Baby Shower: The Welcoming Committe on Board

Finding out your pregnant is the best news of all. Well, second to hearing the grand proposal of a lifetime. After a successful wedding ceremony, hearing that your love has borne fruit is the icing on the cake. For first time expecting mothers, it is a difficult and herculean task to search and look for all the right stuff and equipment the baby will need. Moms-to-be need to list down all the things the baby would need at the soonest possible time so that little by little, each item can already be purchased and readied for the baby's arrival. But there is another easy way to almost have it all, without getting too much headache over it. The solution is to hold a baby shower party! The only headache mom-to-be would have is the menu she would have to prepare on that day and that is easier for her.

Now the burden of searching and looking for baby stuff is passed on to the invitees. But another concern is raised. How will the baby shower go about? The best answer there is, is to have a theme that would guide the flow of the baby shower. There are several ways of choosing and deciding on a theme. Do you want it to be based on color? In case you already know the gender of the baby, pink or blue is used to universally represent a baby girl or a baby boy. Or baby items such as a pacifier or a baby bottle? How about character-themed baby shower such as the Sesame Street, Power Puff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory or the Looney Tunes? It could also be a time-of-the-day baby shower whereby each invitee is tasked to bring something the baby would need or use during that time of the day.

From www.best-baby-gift-guide.com, it suggests wonderful baby shower gift ideas such as a baby gift basket, a layette gift set, vital baby equipment, beautiful baby linen, a baby massage set, or a baby gift certificate. Each gift idea is unique. For the baby gift basket, some ideas they suggest is to create your own baby gift basket or go for the classical clothing baby gift basket where you can never go wrong. You can also go for monogrammed baby gift baskets, fun baby basket, mother and baby basket, gift basket for twins, or a pampering baby gift basket. They also have different suggestions for baby girl and baby boys. For the complete descriptions for each item, just visit their website and read on to find fantastic baby gift ideas.

Once the baby shower is finished, take stock of what is already there and not. For those items still missing from your list, make the necessary arrangments to have it readily available once the baby arrives.

Just some last few tips for a successful baby shower: hold it four to six weeks before the due date, establish a theme, write down the guest list, set the tone and size of the baby shower, plan the games, plan the menu, create baby shower party favors, and last but not the least, set the time and location, if it will not be held in your residence. Remember, baby showers are a fun way to welcome the baby that would be coming soon enough.

The best baby gift ever is just a click away!

Tired of searching for that perfect baby gift for someone special? Fear no more! Here is the rundown on where and how to have the most perfect baby gift of all time. As I have searched the world wide web for the best sites that would answer my need, here are the more user-friendly sites that I find to give the best baby gift ideas around.

As with Linus in Peanuts, a baby blanket is a perfect baby shower gift to give that is full of love and thoughtfulness. Having it personalized is even nicer. For those with more formal tastes and preferences, monogrammed baby linen would give that sense of tradition. While those with eclectic tastes and full of adventurous spirit, baby shower gift baskets, wall art for the nursery room, personalized baby gift items are just some of the baby gift ideas that you could give. Each baby gift suggestion can be found in www.best-baby-gift-guide.com where they give a fine description to each item.

Baby gift baskets come in all shapes and sizes and they speak of your thoughtfulness for putting it all together. Baby gift baskets are so unique because you can personalize it, make it blue or a pink basket depending on the gender of the baby, you can make a gourmet basket, or a food baby basket or even a baby bath gift basket. There are a lot of ideas you can think of to make it a unique baby gift.

Another good site that you can visit is www.babyshowers.info where they list all the possible things and other necessary equipment that the baby might possibly need. This site narrows down your choices since it would constrain you to search for items that are within your budget for those budget conscious spenders. Each item is under a heading such as clothing, nursery, bedding, meal time, play time, keepsake, jewelry and other items. If you have the funds, why not start the baby in a starter savings account? The receiving parents would surely appreciate this baby gift that would start their baby in his or her million dollar goal at 12 years old!

A click at www.enactwi.org for those who are into the environment or into organic stuff suggest some baby gift ideas you can give as they are easy to make since the materials used are very accessible in stores and groceries.

