Baby Shower

MAKE MOM-T0-BE FEEL EXTRA SPECIAL ON HER BABY SHOWER

Baby shower is not just some kind of party, it’s a party where friends and family of the mom-to-be gather to show their love and support to the mom-to-be on her journey to mommyhood and her little bundle of joy on the way.

Although it is important to plan for the guest list and gift registry, and to plan for the place and date when to throw the party, the bottomline is that the mom-to-be must feel loved and cared for. It does not matter who you invite or where the party is hosted, and what food you have or what you do during the party. What matters the most is that the mom-to-be feels extra especial on that day.

So how do you make her feel extra special on her baby shower?

SHOWER HER WITH LOTS OF LOVE

Yes, mom-to-be needs a lot of gifts for her baby on the way and herself. First time moms has a lot to prepare. From essential items like the nursery, baby crib, stroller, carrier, and the likes  down to smaller items that she’ll need plenty of like diapers, baby wipes, bath soaps and all.

The mom-to-be also needs a lot for herself. With the changes her body goes especially during pregnancy and also after childbirth, she’ll stuff like maternity dresses, sleepwear, nursing bra among many others to help go thru the process with ease.

So, more than the gifts, first time moms need to cope up with the pressures, stress, anxiety and other emotional and psychological challenges she goes thru throughout her journey to mommyhood. The experience is going to take a lot of toll on her. That is why moms, especially first timers go thru severe depression after childbirth and even during pregnancy.

They need to feel loved and cared for. They need to see who cares for them, and feel their care and support. So, make sure that when you plan for her baby shower, your guest list includes the people most dear to her, and that you have an activity intended for her guest to express their genuine support to the mom-to-be. Create an atmosphere of showing love and joy. Make sure that she is showered with all the love and comfort she needs.

Day or Night Out With the Gals

Often because of pregnancy, mom-to-be never gets to hang out with girlfriends like she used to. She is often detached from the world she used to live, and also because her pregnancy limits her activity. This is one of the reason why pregnant women, specially first timers, get depressed. The situation magnifies after childbirth when she can barely have time for herself.

So, instead of items or maybe in addition to your gifts, how about her girlfriends organize a baby shower, the kind of shower that gives the vibe of a girls day or night out.

Gather all the girls, do a pajama party or sing karaoke or bingewatch chick flicks or do some baking. You cam also be a little bit adventurous  to go for a night out or book a fancy restaurant for some fine dining.

Finally, to make mom-to-be feel extra special, your plan doesn’t have to be so grandious, but make sure that whatever activity you do or wherever you plan to go, it is safe for her and her baby on the way. Also, incase you don’t know, the gesture alone of you organizing the baby shower for her and putting things together, will make her feel loved and absolutely special.

Baby Shower Gift Registry Especially For The Mom-To-Be

Mommyhood, especially for first time expecting mom is going to take a lot of toll on her. During pregnancy, she’ll go thru hormonal changes that could cause her to feel all sorts of pregnancy related challenges – emotionally, mentally, and physically most of all. Apart from all the discomforts and pains, morning sickness, mood swings, nausea, and more.

Like I said, pregnancy during and after is going to take a lot of toll on the mom-to-be. Often all those she goes thru psychologically and emotionally is often the effect of the changes she’ll experience physically. Pregnancy is really going to affect a woman’s body – yes pregnancy and mommyhood is a wonderful experience, but it comes with a fair share of physical concerns.

If you are planning for the gift registry, it would be great to have one where the focus is the mom-to-be and the essentials she’ll need to take care of her body and her skin, and to help ease the emotional effects of the body and skin changes caused by mommyhood.

She’ll need essential skincare, and some self pampering to help keep her glow, and some exercise sessions to help bring back her body after childbirth.

Here are some skincare essentials you have to include in the gift registry – especially for the mom-to-be:

  1.   Stretch Marks Cream or Moisturizer – best to start using this during pregnancy, because it hydrates and moisturizes the skin to prevent or lessen the appearance of strech marks. It also nourishes the skin to sooth tightness and discomfort in the skin and making it feel comfortable, smooth and supple.


  2.    Stretch Marks Oil – applying it during and after pregancy help reduce the appearance of newly formed stretch marks. It helps restore, refresh and smoothen the skin.


  3.   Stretch Marks Serum – it can be used during and after pregnancy. It is hydrates and moisturizes the skin to help minimize the appearance of stretch marks, and gives your skin the plump look and feel.


  4.   Organic Nursing Comfort Balm – it helps sooth the nipples and makes nursing comfortable. It moisturizes the nipples to ease discomfort during breastfeeding, and it restores the skin during and after breastfeeding.

Mom-to-be needs some self-pampering, especially after pregnancy. Here are some self-pampering gifts she’ll definitely appreciate:

  1.   Gift Cards – gift her with spa certificate for a day of self pampering – get that body massage, facials, hair spa, manicure and pedicure and all that whole body pampering. Make sure that the gift certificate is open date, so she can go anytime. This could also be turned into a bonding time with the girls.

  2.   Recovery Care Kit – this may include the items listed above – skincare essentials, along with other essentials that will give her that much needed pampering like scented candles, calming teas, and a good book of her favorite author.

  3.   Gym/Fitness Class for New Moms – gift her with a subscription to a gym of fitness class especially designed for new moms. This is an exercise that helps new moms gradually return to their old body. This can be coupled with a subscription to daily healthy diet meal that will be delivered to her.

Whether you gift mom-to-be with the skincare essentials or for self pampering, make sure that you choose the one that is safe for both the mom and her baby. Any of these gifts will surely make the mom-to-be feel loved and cared for.

Can You Throw A Baby Shower for the Second or Third or So Baby?

