Baby Shower Planning Guide

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Use the step-by-step Planning Guide below to make planning a Baby Shower fun & easy! Visit Helpful Hints for 10 great tips for a successful shower.

When to Start?
Begin planning 6-8 weeks prior to the shower. This much time isn't absolutely necessary, but it enables you to pull the shower together at a relaxed pace. Plus, planning this far ahead will allow you to purchase shower supplies as part of your regular shopping trips, instead of having to run all over town at the last minute.

The biggest risk with waiting until the last minute is that some close friends and family may not be able to attend due to other commitments.

Choosing a Theme
A baby shower doesn't have to have a theme, but a good shower theme unifies the party and provides the framework from which the rest of the planning process flows. Decisions about what kind of invitations, activities, decorations, and food become much clearer once the theme is selected. Our Baby Shower Themes page can help you choose a fun theme.

When?
One of the biggest factors in selecting a shower date and time is determining when the largest number of closes friends and family can attend. Check the proposed date and time with "key" friends and relatives before committing to the party time (before preparing the invitations or making any reservations). It's better to select another date than not have a favorite friend or family member attend.

You'll probably have better luck with a Saturday or Sunday party. A Saturday party gives you Sunday to relax and recover. While a Sunday party gives you all day Saturday to prepare. Sunday parties are less likely to conflict with sports activities, but should start at noon or later to reduce conflicts with church activities.

When selecting a party time, consider what level of refreshments you want to provide. If you don't want to provide a full meal, then you really need to start the party at least an hour after standard meal times and end the party an hour before standard meal times. Basically, if you have a party anytime between 11 am-1 pm or 4-6 pm, you need to provide a meal. Outside these times you can provide snacks.

Where?
The best locations for baby showers are places that are comfortable and convenient for the mom-to-be and guests. Showers are often held a friend's or family member's home. However, restaurants, parks, community centers, and churches are also suitable locations.

Some advantages to having the shower at home include having plenty of time to set-up (you can start the day before), having supplies close at hand, and having the party in an environment the mom-to-be is comfortable in.

Some disadvantages to having the shower at home include having to clean the house twice (before and after the party), possible damage to the house (chocolate cake on white carpet), space limitations (unless you have a big house and big yard).

If you're having an outdoor shower, always have a back-up plan in case of poor weather. Try to reserve or stakeout a picnic area with a shelter. When you accept RSVPs be sure to get the guests' phone numbers in case you need to call them with a last minute location change. It's difficult and disappointing to reschedule a shower at the last minute, so plan on having the party unless it just won't work.

How Long?
Two to three hours is usually a good amount of time for a baby shower. The time passes quickly as follows... guests arrive (15 minutes), play shower games (30 minutes), have refreshments (30 minutes), open presents (30 minutes), and socialize and depart (15 minutes).

A workplace baby shower will usually be shorter and is often held during a lunch break.

Who and How Many?
Family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers are all potential guests. The shower organizer and mom-to-be should develop a guest list starting with close family, good friends, and others the mom-to-be wants to share this special occasion with.

The number of guests depends on the mom-to-be's preference and the shower host's space and budget constraints. Generally 6-10 guests is a good number, since it's enough to feel like a party, but still allow for personal interaction. If the guest list is larger than seems reasonable, consider having more than one shower. For example, a shower with family and another with close friends or coworkers.

Historically baby showers were for women friends and family. However, as men have become more involved in supporting women through pregnancy and taking care of babies, more showers include the father-to-be as well as male friends and relatives.

If the shower will be co-ed, choose a theme that will work well for both men and women, such as a Barbecue, Picnic, or Luau. Serve more substantial food than for an all-female shower and choose shower games that won't be embarrassing.

If children will be included as shower guests, consider hiring a sitter to help watch and entertain the children.

Activities
The key components of a baby shower are refreshments, shower games, and gift opening.

A typical two hour shower agenda might look like this:

15-20 minutes - guest arrive and socialize
30-45 minutes - shower games
15-20 minutes - refreshments
20-30 minutes - gift opening
15-20 minutes - socializing and guests depart

Getting Help
Potential helpers include family, friends, neighbors, and paid professionals (caterers, baby sitters, etc.). Fortunately, most of us know someone who will do just about anything you need and do it well. Grandmothers and aunts often fall into this category and are willing to help with the food prep, decorating, and clean-up.

Then there are the people who are only willing or able to do a few specific tasks. For example, the friend who is a photography buff and can be trusted to get great pictures and not drop the video camera.

Compare your list of things that need to be done with your list of people who are willing and able to help looking for some obvious matches. An artistic relative may be a good candidate to make decorations. A friend with a mini-van can fetch the balloons. A neighbor who loves to bake can make the cake or cookies.

After you've made all the obvious matches on your list, look for additional tasks that just about anyone can do. This includes things like making a list of who gives what gift at the shower, so the mom-to-be can write customized thank you notes.

Buy or Make?
It's sometimes not only much easier, but often less expensive, to buy what you need for a shower instead of making it. Check our Shower Shopping List page for shopping suggestions.

How Much?
A good rule of thumb is $20 per guest. However, costs can vary widely depending on the type of shower you have. If you have to pay to use a location, serve a full meal, and give elaborate prizes and favor bags, the costs can really add up.

Planning Checklist
Use the step-by-step Planning Checklist below to make planning a baby shower fun & easy!

Planning 6-8 weeks before the shower date enables you to pull the off the shower at a leisurely pace, allows time to reserve facilities and order supplies, and ensures you'll get the invitations out well ahead of the shower.

However, if you get in a pinch, you can pull together a nice shower in a couple weeks. Just make sure you get the invitations out right away or call your guest list.

Less than two weeks is pretty stressful and you risk guests not being able to attend, because they've already made plans.

Schedule		Activity
6-8 weeks before shower		Choose a theme with the mom-to-be. Visit our Baby Shower Themes page for a list of ideas.
		Select date and time for shower.
		Choose location for shower and make reservations, if necessary.
		Develop the guest list (family, friends, coworkers, etc).
		Develop party agenda (example: 1-1:30 arrivals & socializing, 1:30-2:00 games, 2:00-2:30 refreshments, 2:30-3:00 gift opening, favor distribution, and more socializing).
3-5 weeks before		Make or purchase invitations.
		Mail invitations 3 weeks before party
		Plan games and activities
2 weeks before		Purchase party supplies (decorations, shower favors). Purchase enough for a few extra extra guests. See our Shopping List for help.
		Plan menu and make grocery shopping list. See our Shower Refreshments and Shopping List for ideas.
		Arrange for help. Identify family members and friends who can help set-up/clean-up, prepare and serve food, and coordinate games and activities.
1 week before		Gather up tables, chairs, coolers, serving dishes, and other supplies you'll be using at the shower.
		Follow-up with the invited guests who have not yet RSVP'd to determine final guest count.
		Order cake & balloons.
		Prepare any foods that can be frozen for the following week.
2-3 days before		Charge video camera battery and make sure cameras are working.
		Do grocery shopping. See our Shopping List.
		Get cash or make out checks for any paid helpers.
		Prepare favor bags.
Day before		Prepare remaining food, including cake or cupcakes if making these.
Day before		Clean party area.
Party Day!		Finish last minute food preparation.
		Pick up cake and balloons.
		Set-up and decorate party area.
		Set-up games.
		Have fun!
		Do minimum level of clean-up.
2-3 days after		Finish cleanup/put-away.
		Send thank you notes to your helpers.
		Review shower photos and video and send to mom-to-be.