Baby Shower – Page 15 – Marisa Meidle's Baby Showers

Kid-Friendly Baby Shower

You don’t always see kids at baby showers, not that they are not allowed to come, but often we thought the party is not for the kids.

Well, you know what? If it’s that important for the mom-to-be or the parents-to-be, baby shower is perfect for the sibling/s-to-be, especially first time siblings, to welcome their baby brother or sister.

We said that baby showers are intended to support moms or parents-to-be, especially first time moms or parents, prepare for the impending role. Siblings also may anticipate the coming of the new baby. It will be strange and new for them.

Like their parents, they too need to prepare and understand what is to come. It would greatly help the sibling/s-to-be to understand what’s coming and to meet kids of their age who are siblings themselves, and in a way learn from them and appreciate what it means to be an older brother or sister.

For this reason, it’s a great idea to organize a kid-friendly baby shower. You can either hold 2 simultaneous baby showers: 1 for the kids and for the adults (their parents) or a baby shower purely for the kids.

What is great about kid-friendly baby shower is that you don’t have to worry so much about decoration and design, food and activities, and whatnots. All you need to have in mind is to make it festive.

For the decors, you can simply have balloons and all sorts of toys scattered around. You can do the party outdoors like in the gardens or you can do it indoors.

For the food, you can have simple cake pops, cupcakes, chicken lollipops, all sorts of candies and gummies, chips and some lemonades and ice cream. Nothing to stress about really.

For the activities, you don’t need to stress about what will work for your guests. Kids like to play and have fun. So you can play physical games, have them run around, but make them baby related ofcourse. Games that will give them an idea of how and what it’s like to be an older brother or sister.

You can also do crafts and art activities. Kids love to play with crayons and paints and they love to draw. Ask them to make something for the nursery or do some crafts that can be used as decoration for the nursery or something that the baby can use.

In my previous posts, I have shared various baby shower games. Those games can be modified and made into kid-friendly games.

Finally, when you do kid-friendly baby shower, set a time as to when the party starts and the pick-up time. Make sure to include that information for their parents when you send out the invitation. Above all, in all of the activities you’ll do during the party, ensure safety because you’re dealing with kids. And for that reason, it would help a lot to have adults assist you.

Simple Activities for Baby Shower

Simple activities can make the baby shower even more special. These activities can end up with simple presents or keepsake for the mom and the baby. These activities are so easy to put together and does not require so much materials. Here are two simple activities that you can incorporate in your baby shower or use as inpiration for your plan.

1. Decorate Rocks

This is a very simple but fun activity that you and your guests can do as one of your baby shower activities. It is very easy to prepare, but provides good opportunity for guests to mingle and bring out their creative and artistic side. The end product can serve a special gift and keepsake for the parents-to-be and the baby.

All you need to prepare are rocks and decorattions that you can use to personalize them. Gather small and smooth rocks or stones. You can get them from local.craft stores or from the beach. Prepare markers, paint pens, stickers and other decorative artsies or crafts.

Set a big table where everyone can gather around or smaller tables where guests can sit in groups. Set out all the materials on the table and ask your guests to decorate and design the rocks. They can create whatever design they like, from cute animals, colors, and or motivational messages, and anything else they can think of that would make a lovely decor for the nursery or just a keepsake.

2. Baby Quilt Making

This is another simple activity that make for a beautiful gift and keepsake for both the mom-to-be and tbe baby. All you need are some fabric, batting, threads and needles.

This is a specially fun activity for guests who are quilters or perhaps knows how to quilt. And for those who don’t know how, this activity will give them the opportunity to learn how to quilt.

Set the materials out on the table, gather everyone and give each guest their own quilting square. Then ask them to create signature blocks with their own unique and cool features.

Work as one team, lay out all the quilt squares and sew them together. It may seem simple, but it will be a unique and special present for the mom-to-be and the baby. A special gift, and memory that will last for years.

There are many fun, but vey simple activities you can do for the baby shower. Doing activities that is not only meant for fun and laughters, but to create something out of your own – a special present and a keepsake for the mom or parents-to-be and the baby, will make the baby shower special and memorable.

Simple Decorations and Must-Haves for Baby Showers

Planning a perfect baby shower can be a bit tough, whether you are the mom-to-be or her bestie, you can’t seem to come up with the best baby shower. You wanted to do something unique, but it seems like everything has been done before.

Well you know what? Every baby shower is perfect on its own, and eventhough your baby shower seem like it’s been done before, well yes they’ve been done before, but they are still unique in its truest sense.

The real goal of baby shower is to show some love and support to the mom-to-be or parents-to-be, to share with the joy and make them feel special, and create memorable moments. Now, focus on those and not on how make a “perfect” baby shower.

There are a lot of games and activities you can to make the baby shower fun and exciting for the mom or parents-to-be. Apart from games and activities, its the ambience and the environment that you create that sets the atmosphere of fun.

