For a long time, baby showers were an all-female affair. However, co-ed baby showers have gained popularity in recent decades. Before, pregnancy and birth were taboo topics that were only meant to be discussed amongst women. But it has become increasingly acceptable - and expected - for dads to be more involved.
Although baby showers were traditionally a chance for friends and family to provide the mom-to-be with the essentials she needs for her first baby, she may now already have the basics. However, even if it's the mom's second or third baby, a shower can still be held to celebrate the new addition to the family.
Historically, baby showers have been an exclusively female affair. Nowadays, men do go to baby showers and dads-to-be are perfectly welcome to celebrate showers with their partners. Male friends and family members making appearances at baby showers have also become increasingly common.
Most baby showers should be hosted by a sister, mother, mother-in-law, or close friend. Baby showers were traditionally thrown by family members who weren't close with the parents-to-be, to avoid the assumption that close family members wanted to collect gifts for themselves.
It is considered inappropriate for you or your spouse to throw the baby shower. It is considered rude to ask someone to throw you a baby shower. Typically a close friend or one of the grandmas-to-be will throw a baby shower. It is acceptable to have a sister or other family member throw the baby shower.
In fact, it's usually considered perfectly acceptable for a sister, mother-in-law, or even the guest of honor's mother to host or co-host a baby shower. It's still unusual for a mother-to-be to host her own shower, though.
Why is it so important to some women to keep the ritual gender exclusive? For many women, the comfort of other females at her most emotional, insecure and bubblingly maternal is the most soothing. Most showers take place just as the mum-to-be is reaching the peak of her body transformation.
If a mother-to-be is expecting a baby soon (a year or so) after her first, “it's perfectly fine to have a second baby shower,” said Lizzie Post, etiquette expert, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-host of the podcast, Awesome Etiquette.
Is it ok to plan your own baby shower? Absolutely. If you're planning for a more casual baby shower or you love the process of planning a party yourself, it's perfectly acceptable to plan your own baby shower. It's less traditional to take the reins yourself.
How Much Does the Average Baby Shower Cost? An in-person baby shower's average cost can range anywhere between $100-1000, and a virtual shower averages about $20 to $200. Still, it largely depends on the venue, the number of guests in attendance, and what choices you make with things like party favors or prizes.
What is a baby sprinkle or a baby sprinkle shower? A baby sprinkle is a type of baby shower to celebrate a family's second child. Instead of a traditional shower, the gifts are often diapers, wipes and a few outfits since many families who are expecting their second child already have a lot of the gear they'll need.
Etiquette says that a baby shower should be given for the first baby only, and should be given by a non-family member. So, when a second baby comes along and a sprinkle invitation arrives, you might be a little put off at first. The family already has all the baby essentials.
A baby sprinkle is just like a baby shower but scaled down. If mom is on her second, third (or fourth) child, consider throwing her a baby sprinkle instead of a full blown baby shower.
And while a baby shower wasn't necessarily designed to keep men from enjoying the fun, discussing the intimate details of childbirth and postnatal care in front of men was once seen as unbecoming. So to skirt any potentially embarrassing conversations, men were excluded.
A Dadchelor Party, otherwise referred to as a Man Shower or a baby stag, is a party that is similar to a baby shower, but instead of being thrown for the mother-to-be, it is thrown for the father-to-be.
A co-ed baby shower means co-educational, which simply means a baby shower for guys and girls to attend together. There are certainly some positives to having a baby shower with everyone invited—namely, you get to celebrate together!
The typical amount of time for a baby shower to last is about two hours. That gives your guests plenty of time to eat or snack, chat with the mom-to-be, play games (if you're offering games), and watch the mom-to-be open her gifts.
She's also a mom raising two boys and sharing that experience via her writing. Copied! A baby shower corsage is a special tradition to honor the mother-to-be. Traditionally, the shower hostess provides a corsage for the mother-to-be to wear at the event.
What Time of Day Should a Baby Shower Start? Baby showers are usually held in the daytime, starting anywhere from 11 AM to 2 PM, with 1-2 PM being the most common.
Is two months before due date too early for baby shower?
There's no hard and fast rule, but many baby showers happen one or two months before the baby's due date. Throwing the shower sooner is fine, too; maybe there are scheduling constraints or concerns about the baby arriving early, for example.
While good etiquette doesn't prevent you from having a second, third, or fourth shower, you may opt to tweak some of your plans if you've recently had your first baby—especially the gift-giving obligation.
It just makes sense to hold two separate showers then — one for each side of the family. It might feel a bit strange at first, but consider what it means: You have so many people who love and care for you, and who want to celebrate this significant milestone in your life!
As much as guests would love for the mom-to-be to open their gifts, proper etiquette is respecting her wishes and not asking her to open the presents during the shower. Once one gift is opened, a chain reaction will start and everyone will want theirs opened too.
Is it OK to have a baby shower for your third child?
It is now acceptable to have a baby shower for a second or even third child, even if they are the same gender. Every baby can be celebrated and it's a great opportunity to get together with family and friends.