Visit www.kiddiegiftidea.com to find an extensive choice of baby gift stuff that you can never go wrong with. Its product index extends to more than two pages to view all of its offering so there are a lot of items to choose from.

Baby gifts are the best when the gift-giver poured love and attention to give that very special baby gift. It is not that difficult to look and search for baby gifts as some would think. It is just a matter of creativity and time to think what the baby might need or use in the future. There are other web sites and web links that you can visit and find other good ideas for that perfect baby gift to give away. There are also web blogs of parents that provide not only gift ideas but other concerns regarding on how to take care of your baby better.

Baby Game Shower: Baby games to play at the Baby Shower

Babies are so much fun. But baby games shower are much more fun since moms-to-be, godparents, grandparents, and other invitees in the baby shower can get to play childish games again. Some of the baby game shower that can be played include Sing It, Baby!, Measuring up Mommy, Here's Looking at You, Kid!, Don't Say Baby, Baby Truth or Dare, The Seventh Gift, and Dig out the Pins.

These baby games are the common baby game showers usually played. They are a great way that would let the guests mingle and get to know each other, if they aren't acquainted yet. This is also another great way to give honor to the mom-to-be for having that precious baby on the way.

How do we play these baby game showers? Here is the run-down on how to play the baby game shower and create good memories of a great baby shower.

In Sing It, Baby!, the guests participants form a circle. They can sit or stand. Then, each guest must sing a line or two from a song that has the word "baby" in it. When the first game player has finished, the next person seated on her right has ten seconds to sing another "baby" song. "Baby" songs cannot be repeated, thus, participants who repeat a song or cannot think of a "baby" song gets booted out of the game. Last person singing in this baby game shower wins the prize!

How big has mommy become? Measuring Up Mommy is the baby game shower to play as this gives the guests the freedom to measure mommy's size. Have a couple of toilet paper rolls ready and ask each participant to estimate the size of mommy's girth by cutting the toilet paper to their guess size. Then each one wraps around the new mommy's stomach the toilet paper they cut. The nearest length approximating to the mommy's stomach wins the prize!

Remember how you looked when you were a baby? This game takes you down memory lane as you need to dig up those baby pictures of yours. Because you need them to play the baby game shower Here's Lookin' At You, Kid! Before the party itself, request all the guests coming to bring the cutest baby picture of themselves. Upon their arrival, secure each baby picture and assign a number per picture. During the game, lay all baby pictures and give each participant paper and pen and ask them to identify as many baby pictures as they can. The guest with the most number of correct guesses is the big winner.

This baby game shower makes you NOT say what you are suppose to be attending to! The game Don't Say Baby is precisely that! Don't say "baby" during the entire length of the baby game shower for the diaper pin that was given to you upon your arrival will be taken away from you. The person with the most number of diaper pins collected at the end of the shower party wins a prize.

This baby game shower is for those who love baby trivia and the like. Play Baby Truth or Dare by writing down some baby trivia, some correct and others purposely written incorrectly. During the baby game shower, ask randomly if the baby facts are either true or false. Those who guess correctly gets a prize while those who don't will be dared to perform in front of everyone else.

We all know that the single lady who catches the bride's wedding bouquet is said to become the next bride. In The Seventh Gift, it is not so much a baby game shower but more of a fable that says that the giver of the seventh gift unwrapped will be the next expecting mother. However, avoid "planting" the seventh gift.

Last but not the least, Dig Out the Pins is the baby game shower that tests the agility of the guests as they fish out the most number of diaper pins from a large bowl filled with uncooked rice and diaper pins in under two minutes. The participant that has the most number of pins brings home the prize.

The Baby Bedding Challenge

Having a baby is the most wonderful experience a woman can have as it is a fulfillment of the biological function of the female species. After the giving birth process, the real work begins. Feeding bottles, diaper changes, immunization records are just a few of the things the new mom have to learn quickly. And one important thing to consider in the arrival of the baby is the kind of baby bedding he or she will use. According to Dr. Mark Brandenburg (http://www.baby-place.com/crib_safety.html), the number one rule to follow in choosing the right baby bedding for your precious infant is safety. The second rule says safety and the third rule emphasizes safety. We are to conclude that it is not enough to say it, it must be emphasized that baby bedding is critical for the comfort of the baby.

