Uncategorized – Page 10 – Marisa Meidle's Baby Showers

Just-For-Mom Baby Shower

In my previous post I have shared some baby shower ideas: activities and location. Here is another awesome baby shower idea – this one is focused on the mom-to-be. Traditionally, baby showers are ladies only, wherein the party is all about the mom-to-be and her friends.

If you plan to have an all ladies for one of the baby showers you plan to organize, then here are some ideas to help you be creative and plan out a fun, exciting and memorable baby shower.

This is especially great for second, third time or so moms-to-be. Although it works well for first time moms-to-be, but more so for the latter. Why? The experience of pregancy, childbirth and parenthood really takes a lot of toll on a woman’s “body.” That is why they deserve EXTRA tender love and care (TLC).

So, if it’s mom’s second, third or so baby, maybe this time she’ll need something for herself than baby items. Instead of buying baby gifts, focus on gifts for mom.

When you send invitations to your guests, inform them of the plan for a just-for-mom baby shower. Ask them to bring gifts for the mom – something she can use now (like maternity dresses, soothing moisturizers) or after childbirth (like certificate for house-cleaning or pampering services).

They can either gift her with some practical mom stuff or some pampering or even both. Here are some gift ideas:

– Stretch Marks Set Skin Care
– Pre-Baby Date Night Restaurant Gift Card
– Maternity Sleep Wear or Maternity Dresses
– Compression Socks
– Home-cooked Freezer Meals (to help her with the hassle of cooking while pregnant)
– Recipe Book (for baby food)
– Aroma Scented Candle and a Book of her favorite author (for relaxing)
– Salon Gift Certificate for whole body pampering (maybe few months after childbirth)

There are many other gifts you can give the mom to be. As her friend, I think you know what she’ll love. And if you’re a mom yourself, then you know what she’ll need during and after pregnancy, and what would make her happy.

Ideas for Baby Shower – Location and Activities

Why do we organize baby shower? What’s it really for? The goal of baby shower is not only for the gifts, but to show the mom-to-be or the parents-to-be love and support, to help them prepare for the responsibility of parenthood. Above all to celebrate the joy of a new life that’s about to come, and to make the mom-to-be or parents-to-be feel special.

Traditionally, baby showers are ladies only – it’s about the mom-to-be and her friends. But, these days it has also become special for dads-to-be, and so baby showers have become more fun with both the mom and dad’s family and friends.

Here’s a couple of ideas to help you organize and get creative on your baby shower. Ideas on what activities to do and where to have them.

1. Co-ed

Like I said, it used to be that baby showers are ladies only – it is about the expecting mom and her friends having fun. Today, you can mix it and also have the dad and his friends. You will be surprised at how cool dudes (dad or single) can be on baby showers. Their presence makes for the fun activities.

If you decide to go Co-ed, you need to consider the following things:

– go for gender-free or neutral decorations
– have variety of food, mix pastries with some burgers or barbecues for instance
– have drinks that works well with the ladies and the gents
– put together games that allows guests to mingle or work together, instead of working individually

Co-ed baby shower is really fun, you only need to plan it well and the best way to do it is to work with the parents-to-be, make sure to include the dad-to-be in the planning.

2. Take it Ourdoors

Indoor parties with awesome decors, food and exciting games is fun, but there is something about having party outdoors that makes it even more fun.

Perhaps its the sunlight, the fresh air, and the natural surrounding that sets-up the mood, lifts your spirit, and makes you feel comfortable even with people whom you are not acquainted with.

The only thing that could be a problem is the weather. But, if the weather is perfect, consider to have an outdoor baby shower. You can set-up some barbecue grill, organize outdoor games like frisbee golf course or tossing water balloons and other fun activities.

You can order catering too, and set-up some tents if needed. You can go DIY and set-up some hampers for example or you can hire set decorators to work on the theme you decide on.

What’s great about outdoor parties is the space, guests can move around easily and mingle. And it allows you to do a lot of fun games.

3. Couple’s Buffet

If you are looking for a simpler and quicker way of putting together a baby shower, perhaps due to time constraint. Then, you can actually host one by inviting certain number of guests on a buffet or eat-all-you-can.

You can reserve for a lunch or dinner at restaurant. You can book a room or the outdoor area or certain area of the restaurant (ex. the whole rigth side of the resto). Most restaurants if not all, will also allow you to set-up some decorations, as long as you remove them afterwards.

