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Planning Baby Shower for Your Special Baby Showers Party

Are you going to be planning baby shower? If that’s the case, you need to start working on what needs to be done for the Baby Shower Party as quickly as possible. There are plenty of steps to complete if you want to do a great job of Planning Baby Shower, http://www.cards-411.com/baby-shower-party/planning-baby-shower Party. Let the online baby stationery shoppes give you some helpful advice that will get you on the right path for baby shower games and other needs.

Step 1: Location

From these online shoppes’ experience with baby shower planning, they know the most important step is going to be picking the right location for the event. You can’t do much else without knowing where the party baby shower, http://www.cardsshoppe.com/baby-shower-invitations/ will be held. Most of these events are help in the home or in a more private place, perhaps a backyard if the weather is nice. However, if you want to do something larger, you could rent a reception hall or book a party room at a hotel or restaurant. The main idea though is to determine the baby shower budget costs so you will know how many people you’re going to be able to invite at a maximum and how many baby shower supplies and baby shower decorations will be needed.

Step 2: Guest List & Baby Invitations

Here’s where you can really get good advice from the experts. Put together your guest list then go online and have a look at the enormous assortment of Baby Shower Invitations, http://www.express-invitations.com/baby-shower-invitations/ they have available. If you’ve already chosen from among the many baby shower themes, let them know and they’ll help you find the right stationery to match that theme. If you haven’t, then looking around their sites might help inspire you. After all, that theme is going to be crucial if you are the planner baby shower.

Step 3: Refreshments

When you’re planning baby shower, you’ve got to remember that guests want food. Although the stationery shoppes do not supply you with food, they can offer some great suggestions here that might help you decide on a menu. Most of these events involve a cake or cupcakes. You could also serve cookies, pastries, brownies, or any other sweets that might appeal to the guests. Obviously, you’ll need beverages. Coffee and punch are normally enough for a sweets-only party. If you want to add some “real” food, consider purchasing cheese and meat trays, relish trays, or something similar from your local grocery store. Just add the bread and some condiments then you’re all set and will assist you greatly with hosting baby shower.

Step 4: Entertainment

When you are planning baby shower, you can’t just focus on the food and the gifts. Most guests are also going to expect some type of entertainment. One way to entertain your guests is by offering them some great baby shower games to play at Baby Shower Party, http://www.cards-411.com/baby-shower-party/ There are lots of choices available. Here are a few of the favorites: making the most words from just the letters of the parents’ name (or the baby’s proposed name), diapering baby dolls in a team relay event, blindfolded baby food tasting, guessing the number of diaper pins in a jar, or matching children’s movie characters to their parents. Using any of these ideas or your own could be a great start to planning baby shower.

Why Shop Online When Planning Baby Shower?

When you shop online for your baby party shower you will have access to the largest selection of baby stationery and other benefits such as custom baby invites, birth announcements and baby announcements cards.

* Exclusive and Unique Designs Available * View Your Personalized Baby Shower Invitations BEFORE You Buy with patented Instant Preview Features * Proof Emailed to You within ONE Hour, and You Can Make Unlimited Changes at No Additional Cost * Free 10 Cards and Free Shipping * Print and Ship Your Order the SAME DAY it is Approved * Personalize Your Invitations Baby Shower and Announcements by Adding a Photo, Picture or Logo to Any Card on Their Site * Customize Your Stationery – Most sites Will Modify Any Card Design or Color As Requested * They Will Create a Special Design Just For You

Hosting a surprise baby shower is a fun exercise in empathy. You need to put yourself in the shoes of the expectant mother – her feelings, her personality, her character, and her schedule. You also need to make it a fun experience for her; if there are tears, they should be tears of joy.

Pre-Baby Shower Preparations

Carefully plan the baby shower. Since this is usually given on the third trimester, you should have plenty of time for party planning. Prepare a checklist of the things you need to do, and procure including an initial list of baby shower gifts you need your attendees to bring.

Decide on the party theme, number and gender of invitees, and the date and venue. Decide if you want the party to be a surprise or not; you want a pleasant surprise for the honoree, not unpleasant shock. Prepare the guest list, which should include everyone close to the expectant mother.

If the expectant mother is registered for gifts, inform the guests should they inquire. Just like the wedding, send the invitations at least three weeks before the party. Prepare the menu to reflect the theme; you can prepare the food, order takeout, or engage a caterer. Make sure that the food is prepared and delivered as agreed.

