Baby Shower Etiquette Part 2 of 2

If you have been called upon to throw a baby shower and it has been many years since your last party like this, you may be feeling a bit wary about it all. Here is part two in our baby shower etiquette tips to help you throw a wonderful party for your mom to be.


 * Baby shower invitations should be sent at least 3 weeks in advance but no more than 6 weeks before the party date. You can purchase invitations and fill them out, have some custom-printed or print your own. All are acceptable in today's society of baby shower party planning.

  * It's a good idea to provide excellent driving directions to the baby shower party location. You can either write them out and include them with the invitation or print out an online map (like Google Maps) to help guide party guests to the party location.

 * If you are concerned on how much time to allot for the baby shower you should plan on at least 2 hours but no more than 4 hours in length. The time will depend on how many guests will be attending, the location and the festivities that you are planning.  

* Is it okay to ask a few guests to help bring food or to help set up/clean up at the baby shower? In our opinion, yes! Baby showers are expensive to plan and host so if you are working in a strict budget, there is nothing wrong on asking a few guests to bring some food or beverages. In addition, there is nothing wrong on asking a few selected guests to help you set up and clean up after the party has concluded.

The most important tip is to relax and have fun! Baby showers are just a big party and everyone loves a party!

Baby Shower Etiquette Tips

We often get asked many questions about baby showers. What is the right way to hold a baby shower?  Who should hold it?  Who should attend?  If you are finding yourself trying to answer these questions or it has been a few years since you had a child or even attended a baby shower, have no fear!  Here are some answers to your etiquette questions on baby showers.


*The expectant couple really should not host or throw their own baby shower. It is best to have a non-relative plan and host the baby shower, like a close friend or co-worker. If none of those people are available, then a family member can host the baby shower.

*The majority of baby showers are held during the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy. Holding a baby shower during the 9th month could be tricky, especially if the mom-to-be isn't feeling well or if she delivers her new bundle of joy early. If the baby comes early, never fear!  Many hosts hold a baby shower after the birth of a child.

*Most people feel it's a good idea to consult the mom-to-be on the guest list planning. If it's a surprise baby shower this wouldn't be possible of course, so talk to other relatives with help on the guest list. It is also okay to hold a specific shower for work friends and the like, separately from family. Some new moms find themselves having two or three different showers from groups of friends and family.

*Many people feel that a baby shower is for women only. While that was true in the old days, these days we are seeing more and more men, including the father-to-be, attending baby showers and there is nothing faux pas about that at all. More the merrier in our book!

Keep your eye out for part two on more etiquette tips for your next shower!  Coming soon!

************************************************************************************** Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. You learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author’s bio remains intact.Copyrights 2000/2013 **************************************************************************************

The Grandmother Baby Shower Trend

                                                           

When it comes to baby showers we are seeing a big trend of Grandmother's also wanting to get into the action. Let's face it, grand babies tend to spend a lot of time at grandma's house so grandma will need some new baby products too!

When a grandmother wants a baby shower, it would be considered bad etiquette for her to sponsor the shower herself so her friends or family members will need to be the party planners and baby shower hosts. 
 

All grandmother baby showers are kept casual and low-key. They should not be a fancy event where a gazillion people are invited. Keep it small, low-key and simple. It should be hosted in an intimate small setting, decorations kept minimal and gifts should only be necessity items that grandma will need to take care of a new baby. In regards to food, take out or potluck is best. 
 

Grandmothers do not register at local and online stores for baby registries nor do they ask the guests for particular baby gifts. However, there is nothing wrong with letting the guests know that you wish to have newborn items for a boy or a girl (if it is done tactfully).

Have you ever been to a Grandmothers/Grandparents baby shower? How many grandparents do you know that take care of their grand babies full time? This can be a fun idea if it is handled correctly. What do you think?

************************************************************************************** Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. You learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author’s bio remains intact.Copyrights 2000/2013 **************************************************************************************

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Make a Diaper Basket for a Unique Baby Gift

Make a Diaper Basket for a Unique Baby Gift

From Pinky Winks!

Baby showers are always so much fun to attend. You play games, eat cake, and shower the new mom with gifts. Traditional gifts include diapers, wipes, bottles, and clothes to name a few. Everyone gives those types of gifts, but how many moms’ can say they received a unique baby gift?

