Getting invited to a baby shower can be a very exciting event. But sometimes it can be nerve-wracking trying to find just the right gift to give to the parents-to-be. Of course, you'd want to give a gift that would be appreciated, useful, and enjoyed - perhaps even give one that stands out from the rest. This isn't as hard as it seems to be. With just a little creative thinking and a bit of initiative and cash, you can make your selection from among the many unique baby shower gifts offered online and in specialty stores.
But with the abundance of choices available today, wouldn't a person feel overwhelmed at the sheer variety of high-quality and delightful gift suggestions out in the market? If you go shopping unprepared, then this might be so. Thus, it's very important to take a few considerations when trying to find unique baby shower gifts.
For instance, are the parents musically inclined? Then perhaps they might appreciate a gift such as antique music mobile from BabyBeddingTown.com. Or are they young parents who appreciate high-tech gadgets? Then maybe the Dreams-in-Sight mobile from OneStepAhead.com would be ideal for their baby. This remote control product is a three-in-one baby mobile, projector, and music box. Perhaps the parents are artistically inclined? A colorful alphabet art canvas from GoToBaby.com would most likely appeal to their aesthetic senses. This gift is customizable; you can have the baby's name placed at the center of this work of art.
If the parents are sports enthusiasts, there are many special baby shower gifts that would be suitable for their coming baby as well. For instance, a baby creeper outfit - complete with bib and booties - patterned after the uniform of the Chicago Cubs baseball team is sure to make an impact. Or if Dad is a football fan, you might want to consider giving a Reebok Miami Dolphins (or any other football team) Infant three-piece set from BrandNewDad.com as a baby shower gift. Or perhaps Mom has a sentimental streak for her old college basketball team? Then you can indulge her nostalgia by giving infant accessories and clothing designed after the logos and colors of National College Athletic Association (NCAA) teams.
For more whimsical and sentimental special baby shower gifts, and if budget is not an issue, you might want to consider giving baby jewelry. Numerous establishments offer items such as silver or gold bracelets, necklaces, and baby rings. And these items can be customized in various ways: for instance, have the baby's name engraved on a bracelet, or choose a bangle that has meaningful charms dangling from it, such as the baby's anticipated zodiac sign. Another unique baby shower gift suggestion would be a birth certificate, hair and tooth memory box, such as the one offered by BabyGiftIdea.com. This is a very elegant gift; it evokes a feeling of timeless elegance. A rosewood box houses silver-plated canisters in which the parents will place their baby's birth certificate, his or her first tooth, and a locket of the baby's hair.
Of course, you might want to give something that is more practical in nature, something that would save the new parents some time and money while caring for their new baby. Practical gifts would still be special baby shower gifts, depending upon the presentation. You can opt for appealing gift baskets that contain useful items, such as diapers, milk bottles and other feeding paraphernalia, or baby bath supplies and accessories. Just wrap the entire package in attractive materials such as a sheer, colorful net and tie the handle with a ribbon, and don't forget to attach a gift tag that says in one or two lines your wishes for the parents and their baby.
You can also consider group efforts when trying to come up with ideas for unique baby shower gifts; this can help bring down costs while not compromising the quality of the gift. You can have friends and relatives of the parents-to-be write something about the parents themselves or their hopes for the new addition to the family and compile everything in a scrapbook. Each one can also contribute to making the scrapbook look as attractive and unique as possible. This would be a unique gift and all the more priceless because the content is as personalized as it can be.
With these and other ideas for unique baby shower gifts, you can be sure to have a significant part in letting the soon-to-be new mom and dad feel that the people closest to them are wishing them well as they count the days to their baby's arrival.
About the Author
Your-babyshower.com provides you with information on all kinds of babyshower related issues like unique baby shower gifts, invitations, cakes and more. Come take a look at http://www.your-babyshower.com/
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
The Baby Gift with Heart
Scrapbooking: The Baby Gift with Heart by Lisa A. Koosis
Diaper bags. Engraved silver picture frames. Cute little outfits covered in teddy bears and puppies. These are the tried-and-true classics when it comes to gifts for welcoming a baby into the world, the things every Mom-To-Be needs or wants, and no baby shower would be complete without them.
Still, there are times when you just want to give a gift that's a little bit different, something that will enable you to add your own personal touch. So if you're looking for a creative idea for a baby gift, you might not have to look further than your local crafts store.
The craft of scrapbooking has become a popular pastime over the past few years, a way to commemorate special events in your own personal way. For exactly that reason, scrapbooks make wonderful gifts for many occasions -- and what better occasion to give a gift of memory-safekeeping than the birth of a child?
When it comes to gift-giving, the great thing about scrapbooks is the sheer variety of supplies and choices. For those who are completely unfamiliar with the world of crafts, and who might find giving such a gift daunting, there are pre-made kits that include everything you need to start. Often those kits are geared specifically to certain occasions, such as a new baby and can even come in pink and blue.