If possible, prepare the venue a day before the party. Harried preparations have a way of ruining what could have been a great baby shower. If possible, rehearse the flow of activities to ensure smooth transition.

You also need to coordinate the attendees’ baby shower gifts. You need to ensure that there will be no unnecessary duplication of gifts. A diaper cake is a great gift – attractive and usable – but discovering that almost all the guests brought diaper cakes and nothing else is impractical.

During the Baby Shower

Make sure that the party activities are followed as closely as possible. However, remain flexible as baby showers are meant to be relaxed fun, not a military drill. Just ensure that the food is served satisfactorily, the guests and honorees are comfortable, and everybody is having fun.

Keep track of the baby shower gifts being opened. Sometimes, guests will bring extra gifts aside from the coordinated baby shower gifts. This is perfectly acceptable and the expectant mother will appreciate these extra blessings. Keeping track of these baby gifts will help you and the mother write appropriate thank-you notes.

After the Baby Shower

When the baby shower is finished, expect a lot of discarded gift wrappings, take-home gift baskets and diaper cakes and an assortment of baby equipment from bathtubs to cribs. These baby shower gifts must be organized and brought home, assuming that the venue is outside the expectant mother’s house.

Help in making the venue as tidy as possible. You want your honoree to feel relaxed from start to end of the baby shower, not act as the cleaning maid.

Assist the expectant mother in making thank-you notes to the guests for their participation and their gifts. Your tracking list should guide you in thanking the guests for the specific items they brought. Avoid social faux pas due to negligence.

When you host a baby shower, just remember that you are celebrating motherhood and a new life. Make the baby shower a celebration filled with good cheer and a joyful gathering of family and good friends.

When we think of a baby gift basket being presented, we think of the baby shower. Certainly the baby shower is one of the first gift-giving opportunities for the new parents, but baby gift baskets can be given and are more than appropriate for the many other gift giving occasions that are in store for the new little one.

Just to make it comprehensive, let’s start with the baby shower. Most of the time, this is a first child for the couple and they need practically everything. The expense of a new baby after it arrives can be daunting, especially if the parents need to add items such as baby formula, baby food and diapers to their weekly shopping list. Along with all of the weekly supplies, there are regular doctor visits that need to be afforded and other incidentals that the baby will need. The baby shower is a perfect opportunity to help lessen the burden financially so the parents can concentrate on enjoying every minute with their precious new bundle of joy.

Use the baby shower to give a baby gift basket of items that they will definitely need. Sure, it may be more fun to buy that 6 foot tall giant stuffed panda bear, but what are they going to use it for? More than likely, it will become a new sleeping place for the family pet. The baby shower is an opportunity to ease the overwhelming sense of responsibility and stress that the parents may be beginning to feel as the day of their baby’s arrival looms closer and closer.

Gift baskets, such as traditional layettes or an assortment of one-piece undershirts or even a crafty display of diapers will be most appreciated. If you are especially talented, present the new parents to be with an array of hand made baby items. Hand sewn baby quilts, crocheted or knitted booties and receiving blankets and little toys are not only practical, but because they are hand made, they could become family heirlooms that get passed down to grandchildren. If it is appropriate, this is also a wonderful opportunity to give a hand made baptismal or christening set of a gown, booties, cap and blanket.

Just because the baby shower has passed doesn’t mean that the opportunities for giving baby gift baskets has passed with it. Once the baby arrives is a wonderful excuse to come bearing a gift. Now that the baby’s gender is known, if it wasn’t before, and he or she has a name and is becoming his or her own personality makes putting together a gift even more fun. Now is the time when you can personalize your gift giving and your gift basket can reflect the new child that is actually here.

Now that the baby has arrived, there are still plenty of times that a gift basket can say just the right thing. If the baby is going to be christened, that could be a wonderful time for a small gift basket of Bible story board books, religious jewelry or keepsakes. You could also include a small photo album for the parents to put all of the photographs from the day.

Still the opportunities to give baby gift baskets are upcoming. Throughout the coming year, the baby will be experiencing all kinds of firsts. Every holiday that arrives will be a magical one for the new family. It is always joyful when you can share in these marvelous times with them.