When you take the time to create a diaper basket you know it’ll be the center of attention and everyone will talk about it for a long time to come. These unique baby gifts are easy and fun to make and they don’t take much time. The reason is because there really isn’t a right or wrong way to make one.

Basically all you need to do is purchase a basket and then items to go in it. These items can be anything from the traditional items to those that some don’t think about like shoes, diaper rash cream, fingernail clippers, a brush, and a baby book.

Make this diaper basket look its best when you place a blanket at the bottom to cover the inside of the basket. Then place the other gifts inside the basket. If the basket is for a girl, you can place hair accessories around the handle of the basket and if it’s a boy you can place toy cars around the edge.

Creating a unique baby gift is a great way to give the new mom exactly what she needs. It’ll be fun to make and she’ll enjoy opening as well.


 Photo by Marlena Belcher
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinky-Winks-Boutique/205522226188182
http://pinkywinks.storenvy.com

More Chocolate Baby Shower Party Favors

Women love chocolate and what a better time to make women happy than at a baby shower.  Here are some delicious easy to make chocolate party flavors that you can make for your mom to be and the guests.  Easy and delicious!

 Chocolate Lollipop Baby Shower Party Favors

• 1 plastic baby themed lollipop mold tray
• 1 pkg. lollipop sticks
• 1 pkg. candy chocolate disks (white, milk chocolate, pink or blue)
• 1 pkg. plastic lollipop storage bags with twist-ties

 Follow the directions on the chocolate candy package to melt the disks in your microwave or on the stove top. Once the chocolate has been melted and is nice & smooth in its consistency you want to quickly pour it into each cavity on your lollipop mold tray. Carefully place your lollipop stick into the melted chocolate. Let the tray sit for 2-3 hours at room temperature to firm up or place them into the refrigerator to speed up the process. Once firm, pop all of your lollipops out of the tray and package them in the lollipop bags.


Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips

You will need to type up the following poem and print it out.  This is great if you are expecting parents are having multiples! You can make up your own little poem or print out some cute baby quotes too.Attach a copy of the poem with some ribbon to each little baggy of chocolate dipped potato chips.

 Poem: Babies are a lot like potato chips...you can never have just one!

• 1 pkg. chocolate candy disks (white, milk chocolate, pink or blue chocolate)
• 1 large bag potato chips
• Small snack-size zipper close baggies
• (optional) sprinkles

 Melt your chocolate according to the package directions in your microwave or on your stove top. Carefully dip just 1/2 of your potato chip into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate run back into your container. Lay dipped potato chips out onto waxed paper or a nonstick silicone baking mat to firm up. Once firm, package them into snack size zipper close baggies and attach your cute poem or baby quote tags.

If desired you can roll the potato chips into pastel colored sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. ENJOY!


************************************************************************************** Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. You learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author’s bio remains intact.Copyrights 2000/2013 **************************************************************************************

Some Etiquette Tips When Planning a Baby Shower

Well, it happened!  Your best friend called and wants you to plan and host her baby shower.  Believe it or not, there are many people that have never been to a baby shower or many it has been years and years since you attended one.  What do I do?  Yikes!  This is part 1 of 2 articles where I share a few etiquette tips for you to help you out.


1. The expectant couple should not host or throw their own baby shower. It is best to have a non-relative plan and host the baby shower, like a close friend or co-worker. If none of those people are available, then a family member can host the baby shower.



2. The majority of baby showers are held during the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy. Holding a baby shower during the 9th month could be tricky, especially if the mom-to-be isn't feeling well or if she delivers her new bundle of joy early. With that said, the baby shower party host could hold a baby shower after the birth of a child and that would be fine but it is best advised to hold it during the 7th or 8th month.



3. Most people feel it's a good idea to consult the mom-to-be on the guest list planning. If it's a surprise baby shower this wouldn't be possible but if the mom-to-be knows about the baby shower it is best to consult her on who to invite. Within some families people don't get along with one another so you don't want to cause any tension or problems among the attendees.



4. Many people feel that a baby shower is for women only. While that was true in the old days, these days we are seeing more and more men (including the father-to-be) attending baby showers and there is nothing faux pas about that at all. More the merrier in our book!


Look for Part 2 on some more etiquette tips so you can feel relaxed when planning and throwing that baby shower!

************************************************************************************** Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. You learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author’s bio remains intact.Copyrights 2000/2013 **************************************************************************************