Baby Shower Planning and Themes

There is so much to do in planning a unique baby shower and so many cute themes to choose from. How do you decide? Let Momma Bear share some of her expertise in planning a party for the new mom and dad. Here are the steps to take in throwing a great baby party.

1. Develop a Guest List

Will dad and other men be attending or will this just be women? This drives the whole party planning process from the number of guests, to games and the theme. Ask the parents-to-be what they want and go from there. If you don’t know, go with the women-only theme as Momma Bear has learned that men are OK with not attending baby showers. If you have an unlimited budget, go wild with the number of invitees. If you need to keep down the number, start with family, then close friends, then co-workers. Don’t forget to invite the parents-to-be neighbors as these folks may be called upon for lots of favors once the baby is born!

2. Select the Location

If you have a small guest list, someone’s house will provide a nice setting. Or look into reserving a restaurant party room. Some will have a fee on top of the food bill and others provide the room for free. Ask if you can bring your own cake and decorations. Another option is the community building in your neighborhood. Many subdivisions rent out the recreation center for private events. Maybe one of your guests is a member of a country club or women’s club? If the weather is nice, reserve a pavilion at a local park. If your group is small, find a local tea room. Wherever you go, make sure you reserve the room and plan ahead so you get the location of your choice.

3. Choose the Baby Shower Theme

Momma Bear likes this step the best. Here are some list of baby shower themes to help you plan a unique baby shower that will give the mother-to-be a lifetime of memories.

• Adoption baby shower
• Cowboy
• Couples baby shower
• Diaper baby shower (everyone brings a package of diapers in various sizes. Reusable cloth diapers and cloth diaper covers are available from Yellow Bear Shop)
• Duckie
• Noah’s Ark
• Prince
• Princess
• Stork
• Winnie the Pooh baby shower
• Twin baby shower

4. Buy the Decorations

Go with your comfort zone in decorating. If you like to go wild decorating party rooms, good for you. If you are like Momma Bear, simple and easy is better. Here is a list of decorations you should buy and items to have on hand.

• Centerpiece (Momma Bear recommends using a diaper cake as it doubles as the table centerpiece and a baby shower gift. Buy a baby cake to match your theme. Later it is a useful gift for when the new parents use the diapers, blankets, onesies, burp cloths and baby accessories later. Why not ask as few of the guests to contribute to buying a diaper cake? People really like to be included in a group gift.
• Tableware (forks, spoons, knives, dinner plates, cake plates, dinner napkins, beverage napkins, cold drink cups, coffee cups, tablecloth)
• Balloons
• Crepe paper
• Large garbage bag for wrapping paper disposal
• Boxes or paper bags with handles for taking home the baby gifts
• Disposible cameras
• Plenty of chairs, especially for elderly guests
• Notepad and pen to document who gave what gift so the mom can write thank you cards later
• *Ice—we know ice isn’t a decoration but don’t forget this important item

5. Recommend Baby Gift Ideas

Guests are going to ask if the expectant mother is registered as they will appreciate baby gift ideas. Why don’t you recommend that she register at Yellow Bear Shop for nursery bedding, a personalized children’s book with the baby’s name, a diaper bag, wash cloths and some hooded towels? Just have her create a Yellow Bear Wish List to make buying easy for everyone. For everyday items, provide guests a list of local stores where the mother is registered. Momma Bear really appreciated everyday items as gifts for her Little Bear. Ceramic piggy banks are nice but not as useful as an extra crib sheet.