Imagine the possibilities of creating a gift basket for baby’s first Christmas. You could include items such as a tree ornament that represents something that is special to the baby. Or a small nativity set or a Santa’s village that is made of larger soft-sided components. If the baby’s first Christmas is a few months after their birth, this would then be a good time to purchase warmer sleepers for them in their larger size. If the baby is eating solid food now, a gift basket of baby foods, cereals, snacks and formula would really help the parents out especially at this Christmas time. This could also be the perfect opportunity to begin the baby’s movie collection by starting with some of the Christmas classics like Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Another big holiday for the new baby is Easter time. What a more perfect opportunity to give a gift basket than at Easter. Depending on the child’s age when he or she celebrates their first Easter, you could give appropriate snacks, toys or stuffed animals. This may also be a good time to buy a new spring outfit for them or new shoes. Don’t limit your imagination. Find a beautiful Easter basket that the child could use every year and fill it with everything you can imagine a child of that age appreciating.

Two other holidays that you may not necessarily consider giving a gift basket on are Halloween and Independence Day. These are two holidays where you could really come up with a gift basket that is very unique and special. Again, always shop for items with the baby’s current age in mind and have fun. For Halloween, you could include a small costume or stuffed animal. And of course, don’t forget to add some “treats” that the baby could enjoy. Pop them all in a plastic pumpkin bucket and you are all set. Independence Day gift baskets for the baby could include red, white and blue toys and stuffed animals and some safe celebration toys that do not have any small parts on them like a kazoo or small drum or trumpet. If the child is old enough, he or she will love to add their own noise to the celebration.

And finally, we come to the day of celebration that is all their own, their first birthday. By this time, many babies are crawling and some are even walking. A gift basket at this time could include a small scooter and walker combination that allows the child to push the vehicle or ride it. Many of these are in the shape of small cars, bikes, trains and trucks and have a compartment on them that opens up. Fill this compartment with other items that a one year old would love.

Little ones love to push items like small cars and many are just beginning to experiment with crayons and scribbling. You can find special markers and pad sets that only write if the special marker is used on the special paper. The parents will especially appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Another great gift is a child-safe soft padded plastic mini photo book. These albums usually hold about eight photographs and are equipped with a handle so the toddler can carry it around. Inside it holds pictures of the people who are special to baby, so he or she can open it up any time and see the faces of those they love. This is a wonderful gift especially if the baby has grandparents that live too far away to visit on a regular basis.

As you can see, the life of a new baby is basically one gift-giving experience after another. Use as many opportunities as you can to give the little one a unique gift basket and fill the child’s first year with lots of mementos and small presents. After all of this, if you weren’t a member of the family already, you will be now.

Surprise Baby Shower – Surprise baby showers can be fun if they are the Mommy-to-Be typically enjoys such events (All About Baby Showers). If you are thinking of hosting a surprise baby shower, you must have the help of those close to the Mommy-to-Be to determine her needs and wants for the baby. The guest list will also need to be planned very carefully, checking it with a close relative or friend to ensure you haven’t left anyone out close to the Mommy-to-Be. Although the surprise baby shower is not traditional, sometimes it is nice for a second baby shower (if the Mommy-to-Be is going to have a second) to throw a surprise baby shower.

Keep in mind that surprise baby showers can be stressful for the Mommy-to-Be as well as the planners, since you need to en sure you invite the right people without asking, and pick an available time when the Mommy-to-Be and family will be around. Usually surprise baby shower is not the first baby shower, but if there are going to be multiple showers then this can be fun! No matter whether the baby shower is a surprise or not, keep in mind that it is for the mom!

A non-surprise baby shower is a safer bet, since it gives you a chance to review the guest list with the Mommy-to-Be and also allows the Mommy-to-Be to register for gifts and let the host know if there is anything particular needed for the baby. Regardless of whether the baby shower is a surprise or not, remember it is for the Mommy-to-Be! Make sure she has a comfy chair to sit in, someone to hand her gifts, her favorite food and plenty of help getting the gifts to her car and into her home. It’s her special day!

Couples Baby Shower – Baby showers have always tended to be for women, with women and about women, but times are changing. Fathers are now taking a more active role in planning for the new baby and might feel left out in the baby shower party celebrations. If you are considering a Couples Baby Shower Invitations the big consideration is to make the men feel welcome and comfortable.

You should limit the cutesy baby shower decorations for the couples baby shower, and the food shouldn’t be all dainty either. You might consider a BBQ, giant sub sandwiches, pizza or a deli style buffet. Since you are all there to have a good time, structure is much less important. You will want to have nametags with the relationship to the parents-to-be if you are mixing people who know each other with those who don’t, and make sure you have a large, special name tag for the Mommy-to-Be.

