Coming up with a great (and unique!) baby shower gift idea can seem like a difficult task. Any guest would like to give a gift that can be useful to the baby or the parents. Nobody would like to have his or her gift stashed in a closet or be given away to charity without being used first by the recipient.
Therefore, one has to make sure that he or she has chosen the baby shower gift properly so it will not be wasted. As much as possible, never select a baby shower gift that the parents may already have. Sometimes, the baby shower invitation says what the parents would like to receive.
If it is not on the invitation, you can also call the mum to ask what she would like to receive or what else she would need.
At times when the parents seem to have prepared well for the baby, you can select unique baby shower gifts that would serve as decorative items and remembrance.
Here are some unique baby shower gift suggestions.
* Birth Announcement Plates
These are decorative plates that come in pastel colours and different designs. These can also be personalised with the baby's name. Some companies also offer printing the baby's picture on the plates.
The plates may be used to contain food. However, many chooses to have these plates displayed somewhere in the house.
* Personalised Ornaments
These ornaments are made from ceramic tiles that can be displayed on cabinet or shelves. These can be personalized to contain the baby's name or picture. You may also give a poem to the engraving company so it will be included in the ornament.
* Personalised Baby Blankets
These blankets come in pastel colours with different designs. These can be personalized to include the baby's name. Before deciding to give one, make sure that the parents hadn't bought or will not be receiving several blankets during the baby shower party.
* Pillows
Pillows can also be personalized with the baby's name. These come in several colours and designs.
* Personalised Name Frame
If the baby's name was already chosen, you can choose a personalised name frame. This will contain the baby's name with its meaning, usually the biblical or historic association of the name. It may also have a poem dedicating the gift to the baby or wishing the baby and the parents well.
* Piggy Bank
The parents can start the baby's savings with a personalised piggy bank. The parents may drop coins each day after the baby is born. When the child is older, he or she can continue saving money with this decorative piggy bank.
* Baby Naming Book
If the parents have not decided what name to give to the baby, or if they are not yet sure of the baby's gender, the baby-naming book is a great gift for the baby shower. The book contains name selections from the bible and historical figures. The meanings of the names are also given as well as the variations and origins in different countries and cultures.
* Music CD
Music has been proven to enhance the creativity and eliminate stress. For babies, music can help them have quality sleep and boost their creativity and intelligence. This is a perfect gift for the baby and the parents.
Regardless of the gift that you have chosen, always include a card to express your thoughts and your joys in sharing the celebration with the baby' parents.
Showing posts with label baby shower tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby shower tips. Show all posts
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Baby Showers - Your All In One Guide To A Perfect Shower
Planning a Baby Shower is not an easy task! Planning and organising a baby shower can be very complicated. In this article, I’ll try to help you break down the different elements of organising and planning baby showers.
When should I hold my baby shower?
A lot of parents these days are waiting until after the baby is born to hold a baby shower. It gives guests the advantage of knowing what type of clothing and gifts to buy for the baby. It gives the new mother a chance to show off the baby to a large number of people, reducing the steady stream of visitors to the house right after the baby is born.
If you don’t want to wait until after the baby is born, then generally a month or two before the mom's due date is a good time to have the party. You don't want to hold the shower too close to baby's due date in case he or she makes an early arrival!
Who should I invite to my baby shower?
Close friends and family members, the parent’s friends, co-workers, godparents, and others you feel the parents-to-be would enjoy having at the shower. Try to refrain from inviting people you have not had contact with in a long time simply for more presents though, it’s considered tacky. Invitations should be sent out 2-3 weeks before the shower. Give guests time to plan to be free that day and shop, but not so much time that they forget about the party.
Can I invite men to the baby shower?
Yes! Men are now allowed in the delivery room; why not let them in the baby shower as well?
What about a theme for my baby shower?
There are a lot of different ways to hold a baby shower. Let your imagination roam and choose something fun but not too strenuous for the mummy-to-be. Choose the kind of party you can do best. Accept your time, budget, and equipment limitations. Coordinate your invitations, decorations, party favours, and food. Create a mood! Create your mood through lighting, music, and decorations.