For those looking to go the custom path, however, a scrapbooking gift is rich in possibilities. Most major craft stores have a minimum of one entire aisle and often more than one aisle dedicated to scrapbook supplies and other assorted paper crafts.
If you've decided to purchase a scrapbook as a baby gift, you'll want to make a trip to your local craft store. Although scrapbooks are available for purchase at major greeting card retailers, photo shops and even department stores, for selection, your best bet will be a craft store or a retail store that has a reasonable selection of craft products.
Scrapbooks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from pocket-size to others the size and shape of larger, coffee-table books, with a corresponding price range, so the amount you've decided to spend on your gift will potentially be a factor. Beyond that, the possibilities are still numerous -- color, texture, binding style, personalization, etcetera.
Once you've chosen the scrapbook, then it's time to accessorize. Accessories for scrapbooking are nearly limitless these days with some creative thinking. There are standard accessories available in the scrapbook and paper craft aisle of the store.
Essentials include the actual paper that will form the pages of the scrapbook, and these days even choosing the paper can be an adventure. Multi-colored packages of paper are available in varying sizes. Some scrapbooks don't actually come with pages included, so make sure, if your chosen scrapbook doesn't, to match the size of the paper to the size of your album so that the recipient will have pages to set directly into the scrapbook.
You can also purchase packages of assorted smaller sizes and shapes that make nice backgrounds and mats for individual photographs and keepsakes. Many craft stores also sell specialty papers that you can purchase by the sheet, mixing and matching as you see fit. Many of the papers are unique and beautiful and they vary in price.
Other essentials for the intended scrapbooker include stickers, rubber stamps and stamp pads, and photo-safe markers. There are also hole-punches in assorted shapes such as hearts and stars, glitter pens, specialty scissors that create artistic edges on paper, and assorted baubles for decoration, including specialty trims and item tags. Of course, you won't want to forget the basics such as glue, double-stick tape, and photo corners to keep the photos in place without ruining them. And why not include a few rolls of film, a disposable digital camera, or a gift certificate to the local photo-processing lab?
There are also other possibilities for those wanting to spend a little more money, such as software for designing scrapbook pages on the home computer, and even digital cameras and photo printers. The possibilities really are endless.
Finally, you'll want a basket, or a beautiful gift bag to make the presentation of your gift as pleasing as the gift itself.
This is also something that would make a wonderful gift for the sibling of a new baby, something interactive and fun, to encourage their involvement in the preservation of precious memories.
More than anything, this is a gift that's fun and functional and shows that a whole lot of thought went into it. And isn't that what gift-giving is really all about?
About the Author
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.
Diaper bags. Engraved silver picture frames. Cute little outfits covered in teddy bears and puppies. These are the tried-and-true classics when it comes to gifts for welcoming a baby into the world, the things every Mom-To-Be needs or wants, and no baby shower would be complete without them.
Still, there are times when you just want to give a gift that's a little bit different, something that will enable you to add your own personal touch. So if you're looking for a creative idea for a baby gift, you might not have to look further than your local crafts store.
The craft of scrapbooking has become a popular pastime over the past few years, a way to commemorate special events in your own personal way. For exactly that reason, scrapbooks make wonderful gifts for many occasions -- and what better occasion to give a gift of memory-safekeeping than the birth of a child?
When it comes to gift-giving, the great thing about scrapbooks is the sheer variety of supplies and choices. For those who are completely unfamiliar with the world of crafts, and who might find giving such a gift daunting, there are pre-made kits that include everything you need to start. Often those kits are geared specifically to certain occasions, such as a new baby and can even come in pink and blue.
For those looking to go the custom path, however, a scrapbooking gift is rich in possibilities. Most major craft stores have a minimum of one entire aisle and often more than one aisle dedicated to scrapbook supplies and other assorted paper crafts.
If you've decided to purchase a scrapbook as a baby gift, you'll want to make a trip to your local craft store. Although scrapbooks are available for purchase at major greeting card retailers, photo shops and even department stores, for selection, your best bet will be a craft store or a retail store that has a reasonable selection of craft products.
Scrapbooks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from pocket-size to others the size and shape of larger, coffee-table books, with a corresponding price range, so the amount you've decided to spend on your gift will potentially be a factor. Beyond that, the possibilities are still numerous -- color, texture, binding style, personalization, etcetera.
Once you've chosen the scrapbook, then it's time to accessorize. Accessories for scrapbooking are nearly limitless these days with some creative thinking. There are standard accessories available in the scrapbook and paper craft aisle of the store.