There are also appropriate gifts for the Daddy-to-Be like a “coach” t-shirt, so don’t forget about him. Baby Shower favors can be given, but give something that would be appreciated by the couple, like candles and food items which are always a good choice. Other ideas are to make cookies with baby themed cookie cutters, then frost them with the baby’s name (if known) or a question mark and the couple’s last name. You could wrap the cookies in cellophane and put them next to a cute baking favor like the baby shower rolling pin recipe cardholder. You could even put a recipe for the cookies behind the card that’s included with the favor! (What man does not love cookies!)

Couples baby shower games should be funny and easy for all guests. You can take the couples first names and determine how many baby names can be derived from the letters. A prize can be given for the funniest name and the most names devised. Always a great game is to fill baby bottles with a favorite beverage and see who can empty the bottle first. Have all of the couple baby shower guests bring their baby pictures, number them and see who can guess the most correctly.

The couples baby shower prizes should be something silly, like Nerf basketball sets or Frisbees. Don’t forget to take plenty of pictures and put someone in charge of videotaping so that the pictures and video tapes can be given to the new parents. Couples baby showers can be a great way to combine a baby shower celebration and an evening out with friends. When sending the couples baby shower invitations, be sure and indicate that it is a baby shower for couples.

Baby Showers for the second . . . or More child – Although baby showers have traditionally been for first time parents, it is becoming more common for family, friends or co-workers to have a baby shower for the second child, third child or beyond. It’s wonderful to hold babyshowers for second and third babies, since they deserve special recognition too! Parents will appreciate new clothes for the baby, particularly if they are having a different gender child from their other children.

Baby shower gifts of time are also very welcome! New moms will appreciate your assistance with household chores, a gift of babysitting or some home-cooked meals brought to her house. It’s also a great idea to give something to the parents for themselves, like tickets to a movie, a gift certificate for dinner at a restaurant or items mom can use to pamper herself, like body lotion, candles, pretty soaps or maybe even a good book of short stories. When planning these type baby showers, the safest route to take is to ask the expectant parents what items they have and what they need. When sending the Baby Shower Invitations be sure and indicate that it is a second, third, fourth child babyshower.

Baby Showers for Single Moms – Baby Showers for single moms are perfectly acceptable and always a good idea. Single moms will need extra support, and a baby shower will allow her family friends to show their support. Here, gifts of your time and energy will be ideal and appreciated.

Welcome Home Baby Shower – A welcome home baby shower is an “after the fact” baby shower of the little one being born! This baby shower is not your traditional party or baby shower, but a great way for people who could not attend the baby shower to join in the fun. The biggest drawback to a welcome home baby shower is that the new parents are usually overwhelmed with the new baby and usually want some time alone.

The welcome home baby showers are mostly held a month or two after the baby is born to give the parents time to adjust. The nice thing about welcome home baby showers is that the Mommy-to-Be can tell her host and guests what she still needs for the baby, so it is a great way for her to get all the essentials she still does not have for the new baby. When you send custom welcome home baby shower invitations, be sure to indicate that it is a welcome home baby shower. And don’t forget your matching welcome home baby shower thank you cards with the same theme as your welcome home baby shower cards.

You can view lot of printable Baby Shower Announcements, popular Baby Shower Invitations and printed Baby Shower Cards, add your personal message, along with your favorite fonts, ink color and then Preview your personalized baby card. This process allows you to see your baby card before you buy!

Couples Baby Shower for Coed Baby Shower Party

Once upon a time, baby showers were meant only for women. If you look at the origin history baby shower, you’ll find that they started mainly as a way to keep the new mother occupied while she was in seclusion with her newborn for months. Mothers everywhere are probably thankful that’s no longer the case, and many also welcome the switch to Coed Baby Showers and Couples Baby Shower, http://www.cards-411.com/type-baby-shower/couples-baby-shower. Of course changing the guest list might also mean making some changes in personalized invitations baby shower, http://www.cardsshoppe.com/baby-shower-invitations/ and other party factors.

The Guest List for the Baby Couples Shower

Obviously, one of the main changes when you decide on a baby co-ed shower is who is going to receive the baby shower invitation to the Couples Baby Shower. When the purpose baby shower was mainly an event for moms, the guest list consisted primarily of female family members and friends of the mom-to-be. Now the guest list can be broadened to include friends and family of both sexes. Be aware that the change might result in a bigger shower than you might have been prepared to manage. On the bright side, the couple will probably score a lot more great gifts.