Will there be games at my baby shower?
Games at baby showers are optional, but always a fun addition and a good ingredient to a successful baby shower. You can find more information about baby shower games, take a look at the articles on the right.
Will there be food at the baby shower?
Avoid time consuming dinners. Choose a menu with which you are familiar. Serving a full meal is not required, but certainly snacks, hors d'oeuvres, cakes, and pies are a welcome addition. I’ve even seen where the guests each bring a dessert or snack plate. Check your supplies way ahead of time - linen, cutlery, tables, and dishes. Always overestimate the amount of food you will need. Make sure you have chafing dishes or hot plates. Clean and cook ahead of time. Do not wait until the last minute. Plan seating that will encourage lively conversation. When serving buffet style, be sure you have enough tables or lap trays.
What about party favours and decorations for my baby shower?
This is another area where there are so many options. A simple search on the web for baby shower favours and decorations will yield a ton of resources, but if you want to make it easier and don’t have time to sort through the entire net, search here for baby shower favors/favours.
Other Baby Shower Tips
Buy camera film. Have someone else at the party be in charge of taking pictures. Chances are, you will be busy. If you get a lot of great shots, you can make a memento album for the parents later.
Don't forget the guest bathroom. Add extra touches like scented soap and lotion. Keep tissue and feminine items in an obvious place.
Pay attention to your guests. Know when they are ready to move on to the next phase of the party.
It can be a little awkward at first. A few close friends arriving early can create an instant party buzz.
When should I hold my baby shower?
A lot of parents these days are waiting until after the baby is born to hold a baby shower. It gives guests the advantage of knowing what type of clothing and gifts to buy for the baby. It gives the new mother a chance to show off the baby to a large number of people, reducing the steady stream of visitors to the house right after the baby is born.
If you don’t want to wait until after the baby is born, then generally a month or two before the mom's due date is a good time to have the party. You don't want to hold the shower too close to baby's due date in case he or she makes an early arrival!
Who should I invite to my baby shower?
Close friends and family members, the parent’s friends, co-workers, godparents, and others you feel the parents-to-be would enjoy having at the shower. Try to refrain from inviting people you have not had contact with in a long time simply for more presents though, it’s considered tacky. Invitations should be sent out 2-3 weeks before the shower. Give guests time to plan to be free that day and shop, but not so much time that they forget about the party.
Can I invite men to the baby shower?
Yes! Men are now allowed in the delivery room; why not let them in the baby shower as well?
What about a theme for my baby shower?
There are a lot of different ways to hold a baby shower. Let your imagination roam and choose something fun but not too strenuous for the mummy-to-be. Choose the kind of party you can do best. Accept your time, budget, and equipment limitations. Coordinate your invitations, decorations, party favours, and food. Create a mood! Create your mood through lighting, music, and decorations.
Will there be games at my baby shower?
Games at baby showers are optional, but always a fun addition and a good ingredient to a successful baby shower. You can find more information about baby shower games, take a look at the articles on the right.
Will there be food at the baby shower?
Avoid time consuming dinners. Choose a menu with which you are familiar. Serving a full meal is not required, but certainly snacks, hors d'oeuvres, cakes, and pies are a welcome addition. I’ve even seen where the guests each bring a dessert or snack plate. Check your supplies way ahead of time - linen, cutlery, tables, and dishes. Always overestimate the amount of food you will need. Make sure you have chafing dishes or hot plates. Clean and cook ahead of time. Do not wait until the last minute. Plan seating that will encourage lively conversation. When serving buffet style, be sure you have enough tables or lap trays.
What about party favours and decorations for my baby shower?
This is another area where there are so many options. A simple search on the web for baby shower favours and decorations will yield a ton of resources, but if you want to make it easier and don’t have time to sort through the entire net, search here for baby shower favors/favours.
Other Baby Shower Tips
Buy camera film. Have someone else at the party be in charge of taking pictures. Chances are, you will be busy. If you get a lot of great shots, you can make a memento album for the parents later.
