling. However, you might like to buy some trinkets and mementos that the parents can keep as a keepsake.
Plan The Food
An advantage of hiring a venue or going to a restaurant for the shower is that you usually don’t have to worry about planning any food. That’s because food is often included when you book a venue. However, some venues might expect you to sort out your own food. You will also need to organize your own food for the shower if you host at home. This shouldn’t be too difficult to prepare, though. One of the easiest things to do would be a cold finger buffet. Make sure to include some vegetarian and vegan options just in case some of the guests have special dietary requirements.