Traditionally baby showers are organized so that family and friends can provide help and support by giving mom-to-be the essential items she will need for her first baby. Additionally, to provise avenue for friends and family to show their love and care to the mom-to-be or parents-to-be. Consequently help the expecting parents, the mom especially, prepare physically and mentally and emotionally for the impending journey and the challenges of mommyhood.

What aboout if it’s the mommy’s second or third or so baby, can a baby shower still be held? OFCOURSE, YES!

Although she may now have the basics, a baby shower can still be held to celebrate the new bundle of joy – a new life is the greatest blessing. So, more than gifts, it is to celebrate the blessing.

And like I said, she may now have most of the essentials like baby crib, strollers, carrier and other bigger and basic items for a baby.  Items that can be passed down from one baby to another. However, whenever there is an addition to the family, mom or parents always need assistance and extra pair of hands to help her not only with the essentials but emotionally as well.

More babies mean, mom or even both parents have so much on their hand. And let’s face it, kids takes a lot more toll on the mom than the dad. She need that emotional support, to get thru the challenges and enjoy mommyhood.

If you are hosting a baby shower again for your girlfriend or cousin, then you already know the do’s and don’t guide for baby shower. Now that mom already have the essentials, focus on the staple items for the gift registry, these are items mom will need plenty of. Staple items like diapers, baby wipes, bath soap, lotion, powder, and the likes.

If you are a guest, then gift mom with something that will unload her with some of her chores, months delivery of  frozen or ready to cook meals, freshly cook meel delivery for the baby or family or grocery delivery and others will be a great help.

You may also give her some  gift certificate for a day of self pampering at a salon or spa, free service for baby care and ticket to a theatre play, concert or sport or a night out or dinner with the girls while kids are being looked after. Give her something that could connect her with the real world and remind her of what she used to be.

The more babies come, the more that mom needs emotional support. She need to feel valued and cared for, more than the baby essentials.

And because you are planning for a baby shower for a second or third  baby, then it should be very easy for you now. And because organizing the shower is pizza cake now, this means that you can have real fun yourself.

Gift Registry – Baby Shower Do’s and Don’ts Guide

In my previoua posts we’ve shared with the do’s and don’ts when it comes to hosting, planning for the guest list, choosing the date and venue. Now let look into ‘gift registry.’  This can raise some etiquette concerns when not planned well. But, these etiquette concerns can be handled easily when planned well, and all matters significant are taken into consideration.

Back then, it is the mom-to-be who plan for the gift registry, she then passes it on to the host or the one who will throw the baby shower. Today, the mom-to-be can work on the gift registry with the dad-to-be, along with the host of the shower.

Why is there a need to have a gift registry?

The reason why it is necessary to have gift registry is to help shopping for baby shower gifts easier for guests, and also ensure that the mom-to-be and her baby gets what they need. So, once you have the gift registry, include this information in the invitation that will be sent out to the guests.

FOR THE MOM-TO-BE

When you are preparing for the gift registry, consider the BUDGET and the TIME of you friends, colleagues, and family, who are in your guest list, in purchasing these gifts. You may include price range and different options of gift items that are available in stores accessible to your guests. Don’t put gift items that need to be ordered or personalized or made-to-order stuff.

In case you are wondering what does a registry typically include? These are items such as basic baby items like diapers or baby bottles and the likes. It can also include bigger items like baby crib, stroller, changing table or carrier and others.

If this is your second, third or so child, then you may already have most of the essential items like baby crib or stroller and other items that may be passed down from one baby to the next. Instead, list down staples items that you need plenty of like diapers, baby wipes, lotion, bath soap and the likes.

If for instance it’s your first time to have a baby girl after maybe two boys or vice versa, then list down items that will allow your guests to purchase something that is gender appropriate, like girly baby stuff and toys or the other way around – clothes and toys for boys.

FOR THE GUESTS

If on the other hand, you are a guest, then remember that you are not limited to getting only the items from the registry. It will be very much appreciated if you plan to gift the mom-to-be more items, not in the registry, but you think she’ll need or will be good for the baby.

Bottomline is that the gifts listed in the registry are the items the mom-to-be believe she needs, it will help her greatly if she could have most of those items in the registry, if not all. But, remember to give from your heart. You are special and dear to the mom-to-be or parents-to-be, so gift her or them what reflects your relationship. And to express your joy, and love and support.

Baby Shower Etiquette:  Do’s and Don’ts Guide

In my previous posts we’ve learned of the primary do’s and don’ts for baby showers. Starting off with who should host or throw the baby shower, followed by the guest list – who to invite.

We’ve also learned that baby shower can be thrown more than once, that way allowing more family and friends of the mom-to-be or parents-to-be to share with the celebration and extend their love and support.

Now that we’ve identified who should throw the baby shower and planned the guest list, what’s next?

When and Where to have the Baby Shower

When you are planning to have the baby shower is just as important as where you plan to do it. The best times to have the shower is later on the pregnancy, when the expecting mom has gone past the morning sickness, cramps and other early pregnancy discomforts, so that she may be able to enjoy the party. Usually, aroud six weeks before the due date is the best time, but it is significant to consult the mom-to-be or parents-to-be on this.  Once you have the date, make sure that you give your guest ample time to prepare for the shower. Send out invitations atleast four weeks before so that they can save the date, and also for guests who may be out of town can make travel plans.

The venue where you plan to do the shower is really dependent on the number of guests invited. You can hold the shower in rented places or in the mom-to-be’s place. If you plan to have it in the mom-to-be’s place, just make sure it won’t cause extra stress to her, like for the preparations or the cleaning afterwards.

Now that you have the time and place, what other matters can raise baby shower etiquette concerns? We’ll share with you in the next posts. Stay tuned.

Baby Shower