Activities for the Baby Couples Shower

Because of the varied guest list, you might want to make a few other changes. For example, now a friend or family member of either gender can now be chosen to host the shower. There may not be many guys out there who want to send out couples shower invitations, http://www.express-invitations.com/baby-shower-invitations/ but at least now those that want to can if they so choose. It’s a good change, too, since some couples have an abundance of male friends and few female friends who could be the host.

However, an even bigger consequence could be the activities chosen for the event. A big mistake in baby showers couples is making the men feel like they are just tagging along with the women or that they are invading a women-only activity. For starters, ask a guy for helping planning the baby coed shower games. One game both sexes can enjoy is a trivia contest about the couple with questions about both the mom and the dad. For example, “What food has Anne been craving the most?” or “What name has Keith picked out for the baby if it’s a boy?” All of the questions should be asked by the host/hostess and the person with the most correct answers is the winner.

If you’re looking for couples baby shower ideas, just remember you don’t want to divide the genders. When you are hosting a baby couples shower, you want both sexes to participate together. That doesn’t mean having a television playing ESPN in one room while all of the women exchange childbirth horror stories in the other part of the house. Remember those Couples Baby Shower invitations are going to both genders so plan accordingly.

Of course, if you’re having trouble planning your baby shower couples go to the expecting parents for advice. Not only do they know their friends and family members better than anyone else but it’s their party for better or for worse.

Other type baby shower

If you are considering special Type Baby Shower, http://www.cards-411.com/type-baby-shower/ you could consider surprise baby shower, twin baby shower, welcome home baby shower or sprinkle baby shower. Each shower type has its advantages and benefits to ensure you party in perfect!

Where should you have the baby shower? The answer depends on several factors! Traditionally, baby showers are held at a home, word, restaurant, or church / temple. Baby showers nowadays are held at parks, country clubs, bars, restaurants and any place where people can gather, All About Baby Showers , the preferred choice for the baby shower place is the warmth of some friend’s house since it is more comfortable, quaint and homey.

For the second or third baby shower, a restaurant with a private room, bar or church / temple are great places to host the baby showers. Cost is an important consideration since someone will have to pay for the baby shower costs. The weather time of day and are also important considerations when deciding where the baby showers should be held.

You should ensure that the baby shower location is large enough to accommodate your guest list. Regardless of whether you host the baby shower, http://www.cards-411.com/display.php?page_name=All_About_Baby_Showers at a home, restaurant, hotel or rented space, make sure everything is planned and it will be an excellent shower! Hosting the baby shower at home will save a considerable amount of your budget. However, you will still need to spend money on plates, cups, napkins, eating utensils and possibly table rentals.

If the baby shower will be at a restaurant, you should start looking for locations early. You should visit potential locations to make sure it will accommodate your party, works with your baby shower theme and serves food that the Mommy-to-Be and your guests will enjoy. You should ensure that the location you choose will match your baby shower theme and will allow you to decorate for that theme.

Baby Shower Party at Home – The most popular place to have baby showers is in someone’s home since homes are warm and cozy, and usually you don’t have to worry about making too much noise. But, homes are often too small for a large number of guests. One of the first things decisions when planning baby showers is how many people the home can comfortably accommodate. The furniture should be moved so the baby shower guests can sit in an arrangement that will allow for pleasant conversation.

There are many types of baby showers for the home you can plan. Home baby showers are likely to be attended by guests of all ages, so you will want to keep the baby shower party fun for everyone. Some baby shower ideas that may be fun for younger guests might not be appropriate for older ones. A cute home baby shower favor idea is to make cookies, frost them with the Mom’s name, wrap them and put them next to a cute baking favor like the baby shower rolling pin recipe card holder. You could even put a recipe for the cookies behind the recipe card that’s included with the baby shower favor!

Baby Shower Party at Restaurant – A restaurant or banquet hall provides lots of space baby showers in an elegant atmosphere. The restaurant does the food preparation, clean up and other tasks, so your work is minimized. The biggest challenge to having the baby shower at a restaurant is to make the guests feel welcome and to create a comfortable atmosphere for conversation and sharing.

You should select a restaurant convenient to most of your guests and Mommy-to-Be. Plan the baby shower far enough in advance so that you can make the reservations. It will be difficult at that time to estimate the number of guests attending the baby shower, but you can check with many guests before mailing the baby shower invitations, so that you can give the restaurant your best guess. Always try the food yourself, BEFORE selecting the menu for the baby shower.

You should be aware of your guests’ dietary needs, and you might want to share the menu in advance or ask if anyone has any special dietary restrictions. Arrange for the restaurant has an alternative available if a guest can’t eat the foods that have been chosen. If any guest rejects the meal, the server should be instructed to ask the guest if she would prefer an alternative. Always check with the restaurant beforehand if you are bringing your own cake.