In his article on how to find the perfect baby bedding, it must be neither too hard nor too soft. In the past, sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS was attributed to very soft baby bedding. This happened when the baby's mattress is too soft that his nose and mouth gets covered and the air he exhales is the air he breathes. This is dangerous for him since he would breath carbon dioxide rather than oxygen and the effects could lead to drowsiness, coma or even death.

There are a lot of styles and makes in choosing the baby's bed. And with that, it follows that the baby bedding must be a perfect fit with the chosen equipment. The three major selections are: a bassinet, a crib or a cradle. What differentiates one from the other? A bassinet is an oblong-shaped basket that serves as a bed for an infant. But sometimes, round bassinets are also available. A crib is a bed that is flanked with high side bars for a baby or young child's safety. Cribs are usually more economical since the baby can use it from infancy to two years. While a cradle is a small low bed that an infant uses that has rockers on its stand. In all these, the material used to make the equipment should alert and signal to the mom how much safety precautions are needed.

Bassinets are usually lacey and full of trimmings. The baby bedding must fit the bassinet so that the baby's space is enough for him or her to be able to roll from side to side. The crib is usually square, thus, mattresses can be fitted to the size of the crib. The baby bedding usually is a set of coverlet and small pillows. Hotdog pillows can also be placed inside. However, the pillows should not be more than two or three lest the baby can stand on them and could fall over. The cradle can come in various sizes and shapes. Some moms prefer cradles so that when the baby is cranky, he or she can be rocked to be calmed down. The baby bedding for a cradle should follow the shape of it. Not much can be placed inside it since it is used mainly to rock the baby to sleep. However, one need not the three to keep the baby safe, warm and secure. One will do and this would depend on the parent's preference. The most preferred would be the crib since it can be used for a long time.

Now that we've covered the basic equipment, how do we furnish it with baby bedding? We have already established that the baby bedding should fit the sleeping equipment to avoid accidents and other untoward incidents. The most suitable material to use is cotton as it is absorbent and cool to the baby's skin. Different designs must be used to stimulate the baby's color and pattern recognition. Therefore, the baby bedding is a crucial factor in keeping the baby happy and healthy.

Baby beanies: The baby toy of all time?

Baby beanies haven't been around that much since they were "born" only in 1994 when Ty Warner introduced the first baby beanies in the market. Not many people know that a baby beanie or more officially known as beanie baby were first made by him. He made the baby beanie to be more lifelike by giving it more air. In other words, there was less stuffing inside each baby beanie. The usual baby toys were stuffed to the hilt and they were stiff. While Ty's beanie baby was half filled with stuffing and half filled with beans. Hence the name beanie baby. Other competitors sneered and said that his toys would not last long. But exactly the opposite is what happened!

Now, the "original nine" as they are officially referred to are the first nine baby beanies Ty Warner made. These are the Spot the dog, Squealer the pig, Patti the platypus, Cubbie the bear, Chocolate the moose, Pinchers the lobster, Splash the killer whale, Legs the frog and Flash the dolphin. Collectors have dubbed them as such since these where the first baby beanies available that were selling at less than $5.00 each. Each baby beanie comes with a short poem to introduce it to the toddler. This was written on a red heart-shaped tag that is attached by the animal's ear.

Not much is known how many baby beanies are totally in existence since there are lines developed that create a family of baby beanies. The most famous is the teddy-bear baby beanie that was created. The basic pattern was just re-used and different colors were utilized to create a family. Different names were given to each teddy bear in keeping with the tradition of having a name. Some teddy bear baby beanies are usually used for commemmorative uses such as in the Fourth of July or there is a Diana, the Princess of Wales have been made as a commemmorative collector's item.

However, the official baby beanies were mostly animal shapes such as cats and pigs, dogs and hippopotamuses. These are usually brightly colored and stylized to make them pleasing in the eye. The official baby beanie comes with his or her own name. It has its own date of birth. And most important of all, a short poem that describes its personality.

The baby beanie crazed happened in the late 1996 when a frenzied collection of baby beanies started. This prompted Ty Warner to retire some of the baby beanies to hype up even more the sales and marketing side of his products. There were people who bought wholesale in anticipation of the possible future value of a single baby beanie. However, as with other fads that easily rise and can be easily forgotten, the baby beanie craze was just another fad that quickly fizzled. Or what the expectation of those "investors" did not materialize at all.

