The Essential Baby Shower Planning Checklist
We know exactly why you’re here: to get all the essential tips on how to plan the baby shower! Whether you’re a soon-to-be parent, a doting grandparent, or a close friend, planning a baby shower is an exciting and joyous experience. After all, it’s a chance to celebrate the arrival of the new bundle of joy and to shower the expectant parents with love and support!
But with all the excitement also comes the whole planning process. And we know that it can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never hosted such an event before. We bet that your head is full of questions such as: Where can I hold the baby shower? What do I need to plan for? How can I make sure that everything goes smoothly?
Luckily, all of your questions can be answered! We’ve prepared the ultimate baby shower planning checklist packed with all the essential elements you need to know to organise a truly memorable celebration!
We’ll take you through every step of the planning process so that you can create a truly memorable and stress-free baby shower. Additionally, we’ve prepared a cool bonus for you at the end!
Guide to Planning a Baby Shower
Trust us, once you read our baby shower planner, you’ll be more than ready to host a fantastic event!
Choose the Perfect Baby Shower Date
Start your planning process by deciding when to hold the baby shower. Usually, baby showers are held between four to six weeks before the due date. However, it all depends on the soon-to-be-mum’s well-being, the pregnancy stage, and the guests’ availability. That’s why we urge you to consult all the potential dates with the expectant mother. This way, you’ll easily choose the perfect date, leaving you to focus on nailing down the other baby shower elements.
Make the Baby Shower Guest List
Have you picked the date? Great! Now you can create a guest list that includes everyone the mum-to-be wants to invite. Getting this list together will help you figure out how big of an event you’ll be hosting. It will also help you make confident decisions about the amount of food and drinks you’ll need to prepare, as well as how much space you’ll need for the event.
We highly suggest that you discuss the guest list with the mum-to-be to ensure that you haven’t missed anyone. It will make the process much smoother and easier for you instead of figuring everything out on your own. Also, it will save you from any unpleasant surprises!
Set a Budget
Whether you’re paying for the baby shower on your own or others are pitching in , setting a budget will help you stay on track and avoid overspending.
Take some time to decide how much you want to spend for the whole celebration. Make sure you include baby shower must-haves such as food, drinks, decorations, venue hire and entertainment (if you are planning anything). Once you crunch those numbers, you’ll feel much more confident with your purchases and make some reasonable decisions!
Choose a Fabulous Baby Shower Venue
You’ve picked the date, set a budget, and drawn up a guest list, so now you can start looking for a great venue where you can celebrate.
Of course, hiring a venue isn’t necessary. You can host a fantastic baby shower at home and create a memorable experience for future parents. However, securing a venue comes with a host of advantages, including an ample, attractive space, catering, and easy clean-up and many more amenities. Plus, usually, you’ll have help from an experienced venue manager who will happily assist you in creating a great event!
If you’re still hesitating, trust us! Hiring a venue will really make a difference in your planning. It will help you organise a celebration that the mum-to-be will remember for years to come.
Just make sure you consider the venue’s location when making your pick! It must be accessible and comfortable for the mum-to-be and her guests.
On Tagvenue, you can find a long list of baby shower venues in different shapes, styles and sizes that will match your needs. Why not check out what we have to offer?
Rock the Baby Shower Theme and Decorations
Now let’s talk about choosing the perfect baby shower theme and decorations!
They are an essential part of any baby shower, as they help create a great atmosphere and get the mum-to-be and her guests in the mood to celebrate.
Make sure to pick a theme that reflects the mum-to-be’s personality and style. Maybe she loves flowers, is a foodie, or has a passion for travel? It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just make sure it is personal!
If you don’t have any ideas, why not get inspired by famous celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, who enjoyed a lion-themed party? Or tennis icon Serena Williams, who had a blast in a 1950s-inspired baby shower?
Picking the right theme will help you get creative with the decorations. You can create a festive atmosphere with balloons, streamers, and banners. Or you can make DIY baby shower decorations! What’s more, if you already have a specific baby shower theme in mind, then – if you do decide to hire a venue – you should find the choice much easier to make since you already have an idea in mind.
Plan the Food and Drinks
Whether you’re hosting a big bash or a cosy gathering, the food and drinks you choose can make a big impact on the event’s overall vibe. That’s why it’s a good idea to offer a variety of food curated to the dietary restrictions and needs of the guests.