Essentials include the actual paper that will form the pages of the scrapbook, and these days even choosing the paper can be an adventure. Multi-colored packages of paper are available in varying sizes. Some scrapbooks don't actually come with pages included, so make sure, if your chosen scrapbook doesn't, to match the size of the paper to the size of your album so that the recipient will have pages to set directly into the scrapbook.
You can also purchase packages of assorted smaller sizes and shapes that make nice backgrounds and mats for individual photographs and keepsakes. Many craft stores also sell specialty papers that you can purchase by the sheet, mixing and matching as you see fit. Many of the papers are unique and beautiful and they vary in price.
Other essentials for the intended scrapbooker include stickers, rubber stamps and stamp pads, and photo-safe markers. There are also hole-punches in assorted shapes such as hearts and stars, glitter pens, specialty scissors that create artistic edges on paper, and assorted baubles for decoration, including specialty trims and item tags. Of course, you won't want to forget the basics such as glue, double-stick tape, and photo corners to keep the photos in place without ruining them. And why not include a few rolls of film, a disposable digital camera, or a gift certificate to the local photo-processing lab?
There are also other possibilities for those wanting to spend a little more money, such as software for designing scrapbook pages on the home computer, and even digital cameras and photo printers. The possibilities really are endless.
Finally, you'll want a basket, or a beautiful gift bag to make the presentation of your gift as pleasing as the gift itself.
This is also something that would make a wonderful gift for the sibling of a new baby, something interactive and fun, to encourage their involvement in the preservation of precious memories.
More than anything, this is a gift that's fun and functional and shows that a whole lot of thought went into it. And isn't that what gift-giving is really all about?
About the Author
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower
Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower by Susan Anderson
A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them. There is nothing like finding out you are expecting, then your next thought being how can we provide everything a new baby will need.
As with planning any event or party, one of the most important things is organization. Having a clear plan and sticking to it will help ensure things go well, and that you, the host, can enjoy the baby shower along with the guests and new parents. You should also enlist all the help you can get, including any willing family members, friends, or co-workers that would like to help with hosting the shower. Having plenty of help will help take a lot of the stress off one person, and will also make it easier on everyone's wallet by all chipping in together.
Once you have decided to host a baby shower, and have enlisted all the help you think you will need, the first thing you should all do is sit down together and plan out a budget. Since all the hosts usually share the expense of the shower, they should all be included in the budget meeting. One of the first things to keep in mind when planning the budget is how many people are expected to attend. The more guests you have, the more party favors, food, utensils, etc. that you will need, thus making expenses rise. You should also decide where the shower will be located at, someone's home, a local restaurant, or favorite place. Some hosts will actually rent out a space for the shower, which isn't very cost effective, but can be good if you are expecting a large crowd. At this time you should also start to think about what type of food will be served, what type of games and party favors you will have, and they type of decorations you would like. Many baby shower hosts will go with a theme just to make things easier on the planning end of things, but keep in mind the parents needs and preferences when selecting one.
After the budget meeting, you should probably begin thinking about the guest list, as you will need to know an estimate of how many people to expect before any real planning can begin. Include the parents family into the planning of the guest list to ensure no one is left out on either side. Accidentally leaving someone off the invitation list can cause a lot of hurt feelings, and detract from the fun for the parents to be. Unless you are planning a surprise shower, it may even be a good idea to ask the prospective parents who they would like invited to the shower just to be absolutely certain you do not miss anyone.
Invitations should be sent out about a month before the date of the shower, to give everyone ample time to RSVP, and allow plenty of time for them to adjust work schedules to attend, purchase gifts, etc. Depending on your theme and budget, you can either purchase invitations, or make them yourself. There are lots of resources available online that can help you with making and printing off your own shower invitations, and many of these end up being more personal and nicer than the invitations available for purchase. It all depends on how much time and resources you have available to invest. Along with the shower invitation, you may want to include a list of items that the parents need, or a note telling guests where the parents have registered. This helps ensure that the parents get items they need and want, which is the whole intent of a shower after all. You may also want to purchase or make thank you cards for the mom at this time, as she will probably be too busy or not feel like doing this herself.
You should try to tailor the menu choices to suit the number of guests you expect, and maybe a little extra just in case. Depending on the time of day the shower is to be held, you may decide to do a full meal, or just snacks and finger-foods. Depending on the number of guests expected, you may come out better budget wise to have the shower catered, or have it at a local restaurant so you have someone to do the hard work for you. Either way, you should put a lot of effort into planning the menu, as it is a big part of a good baby shower.
Plan your decorations and games according to the baby shower theme if you have one. If you are on a tight budget, you can make a lot of your decorations yourself, using either clipart that you can find online, or just printing out some things that match your theme. There are many ideas for baby shower games online, but it is important to keep your guests in mind when deciding on the games to be played. Not everyone enjoys that type of thing, or being in the limelight.