Inspite of what happened, baby beanies are here to stay since babies usually prefer soft toys that they can easily hug and bite and hold easily in their hand. Baby beanies need not be in the same family of baby beanies to be appreciated. A colllection of baby beanies show the kind of personality the baby has or it speaks the kind of personality the giver has.

One Baby Bash Coming Up!!!!

Birthdays are one of the most important events in our lives. This day signifies our arrival in the world and the celebration of it is a commemmoration of that first time we've ever came into the world. Most especially for our precious baby.

Here are some tips to get that baby bash on the roll and be the talk of the baby land for a week or so. One, preparation of the baby bash is extremely important! Create a theme that you would like to follow. Would you like your baby bash to be a sci-fi adventure? Or would you want your baby bash to be a costume party? Or rent even an amusement park complete with the merry-go-round and a clown or two. Whatever you decide, the baby bash needs to be well-thought of to keep it organized as well as the safety of the guests can be assured.

The baby bash depends on the age of the baby. For one year olds, clowns would do so that he or she can facilitate the party since the most important guests would be the little children. Magic shows and puppetry would be sufficient to keep the children interested and satisfied. While for two years old and older, since by this time, they are already mobile and have learned to walk, a costume party or an amusement park theme would be the solution to keep the kids happy. Balloons to keep them preoccupied, cotton candy to keep them busy and lots and lots of kiddie food.

Second, sending out the invites. It seems that babies are conversational pieces. Thus, your network of friends increase since you meet other moms and dads who have babies near your baby's age group. They can become your buddies, swapping babysitting time when you need to unwind and relax. Their kids are your guests in the baby bash and not the parents. Thus, the baby bash must be geared towards the kid's enjoyment.

Third, preparation of the food. Since this is a kiddie party, finger foods should comprise most of your menu. Kids easily tire of food and so small portions must be served at them. If possible, separate the food of the parents with the kids, if the parents were invited.

Sometimes, a baby bash becomes an adult get-together when there are no other babies that could be invited.

Whatever you have decided what the baby bash must be like, keep in mind that the baby's comfort is more important. Sometimes, there are babies who are afraid of clowns. You must have an alternative activity in mind in case this happens.

Fourth, post baby bash activities. After all the food, the favors and trimmings gone, it is time to clean up. The most convenient way to finish all the food left is to ask mothers to take home a portion of the food served. This not only minimizes food spoilage, it would also keep the kids occupied during the drive home, in case they start asking for food. Because there are kids who play all throughout the party and do not pay attention to the food. But once they have settled down, usually during the ride home, then they start to feel hunger pangs. Thus, you would be helping parents keep the kids behaved during the ride home.

Then baby bash need not be a strenuous and nerve-racking activity that moms would rather not plan for. It could also be enjoyable for the parents as well.

Baby Crying 101

Communication - that's what a baby's crying is for. This sweet thing that suddenly turn into a fit of tears is just craving for your sweeter attention. All cultures in the world nod to this pattern all infants are accustomed to.

A baby cries the most during his or her first three months. Though the amount of crying steadily increase, the crying time period may vary from an hour to most of the day and this could still be considered within normal range. Like, whoah, right? Babies are also known as howling tear factories.

Some thought that a baby cries more during the afternoon accounting it to the anxiousness of the mother or the stressed mood of the father after going home from work. But the most accepted assumption now is that babies have this automatic screening ability they use to shut off all the noise that may stimulate some response from them so they could get enough rest. But in the long run, this filter weakens and totally disappears during the approximate age of six weeks. This, then, make a baby very sensitive to the external factors such as noise, movements, etc. And these generally elicit a reaction from a baby and how best could he or she respond but only through crying.

There are many reasons why a baby succumbs to crying. Deciphering these reasons is the major feat a parent must surmount. Here are some of the things your sweetsome baby is making you understand through crying.

Hunger. Yes, your attention-hungry baby is craving to let you know that his tummy is grumbling. This is the most common reason for a baby to cry, especially, during his early months. The pattern of the hunger howl could be characterized as being persistent, demanding and almost rhythmical. But that rhythm is not at any rate close to becoming musical, of course.

