Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting time, and throwing a baby shower is a beautiful way to celebrate the occasion. But if this is your first time planning a shower, you may feel a little overwhelmed or unsure of where to start. Our baby shower planning guide will walk you through each step of the process, so you can start planning with confidence.
Planning a Baby Shower Checklist
Planning a shower doesn’t have to be complicated. The most complex parts are choosing a theme and finding a venue, and all the rest will fall into place rather easily.
Here’s how to plan a baby shower in 5 simple steps:
- Choose the Theme and Invitations
- Choose a Venue
- Plan the Food
- Plan the Entertainment
- Choose Party Favors
Choose the Theme and Invitations
The first step to planning a baby shower is choosing the theme. Remember that the theme you choose will dictate which decorations you choose and the invitation.
There are so many fun baby shower themes to choose from, such as:
- Bees
- Woodland
- Nautical (baby on board!)
- Moon and stars
- Baby elephants
- Rubber ducky
- Sunflowers
- Giraffes
Once you’ve chosen a theme, you can start designing or choosing invitations and decorations.
Additionally, if you’re short on time, you can find entire kits or packages for baby showers that include backdrops, invitations, balloons, streamers and more.
Choose a Venue
Next, consider where you’ll host the baby shower. Choosing a venue is an important decision, so make it carefully, and note at this stage of determining the venue, you should also sit down and create the guest list.
Knowing how many people will attend will help you choose a venue, and the bigger the guest list, the bigger the venue.
Keep in mind that the parents-to-be will be nesting, so they may not want to travel too far. A local venue is ideal, as it will also make it easier for guests to attend.
When comparing baby shower venues, consider the facilities and amenities they offer.
- Do they have catering options or will you need to handle the food yourself?
- Will the venue offer decorations or can you bring your own?
- Are there flexible seating options?
- What about A/V equipment?
Remember to consider costs, too.
Of course, it’s perfectly acceptable to host the shower at your home or the home of a family member, as a backyard shower is perfect for spring and summer weather.
Plan the Food
If the venue does not offer catering or you want to host the baby shower at home, you’ll need to plan for food.
First, think about how many guests will be attending. If you have a large guest list, it still may be worth considering catering just to make everyone’s life easier.
Regardless of whether you’re doing the cooking or getting catering, keep the following things in mind when planning the food:
- Do you want the food to be served buffet style or will it be a more formal sit-down affair?
- What do the parents-to-be like to eat?
- What foods will complement the theme of the baby shower?
- Will there be children at the party?
Let’s say that you’ve chosen a moon and stars theme for the shower. A variety of moon pies and other galactic goodies would be perfect for this theme, and be fun for the crowd.
Don’t forget to keep young guests in mind when planning the food and consider any special dietary needs, like vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free. Do your best to accommodate all tastes and dietary preferences if possible, depending on your budget and the size of the event.
Plan the Entertainment
Along with planning the food, venue, and theme, you’ll also need to think about what everyone will do at the party. Planning the entertainment will be the fun part.
Most baby showers will incorporate games and gift opening into the mix, along with eating and drinking.
Here are some fun game and baby shower activity ideas to consider:
Baby Shower Bingo
Bingo is always a hit, and it’s a game that will get everyone involved. For this game, you’ll need:
- Bingo templates for the guests
- Pens or markers for the boards
You can play this game while the parents-to-be are opening gifts, or while everyone is eating, but make sure that you have a prize for the bingo winner.
Diaper Raffle
The diaper raffle game is a great way to help the new parents stock up on diapers. Ask each guest to bring a pack of diapers of any size, and each pack will get the attendee a raffle ticket.
Towards the end of the shower, you can draw the winners and hand out prizes.
Ice Ice Baby (Or “My Water Broke”)
Before the party, freeze mini plastic babies in ice cube trays, and have attendees take one ice cube and put it in their cups. The first one to have their ice cube melt and have their baby freed wins a prize.
Ice Ice Baby is a fun game that everyone can participate in, however, just make sure that you have enough ice cubes for everyone.
Chop Binky
The objective of this game is to pick the binkies up from the table and either place them somewhere or stack them on the chopsticks. Here’s the catch: the chopsticks must be held in the guest’s mouths.
The person who picks up the most binkies wins a prize.
Choose Party Favors
One of the last steps of the planning process is to choose the favors. It’s a tradition to hand out favors to guests who attend the shower.
Favors can be anything you want, but popular choices include:
- Bags of candy or sweets
- Bath bombs
- Succulents
- Mini bottles of champagne
- Bags of popcorn
Choose a favor that will complement the shower theme and will be something the guests will enjoy.
Enlist the help of other family members to help you get the favors prepared. It can be a big task to put the favors together, so get as much help as you can. Another option is to buy favors that are already made and ready for giving.
Plants also make wonderful favors for baby showers and are quite easy for one person to prepare.
Start Planning the Perfect Baby Shower Today!
Planning a baby shower doesn’t have to be complicated. From setting your budget to choosing the perfect theme and final details, a little preparation goes a long way in creating a celebration everyone will enjoy.
Ready to start planning? Use this guide to get started and get input from friends and family to make the party a success.
Make gift-giving simple for your guests by creating a registry on Celebration.com for your baby shower. It’s an easy way to organize everything you need and ensure the parents-to-be receive gifts they’ll truly use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Plan A Baby Shower Step By Step?
When figuring out how to plan a baby shower step by step, it starts with setting a budget and choosing a host. Next, pick a date, create a guest list, and choose a venue. From there, select a theme, send invitations, plan food and activities, and finalize decorations and favors, and remember that using a checklist can help keep everything organized from start to finish.
Who Pays For A Baby Shower?
Traditionally, the host pays for the baby shower. However, it’s increasingly common for multiple people to co-host and share the costs, especially for larger events. In some cases, the parents-to-be may also contribute to the celebration.
When Is The Best Time To Have A Baby Shower?
Most baby showers are held when the parent-to-be is around 28 to 34 weeks pregnant. This timing allows enough preparation time while ensuring the guest of honor is still comfortable enough before the final weeks of pregnancy.
How Many People Should Be At A Baby Shower?
The number of guests depends on the venue, budget, and preferences of the parents-to-be. Note that most baby showers include 15 to 30 guests, and that smaller, more intimate gatherings or larger celebrations are both common.
When Should You Start Planning A Baby Shower?
When considering when to start planning a baby shower, it’s best to begin about 6 to 8 weeks in advance. This timeline gives you enough time to choose a venue, send invitations, and organize food, activities, and decorations without feeling rushed.
How Do You Plan A Baby Shower On A Budget?
Organizing a baby shower on a low budget starts with setting a clear spending limit and prioritizing the essentials. If you’re figuring out how to plan for a baby shower affordably, hosting at home, choosing simple DIY decorations, limiting the guest list, and serving easy finger foods will go a long way.