The baby shower is a good time to welcome the new baby, and also make the parents to be feel loved and special as well. Few parents forget their baby shower, as it is often one of the first times they get together with family and friends to talk about and share information about their new little one. Make sure you take lots of pictures, to help preserve these memories for years to come.
About the Author
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives. With a simple and down to earth writing style, these articles are suited for all audiences. BabyShowerFreebies.com
A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them. There is nothing like finding out you are expecting, then your next thought being how can we provide everything a new baby will need.
As with planning any event or party, one of the most important things is organization. Having a clear plan and sticking to it will help ensure things go well, and that you, the host, can enjoy the baby shower along with the guests and new parents. You should also enlist all the help you can get, including any willing family members, friends, or co-workers that would like to help with hosting the shower. Having plenty of help will help take a lot of the stress off one person, and will also make it easier on everyone's wallet by all chipping in together.
Once you have decided to host a baby shower, and have enlisted all the help you think you will need, the first thing you should all do is sit down together and plan out a budget. Since all the hosts usually share the expense of the shower, they should all be included in the budget meeting. One of the first things to keep in mind when planning the budget is how many people are expected to attend. The more guests you have, the more party favors, food, utensils, etc. that you will need, thus making expenses rise. You should also decide where the shower will be located at, someone's home, a local restaurant, or favorite place. Some hosts will actually rent out a space for the shower, which isn't very cost effective, but can be good if you are expecting a large crowd. At this time you should also start to think about what type of food will be served, what type of games and party favors you will have, and they type of decorations you would like. Many baby shower hosts will go with a theme just to make things easier on the planning end of things, but keep in mind the parents needs and preferences when selecting one.
After the budget meeting, you should probably begin thinking about the guest list, as you will need to know an estimate of how many people to expect before any real planning can begin. Include the parents family into the planning of the guest list to ensure no one is left out on either side. Accidentally leaving someone off the invitation list can cause a lot of hurt feelings, and detract from the fun for the parents to be. Unless you are planning a surprise shower, it may even be a good idea to ask the prospective parents who they would like invited to the shower just to be absolutely certain you do not miss anyone.
Invitations should be sent out about a month before the date of the shower, to give everyone ample time to RSVP, and allow plenty of time for them to adjust work schedules to attend, purchase gifts, etc. Depending on your theme and budget, you can either purchase invitations, or make them yourself. There are lots of resources available online that can help you with making and printing off your own shower invitations, and many of these end up being more personal and nicer than the invitations available for purchase. It all depends on how much time and resources you have available to invest. Along with the shower invitation, you may want to include a list of items that the parents need, or a note telling guests where the parents have registered. This helps ensure that the parents get items they need and want, which is the whole intent of a shower after all. You may also want to purchase or make thank you cards for the mom at this time, as she will probably be too busy or not feel like doing this herself.
You should try to tailor the menu choices to suit the number of guests you expect, and maybe a little extra just in case. Depending on the time of day the shower is to be held, you may decide to do a full meal, or just snacks and finger-foods. Depending on the number of guests expected, you may come out better budget wise to have the shower catered, or have it at a local restaurant so you have someone to do the hard work for you. Either way, you should put a lot of effort into planning the menu, as it is a big part of a good baby shower.
Plan your decorations and games according to the baby shower theme if you have one. If you are on a tight budget, you can make a lot of your decorations yourself, using either clipart that you can find online, or just printing out some things that match your theme. There are many ideas for baby shower games online, but it is important to keep your guests in mind when deciding on the games to be played. Not everyone enjoys that type of thing, or being in the limelight.
The baby shower is a good time to welcome the new baby, and also make the parents to be feel loved and special as well. Few parents forget their baby shower, as it is often one of the first times they get together with family and friends to talk about and share information about their new little one. Make sure you take lots of pictures, to help preserve these memories for years to come.
About the Author
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives. With a simple and down to earth writing style, these articles are suited for all audiences. BabyShowerFreebies.com
Sunday, August 06, 2006
10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered
10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered by Christina Cermak
A common worry about hosting a baby shower, as with any party, is to avoid any faux pas. Many people fail to realize that times change and what once was a no-no, is now the norm.
Who Should Host a Baby Shower?
At one time etiquette stated that mothers and sisters of the mom to be should not host a baby shower. The reason was that it looked as if the family was asking for gifts. That is not the case today. Anyone who is close to mom, or even dad to be, may host a baby shower.
Is It Acceptable to Host a Baby Shower for Second, Third or Fourth Child?
Yes. However, the guest list should be limited to the closest of family & friends, or guests who have not attended previous showers.
Who Should Be Invited?
Anyone who is close to mom or dad to be should be invited. Refrain from inviting every family member for fear of insulting someone. It is also acceptable to host a coed baby shower. This means that men and women, family and friends may be invited as long as they are close with the parents to be.
When Should a Baby Shower Take Place?