Boredom. What can I say? Aren't these babies just plain spoiled? Crying because of boredom, errr, I'd find that a bit more twisted or weird if it's with an adult that is. But babies are really built like this. Crying is their way of telling you, "Hey get me a life here!" Aside from attention and food, consequently, babies need a lot of stimulation. And when they don't get this, there you get your waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!! The trick is to pick the baby up and play with him. This move may be frowned upon by some because of its amounting to spoiling the baby. But it is important to know that stimulation is also one of the major necessities of an infant and it won't hurt to provide him with some while in his growing age. This boredom cry is said to be also rhythmical and full of sobs and moans.

Discomfort. Pain is another precursor of the baby's crying. Who won't cry when in pain, right? Babies are not Major Paynes to endure the most excruciating discomfort they could undergo. They are little, vulnerable beings that need to be attended to when injured or when in an inconvenient situation. This cry could be more persistent, louder and more demanding. Shrieking and screaming, those are words that better describe the crying pattern roused by pain.

Another cause may be disturbance; surely, howling will proceed just when they're about to sleep or are already fast asleep and suddenly gets surprised by some noise, or movement. An illness that causes discomfort to a baby may also be the reason for a baby's bursting into fit of tears.

Baby R Us: One Stop Baby Shop

If Toys "R" Us is a company that offers various toys for kids, what does Baby R Us offer? No way! It's not babies! Baby R Us offers baby products.

In 1996, Westbury, New York, Baby R Us opened its first store. It has been immediately followed with opening six more branches on different locations at the end of the year. After tremendous expansion and joining the Baby Superstore chain, Baby R Us store count has reach 218 at the beginning of 2005. What a mammoth feat for a baby store, right?

Babies R Us is considered a pioneer in retailing premier baby products. It is said to be the biggest store chain in the world that provides baby products. They have stores and online stores that assist in giving a unique and fun shopping experience for their consumers. It has a state-of-the-art baby registry service that provides more convenience when shopping for your baby's needs. Baby R Us also has a Mother's room that attends to babies? necessities.

It has an online store that contains various helpful features that include the following:

The Baby Registry service is a product of Babies R Us teaming up with Amazon.com. Parents that are expecting their baby are permitted to create an online baby registry or update a registry that was set up on one of the Babies R Us stores nationwide. What this registry rids the parents is the inconvenience of surmounting geographic barriers and presumption of which products suit your baby. This way, when your friends and relatives plan to buy your baby a gift, it won抰 be that much of a hassle anymore. All that they have to do is go online, select, buy and get the gift delivered to you on time. All the land-based Baby R Us stores allow all purchase returns as an added feature.

Baby R Us also constantly maintains a sop Seller List?that usually include educational baby equipment, baby books, a pregnant mom's book, diaper accessories, comfy baby bouncer, play gyms, baby call nursery monitors, a changing pad, monitors with dual receivers, an infant car seat base, baby wraps, toddler rockers, baby swings, nursery care kits, feeding bottle set, etc.

Baby R Us online store also allows browsers to check on different brands of baby products that suit their preferences. The following are the categories that Baby R Us provides various brands of products on: gear, activity, toys, nursery, health and safety, specialty stores, feeding, bath and potty, and clothing and layette.

Baby R Us also presents gift ideas to those who want to share some goodies to their little kids, nephews, nieces, granddaughter or grandsons. A gift set is always considered a hit in making parents with their babies smile with appreciation. These are often in baby gift basket forms that contain various items that deal with the parents and baby's needs. There are also these parents Favorite?items and Babies R Us?basic gift ideas that are never surmounted by novel items. Gift certificates are also available as treats to the parents-to-be. Baby R Us even added new baby?or pregnancy?e-card. Along with this e-card, the option of an e-mail or a paper gift certificate is still offered.

Babies R Us online even has this resource center page that includes various buying guides, checklists, articles, advices and other information that will both benefit the parents and the baby.

The Way with Baby Names

Choosing a baby name for your child is almost like choosing his identity. Ever heard about the association of a person's name with his personality? That's how our names really work. A name molds a person's identity like a cookie-cutter. So, better get that best baby name for your son or daughter. Read on for some tips on how to provide that best baby name for your little angel.