If you are hosting a large group for the baby shower, you might consider using baby shower place cards. It is also a nice little extra to have name tags for each guest indicating their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be, and don’t forget a name tag for the guest of honor. Baby shower decorations add a warm touch, but keep them simple. A cluster of helium baby shower balloons and a baby shower banner over the gift table add a festive touch. Don’t forget to give the guests a cute baby shower favor.

Baby shower games are sometimes not appropriate at a restaurant, but if the restaurant is casual and you have a private area, a simple baby shower game might be considered. Be mindful of your allotted time at the restaurant so that all of the baby shower gifts can be opened comfortably without being rushed. As the guests leave, it’s an added feature to have someone photograph the Mommy-to-Be with each departing baby shower guest. Have duplicate prints made and let the Mommy-to-Be include one in each of her baby shower thank you cards. It’s a thoughtful baby shower gift for both the guest and Mommy-to-Be.

Baby Shower Party at the Office or Work – When planning baby showers, one of the first decisions to be made is where to have the party. If it will be held at work, check with the human resources department to be certain there will be no conflict and verify that an appropriate area will be available. Deciding whom to send office baby shower invitations to might be difficult in a large business, because some people may feel left out. Ask the Mommy-to-Be for advice and suggestions.

One person should act as the host or hostess and delegate other tasks. The immediate co-workers normally pay the direct costs for the baby shower. Baby shower decorations and baby shower party supplies should be easily disposable. A cluster of baby shower balloons and a personalized baby shower banner would be appropriate. You should decide in advance if lunch will be part of the program or only desert. You will need to decide on something easy like pizza, while some office baby shower parties decide to make it a potluck.

An office baby shower party usually allows very little time for baby shower games, but the lottery style scratch off game cards are perfect for these type of baby showers. Ask each person to write down her suggestions for keeping the new baby happy. These suggestions can be funny or serious, and should be read just before the Mommy-to-Be opens the baby shower gifts. Ask someone to take pictures and get doubles printed so the Mommy-to-Be can have one set and the others can be posted and shared with all.

If the baby shower party is being held during working hours, time could be a factor. The hostess should keep everyone and the baby shower on schedule. A clean up committee should be appointed in advance and should be responsible for returning the room to its original appearance. Have fun, but remember, it is still an office environment. And, above all, don’t forget to send personalized baby shower thank you cards.

You can view lot of printable Baby Shower Announcements, Baby Shower Invitations and Baby Shower Cards, add your personal message, along with your favorite fonts, ink color and then Preview your personalized baby card. This process allows you to see your baby card before you buy!

Hosting a baby shower for a favorite female in your life is one of the best gifts that anyone can give to a mom-to-be. Bringing friends and family of the expecting parents together to celebrate the upcoming event while “showering” gifts upon the pregnant one, assembling fine eats and beverages for all to enjoy, and adorning the party room with decorations is a task worthy of it’s own party- and it all begins with the best baby shower invitations.

The days of pre-packaged baby shower invitations that require the necessary information be filled-in by hand are gone, as the latest rage is having your baby shower invitations printed by a professional company. By offering unique designs, eye-catching fonts and colorful graphics (as well as the more classic styles), printing companies can create an invitation that’s as original as your guest of honor and her upcoming new arrival!

“Jack and Jill” baby showers in which couples are invited to attend are growing in popularity, as more and more dads-in-training want to be a part of baby activities, and want their friends to be there, too. An introductory title containing the term “Jack and Jill”, or a simple tag line at the bottom (like “Couples Welcome!”) will get your point across nicely.

Be sure to order a few extra invitations as keepsakes for the new mom, anyone involved with the planning, and yourself. This significant keepsake will make a great page in your scrapbook.

When to Order Baby Shower Invitations- A baby shower is typically held 1 to 2 months before the baby’s due date, and the invitations should go out in the mail about three weeks before the party date to give guests enough time to make the necessary arrangements to attend. Leave yourself a week to address the envelopes and another 10 days for your order to be processed, shipped and arrive at your home. Ordering the invitations about 6 weeks before the shower date allows you plenty of time to coordinate the event.