The great thing with buffet party is that it is hassle free – the place and the food are ready. The only downside is that you cannot do activities or games that needs moving around. And you can’t have too many guests at one time.

Still, there are fun activities you can do that doesn’t require guests to more around. Often, this kind of party is more intimate and special because you are closer to each other. So your activities can really focus on the parents-to-be.

Finally, there is no right or wrong baby shower. It is about what you and the parents-to-be wants, and what will make them feel special.

I will be sharing more Baby Shower Ideas in my next posts. Hope these ideas would help you in organizing your baby shower.

Virtual Baby Shower Game Ideas

A baby shower or any form of party isn’t fun or complete without some fun activities and games. Virtual party is not an excemption. If you are wondering, “how can do I get my virtual guests to play games? What games should we play? Is it even possible to play virtually?” Well, well you can, and there are lots of games you can play. Infact, most of the games I have shared in my previous posts can be turned into a virtual game.

Here are a few game ideas that are classic favorites that can be played virtually. Hopefully these games will give you idea on how you can give a virtual spin to other party games.

1. CHARADES

I am pretty sure you have already tried playing charades or if not, you have heard of it and have watched how it is played. This is a hilarious and exciting game. It is always good for laughs, especially when you can’t act out the words and had to improvise. You’ll be surprised at how goofy people can be, and it brings out people’s creativity and acting skill.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– list of baby-related actions to act out

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the shower, list down number of baby-related actions. Divide your guests into groups of 3 or 4. Write them down to take note of the members for each team. Then, divide your list into equal numbers of baby-related words.

When you send out invitation, include a note for the game and the list of baby-related words assigned for their team. Then before the game starts, announce the members of each team and confirm that they have received their list of action words.

Groups will take turns in acting out their words, one group after the other and one word at a time. Members of the groups will also take turns in acting out. While one group is acting out, the memmbers of the other groups will all have the chance to guess the word, but before answering, they will have to raise their hand. Watch your screen carefully with the help of the parents-to-be. The first person to raise their hand, gets the chance to guess first, and if their guess is correct, the point goes to his/her group. If the guess is wrong, then others will have to raise their hand on your que. Once all the baby-related words are acted out, the group with the most correct guesses wins.

2. WHAT’S THAT SONG

Who doesn’t love some nursery rhymes or lullaby/baby songs? You must have your favorites. This game is a classic one too, often it is called “name that tune.” This brings out your guests musicality.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– snippets of nursery rhymes and baby songs/lullaby (10 to 15 seconds)
– master list of titles of each snippet
– paper and pen/marker (to be prepared by the guests)

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the party, prepare recordings or snippets (10 to 15 seconds) of popular nursery rhymes or baby songs/lullaby. You can actually access or download these nursery rhymes and baby songs via streaming sites. Make sure that write down the title for each.

You can divide your guests into pairs or small groups or they can play individually. For this game, guests will need a paper and pen/marker. Make sure that when you send out the invitation, you include a note where they will need to prepare paper and pen/marker for the game.

During the game, ask your guests to guess the title of the nursery rhyme or baby song/lullaby. You will play the prepared snippet twice, then give your guests 10 to 15 seconds to write their guess on their paper. After 15 seconds, you will say GO! and all of them must show their answer on the screen. The guest or pair or group who makes the most correct guesses wins.

3. WHO

This is a cute and fun game. Like the previous 2 games, this is also a twist to a game played in usual baby showers (face-to-face) and it’s a classic as well.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– baby pictures of each guest
– paper and pen/marker (to be prepared by the guests)

HOW TO DO IT:

When you send out invitation, attach a note that they will prepare paper and pen/marker for the game and ask them to send you an e-copy/scanned or screenshot of their baby photo. Take note which guest does the photo belong to.

At the beginning of the baby shower, make sure that you have properly introduced each other. Remind them to remember each other’s names or have their full name/nicknames displayed on their screen.

During the game, you will flash or show the baby picture one at a time. Ask your guests to guess which guest it belongs to. They will write the name or nickname on their paper. When you say GO! they will raise their paper and show it on their screen. The guest/s who gets the most correct guesses wins.

These are but few game ideas that you can play virtually. If you have noticed they are all classic games played face-to-face. I have shared a lot of baby shower games in my previous posts, most of them can be played virtually. Take note of the simple spin or changes we made with the above games to make them into virtual games. You can do the same with other games played face-to-face.

