I am throwing a baby shower for my husbands niece.....?

Question

I am throwing a baby shower for my husbands niece and would like some ideas. We live in the south and it is not going to be fancy but nice. Am I supposed to buy a corsage for the mother to be? Are we supposed to play games and give out party favors like some of the websites I have looked at? I already have my theme picked out and sent out the invites. Any ideas? Thanks! Oh, she is having a boy.

Answer 1

There is no "supposed to".  Plan a party you think your neice will enjoy.  If you think she'd rather not have the games, then skip them.  If you think she'd like them, then go for it.

Usually, small favors are given at baby showers- no need to break the bank, though.  Small picture frames, a blue votive candel in a holder-nothing over the top needed! Maybe something related to the theme...

Remember-this is a party, it should be enjoyable.  Don't get so cought up in making it look like Martha Stewart helped you that you forget the FUN part.

Answer 2

1.  Who, What, and Where  

We all know the what (it's a baby shower!) but do we know all the rest.  Planning a baby shower is centered on three important elements, and they should be decided upon before you start planning anything else.  These include deciding who will be hosting the party; whether it will be hosted by an individual or if it will be co-hosted by two or more people, what special considerations do you need to take into account; will you need dad there, are you having it after baby arrives, and where will you be hosting it; at a restaurant or in your home.  After all of these questions have been answered, it is time to start planning everything else.  To read more on the Who, What, and Where, click here.

2.  All the Little Things  

They may not seem like little things when you actually sit down and start going through them, but they can often be lost in the flurry of activity surrounding the planning of a baby shower.  Things like setting up the perfect date and time that will accommodate all of the important guests like the expecting mother, her parents, siblings and parents-in-law.  It is surprising how that trivial thing like a date and time can throw so much stress into the planning process.  After that, you need to figure out what type of budget you have and how you are going to stretch the budget or not stretch it if you are lucky enough.  Lastly, you want to plan out the timeline, not only for what will be happening at the party but also what you will need to do in the weeks leading up to the baby shower.   Once you have all of these little things sketched out, started and decided upon, it’s time to figure out theme.  For a more in-depth look at the little things, please click here.

3.  Planning the Theme  

I just love a well thought out theme, and I’m no exception.  There is nothing more enjoyable than arriving to a house filled with soft green balloons, hints of lavender and the occasional parasol accessorized drink circulating around the room.  Themes can add so much dimension to a baby shower, and you can do just about anything from the color pink to the season in which baby will be arriving.  There really is no wrong way to plan a theme so it comes down to knowing what the expecting mother would like.  If she isn’t one for themes, no worries, just throw the theme away and have an eclectic party (rainbow colors anyone?).  One word of caution: a theme can be overdone to the point where it stops looking sweet, breathtaking or simple, and becomes a gaudy entity of its own.  To learn the finer points of planning and bringing a theme together, follow the many links to inspiration.

4.  The Guest List  

Before you dare to click here, have a nice bottle of aspirin handy and keep it close at hand until all the guest lists have been checked several times and those invitations have been sent out.  This can be the Achilles heel of a baby shower and if you could do a baby shower without guests, I would suggest it.  Unfortunately, it can’t be done so stop avoiding it and let’s get down to business.  When you are drafting your guest list, you are going to have to figure out who should come, who is in the proverbial dog house and if you will need to throw a secondary baby shower.  Also decide if it is a “girl’s only” engagement or if you will be inviting everyone.  Creating a guest list can be a daunting task but the best advice that can be offered is to plan out the guest list with a family member that knows all the dirty secrets and long standing grudges, ask the grandmothers about who they would like invited, and ask the expecting father to lend a hand or a word of advice. Click here to learn more about guest list planning.

5.  Let's make it a Party  

Now that the important steps have been taken care of, it’s time to start having a little fun.  Nothing beats shopping and this can be said about purchasing the decorations and invitations that you are using.  These can range from simple yet elegant to the extravagant but remember both your theme and your budget while you are spending.  And what party is complete without the games!  That’s where planning can bring laughter to your lips instead of stress lines to your forehead.  So don’t forget, you want games, decorations and invitations - click here to learn more.