The baby shower should be held 1-2 months before the due date. This allows time for the parents to purchase necessary baby items before the baby is born.
Should I Have a Baby Shower Theme?
A baby shower theme is not necessary. However, having a theme ties the shower together nicely. Your theme can be as simple as colors (i.e., Pink or Blue We Welcome You), teddy bears, Noah's Ark, etc. Use the theme in decorations, favors or even the food.
When to Send Invitations?
You should send invitations by mail 3-4 weeks before the shower. Include an RSVP date of at least one week before the baby shower. This gives you a head count so you know how much food and beverages you need to purchase. It is also acceptable to phone or email invitations. If you send your invitations via email, be aware that some guests may not check their email often or the invitation may be caught in a spam filter.
Should I Include Gift Registry Information in the Invitation?
In my opinion, it is no longer a faux pas to provide guests with gift registry information if it is available. It has been my experience that guests are not offended by this information and that they find it helpful in choosing a gift. A gift registry helps to eliminate duplicate gifts. If you are hesitant about including gift registry information on the invitation don't stress about it. Just spread the information by word of mouth.
Do I Need Baby Shower Games?
Baby Showers last from 2-4 hours. You need some type of activity to fill up some time between eating and opening gifts. Baby Shower games and activities are also great ice breakers for guests who don't know each other. If you feel that your guests won't enjoy playing traditional baby shower games have them participate in another activity, such as, filling out baby advice cards for mom to be.
Should I Send Thank You Cards?
As host of the baby shower you do not need to send thank you cards to the guests for coming. You do need to thank guests for attending as they leave the shower.
Mom to be definitely needs to send thank you cards for any gifts she receives. It is important as host to have a volunteer write down what the gift is and the person who gave the gift. This will allow mom to be to personalize the thank you cards as she writes them.
A helpful hint is to print out address labels for your guests using a word processing program. Purchase thank you cards which coordinate with the baby shower theme. This will save mom to be time when she writes out her thank you cards.
Should I Invite Someone Who Has Recently Miscarried?
Do not exclude a guest because of a miscarriage. However, be sensitive to her needs. Let her know that she is invited but you understand if she chooses not to attend. If your guest has accepted the invitation but backs out at the last minute be understanding. She has been through a lot.
About the Author
Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Baby Shower Depot offers baby shower games, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies, baby shower favors, blog and more.
A common worry about hosting a baby shower, as with any party, is to avoid any faux pas. Many people fail to realize that times change and what once was a no-no, is now the norm.
Who Should Host a Baby Shower?
At one time etiquette stated that mothers and sisters of the mom to be should not host a baby shower. The reason was that it looked as if the family was asking for gifts. That is not the case today. Anyone who is close to mom, or even dad to be, may host a baby shower.
Is It Acceptable to Host a Baby Shower for Second, Third or Fourth Child?
Yes. However, the guest list should be limited to the closest of family & friends, or guests who have not attended previous showers.
Who Should Be Invited?
Anyone who is close to mom or dad to be should be invited. Refrain from inviting every family member for fear of insulting someone. It is also acceptable to host a coed baby shower. This means that men and women, family and friends may be invited as long as they are close with the parents to be.
When Should a Baby Shower Take Place?
The baby shower should be held 1-2 months before the due date. This allows time for the parents to purchase necessary baby items before the baby is born.
Should I Have a Baby Shower Theme?
A baby shower theme is not necessary. However, having a theme ties the shower together nicely. Your theme can be as simple as colors (i.e., Pink or Blue We Welcome You), teddy bears, Noah's Ark, etc. Use the theme in decorations, favors or even the food.
When to Send Invitations?
You should send invitations by mail 3-4 weeks before the shower. Include an RSVP date of at least one week before the baby shower. This gives you a head count so you know how much food and beverages you need to purchase. It is also acceptable to phone or email invitations. If you send your invitations via email, be aware that some guests may not check their email often or the invitation may be caught in a spam filter.
Should I Include Gift Registry Information in the Invitation?
In my opinion, it is no longer a faux pas to provide guests with gift registry information if it is available. It has been my experience that guests are not offended by this information and that they find it helpful in choosing a gift. A gift registry helps to eliminate duplicate gifts. If you are hesitant about including gift registry information on the invitation don't stress about it. Just spread the information by word of mouth.
Do I Need Baby Shower Games?
Baby Showers last from 2-4 hours. You need some type of activity to fill up some time between eating and opening gifts. Baby Shower games and activities are also great ice breakers for guests who don't know each other. If you feel that your guests won't enjoy playing traditional baby shower games have them participate in another activity, such as, filling out baby advice cards for mom to be.
Should I Send Thank You Cards?
As host of the baby shower you do not need to send thank you cards to the guests for coming. You do need to thank guests for attending as they leave the shower.