Don't forget the guest bathroom. Add extra touches like scented soap and lotion. Keep tissue and feminine items in an obvious place.
Pay attention to your guests. Know when they are ready to move on to the next phase of the party.
It can be a little awkward at first. A few close friends arriving early can create an instant party buzz.
Baby Shower Theme: Ideas For Choosing The Right Theme
Choosing a baby shower theme is an important part of the baby shower planning process. A theme will tie the entire shower together and make it more organised.
When you have chosen a theme, you can easily think about what decoration you are going to use for your desired theme. Without a theme, you are likely to pick several items that you feel will look good, combine these, and get an unorganized look.
Selecting and preparing a baby shower theme is not a difficult task. Here are some suggestions to give you an idea on how to create a theme for your baby shower.
Teddy Bears
Since the teddy bear is one of the first toys the child will own, it is nice to have a teddy bear theme. You can use medium-sized teddy bears to design the baby shower party area. It is not necessary to buy the teddy bears; you can borrow these from friends and family members. Also, you can purchase small teddy bears as party favors to give to your guests.
Stars
Stars symbolise dreams. "A star is born," they say. You can decorate the place with stars hanging from thin strings. You can also design the walls and the ceiling with stars and heavenly bodies. The program may also include wishes for the baby on how he or she will be a bright star.
Nappies
This is the basic need of the newborn baby. The baby shower organiser can decorate the area with nappies, especially those with cute colours and designs. You can even prepare a diaper cake by neatly stacking the diapers together.
The organiser can also ask the guests to bring nappies as gifts. A better idea would be to have a raffle for a special prize in which the raffle entry will be a nappy. This will help the guests since they wouldn't have to think on what gift to buy. It also helps the parents a lot, since they will have a supply of nappies for several months.
Books
Baby and kid books are good gifts for the baby. With a collection of baby books, the parents can have a small library for the baby.
The decorations can be anything related to books. You can place books on the table, or design the walls with books. You can even have a book-shaped cake and cookies.
Noah's Ark
This is a good idea if the parents are expecting twins. The guests will be requested to bring a pair of gifts for the babies. Pairs of stuffed animals may be used to decorate the place.
Prince/Princess
Everyone wants the new baby to feel like a prince or a princess. You can adorn the place with fairy tale concepts pertaining to royalty. You can create miniature towers and castles, a garden and shining stuff fit for a royalty.
Fairy
This is a good option if you will be having the baby shower in the garden. You can enhance the garden surroundings to make it look like the home of fairies. You can include vines, arches, bees and butterflies, as well as small fairy-like decorations to create a fairy garden.
Characters
You can choose a storybook or cartoon character as a theme. How about a superhero? There are lots of options, and once you have selected one, you can think about what items the character is associated with that you can use for the party.
With these simple ideas, you can conceptualize a special baby shower theme that will be remembered by the parents and the guests.
When you have chosen a theme, you can easily think about what decoration you are going to use for your desired theme. Without a theme, you are likely to pick several items that you feel will look good, combine these, and get an unorganized look.
Selecting and preparing a baby shower theme is not a difficult task. Here are some suggestions to give you an idea on how to create a theme for your baby shower.
Teddy Bears
Since the teddy bear is one of the first toys the child will own, it is nice to have a teddy bear theme. You can use medium-sized teddy bears to design the baby shower party area. It is not necessary to buy the teddy bears; you can borrow these from friends and family members. Also, you can purchase small teddy bears as party favors to give to your guests.
Stars
Stars symbolise dreams. "A star is born," they say. You can decorate the place with stars hanging from thin strings. You can also design the walls and the ceiling with stars and heavenly bodies. The program may also include wishes for the baby on how he or she will be a bright star.
Nappies
This is the basic need of the newborn baby. The baby shower organiser can decorate the area with nappies, especially those with cute colours and designs. You can even prepare a diaper cake by neatly stacking the diapers together.