1. Stop it already with the dictates of your family's tradition. Choosing the right baby name does not have to always rely on what your elderly relatives deem to be the best baby name. It is your baby's name, not theirs. So, better act like it. Once your baby is born he will be stuck with that baby name for life. That means it's not wise to just settle for any baby name that will suit your grandma's or auntie's taste.

2. Take a look of a picture of his future. You don't want your baby to be always called with a monicker that will forever ridicule him or will allow his playmates to make a big laughingstock out of him, right? Research about the meaning of the baby name you are eyeing to give to your baby. Don't consider Beelzebub as a prospective baby name just because you heard it from a TV show and you find it cute. Don't use Rodelfa just because a certain Mexican TV show's hunky lead actor is called Rodolfo. Just plainly saying yes to your gutfeel, thinking of the people that pops into your head upon hearing somebody spout a certain name, trying to follow a fad by naming your baby a certain celebrity's (sometimes notorious) or NOT THINKING AT ALL in giving your precious one his or her baby name are huge no-nos!

3. Consider reading the initials of the baby name you are planning to give your baby. Make sure they don't stand for anything funny, disturbing or something utterly stupid. Christine Sue Irving? What will happen on the next episode? Alvin Stephen Stuart? He抣l surely remember not to get near any hole. Fran Ursula Catherine Klein? Uh-oh! See? Can you imagine the sickening situation you may put your child into when he or she grows up?

4. Go check your family tree once and for all. Some can't still get away from some traditions regarding baby name decisions, especially when they have a special bond with a certain family member that they want that person's name to be a part of their baby's name. If your planning to still follow the tradition of putting a part of your elder relatives?names on your baby's name, you have to know whether anybody else in your family use that name too. You don want to confuse people when they're calling a name that's owned by two. Ask around.

5. Don't go for the overkill. Being too creative on thinking of a baby name can backfire, I'll telling you. Examples are too unique spellings. It will be hard for the kid to keep on spelling his or her name to people who only know the common spelling of such name.

6. Decide with your partner in coming up with the best baby name for your sweet baby. It wouldn't be nice to be always blamed when people ask who chose that awful baby name, right? Okay, kidding aside. Sharing on this kind of decision-making is a good way of furthering your bond as a couple, not to mention the possibility of coming up with a better baby name. Remember that the two heads are better than one?thought also applies to dealing with the troubles of finding the most suitable baby name for your baby.

Sound, appeasing relatives and friends and avoiding embarrassing initials and discovery of disgusting meanings are some of the major concerns that should be considered in your quest for the perfect baby name. You might find them a bit taxing. But in the long run, you'll see that doing your homework will make your baby thank you when the right time comes. Happy baby naming!

Baby Gift Basket Ideas

Planning to host a baby shower? Or a friend of yours recently gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby? How else could you express that you care for that friend of yours and her baby? A baby gift basket could be the best present that would express your concern.

A baby gift basket is one of those themed gift baskets that are presented containing items that are of value to the recipient. Oftentimes these baby gift baskets contain the following items that will surely give delight to the new parents and to the new addition. You could make use of this information to create or stuff your own baby gift basket that will rid you of those more expensive commercialized kinds.

Nursery room items. These include colorful mobiles to keep the baby busy, lullaby music to soothe the infant, and nursery rhymes CD's. Bigger items like layettes, changing mats for tables and cribs, and other furniture for the baby may be found in de luxe baby gift baskets. Educational toys are also good to make the baby gift basket more beneficial in stimulating the baby's mental development.

Toys R Us. The following toys are also nice to place inside your baby gift basket. Rattles, pacifiers, teethers, feeding bottles, infant cups, bibs and spoons are also useful add-ons in your baby gift basket.

Bath Bath Baby. Bath products for babies are also commonly found in baby gift baskets. These include baby shampoo, baby powder, baby towels, wipes, bubble bath, brush set and tub toys that the baby will surely enjoy in the near future. Baby clothing's could also be considered as one of the best baby gift basket goodies that one could ever give. Just be sure that the clothes you'll give suit the gender of the baby.

If you are to a baby gift basket to someone with a toddler or a young kid, the items should also suit the baby's age. Soft toys, board books, board games, piggy banks will certainly win the jump with delight of a toddler. Clothes for toddlers are also nice to include in your baby gift basket.