6.  Creating the Perfect Menu  

Not every party is going to serve Lobster Bisque, but every party will need to have some type of food for the guests.  Creating a menu can be difficult, but it can be very simple if you take into consideration how much you have to spend, what time of day the baby shower is at, and also if you will be preparing the meal yourself or having it catered.  Don’t feel like you have to serve a meal since finger foods can provide a filling alternative and make the atmosphere less formal. Having a potluck baby shower is another way to offset the costs of hosting a shower and also ensures that there is something there for everyone.  Don’t forget to mention it on the invitations if you are having a pot luck and always remember that there is no such thing as too many desserts. Learn more here.

7.  It's all about the Bling  

Now who goes to a baby shower for the baby, not many because secretly everyone is going for the bling, whether it’s the bling they bring or the bling they receive. Ok, maybe we are exaggerating just a little bit here but party favors, prizes and gift bags will take a well-planned baby shower from being centered on just the mom to being fun for everyone. Finding the right party favors, prizes and gift bags can be a challenge but don’t feel that you need to conform to traditional accessories.  Spice them up, make them practical or make them personal and you will have your guests competing for those cherished prizes to get the party going.   For more advice on picking out the party favors, determining how many to purchase and where to go to find them, click here.

8.  The Wrap Up  

We like to say that it all ends the moment the guests leave and in a perfect world, it would.  As many of us know, we don’t live in a perfect world and there will be things to consider as you finish up a baby shower.  Things like how you will end the party, when you will give out gift bags, how your expecting mom is going to get her presents home, and when you will have to politely ask the stragglers to leave, should be taken into consideration before the party.  Also, figuring out who will help with clean up, what you will do with lost items that have been found and where the leftovers are going should be planned ahead of time to make it easier when the time comes.  It is funny how the end of the party has a million and one things to consider and may require a planning committee all on its own. Find out how to do it.

Answer 3

I never heard of buying a corsage for the mom to be....however that is a nice idea that would probably make her feel special on that day.  I believe most people expect games and party favors at showers, but you do not have to go overboard. Here are three cheap fun games: (1)A bowl of rice with safety pins, blindfold person and give them one minute to get as many safety pins out as they can. Whoever gets the most pins will win. (2) Paper plates and a pencil to everyone...Give 30 seconds to a minute for the whole group at once to put the plate on their head and draw a picture of mom to be's baby. She picks her favorite and that is the winner. (3) Get a roll of toilet paper....each person guesses the length around mommies belly and keeps the toilet paper they measured. Then have her stand up and put each persons tp around her belly to see who was closest. That's the winner. I guess for prizes you could get dollar store items that every woman loves such as candles, soaps, body sprays, candy...etc.  Anyways have fun!!!

Answer 4

play some games give the winner a small gift as the prize for winning a flower is fine for the mom to be if you would like at both my baby showers they put all the ribbons and bows from the packages on a sterafoam plate (with tape) and had me to put it on my belly and on my head and took pictures just for fun some game ideals fill a baby bottle with jelly beans count them have guest guess howmany are in it and the closes one wins

give everybody a close pin when they come in and tell them if anyone else hears someone say the word baby they have to give that person there close pin and at the end who ever has the most close pins wins you only loose one per baby word

If mom to be is willing you can play one where the guest guess her measurement around her waist (tummy) and she will stand up and let the guest guess how big around she is cute game one closes to actual size wins they will write there guess down on a sheet of paper(will need tape measure for this one)

scramble up baby gear,baby body parts,baby supplies words and have words scrambled up on paper and copy the page off so you have enough for each guest and give five min to unscramble the words the one with the most right wins(you will need pencils and copys of the list of words that are scrambled)

fold napkins up to look like a diaper and in one of the napkins put a little dab of mustard in it to rezimble a dirty diaper the one who has this one wins

If mom to be already has the baby named make a game out of it see if anyone can guess the babys first and middle name

hope these ideas help for some games to play let us know how it turns out Best Of Luck to the mom to be and to you for having a great baby shower,

Hope I have helped you out some_

Answer 5

Yes, usually there are games. Here are some to try if you'd like..