The organiser can also ask the guests to bring nappies as gifts. A better idea would be to have a raffle for a special prize in which the raffle entry will be a nappy. This will help the guests since they wouldn't have to think on what gift to buy. It also helps the parents a lot, since they will have a supply of nappies for several months.
Books
Baby and kid books are good gifts for the baby. With a collection of baby books, the parents can have a small library for the baby.
The decorations can be anything related to books. You can place books on the table, or design the walls with books. You can even have a book-shaped cake and cookies.
Noah's Ark
This is a good idea if the parents are expecting twins. The guests will be requested to bring a pair of gifts for the babies. Pairs of stuffed animals may be used to decorate the place.
Prince/Princess
Everyone wants the new baby to feel like a prince or a princess. You can adorn the place with fairy tale concepts pertaining to royalty. You can create miniature towers and castles, a garden and shining stuff fit for a royalty.
Fairy
This is a good option if you will be having the baby shower in the garden. You can enhance the garden surroundings to make it look like the home of fairies. You can include vines, arches, bees and butterflies, as well as small fairy-like decorations to create a fairy garden.
Characters
You can choose a storybook or cartoon character as a theme. How about a superhero? There are lots of options, and once you have selected one, you can think about what items the character is associated with that you can use for the party.
With these simple ideas, you can conceptualize a special baby shower theme that will be remembered by the parents and the guests.
Baby Shower Secrets - Planning Ahead!
Now, anyone can throw the Baby Shower and it’s not just for the women! Men are attending showers, even having their own. It’s all about celebrating a new life, and welcoming a new baby to the world. And all babies, not just the couple’s first child, are a cause for celebration.
Traditionally, a close female friend throws the Baby Shower and invites all the women close to the mother-to-be, to shower her with gifts and well wishes for the coming baby. While this is still the idea, the etiquette has changed from generation to generation.
Proper etiquette is very specific about the Baby Shower - never should the mother-to-be’s family throw the shower, lest people think they were asking for gifts.
Skipping the surprise shower can really ease the planning of any Baby Shower. If it’s not a surprise, the parents-to-be can help out with the guest list and help you avoid scheduling conflicts.
Grandma and Grandpa may not be the guests of honour, but you don’t want to find out too late that the most important guests can’t attend. So check with the parents-to-be to make sure you haven't left out anyone who should be included, and let’s get this party started!
Once you have a general idea of the number of guests, you’ll want to start thinking about where to have the Baby Shower. You can host at your own home, reserve tables at your favourite restaurant, rent a reception hall, picnic at a park if you’ll be including children, or if this is a small group of female friends, why not make it a day at the spa with a catered lunch?
If you’re planning to rent or reserve space for the Shower, check on these details when looking around: how many guests will this location hold, is it available on your chosen date, can you decorate prior to the shower, what is the cost, what does it include, who is responsible for cleaning up.
It's always a good idea to schedule the Baby Shower about two to three months in advance of mum's due date. Unless, of course, you are having the shower after the baby is born.
"Hello World, Here I Am" Showers are a popular way to ensure everyone gets to see the new baby, and you'll want to wait at least a month after the baby is born for this one.
The time of day to host the shower is personal preference, and can be used to determine appropriate food and drink. If you just don’t know, ask the mother-to-be what part of the day she usually feels her best, and go from there.
Finger foods set around the room work great and encourage guests to mingle. If you don't want to prepare the food yourself, many bakers or grocers make deli trays of vegetables, fruit, or meats and cheeses.
They're arranged beautifully for any occasion and can be a life-saver, as well as a time-saver. When choosing drinks to serve, remember to include non-alcoholic and decaffeinated alternatives.
Coordinating is the easy part, but you probably don't want to do everything by yourself on the big day. Depending on the number of guests, it's easy to get overwhelmed and miss some of those small details that mean so much.
With all your planning, don’t forget a gift for the parents-to-be. Maybe your gift to the parents-to-be will be the Baby Shower itself, but if you're looking for great gift ideas, try a personalised baby basket, nappy cake or something just plain adorable from the baby gift store.