Mom to be definitely needs to send thank you cards for any gifts she receives. It is important as host to have a volunteer write down what the gift is and the person who gave the gift. This will allow mom to be to personalize the thank you cards as she writes them.
A helpful hint is to print out address labels for your guests using a word processing program. Purchase thank you cards which coordinate with the baby shower theme. This will save mom to be time when she writes out her thank you cards.
Should I Invite Someone Who Has Recently Miscarried?
Do not exclude a guest because of a miscarriage. However, be sensitive to her needs. Let her know that she is invited but you understand if she chooses not to attend. If your guest has accepted the invitation but backs out at the last minute be understanding. She has been through a lot.
About the Author
Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Baby Shower Depot offers baby shower games, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies, baby shower favors, blog and more.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
4 Easy Steps to Baby Shower Theme Ideas
4 Easy Steps to Baby Shower Theme Ideas by Sam Smith
Organizing a baby shower can be a lot of fun but it can also be frustrating. Often times people try to hard and get caught up in finding the perfect baby shower theme ideas. This can really work against the goal of pulling off a great baby shower as a person gets more concerned they are not able to be creative or have fun. After all baby showers should be a wonderful joyous celebration of new life and not another big task that has to get done.
By following the steps below you can find a lot of really great baby shower theme ideas and then easily narrow it down to find the perfect theme.
Research First you will want to do some reaserch on baby shower themes. This will help get the mindset and preload the brain with possible ideas. One of the best places to research baby shower themes is online. Going to any major search engine like Google or Yahoo and typing in keywords like baby shower theme ideas or fun baby shower themes will come up with a ton of websites and lots of ideas. Be careful not to latch on to any one idea to early on. Instead just take it all in and maybe make a few notes of themes that seem appropriate for the situation. One can even narrow the search down and find more specific results using the search engines. For example if it is known that the mother is having twins then type in the search term baby shower themes for twins. Also if the sex of the baby is already known then using specific search terms related to the babies sex can generate some great ideas also. Using terms like baby shower themes for girls or baby shower themes for boys will give some great ideas. List Next after doing some initial research it is time to turn off the computer. Get out a paper and pencil and start generating a list of baby shower themes. Some of these themes might come straight from the research that was done online but be creative and think of unique baby shower themes also. Creative ideas will often make the best baby shower themes because they will be new and unique.
Try to generate a list of at least 20 baby shower themes that will work for the event. Don't worry about censoring any of the ideas out just be creative and list as many as possible. If this is too hard and no ideas come quickly then just start writing down whatever comes to mind even if it is not a baby shower theme. Eventually the mind will start kicking in some great ideas.
Narrow Next take the list and start to narrow it down less then five themes. Think about the decorations that would go with each theme and the availability of clip art that would go with each theme. If nothing comes to mind for a particular theme then just eliminate it from the list.
Decide Now it is at the final stage out of the five topics that are potential candidates for the theme pick one of them. Often it will help if there is time in between each of these steps. Simply getting away and doing other things for a while will allow the best baby shower theme to rise to the surface of one's mind. If it is still too hard to pick just one theme then call a few friends or the expectant mother and read the list off and discuss the potential themes with them. This will often generate one great theme that can be used.
The most important part is too not get to caught up or stuck on just one idea. Instead generate a lot of fun ideas and then pick the one that stands out. Given a few days time to mull over all of the options often one will become the clear winner as the perfect baby shower theme.
About the Author
Free 5 day Baby Shower Planning cours
Organizing a baby shower can be a lot of fun but it can also be frustrating. Often times people try to hard and get caught up in finding the perfect baby shower theme ideas. This can really work against the goal of pulling off a great baby shower as a person gets more concerned they are not able to be creative or have fun. After all baby showers should be a wonderful joyous celebration of new life and not another big task that has to get done.
By following the steps below you can find a lot of really great baby shower theme ideas and then easily narrow it down to find the perfect theme.
Research First you will want to do some reaserch on baby shower themes. This will help get the mindset and preload the brain with possible ideas. One of the best places to research baby shower themes is online. Going to any major search engine like Google or Yahoo and typing in keywords like baby shower theme ideas or fun baby shower themes will come up with a ton of websites and lots of ideas. Be careful not to latch on to any one idea to early on. Instead just take it all in and maybe make a few notes of themes that seem appropriate for the situation. One can even narrow the search down and find more specific results using the search engines. For example if it is known that the mother is having twins then type in the search term baby shower themes for twins. Also if the sex of the baby is already known then using specific search terms related to the babies sex can generate some great ideas also. Using terms like baby shower themes for girls or baby shower themes for boys will give some great ideas. List Next after doing some initial research it is time to turn off the computer. Get out a paper and pencil and start generating a list of baby shower themes. Some of these themes might come straight from the research that was done online but be creative and think of unique baby shower themes also. Creative ideas will often make the best baby shower themes because they will be new and unique.