It is quite easy to convert games to be played virtually. The only thing that you needed to do is notify your guests ahead of time on what they need to prepare or if they need to send you something (pictures, information, etc).

Finally, it does not make baby showers less fun doing them virtually. In fact, it is more practical and it allows more family and friends to share their love and support to the parents-to-be. Especially, for those who couldn’t come in person due to distance or health reasons. And you can actually have more than one baby shower, why not organize one virtually. It will be great help and support to the parents-to-be.

Virtual Baby Shower Tips

The main goal of holding a baby shower is to not only celebrate the joy of a new life that is about to come, but to make the mom-to-be or parents-to-be feel special and loved by showing and giving them the support that they need.

Parents-to-be, specially for the first timers, it is very important to have that emotional support from family and friends, to help them prepare with the responsibilities of parenthood, among many others.

While it is fun to have face-to-face baby showers, one can also organize them virtually. It may seem a little strange and unusual, but they make a great option especially when parents-to-be have lots of family and friends who are miles aways but really wanted to share with the joy. Also, for those family and friends who cannot physically come for health reasons.

Here are some few tips on how to put together a virtual baby shower.

1. INVITATIONS

Just like any baby shower, the very first thing to do is make a list of invitees. Since, this particular shower is going to be virtual, then make sure that those on your list are either far and or have health reasons. Once you have your list, the first thing is to send out invitation to your guests.

The cool thing with virtual baby shower is you can have the option to use paperless invitation. It is practical, but you can actually do more with it that paper invitations. The only thing you need to ensure is to have correct email addresses. You can also send thru social media sites, so you need their accounts. You can ask the parents-to-be for help on this.

On the other hand, eventhough it is going to be a virtual party, you can still send printed invitation if that is what you prefer. Some guests still love to receive printed invitations for keeps. Or you can do a mix of both.

2. DECORATION

Well, this is a significant part of baby shower. Although it is virtual, the decorations can’t be put aside. Like the usual baby shower, you MUST have decorations. First, you need to decide on a theme. I have shared various baby shower theme ideas in my previous posts. Once you have your theme, select a place where to set-up the party. Since it is virtual, you need not have a bigger venue for your set-up, all you need is enough space for you and the parents-to-be and perhaps a few family members or closest friends. Pretty practical huh?! Leaves you enough room budget-wise, so you could go grandious with your decor.

You can set-up in a room, living room, or you can also have an outdoor set-up like in your garden, by the pool or beachside perhaps. You can get creative by putting some props to give your guest the feel of whatever theme you decide on.

But, if you really want to save on the budget and give that amount for the decor to the parents-to-be instead, then you have wide range of virtual decors or backdrop you can play around with. Most ZOOM and other other virtual meetups platforms these days are so fancy, you can use cool backdrops and many other artsies. So much stuff you can learn online on youtube.

3. GAMES

And ofcourse, a baby shower is not a party without games. Make sure you organize games that you and your guests, specially the parents-to-be will enjoy. You can have guessing games, and even some mental or challenging game ideas, like the ones I have shared in my previous posts. You just need to do a little tweak and turn it into virtual format. I will be sharing baby shower virtual game ideas in my next posts.

4. SHOW SOME LOVE

At the end of the party, the best part is to have a round of congratulatories and special words from the guests to the parents-to-be. For this, give each guest time to write down what they wanted to say, if they wanted to. Give them like 5 minutes to prepare, and while they do that, the parents-to-be can start opening their gifts. Once guests are ready, give each one atlesst a maximum of 2 minutes to say their piece of advice or some sweet words. One guest at a time. Then, give time also for the parents-to-be to express their gratitude.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO PREPARE:

– computer
– camera (for the computer)
– monitor or overhead projector
– microphone (for computer)
– sound system/speaker
– internet connection

Finally, a party need some food and snacks. You can arrange for food delivery to each guests. And you know what, guests always love to have a part in the baby shower. They can arrange their own snacks and bake some goodies. You can also prepare few snacks for you and the parents-to-be. What you need is to have prior communication with your guests on this matter. You will be surprised that many of them would volunteer to share for the foodies.

Virtual baby shower can be as much fun as face-to-face or the usual baby showers. And it is more practical. The only challenge is if there’s connection failure or interruptions, and if there’s bad weather. Other than that, it is going to be awesome. Have fun!

Printable Baby Shower Game Ideas

Here are some fun and exciting games that your guests will surely love and enjoy. It’s a spin on some classic games that are sure hit in any type of parties.

