Planning baby showers require care and creativity

FEATURE SOURCE

Fess up - most of us are ecstatic when a dear friend announces that she's pregnant. Yet many of us would rather watch paint dry than give up a precious Saturday afternoon to attend a shower in the baby's honor.

"That's because baby showers have been long overdue for an overhaul," says party planner Becky Long, author of "Themed Baby Showers" (Meadowbrook Press, $10 paperback). This new baby shower-planning book is filled to the brim with original activities that won't stifle conversation but start it, and innovative party themes that will leave your guests clamoring for more.

Long says that it's important to think "interactive" when it comes to choosing shower activities. After all, many times the only thing an eclectic group of guests has in common is the fact that they know the guest of honor.

That's why it's especially essential to leave boring pencil games in the past and instead opt for doing activities that keep guests mingling with one another. Long assures that this step alone will dramatically increase the fun factor at any baby shower.

She suggests crafting something for the baby: Create a felt storyboard, decorate a collection of onesies with fabric paint or make an alphabet book leaving space for pictures of baby.

"Selecting a theme for your baby shower is another great way to set your party apart right from the start," says Long. If the mom-to-be boasts a green thumb, then consider hosting a garden party that celebrates her "pea in the pod." If she enjoys reading, then a "Once Upon a Time" theme that showcases children's literature would be much appreciated.

A theme can also be critical to holding the guests' attention during the present-opening process.

"While gift-giving is really the crux of any baby shower, it can sometimes be the biggest yawner," says Long. "But it doesn't have to be." For example, with the "Once Upon a Time" theme, ask each guest to bring a copy of a favorite childhood book to build baby's library. For gifts for "A Pea in the Pod," assign each guest a different item found in the garden and ask her to bring a corresponding gift. For example, for a green bean, one might choose a green baby outfit and a copy of "Jack and the Beanstalk."

And of course, the best way to tempt guests to attend your out-of-the-ordinary baby shower celebration is to send an enticing invitation - one that truly captures their attention.

For example, mail invitations in plastic baby bottles and request that guests return the bottles to the shower filled with coupons for baby-related items - promising a prize to the guest that returns the biggest savings for the mom-to-be. Right away you've demonstrated that this shower will be far from boring.

After all, your number one goal as shower hostess is to make sure that guests won't be stealing quick glances at their watches throughout the shower, but rather stealing your ideas after the party's over.

Baby showers for multiple babies or showers for a baby who already has a big sister or brother allow for even more creativity.

You can match the number of centerpieces to the number of babies, or place an inexpensive baby toy at every table as a fun centerpiece that will help start the babies' toy chests. In addition to bringing gifts, guests can fill out coupons offering help with meals, babysitting, driving and more.

Parents who are expecting multiples, especially first-time parents, can find themselves with overwhelming expenses, so consider suggesting that the guests pool funds to buy expensive items like a stroller for multiple babies, an extra car seat, or other necessity.

Since moms-to-be receive plenty of clothing at baby showers, it is important to know whether she and her husband are planning to dress the children alike, so you can notify the guests accordingly.

For second baby showers, involving the first child in the festivities is a wonderful way to make him feel special and loved during this transitional period.

Make a special "Big Sister" or "Big Brother" cake, or give the older child a seat of honor next to the mom-to-be while she opens her presents. If she's old enough, she can also act as unofficial photographer by giving her a disposable camera.

Whatever the format of the shower, Long reminds us that, "Guests don't often jump at the chance to give up a Saturday afternoon to drink punch and play goofy games that stifle conversation, insult their intelligence and do little to celebrate the arrival of a bundle of joy." Remember that it's all about the pea that's in the pod, and give your guests, including the mom-to-be, a fun-filled afternoon.

Baby shower games

KIMBERLY HARGIS

The "Can You Remember?" game

Before the party, place several new baby items such as baby shampoo, cotton balls, bottle nipples, baby cloths, soft baby toys, rattle, diaper, and other items related items on a large tray and display this on your coffee table or on the kitchen table, wherever the guests are likely to see it as they arrive.

When it is time to play party games, start by giving each guest paper and pen/pencil, but do not tell them why they need them. Then take the tray away. Now ask your guests to write down what they remember seeing on the tray. They don't have to remember the brand name, just the description of the item.

The guest who remembers the most items wins. In case of a tie, ask the guests to then write down brand names or colors of the objects and the guest who remembers the most details wins (or give all the guests with the same score a party favor).

When the game is over, give the items on the tray to the mother-to-be as a shower gift.

A variation on this game is to have the mom-to-be walk slowly through the party, giving each guest a good look at the items on the tray. The guests will be carefully studying the items on the tray. When all the guests have seen the tray, have the mom-to-be leave the room and announce that the real game is to list everything the mom-to-be is wearing. The guest with the most details or most number of items wins.

Tasting game

Before the party, remove the labels from several jars of baby food and secretly record what each jar contains. (Hint: Use a black magic marker to write A, B, C, etc., on the jar lids. Then write the corresponding letter on the back of the label you removed. Save the labels.)

At party time, gave each guest a spoon and have them taste the baby food. The one who can name the most food correctly wins. (Since you have removed the labels and opened the jars, you must discard the remaining food. Do not give opened jars of baby food to the mother-to-be. You might want to buy two of everything and then give the labeled, unopened jars to the mother-to-be as a reminder of a fun game).

Baby bank

Fill a baby bottle with pre-counted change at the door of the party. Invite guests to guess how much money is in the bottle. The guest closest to the real total wins a prize, and the mom-to-be takes the bottle home to fill the baby's piggy bank.

Baby names

At party time, give each guest paper and pen. Tell them to write down as many baby names as they can in a minute's time (you should have a watch with a second hand, or a digital display to use as a timer).

The one who can come up with the most names wins. (Hint: have a baby names book to give to the mother-to-be as a memento of the game).

Memories

On the invitations ask each guest to bring one baby item from their past, either something they or their children wore or played with. Have each person tell the story behind the item. Have the guest vote on the best story to pick the winner.

They may also bring a small gift that relates to the story. The memories that these childhood stories evoke will be natural conversation starters among guests.

As a gift for the mother-to-be, give her a "Baby's First Year" memory book that she can use to record memories of her baby.

Another way to play this game is to request baby pictures of the attending guests several days in advance. Create posters of all the pictures, and ask guests to guess which picture matches each guest.

Keep the egg

Have enough eggs on hand so that each guest will have an egg. Before the party, tie a different colored ribbon around each egg.

As the guests arrive, or once all the guests have arrived (but before all the games begin), give each guest an egg and tell them to protect the egg as if it were their baby. Tell them they may set the egg down, but they must have the egg at the very end of the party.

Before the guests start to leave, ask the guest to return their egg in exchange for a party favor. Then stand back and see how many still have their eggs (or if they remembered where they set them down) and if they want to keep the egg or exchange it for a gift.

(Don't be surprised if some guests have named their egg and decide to keep it instead of taking the party favor.)

As a memento for the mother-to-be, you can use one of those empty plastic eggs and stuff it with a few pairs of baby socks or anything that will fit inside the egg.

Home