Try to generate a list of at least 20 baby shower themes that will work for the event. Don't worry about censoring any of the ideas out just be creative and list as many as possible. If this is too hard and no ideas come quickly then just start writing down whatever comes to mind even if it is not a baby shower theme. Eventually the mind will start kicking in some great ideas.
Narrow Next take the list and start to narrow it down less then five themes. Think about the decorations that would go with each theme and the availability of clip art that would go with each theme. If nothing comes to mind for a particular theme then just eliminate it from the list.
Decide Now it is at the final stage out of the five topics that are potential candidates for the theme pick one of them. Often it will help if there is time in between each of these steps. Simply getting away and doing other things for a while will allow the best baby shower theme to rise to the surface of one's mind. If it is still too hard to pick just one theme then call a few friends or the expectant mother and read the list off and discuss the potential themes with them. This will often generate one great theme that can be used.
The most important part is too not get to caught up or stuck on just one idea. Instead generate a lot of fun ideas and then pick the one that stands out. Given a few days time to mull over all of the options often one will become the clear winner as the perfect baby shower theme.
About the Author
Free 5 day Baby Shower Planning cours
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Couples Baby Shower
Couples Baby Shower - A Quick Planning Guide By Ann Neville
Believe it or not, but many husbands would really enjoy going to a Couples Baby Shower with their wife. A baby shower is a fun get-together with friends and family to celebrate a new little baby. Often, the father-to-be would love to be part of that celebration. It helps him get excited about his new son or daughter. And whether he admits it or not, his heart will melt when he opens up a baby shower gift and sees a little pink dress or a little pair of denim overalls.
How to Know if You Should Invite the Guys
Simply ask the mom-to-be if she wants her husband and his friends to be at the shower. She needs to enjoy the shower first and foremost. So if she doesn't want the men there, then that's the answer. After all, the baby shower is primarily for her. However, if she likes the idea of a coed baby shower, then ask her husband if he would like to go, just to make sure it's ok with him. Some guys might feel uncomfortable, which is understandable. But he might be honored by the invite and excited to participate. You never know until you ask!
How to Plan a Couples Baby Shower
1. Make up the guest list with both parents.
Have them list both her friends and his friends. He'll feel a lot more comfortable with some of his friends there.
2. Decide on a theme that both parents-to-be would enjoy.
A general baby theme is always a great choice, or a sports theme, or other hobby of the husband's (cars, cowboy, outdoors, John Deere, etc.) are some fun themes that the dad-to-be might really get into.
3. Make and send out the Couples baby shower invitations.
Have the invites match the theme you chose. You could make the invitations in the colors of the dad's favorite sports team, or buy some outdoors or cowboy / western paper, or whatever the theme may be. This lets the guys know right from the start that the theme will be something they enjoy. Also, having more than one guy there might make the dad-to-be more comfortable & more enjoyable. It's the whole "strength in numbers" thing. Be sure to mention in the invitations that it is a Couples Baby Shower.
4. Plan the food.
This is one of the most (if not the most important) aspects of a Couples baby shower that you can plan. After all, the way to a man's heart (and hence how much he enjoys the baby shower) is through his stomach. Meat is usually a good choice for your coed baby shower food. Definitely have something more hearty than salad and bundt cake. BBQ, casserole, or enchiladas are some good choices.
5. Should you have games at a Couples baby shower?
You could do it either way. This is a great question to ask the expectant mom and dad. Often, at a coed baby shower, games are not played. Instead, everyone talks, tells stories and shares parenting advice which makes for a fun, intimate party with friends and family. However, almost always, when the guys actually play the baby shower games, they really get into them. They love competition! So, games or no games, everyone will have a great time.
6. What kind of baby shower favors & prizes are good for a Couples baby shower?
Anything Edible! Guys are very predictable, which makes your job as hostess easier! Candy bars, rice krispy treats, beef jerky, cinnamon rolls, etc., inexpensive t-shirts that relate to the theme (sports teams, automobiles, Carhartt, etc.) are fun favors & prizes. Other ideas include: packages of football, baseball, or basketball cards, movie rental gift certificates, pocket-sized outdoor equipment like little flashlights or pocketknives, etc.
7. What kind of gifts are good Couples baby shower gifts?
The gifts at a coed baby shower shouldn't be much different than gifts given at a traditional girls baby shower. If this is the only baby shower a mom-to-be will have, then traditional baby shower gifts are a must, because she will still need all the diapers, clothes & burp cloths that she can get. But one or two of the gifts intended for the dad-to-be is a great way to honor and congratulate him. Be sure to have the mom and dad-to-be sit together and take turns opening the baby shower gifts. This really helps him get into the baby excitement.