1) Pin the diaper on the baby boy -

This is a gag game, so make sure mom-to-be is in a mood to be messed with before attempting. Set the game up the same as above, only this time ask mother-to-be (or daddy-to-be or anyone else you'd like to play a joke on) to go first. After putting on the blindfold, have someone sneak up on mom and spray her with a small water gun, to prepare her for the "surprises" we get when changing a baby boy's diaper!

2) Pregnant belly races

After having guests stuff their shirts, as mentioned above, have them race around the yard while not letting any balloons fall out.

3) Stuff your shirt

Award a prize to the person who can fit the most balloons under their shirt (don't blow the balloons up too full for this or you might not get many people fitting more than one).

4) Feed the baby

Hilarious game, especially at couples showers. Have one partner be "the baby" and the other partner be the parent. See who can feed an entire jar of baby food, using a small spoon, to their partner the fastest. For added laughs, make the "parent" hold the spoon in their mouth while playing and make them hold their hands behind their backs! You'll want to take pictures of this one!

5) Pack your bags

Have guests compete to see who can pack a diaper bag (or luggage bag) with many different baby items the quickest.

6) Time capsule

Instruct guests to bring an item to the shower for baby's time capsule. Have guests write a letter, and place their item in the time capsule, then put away for safekeeping until baby is older.

Answer 6

for me toss out all of that "must have stuff" like a corsage or pin that says mother to be and the stats of the baby I mean seriously its pretty obvious who the preggie lady is! :-)

anyhow, have a nice finger food arrangement. Since you are a southern lady this is what my in-laws (from the south) usually have at their shindigs: petit fours, pecans (candied or plain), cheese straws, little cheese pinwheels with cream cheese and ham, fruit platter, mints, and a punch (because some mom's refrain from all caffeine do not have any there for that reason) just keep it simple.

game wise do you want to play games? would she like games? If she would not enjoy games then do not have them.

I have never gotten a party favor at a baby shower just a piece of cake and food!

Answer 7

There are some great ideas here, and you already know that you can let the party flow however you like.  I kind of like the dumb party games, but if you don't want a 4 hour shower, do introductions, pick one or two games, open presents, and serve refreshments.  A lot of people will enjoy the time to chat, and if you want to give door prizes to guests, there are fun ways to do that without playing "games".  Here are my 2 favorites:

Fold blue paper napkins into a triangle, and pin or tape them in the shape of a diaper.  In each diaper, place a couple of Hershey Kisses or other small chocolate candy, and place them next to each person's seat (or pass them out).  However, for one of the diapers, you unwrap the candy and put it in the microwave for a couple of seconds until it melts.  Whoever gets the "dirty" diaper wins a prize. Another easy one is to put some kind of a mark--stamp a footprint or do some little design--on one or two plates.  Have everyone check their plates after you've eaten and whoever has the design wins a little prize.  Good prizes are scented candles, note cards, a recipe book, etc., but my favorite prize was a movie night basket with a 5$ DVD, a box of Junior Mints and a pack of microwave popcorn.  Just a little nice thing to say thanks for coming.

Answer 8

I've never seen a corsage given to the mom-to-be:) ... You might consider giving her a "diaper cake" though (and use it as the centerpiece).  It's alot of disposable diapers, rolled around each other, in 2 or 3 layers (resembling a cake), with a blue ribbon tied around each layer (to hold them together), and stick little rattles, etc. into the layers...

2 easy games are the standard one where you put about 15-20 baby-related items on a platter and show it to the guests for 30 sec.  Then they have to write down as many things as they can remember on the platter.  Winner gets a prize ......    Or spell out your niece's name, and have the guests write down as many boys' names as they can think of, using those letters.....      If you can still do it, you could have each guest bring a baby picture of themself.  Then put them all out, numbered, and guests have to guess which baby is which guest.....  Just give blue candles for the prizes (Hobby Lobby always has them on sale)  ....  Little dishes of blue & white jelly bellies on the tables (the grocery stores sell them in individual bins) .......   Congratulations!  My step-daughter is also having a boy in September!