Here are some of the must-haves for baby showers. Whether you organize a simple or grand baby shower, whether its an in-person party of virtual one, and no matter the theme or location or day and time, these things are what makes baby shower a baby shower.

1. Balloons

It’s kind of like symbolic – the mom looks like she is about to pop, hence balloons are a must.

Decorate the venue with balloons, use colors that matches your theme. You can arrange them in cluster with different sizes and shapes.

You can also play around and be creative with the balloons and do some animal shapes or baby-related figures. It sets the mood the moment you see balloons.

2. Blocks

Baby blocks are colorful, cute, and give you the feel of a baby on the way. It works with any theme, so go ahead and decorate your venue with baby blocks. You can arrange them on the doorway, some on the tables, or better yet arrange them for your photo booth for added backdrop.

3. String Lights

String lights lifts up the spirit of the party and bring the fun to life. It is great for evening baby showers, and even better when you hold the party outdoors.

Like baby blocks, lights works with any theme. Hang your coloful string lights in the windows or doorways or archway or perhaps create shapes or animated figures out of it. The lights will give the party stunning effect and make the moment magical.

4. Clothes Garland

Like the baby blocks, hanging clotheslines around the room attaching some cute onesies, bibs or booties for instance, give you that feel of a baby on the way.

It also works with any theme and you can have them indoors or outdoors, works just fine. Plus, you can ask the guests in advance to bring some baby clothes and stuff to hang on the clothelines. At the end of the party, they can serve as gifts for the mom-to-be for her little one.

Finally, these are some of the simple decorations and “must-have” that creates a wonderful baby shower atmosphere. They work with any type of theme, and you can have them as it or use them to accentuate your major theme decor. You can never go wrong really, just play around baby-related stuff and be creative.

Practical Ideas for Baby Shower

We know that we want our baby shower to be fun and exciting and the best way to get the fun going is to play games and do some exciting activities.

You can actually put a twist on the typical baby shower and do something that may not only be fun but is practical as well. This is not saying don’t have games and fun activities, ofcourse you have to have those.

Here are some ideas you can include for your activities.

1. Arts and Crafts

Put a little twist on your baby shower activities and do some arts and crafts. This is another fun way where you, the guests, and the parents-to-be get to spend time together while having fun chats and snacks. And the end product can turn into a valuable gift for the mom-to-be or parents-to-be and the baby on the way.

To give you an idea, you can paint on fabric for instance. Prepare fabric paints (different colors) and some plain onesies. Ask your guests to get creative and design the onesies using the fabric paints. You can also prepare die of different colors, some tie/rope and ask them to play around and tie die the onesies. You can teach them how if none of your guests know how.

You can also paint baby hangers, create colorful headbands and cool bows. You can also draw or make cut-outs of cartoon characters or other baby related artsies or decorate numbers or letters that can be posted or hanged in the baby’s nursery/room.

2. Words of Wisdom

Your main goal for the baby shower is to shower the parents-to-be, especially the mom-to-be, the love and support they need. To receive encouraging words and advice, and hear wisdom from friends and family who have walked the same road is a priceless gift for the parents-to-be. Especially, first time moms and dads.

This activity can easily be
incorporated in you baby shower. You can put it first or last or in between games, it all works. Here are two ideas you can start with or use as inspiration:

– Write a Book of Wisdom.
Prepare a notebook or customized one with a nice pen. During the baby shower, pass it around the guests and ask them to write words of encouragements or some advice to the mom-to-be or the parents-to-be. Once everyone has written their piece, put a ribbon around the notebook and present it as a gift from everyone. Tell the mom-to-be to open it when she is in labor or the parents-to-be can open and read it after delivery. It will give the mom-to-be or parents-to-be something to look forward to.

– Fill the Basket of Wisdom
Although the baby shower is for both mom and dad, but really it would take a lot of toll on the mom-to-be: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ask everyone to fill in the basket with items that will be significant for the mom-to-be, something that symbolizes motherhood or fill the basket with some baby essentials. Just make sure that you include a note when you send out invitation.

3. Books Instead of Cards

Although it is nice and sweet to receive cards, but more often than not, they get thrown away. Instead, ask the guests to gift the mom-to-be or parents-to-be books. Just like in cards, they can also write notes of encouragement or advice on the front page of the book.

Books can either be for the parents-to-be, like tips on parenting or motherhood and the likes. They can also gift children or storybooks or nursery rhymes. Such books will be very useful for the expecting parents and the baby. Another idea is cooking or recipe books for baby food or food for moms during pregnancy of after childbirth.

Make sure that when you send out invitation, you include a note that says “gift books instead of cards.”

Finally, you can never go wrong when the intention is good. These are just few practical ideas that is not to replace the fun and exciting activities and games, but something you can incorporate in your baby shower. It is really nice and helpful to be doing something that will end up with some priceless and valuable gifts for the parents-to-be. It adds to making the day special and memorable.

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.