Planning and organization are crucial to hosting a successful baby shower. By taking the extra time now, you will have more time to spend with the mom-to-be at the baby shower. Proper planning means a perfectly happy celebration that will truly show the expectant mother how much support she has from her friends and family. Baby showers can be so much fun to attend and even fun to plan! As the party planner, there are just a few basic decisions to make; the rest require some imagination and creativity. The sky is truly the limit in planning the perfect shower.
If you are in charge of planning a baby shower, you might want to begin by selecting a date and a time. Most showers are held in the last trimester, usually 4 to 6 weeks before the baby’s due date. Planning the shower closer to the due date can be risky if the baby decides to come early. But, at the same time, it’s fun when the mom-to-be has a large belly, so don't plan it too early. Most showers occur on the weekends, but they can also happen in the afternoon or evening during the week, depending on people's schedules and your budget. Check with the mom-to-be to see what works best for her (unless it’s a surprise shower, of course!)
Next, the location of the shower needs to be selected. Where to hold your shower depends on how much you want to spend and accessibility. Traditionally, most baby showers have been held in homes (typically the home of the hostess). The down side is homes are often too small for a large number of guests. For larger baby showers, consider a co-host, church, picnic/park area, restaurant or a rental location (if your budget allows).
Now it’s time to create a guest list. Ask the mom-to-be for a guest list if you're unfamiliar with her family or close friends. Be sure to go over the guest list with her prior to sending out the invitations so no one is left off the list. Usually the list includes friends, family and a few close co-workers of the mom-to-be.
