By: Ashley Hunter

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Know the Mom-to-be To be able to host a baby shower, you need to know the Mom-to-be. She could be a friend, co-worker, or family member. ashleyandriley.gif © Kevin Hunter Photography. Used with permission. You need to know the person who you are offering to host a baby shower for

Offer to Host  Speak to the Mom-to-be you would like to host the shower for. You should approach her prior to her 30 th week of pregnancy to ensure there is plenty of time to plan and prepare for the shower.

Co-Ed or Ladies Only  Will you be hosting a shower that is co-ed or for ladies only? Many baby showers today are couples showers. You will need to plan this point first so you can properly plan out the rest of the shower details.  If throwing a couple shower, you will be planning something more like a Baby-B-Q.  If throwing a ladies only shower, you will be planning a more traditional shower. For the purpose of this presentation, it will be a ladies only shower

Setting a Budget Make sure to set a shower budget. It is important to plan for invitations, foods, decorations, prizes and a gift for the mom-to-be. Having a set budget will also help you to know how many guest you can afford to invite. Make sure to write out your budget so you can see it and stick to do it! Writing a budget. [Online Image] Avaliable jakezukowski.com, April 2, 2012akezukowski.com

Selecting a Theme  This is one of the more fun parts of hosting a baby shower! You get to pick a theme: -Time of the Day Shower: Guests are assigned a time of the day, like play time, bed time, bath time and bring gifts according to their time of the day. -Diaper Shower: Guests bring diapers and diapering supplies such as wipes and pastes. -It’s a Girl/It’s a Boy Shower: More traditional shower -Gender Reveal Shower: Mom-to-be or Guests do not know the gender of the baby until it’s time to cut the cake, and see what color the inside is. Blue for Boy or Pink for Girl!

Guest List  Now that your have a budget and a theme, it’s time to create the guest list.  You will want to go over the guest list with the Mom-to-be and make sure that you invite VIP’s like her Mother and Mother-in-Law. Any other family members, close friends and coworkers.  Just make sure you don’t invite anyone that would cause the Mom-to-be stress or someone who will try to ruin the shower.

Selecting a Date  You want to plan to throw the shower at least 3 weeks prior to the Mom-to-be’s due date.  The best time to throw a shower would be the middle of the third trimester. The Mom-to-be would be in between 30 and 36 weeks along in her pregnancy. Remember to mark your calendar for the day of the shower! Plan Party [Online Image] Avaliabe lifehackery.com, April 2 nd, 2012 lifehackery.com

Select a Location home.gif © Ashley Hunter. Used with permission. You can host the event at your home Selecting a location for the shower can be as easy as opening your home up for the shower.

Invitations Ashley and Travis’ baby girl, Bridget is on the way. Let's get them prepared for the big day! You're invited to a Baby Shower! Saturday, April 29, :00 to 2:00 [1240 Round Pen Run] R.S.V.P. to Rhonda Hunter (469) Ashley is registered at Target Invitations should be easy to read, and give all the needed information. Invitations should be mailed out no later than 3 weeks prior to the event to allow guests ample time to plan to attend the shower and be able to get an appropriate gift for the Mom-to-be.

Selecting a Menu  You menu can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Many showers offer cake and punch only. Or the may offer small finger foods good for snacking.  Also remember to plan your menu around what time you are hosting the shower. You can offer Brunch, Lunch or Cake and Punch depending on the time of day you host the shower.

Buying Decorations and Supplies  You can find party supplies at a local party store or you can order them online.  It helps going to a local store to be able to hand select and see the merchandise in person to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. Party Supplies [Online Image] Available April 2, Utilize local resources, like a Party Supply store to make your Shower great!

Picking out Games and Prizes  It is fun to plan the more exciting details of the shower.  Games are always a high point of a baby shower, if they are done right! Choose games that all your guests can participate in and enjoy.  Prizes can be humorous, just know the taste level of the guests and match their attitudes with what prizes you give out. You can also have a back up prize just in case a more conservative guest wins a more humorous (what they might find as offensive) prize.