Other Tips for Hosting the Best Baby Shower- The best baby showers are the ones in which guests leave with a smile on their face. A few games and interesting activities that can serve as insight for the soon to be mom are usually a lot of fun for everyone. Have shower guests write some helpful guidance in an “Advice Book”, a guest book-type of souvenir for the guest of honor that will be filled with information for surviving parenthood. “Name that Baby Food!” is a favorite game, where all guests are blindfolded and given a sample of the tasteless, jarred food and have to guess what it is. Don’t forget to pass out baby shower favors as a thank-you and keepsake for this festive day.

Types of Baby Showers

After you decide to host a baby shower, one of the first decisions will be the type baby shower you want to give. However, this decision is made somewhat easier based on the purpose of the baby shower. For instance, if it is for new parents adopting an infant, baby or older child, the decision is obvious. Or, if you wanted to invite the guys, then you would want to have a co-ed or couples baby shower. A surprise baby shower might be held when you want to throw the party and surprise the new Mom-to-Be. Other types include sprinkle baby shower, multiple triples and twins baby shower, single mom baby shower and welcome home baby shower. The personalized baby shower invitations you send will depend on the type baby shower you are throwing. Read More About Types of Baby Showers.

Adoption Baby Showers

Adopting a baby is an exciting time in a couple’s life. Whether the new parents are adopting an infant, baby or older child, an adoption baby shower is a great way to introduce the addition to the family. The new parents will still need the basic necessities that any baby or child requires. When planning for an adoption baby shower, ask the new parents what they will need for the baby or child. Since adoptions can bring a certain amount of uncertainty until the baby arrives home with the adoptive parents, it may be best to wait to hold the baby shower until the parents bring their new addition home. Read More About Adoption Baby Showers.

After the new parents have identified some needed items, the personalized adoption baby shower invitations can be sent. These adoption baby shower cards should provide clear communication to the invited guests that it is an adoption baby shower. Given that it is an adoption, every effort should be made to not differentiate a child through adoption versus natural means. Of course identifying on the adoption baby shower invitations that it is an adoption baby shower will help guests know; however, the types of gifts and advice given will not be any different.

Co-ed Baby Showers for the Guys and Girls

Hosting a co-ed baby shower will definitely be a different celebration than a traditional baby shower. Since this will be a co-ed baby shower, you should remember the different types of guests that will be attending when determining the various aspects of the co-ed baby shower, such as the food and activities. Read More About Co-ed Baby Showers for Guys and Girls.

Since it will be a co-ed shower, decorating with less frilly colors, such as pink, (yes, even if it is a girl) will be more guy-friendly. Be sure to include where the expectant parents are registered in the personalized co-ed baby shower invitations cards. There are lots of unique baby shower invitations wordings, verses and sayings for co-ed baby showers invitations on many websites. Having a menu that will appeal to both men and women will be important. Plus if children are invited to attend then serving enticing kid-type food for them will be important.

Couples Baby Showers for the Dad-to-Be and Mom-to-Be and Their Friends

Baby showers were traditionally for the Mom-to-Be. However, times have definitely changed. With fathers taking a more active role in their family, particularly when it comes to planning for their new baby’s arrival, Dads-to-Be have felt left out of the baby shower party celebrations. Thus having a couples baby shower has become more a normal occurrence rather than the exception. The imprinted couples baby shower invitations should clearly indicate that the baby shower is a couples baby shower. Read More About Couples Baby Showers for the Expecting Parents.

The unique couples baby shower invitations should appeal to both the men and women, which will help to bring the men so that the father-to-be will not be the only guy at the baby party. At traditional baby showers, the Mom-to-Be is given something for her, not just the baby. When hosting a couples baby shower, ensure that there is a little something just for the Dad-to-Be, such as a ‘coach’ t-shirt, etc. Baby shower favors can also be given out the guests, but the items should be something that would be appreciated by the couple, such as candles or food items.

When sending affordable couples baby shower invitations, be sure and inform the invited guests that it is for couples – the father-to-be does not want to be the only guy there. Since the Mom-to-Be will need to send baby shower thank you cards after the baby shower, it is a good idea order the baby shower thank you cards at the time the couples baby shower invitations are ordered so they will have the same baby shower theme. There are websites that have sample couples baby shower invitations sayings, verses and wording ideas.

Single Mom Baby Showers

Planning single mom baby showers have lots of possibilities, particularly for selecting a theme for the shower. When choosing a baby theme, ensure that it reflects the expectant mom’s personality. With a single mom baby shower, it is important to remember that she may have some needs that a couple would not need, such as extra help financially or added support from a friend. When planning the shower, get the list of guests who the Mom-to-Be would like to see at the baby shower. The single mom baby shower invitations should definitely reflect the theme that has been chosen.