These games might need a little bit of preparation here and there, but nothing too tasky. Unlike the other game ideas I have shared in my previous post where you need props, here you will be needing to print-out cards or worksheets that your guests will be using to play the game.

1. B-I-N-G-O

Who doesn’t know how to play BINGO? If you haven’t, then you must have atleast heard of it or have seen a BINGO card.

There is a spin to this classic game, for instead of combination of numbers, you will have to use baby-related items. Instead of seeing numbers in the card, there will be pictures/drawings of baby-related items.

This will make a fun way to openning baby gifts.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– printed BINGO cards
– pens

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the party, you will need to print-out modified BINGO cards enough for your guests. Each guest must have a unique BINGO CARD. There are plenty of sites where you can download patterns of a BINGO card if you haven’t seen one. Then, download pictures/drawings of baby-related items that you will use in the cards.

When you send out invitation, ask your guests to wrap some small baby items as gifts, apart from the actual gift they have for the parents-to-be, if they have. Collect all this gifts upon arrival.

During the game, hand out BINGO cards and pens to each guest. You can also play this game in pairs. Gather them in a circle, if posssible. And then, gather all the small gifts you have collected for the parents-to-be to open, one gift at a time.

Instead of calling out numbers like in the classic BINGO game, the parents-to-be will open one gift at a time. Each time, the players will crash out or put an “X” mark on that baby item in their BINGO card. The guest or pair who completes a row, column or diagonal wins a prize.

Repeat the same, until all small gifts are opened.

2. Price is Right

We all love to play a guessing game, that is why it works for any party and for any type of person. The Price is Right is another classic game, it used to be a popular TV game show too. Whoever guesses the price of the items closest to its actual price, wins. But, let’s put a little spin on this favorite game.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– cut-out or print-out pictures of baby items (you can choose the ones from the parents-to-be’s registry list)
– if you can, instead of cut-outs/print-outs, prepare a slide presentation with pictures of baby items that you can show on the monitor during the game.
– computer and TV monitor incase you opt to make a slide show of baby items
– pens and paper
– small gifts as prizes

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the shower, you need to prepare cut-outs or print-out pictures of baby-related items. Better yet, prepare a slide show of this pictures. Baby items such as, baby cribs, stroller, certain toys, boxes of pampers, set of clothes, pair shoes, set milk bottles, and the likes.

Then, do a little bit of research and note down some details for each item and its retail price. Make a masterlist all of these, for you will use them during the game.

Then, you will have to prepare simple items or goodies as prizes for the winners. This game can be played individually, but best played in pairs or small groups.

During the game, distribute pens and paper. Pairs or groups should sit or stand together, and they must all be facing you or towards the monitor (if you plan to use one). Show a picture of a baby item, provide some details about this item for them to be able to imagine its cost/price. Then, give them a little bit of math, where they need to add or multiply perhaps. After 15 to 20 seconds or so, they will have to show their guess. The pair or groups who guesses the price closest to the actual price, wins.

3. Wishes for Baby

Here is another fun and exciting game to play for baby showers, especially when you plan to have co-ed parties. And what makes this special is that it has a sentimental touch, for the moms and dads.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– print-out worksheets
– pens

HOW TO DO IT:

Before the baby shower, prepare atleats 10 questions or prompt phrases that will allow guests to write/say wonderful words or wishes for the baby. Guests can be as sweet, sentimental, or funny as they can. Encode these questions or prompt phrases and print-out copies enough for your guests.

During the game, distribute worksheets and pens to your guests. Ask them to fill-out the blanks with heartfelt wishes for the baby or some promising predictions. Something like, “your mom and dad will be so proud of you for realizing their dreams for you, or for being so successful, or for becoming such a fine man/woman you have become.” They can also write silly stuff for fun.

Give them about 8 to 10 minutes to work on their worksheets. Once they are finished, ask them to read aloud what they have written or their answers to the questions, one guest at a time. Afterwards, everyone will have to vote who gave out the best answer. The one who has the highest votes wins. You will do the same for each round, until all questions are answered.

Finally, I hope that these ideas and all the other game ideas I have shared in previous posts will be of help to you as you plan or design for your own game. You can actually mix different game themes or ideas, all of them really works well with any type guests.

You can never go wrong with any of these games or with any fun game you can come up with. Just remember to keep them simple and centered around the baby or the parents-to-be. And like I always say in my previous posts, make sure that you have as much fun yourself as your guests.