Selecting Party Favors  Everyone loves to leave a shower with a little something for themselves.  Party favors can be as simple as candies wrapped cutely to custom items. It all depends on your budget and what you are willing to do! Cadies are great, inexpensive favor for guests to take home. You can even offer a choose your own candy bar. Shower Favors [Online Image] Avaliable babyshowerideasforgirls.info, April 2, 2012 babyshowerideasforgirls.info

RSVP’s  You need to know how many guests will be attending the shower so you can plan for the right amount party favors, food, and ample space for the event.  RSVP’s should be received a minimum of 1 week prior to the event to ensure that you have plenty of time to prepare.

Getting Favors & Prizes Prepared  It never hurts to be prepared prior to your event. As soon as you know how many guests are attending the shower, you can have the favors ready. If you are having a candy bar, have the candy ready to go into dishes and jars for self service, have bags or containers like a baby bottle for the guests to put their favors into.  Prizes can also be put together before hand. Select which prize you think would go best with which game you will be playing.

Setting up the Shower  You need to set up hanging décor and food prior to placing smaller items around.  Have all your supplies ready at hand prior to the big day  Remember, you want to create an inviting atmosphere that says fun! Hanging Decorations [Online Image] Available blog.travelpod.com, April 2, 2012blog.travelpod.com Make sure you hang decorations at an appropriate level.

Decorations  You want your decorations to match your theme!  It is also a great idea to incorporate gifts, such as diaper cakes into the decorations. It make a fun and function gift and can be a great centerpiece! Diaper Cake [Online Image] Available onecharmingparty.com, April 2, 2012 onecharmingparty.com

Food  Have the food prepped as much a head of time as possible. Select items that are easy to set out and that will not spoil quickly.  Make sure that you have offerings that all your guests can enjoy. You may have a vegetarian or glucose intolerant guest at the party, so just be prepared!  It is also nice to offer a non-alcoholic punch for the Mom-to-be. You may have a more adult offering as well, it is up to your discretion.

Welcoming Guests  To be a good host you need to meet and greet your guests at the door. Offer to take their purse, coat or gifts and then show them to the refreshments.

Mix and Mingle  A good host knows how to make their guests feel at ease. Remember, be friendly!  You need to also enjoy yourself and enjoy spending time with these special people!  You can make small talk or reminisce about your baby shower or a similar experience.

Advice  A great way for guests to be more involved in the shower is to give their best mothering advice to the Mom-to-be.  You can either write the advice down in a journal or do a video for the Mom-to-be to watch later.

Games  Shower games are great ice breaker and a good way for other guests to know each other. They are also a lot of fun!  Some games that are played: “What’s in Your Purse”- Which guest has the most items on a list in their purse. Things like lipstick, keys, a safety pin, even a diaper. The Toilet Paper Bump- Guests guess how many sheets of toilet paper it takes to wrap around the mother’s baby bump.

Prizes  It is customary to offer prizes that go along with shower games.  Prizes do not have to be big. They can be something like a small bath set or CD.  It is fun to have a humorous prize, just know your audience before you offer something too offensive.

The Cake  The Cake should be set out for all your guests to enjoy!  Cake is cut before the gifts are opened, that way guests can enjoy watching the Mom-to-be open her gifts and their cake as well! It’s a Girl Cake [Online Image] Available vintagechichome.blogspot.com, April 2, 2012 vintagechichome.blogspot.com Make sure you have the cake in an easily accessible location!

Gathering Guests for Gifts  Have all the guests come to the area designated for the Mom-to-be to open her shower gifts.  This area is usually the den or living room if a shower is being hosted in a home.

Thank You List  Make sure that you designate a person to write down what gift goes with which guest so that the Mom-to-be will be able to send personalized thank you notes following the shower.

Opening Gifts  Opening the gifts is fun for everyone at the shower! It helps the guests remember how cute and tiny a new baby is and the Mom-to-be gets much needed supplies for the new little one! Opening Gifts [Online Image] Available April 2, More than just the Mom-to- be can enjoy the gift opening portion of the shower!

Finishing Up  It’s time to bring the shower to a close. Offer your guests their party favors, help them gather their things together and thank them for attending the shower!  Also, you will want to help or ask another guest (like her mother or sister) to help the Mom-to-be load her gifts into her ride home.

Clean Up  After the baby shower is over, all the guests have gone home and the mom-to-be and all her gifts are loaded up to deliver to her home, it’s time to clean up.  Pick up the trash, put away the leftovers, take down the decorations and relax!