By offering time or purchasing a gift that will help her with daily tasks is always a good option. Of course, a gift certificate for a massage is always good. Taking pictures of mom and baby together would be something that a single mom would not necessarily think about and is a nice treat. Whatever the theme of the baby shower, the single mom baby shower invitations will set the stage for what the expectant mother will need for her baby.

Sprinkle Baby Showers for the Second, Third, Fourth & Additional Baby

The sprinkle baby shower is usually a smaller scale shower where the guests “sprinkle” the new mom with the little necessities the new baby will need. It is not the same as the traditional shower, but rather sort of like a sprinkling of gifts for the new baby. This clever term has been gaining popularity over the years and is becoming a new trend. A sprinkle baby shower is a great idea for parents-to-be who have other children. Read More About Sprinkle Baby Showers for the Second, Third, Fourth & Additional Baby.

The sprinkle baby shower invitations should indicate that it is a sprinkle baby shower. When planning the sprinkle baby shower, the sprinkle baby shower invitations cards can be fun and theme-oriented, such as a theme around what the needs might be. Regardless of what the sprinkle baby shower is called, ensure that the sprinkle baby shower announcements cards announce the type of celebration that will be held for the parents-to-be for the new life. There are lots of sample sprinkle baby shower invitations wording ideas, wording verses and sayings to help you get your personalized sprinkle baby shower invitations just right.

Surprise Baby Showers for the New Mom-to-Be

Planning a surprise baby shower can be a lot of fun provided that the Mom-to-Be is ‘game’ for surprises. To pull off the surprise baby shower, the hostess will need to enlist the help of others, such as the guest list, ensuring no one who should be invited is omitted, and getting someone to bring the Mom-to-Be to the baby shower party. It is important to remember to include in the personalized surprise baby shower invitations that it is a surprise baby shower. Read More About Surprise Baby Showers.

The invitations for surprise baby shower should indicate that the shower is a surprise. Next, pulling off the surprise will take more than just one person to ensure the secret is kept. The personalized surprise baby shower invitations should clearly state that it is a “surprise baby shower”, so no one will let the ‘cat out of the bag’ before the day of the surprise shower party.

When ordering the custom surprise baby shower announcements, be sure and order the matching baby shower thank you cards for the new Mom-to-Be. There are a few websites with excellent sample baby shower invitations wording ideas, verses and saying for baby invitations and baby thank you cards.

Twins, Triplets & Multiple Baby Showers

Twins, triplets and multiple baby showers are even more exciting and sometimes more stressful to plan than a traditional baby shower. And, you are just the friend or family helping to plan the shower, imagine how Mom and Dad must be feeling Read More About Twins, Triplets and Multiples Baby Showers.

Additionally, whether preparing twins baby shower invitations or triplets baby shower cards, the hostess should include in the shower invitations to all the invited guests of how many expected babies there are. Another thing to include on the twin baby shower invitations is whether the Mom-to-Be would prefer having non-matching outfits. This may be hard to communicate, but it is an important item to find out from her, particularly if the babies are the same gender or identical twins, triplets or multiples.

When purchasing baby shower gifts for multiple babies, it is not necessary to purchase multiples sets of everything. There are plenty of things that can be shared between the babies. Of course, having multiple babies will increase the cost of diapers, wipes, etc. that much more, so those types of gifts are always appreciated. But giving something fun is a nice idea too. Mothers of twins, triplets and multiples will usually forgo the fun, cute items for more practical, everyday items, such as books on rearing twins, triplets or multiple babies. Don’t forget about dad—with so many fathers playing larger roles in their children’s lives, inviting other men might be worthwhile and fun.

Welcome Home Baby Showers for After the Birth of Baby and New Mom and Baby are Home

A welcome home baby shower is a shower that is held after the baby has been born. While this may not be a traditional way of celebrating the impending birth of a child, this is definitely a great way for people to get together who might not have been able to make it to the baby showers given before the baby is born. This is also a fun time for the new parents to introduce the newest member of their family and friends. Read More About Welcome Home Baby Showers.

When planning the welcome home baby shower, sending the personalized welcome home baby shower invitations should be done within four weeks before the date of the welcome home baby shower party. Planning a welcome home baby shower will be a lot simpler than a traditional baby shower as the party will be a lot more relaxed. When planning, don’t forget the welcome home baby shower announcements and matching baby shower thank you cards as this will set the stage for a great party. Also ask the new parents of their preferences for food, date and time of day, as they now have a little one to cater.