If one is intending to give the baby gift basket as a baby shower present, it will be nice if baby cookies, baby cakes, jelly beans and other baby foods will be found there. Announcement and invitation cards may also bring some added surprise to the recipient of the basket. Small picture frames and albums could also add more fun to your baby gift basket. Surely, this sweet gesture will be appreciated.

Gourmet food, wines and other fine food may also be placed inside a baby gift basket for the parent's celebration.

Oftentimes, bows and ruffles adorn the baby gift basket. But one could still be more creative by doing a decoupage of baby pictures or baby items. Other handmade crafts may add personal touch to your basket. They could be in the form of papier mache', origami, sculpture, small painting, woven or knitted items, etc.

If the one giving the baby gift basket intends to give it during a christening celebration or baptism, a small bible, silver cups and any symbolic item that adheres to the theme of the celebration and that the recipient's religion appreciates may also be placed in the basket.

A small gesture like giving out a well-thought of baby basket can surely go a long way. The recipient's smile is enough to mean a sincere "thank you".

CONCLUSION

Take a breath, and give yourself a round of applause. You now know more about planning the perfect baby shower than most people ever will.

For instance, you now know the importance of planning everything from the timing of the shower, to the food being served, to whether there’s enough space for people to eat and sit comfortably.

You also know about themes and games that can make the baby shower a memorable and joyous event for all. And, of course, you know about some of the essential do’s and dont’s that can make all of the difference in determining whether a baby shower succeeds, or runs into some trouble along the way.

Remember, as we pointed out at the very beginning of this book, your vision here in planning the perfect baby shower should be a flexible vision; there is no guaranteed prescription that will magically lead to the perfect experience.

Each baby shower has its own unique aspects, and there’s really on way to predict what will happen.

However, by following the proven, simple, and clear advice in this book, you’ll put yourself way ahead of the pack and truly hit the ground running.

 While others fail to understand why playing Taboo was an error, the guests at the baby shower that you put together will not have that problem.

 While others try and force their guests to eat hot soup without a table to rest it on, your guests will enjoy sandwiches that travel nicely.

 While other bore their guests, your guests will be laughing and having a good time thanks to the themes and games that you’ve provided.

 While others put together a baby shower that lacks character and uniqueness, people will rave about the one you put together for years to come.

 While others commit the cardinal sin of inviting men to a baby shower on Super Bowl Sunday, or during the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Basketball tournament when the local university is playing, you’ll have people sending you thank you cards for your consideration in scheduling things around that important day.

…and the list goes on, and on, and on!

Good luck, have fun, and remember: baby showers are about sharing good times and having fun! Keep this in mind, and there is no problem or challenge that you can’t overcome.

And don’t forget to keep a journal of your experiences – both positive and not-so-positive. This can serve both as a priceless memento of your baby shower experience, and as a very useful tool for you as you go to your next baby shower; or help someone plan their perfect event!

Couples Showers?

The website www.preggiepeggy.com has an amusing article on what many call co-ed baby showers. This term doesn’t actually mean that couples should be invited to baby showers. Rather, it refers to the husband of the mother-to-be inviting his friends to the baby shower.

A very good trend over the last generation or so is that more men are participating in the whole childbirth experience. Many men are now also involved in the birth itself, assisting the mother with coaching and helping her endure the stress. In this light, it’s not strange to imagine that men are participating in baby showers in unprecedented numbers.

The decision to have men at the baby shower – and these would be friends of the father – is a decision that, naturally, would be made by both would-be parents. It’s nothing that the baby shower producer (you!) should assume; because there may be pros and cons about the wisdom of this co-ed option.

If you decide to invite men, then ensure that this is reflected on the invitation. Also, keep in mind that many men consider Sunday to be a holy day in more than just religious terms. During football season (October through to January), Sunday is a very important day for many men; and showing up to a shower might be the last thing that they want to do.

So just bear this in mind, and if you have to do things on a Sunday, make sure that it isn’t Super Bowl Sunday! And there’s a period in March affectionately called March Madness; it’s a very special time for many men (and women!).

If you’re not sure of when these special moments are, consult with your local sports nut. They’ll be able to tell you when high and low season are!