Don't lose sight of what this day is all about...a celebration! So remember to relax and have fun with your planning and hosting.
Traditionally, a close female friend throws the Baby Shower and invites all the women close to the mother-to-be, to shower her with gifts and well wishes for the coming baby. While this is still the idea, the etiquette has changed from generation to generation.
Proper etiquette is very specific about the Baby Shower - never should the mother-to-be’s family throw the shower, lest people think they were asking for gifts.
Skipping the surprise shower can really ease the planning of any Baby Shower. If it’s not a surprise, the parents-to-be can help out with the guest list and help you avoid scheduling conflicts.
Grandma and Grandpa may not be the guests of honour, but you don’t want to find out too late that the most important guests can’t attend. So check with the parents-to-be to make sure you haven't left out anyone who should be included, and let’s get this party started!
Once you have a general idea of the number of guests, you’ll want to start thinking about where to have the Baby Shower. You can host at your own home, reserve tables at your favourite restaurant, rent a reception hall, picnic at a park if you’ll be including children, or if this is a small group of female friends, why not make it a day at the spa with a catered lunch?
If you’re planning to rent or reserve space for the Shower, check on these details when looking around: how many guests will this location hold, is it available on your chosen date, can you decorate prior to the shower, what is the cost, what does it include, who is responsible for cleaning up.
It's always a good idea to schedule the Baby Shower about two to three months in advance of mum's due date. Unless, of course, you are having the shower after the baby is born.
"Hello World, Here I Am" Showers are a popular way to ensure everyone gets to see the new baby, and you'll want to wait at least a month after the baby is born for this one.
The time of day to host the shower is personal preference, and can be used to determine appropriate food and drink. If you just don’t know, ask the mother-to-be what part of the day she usually feels her best, and go from there.
Finger foods set around the room work great and encourage guests to mingle. If you don't want to prepare the food yourself, many bakers or grocers make deli trays of vegetables, fruit, or meats and cheeses.
They're arranged beautifully for any occasion and can be a life-saver, as well as a time-saver. When choosing drinks to serve, remember to include non-alcoholic and decaffeinated alternatives.
Coordinating is the easy part, but you probably don't want to do everything by yourself on the big day. Depending on the number of guests, it's easy to get overwhelmed and miss some of those small details that mean so much.
With all your planning, don’t forget a gift for the parents-to-be. Maybe your gift to the parents-to-be will be the Baby Shower itself, but if you're looking for great gift ideas, try a personalised baby basket, nappy cake or something just plain adorable from the baby gift store.
Don't lose sight of what this day is all about...a celebration! So remember to relax and have fun with your planning and hosting.
Baby Shower Recipes: Food Ideas For Your Shower
Baby showers are generally held in the later stages of pregnancy (in the last 2 months, for instance). There are, however, certain cultural beliefs that make people purposefully wait for the baby to arrive before having a baby shower. Adoptive parents, at times, wait until after the adoption is final and the baby has arrived in their home.
Baby showers are generally organised by close friends, relatives, or co-workers of the expectant parents (because baby showers focus on gift-giving, it is considered inappropriate for a family member to host such events).
In its early form, baby showers were held exclusively for mothers-to-be, and only women were invited to attend the party. In addition, baby showers were traditionally held only for the first child. Today, however, many people arrange baby showers for both parents, and they can now be also arranged for every succeeding child (even children who have been adopted).
Activities in a baby shower typically include games, special activities, presents, and, most especially, food.
Below are some of the most common baby shower recipes:
Pizza Sandwiches
Pizza sauce (can be store-bought or homemade)
Cottage cheese (low fat)
English muffins
Parmesan cheese
1. Mix 2-3 tbsp of pizza sauce with 2-3 tbsp of cottage cheese.
2. Spread the mixture onto one half of the English muffin.
3. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
4. Broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve.
Creamy Tomato Soup
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 can of tomato soup (condensed)
Milk
1 tbsp basil
Mozzarella or croutons (for toppings)
1. Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan.