Some other fun ideas for a Couples baby shower:
• Have a surprise baby shower for the dad-to-be at his office/work. Call one or two of his coworkers to plan it. He is sure to have friends at work that would love to celebrate & congratulate him on his upcoming son or daughter.
• If he is into sports, have the party during a game where everyone can eat & chat during the game and open the gifts afterwards.
• Have a cookout BBQ - Any get-together that involves an open flame is definitely a masculine party!
It is becoming more and more common to invite the men to baby showers. And, although a coed baby shower is still not quite the "norm" for traditional baby showers, most people find that Couples baby showers are usually among the most fun and memorable types of baby showers.
About the Author
Find more of Ann's baby shower articles and resources at http://www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com.
Believe it or not, but many husbands would really enjoy going to a Couples Baby Shower with their wife. A baby shower is a fun get-together with friends and family to celebrate a new little baby. Often, the father-to-be would love to be part of that celebration. It helps him get excited about his new son or daughter. And whether he admits it or not, his heart will melt when he opens up a baby shower gift and sees a little pink dress or a little pair of denim overalls.
How to Know if You Should Invite the Guys
Simply ask the mom-to-be if she wants her husband and his friends to be at the shower. She needs to enjoy the shower first and foremost. So if she doesn't want the men there, then that's the answer. After all, the baby shower is primarily for her. However, if she likes the idea of a coed baby shower, then ask her husband if he would like to go, just to make sure it's ok with him. Some guys might feel uncomfortable, which is understandable. But he might be honored by the invite and excited to participate. You never know until you ask!
How to Plan a Couples Baby Shower
1. Make up the guest list with both parents.
Have them list both her friends and his friends. He'll feel a lot more comfortable with some of his friends there.
2. Decide on a theme that both parents-to-be would enjoy.
A general baby theme is always a great choice, or a sports theme, or other hobby of the husband's (cars, cowboy, outdoors, John Deere, etc.) are some fun themes that the dad-to-be might really get into.
3. Make and send out the Couples baby shower invitations.
Have the invites match the theme you chose. You could make the invitations in the colors of the dad's favorite sports team, or buy some outdoors or cowboy / western paper, or whatever the theme may be. This lets the guys know right from the start that the theme will be something they enjoy. Also, having more than one guy there might make the dad-to-be more comfortable & more enjoyable. It's the whole "strength in numbers" thing. Be sure to mention in the invitations that it is a Couples Baby Shower.
4. Plan the food.
This is one of the most (if not the most important) aspects of a Couples baby shower that you can plan. After all, the way to a man's heart (and hence how much he enjoys the baby shower) is through his stomach. Meat is usually a good choice for your coed baby shower food. Definitely have something more hearty than salad and bundt cake. BBQ, casserole, or enchiladas are some good choices.
5. Should you have games at a Couples baby shower?
You could do it either way. This is a great question to ask the expectant mom and dad. Often, at a coed baby shower, games are not played. Instead, everyone talks, tells stories and shares parenting advice which makes for a fun, intimate party with friends and family. However, almost always, when the guys actually play the baby shower games, they really get into them. They love competition! So, games or no games, everyone will have a great time.
6. What kind of baby shower favors & prizes are good for a Couples baby shower?
Anything Edible! Guys are very predictable, which makes your job as hostess easier! Candy bars, rice krispy treats, beef jerky, cinnamon rolls, etc., inexpensive t-shirts that relate to the theme (sports teams, automobiles, Carhartt, etc.) are fun favors & prizes. Other ideas include: packages of football, baseball, or basketball cards, movie rental gift certificates, pocket-sized outdoor equipment like little flashlights or pocketknives, etc.
7. What kind of gifts are good Couples baby shower gifts?
The gifts at a coed baby shower shouldn't be much different than gifts given at a traditional girls baby shower. If this is the only baby shower a mom-to-be will have, then traditional baby shower gifts are a must, because she will still need all the diapers, clothes & burp cloths that she can get. But one or two of the gifts intended for the dad-to-be is a great way to honor and congratulate him. Be sure to have the mom and dad-to-be sit together and take turns opening the baby shower gifts. This really helps him get into the baby excitement.
Some other fun ideas for a Couples baby shower:
• Have a surprise baby shower for the dad-to-be at his office/work. Call one or two of his coworkers to plan it. He is sure to have friends at work that would love to celebrate & congratulate him on his upcoming son or daughter.
• If he is into sports, have the party during a game where everyone can eat & chat during the game and open the gifts afterwards.
• Have a cookout BBQ - Any get-together that involves an open flame is definitely a masculine party!
It is becoming more and more common to invite the men to baby showers. And, although a coed baby shower is still not quite the "norm" for traditional baby showers, most people find that Couples baby showers are usually among the most fun and memorable types of baby showers.
About the Author
Find more of Ann's baby shower articles and resources at http://www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com.
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