One fun idea for the drinks is to serve mocktails. These non-alcoholic drinks that look and taste like cocktails are a fabulous option to spice up the event and make it special. You can serve up some classic favourites like a virgin margarita or a fruity sangria. For an extra special touch, don’t forget to add some cute umbrellas or straws with decorations that match the theme!
When it comes to food, a comfortable and popular option is to serve brunch. You can serve delicious delicacies like quiches, croissants, sandwiches, salads and more. And, of course, don’t forget about dessert! Cupcakes or mini cakes decorated in pastel colours or with baby-themed designs are always a hit!
Prepare Baby Shower Games and Activities
No baby shower is complete without fun games and activities! They’re a great way to keep the guests entertained and engaged throughout the event. Plus, they’re loads of fun!
You can try classic games like Guess the Baby Food, where guests have to taste different baby foods and guess the flavours. Or how about a Diaper Changing Challenge, where guests race to see who can change a diaper on a baby doll the fastest? That one always gets everyone laughing!
Another fun game is Advice for Mum-to-Be. Guests write their best advice for the new mum on cute little cards, and the mum-to-be reads them out loud. It’s always great to hear what other mums have learned along the way, and it can be helpful for the mum-to-be to hear some tips and tricks.
If the mum-to-be loves DIY things, you can also set up baby shower craft stations where you can make baby headbands or decorate onesies. It’s a great way to get everyone involved and create something special for the new arrival. And if adding some competition to the game sounds tempting, try a diaper decorating contest where guests are challenged to create the most adorable and creative diaper design.
No matter what games and activities you choose, just make sure that they’re fun and celebrate the expectant mum and her little bundle of joy!
Prepare Gifts and Favours
It’s always nice to show your guests some appreciation for attending and celebrating this special time with the expectant mum. You can get creative with small gift bags or boxes filled with treats like candies or cookies. You can also choose something more personalised, like custom candles or soaps with the mum-to-be’s favourite scent.
When it comes to baby shower gifts for the mum, make sure to create a baby registry that includes all the things she will appreciate. And don’t forget to discuss it with her! Perhaps she has certain things in mind that she would particularly like, such as a studio pregnancy photo shoot?
Send Invitations
It is best to inform guests about the baby shower party in advance. Ideally, you should send out the invitations and the gift list around 4 to 6 weeks before the party.
Make sure the invitations include all the essential information: date, time, venue location, your contact information, RSVP and baby gift list. Additionally, you can add information about the dress code and what type of food you’re planning to serve so that everyone knows what to expect.
To Wrap Things Up
Planning a baby shower can seem like an overwhelming experience, but with this essential baby shower planning checklist, you’ll be able to organise and host the perfect celebration for the mum-to-be and her little bundle of joy!
Remember to start with the basics, such as setting a budget and picking a date and venue. From there, you can get creative with your theme and decorations, and don’t forget about the games and activities!
Show your guests and the mum-to-be some love and appreciation with thoughtful gifts and favours. And last but not least, have fun! This is a special time to celebrate the new addition to the family and to shower the mum-to-be with love and support.
And now for the bonus! Here’s our printable baby shower planning checklist, which will ensure that you won’t forget about any important details and can plan a memorable baby shower that everyone will love (especially the expectant mum!). Enjoy!
FAQ
When is the best time to have a baby shower?
Whenever the mum-to-be wants to have one! There are no hard rules when the baby shower party should be held. Usually, they take place four to six weeks before the due date. But you can also have it during the second trimester, as well as after the baby is born. It’s always best to discuss the potential dates with the expectant parents and take their needs and wants into consideration. Some women feel great before their due date, but others are tired and not feeling so well, so make sure the date is tailored to the needs of your guest of honour.
Who is supposed to throw a baby shower?
Anyone close to the mum-to-be can host it! This list of potential organisers includes siblings, cousins, parents, close friends, parents-in-law, and coworkers. The point is it has to be someone dear to her heart who knows her well and will be able to host a personal celebration she will truly enjoy. It is also not uncommon to have multiple hosts! Teaming up to host a party is less stressful, as you have of volunteers willing to contribute to the event and make it memorable.
How long do baby showers last?
Usually, baby showers last between 2 to 3 hours. This length of time will give everyone invited enough time to chat, mingle, celebrate the guest of honour and watch her open presents without her getting tired. We highly recommend you prepare an agenda so the guests can properly enjoy everything you’ve planned and the party doesn’t last too long.