2. Add the tomato soup.
3. Add milk (approximately the same amount as that of the tomato soup).
4. Add basil and cook slowly on low heat (do not boil).
5. Top with a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella and croutons. Serve.
Cheese Balls
½ lb cheese (cheddar or grated)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 pack cream cheese
4 oz Tabasco sauce
2 tsp onion
Chopped nuts
2 tsp catsup or chilli sauce
1. Mix all ingredients together using a mixer or a food processor (the cheese should be at room temperature).
2. Empty mixed ingredients on small bowls lined with plastic wrap.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. To serve, remove wrap and sprinkle with nuts. Serve with assorted crackers.
Chicken Puffs
4 tbsp butter
½ cup boiling water
½ cup flour
2 eggs
½ cup shredded cheese
2 cups cooked chicken
2 tbsp olives
2 tbsp wine
¼ cup mayonnaise
1. Melt butter in boiling water.
2. Add flour.
3. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball.
4. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
5. Add egg and beat briskly until smooth.
6. Stir in cheese.
7. Scoop 1 tsp dough into a greased baking sheet.
8. Preheat oven to 400°F.
9. Bake the puffs for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, and split.
10. Combine the remaining ingredients with the finely chopped cooked chicken, pimiento, and olives.
11. Fill each puff with 2 tsp of the mixture. Serve.
There are just some of the baby shower recipes, there are numerous others to choose from - from sandwiches & finger foods, to snacks and dips and sweets - appetising, yet simple and very easy to prepare.
Baby showers are generally organised by close friends, relatives, or co-workers of the expectant parents (because baby showers focus on gift-giving, it is considered inappropriate for a family member to host such events).
In its early form, baby showers were held exclusively for mothers-to-be, and only women were invited to attend the party. In addition, baby showers were traditionally held only for the first child. Today, however, many people arrange baby showers for both parents, and they can now be also arranged for every succeeding child (even children who have been adopted).
Activities in a baby shower typically include games, special activities, presents, and, most especially, food.
Below are some of the most common baby shower recipes:
Pizza Sandwiches
Pizza sauce (can be store-bought or homemade)
Cottage cheese (low fat)
English muffins
Parmesan cheese
1. Mix 2-3 tbsp of pizza sauce with 2-3 tbsp of cottage cheese.
2. Spread the mixture onto one half of the English muffin.
3. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
4. Broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve.
Creamy Tomato Soup
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 can of tomato soup (condensed)
Milk
1 tbsp basil
Mozzarella or croutons (for toppings)
1. Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan.
2. Add the tomato soup.
3. Add milk (approximately the same amount as that of the tomato soup).
4. Add basil and cook slowly on low heat (do not boil).
5. Top with a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella and croutons. Serve.
Cheese Balls
½ lb cheese (cheddar or grated)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 pack cream cheese
4 oz Tabasco sauce
2 tsp onion
Chopped nuts
2 tsp catsup or chilli sauce
1. Mix all ingredients together using a mixer or a food processor (the cheese should be at room temperature).
2. Empty mixed ingredients on small bowls lined with plastic wrap.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. To serve, remove wrap and sprinkle with nuts. Serve with assorted crackers.
Chicken Puffs
4 tbsp butter
½ cup boiling water
½ cup flour
2 eggs
½ cup shredded cheese
2 cups cooked chicken
2 tbsp olives
2 tbsp wine
¼ cup mayonnaise
1. Melt butter in boiling water.
2. Add flour.
3. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball.
4. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
5. Add egg and beat briskly until smooth.
6. Stir in cheese.
7. Scoop 1 tsp dough into a greased baking sheet.
8. Preheat oven to 400°F.
9. Bake the puffs for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, and split.
10. Combine the remaining ingredients with the finely chopped cooked chicken, pimiento, and olives.
11. Fill each puff with 2 tsp of the mixture. Serve.
There are just some of the baby shower recipes, there are numerous others to choose from - from sandwiches & finger foods, to snacks and dips and sweets - appetising, yet simple and very easy to prepare.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