Also keep in mind that some of the feminine elements of a traditional baby shower – such as, perhaps, the Tea Party theme – should probably go out the window if you’re doing things co-ed. Find something entertaining and, if at all possible, gender neutral.

Remember too that, just due to cultural upbringing, many men aren’t into the dainty side of life. So while they’ll gladly attend to support their friend (the father-to-be), don’t expect them to get all teary eyed as they discuss why Little Women was the most important book in their life.

Things NEVER to Do: Don’t Ask People to Eat Standing Up

Some people like eating while standing up; particularly kids, who always seem to be on the go and ready to do the next thing. Some of them even eat while doing something else, like walking or talking on the phone.

However, it’s safe to assume that your baby shower guests aren’t going to be that frenetic with their movements. They’ll likely want to peacefully sit down and eat; and that’s why you must ensure that they have somewhere to sit, and a place to eat.

This is an oversight that a lot of very well-intentioned baby shower producers make. The thing is, it’s sometimes very hard to envision just how much table and chair space is necessary. A room may look very spacious, but fill it with 15 people or more, and it can become very cramped.

Again, the solution to this is in the word plan. Take a good look at the space in which the baby shower will take place. Literally count the number of sitting spaces, and the number of table spaces. If there aren’t enough of both to comfortably serve the number of people attending, then you need to do something about this.

A quick and easy solution could be renting fold-away tables and chairs that can be brought out and then put away when the food is finished. Or, if the weather is nice, you can maybe count on doing things outside. If you do this, however, keep in mind that some people may still want to eat inside. Furthermore, always bear in mind that weather predictions are simply that: predictions. Don’t overestimate that accuracy of a sunny forecast; we’ve all woken up to thunderstorms on the day of the big picnic.

Also keep in mind that in western culture (e.g. American, Canadian, and some parts of Western Europe), personal space is generally seen as larger than those in other countries.

You can visibly see this if you ride the subway in, say, New York compared to Tokyo. When possible, the New Yorkers will allow for about 2 feet of personal space around each person. Of course, in rush hour this isn’t possible, but otherwise the 2-foot-rule is generally held.

In Tokyo, however, the personal space expectations are around 1 foot; regardless of density of the subway car. People in Japan are simply more comfortable with a 1 foot personal space orbit, while people in the US are simply more comfortable with a 2+ foot orbit.

What does this mean to you? It means that you should be aware of the personal space needs of your guests; because if you aren’t, then they’ll be uncomfortable. So even if you believe you have enough room to seat and feed 15 people, ask yourself: is this really the case? Or are you literally cramming people to sit and eat side by side in a manner that is going to be culturally uncomfortable?

It’s little things like this that may seem like superficial details, but in fact, they make a huge difference when the baby shower actually happens. So if you don’t really have enough space, then take steps to find more space; or, at the very least, don’t serve foods like soups that require a stable eating area (firm chair and firm table).

If you absolutely can’t find enough space for all of the guests, choose foods like dry sandwiches that people can eat as they stand, or sit on a stairwell.

Obviously, the ideal is to have everyone sit. But if you can’t, then your choice of catering can make things as good as they can be, all things considered.

Things NEVER to Do: Don’t Choose Awkward Games

We’ve come a long way from charades. Now, there are shelves full of games specifically designed for adults. Some of these games, as you can imagine – or might have even enjoyed yourself a time or two – are of the… er…well, they can be a bit racy. And they can ask awkward questions and inspire awkward moments; because that’s part of the fun of the game.
Now, you simply don’t want the word “awkward” to be anywhere near your baby shower. In fact, you want to keep awkward at least 500 feet away from your baby shower at all times. So to help do this, ensure that the games you choose are suitable for everyone and won’t lead to awkward situations.
Also, think even further than whether the game itself is intended for “adults only”. Some games, like Twister, aren’t typically enjoyed by people who may be obese, or who are afflicted with a physical limitation.

For example, if one of your guests is confined to a wheelchair, then having a game that requires mobility – like Twister, or a rousing rendition of musical chairs – can be very awkward. It can actually inspire hurt feelings.
Naturally, you can’t be expected to plan ahead for every eventuality. You won’t know, for instance, that one of the guests had a very traumatic piñata experience as a child, and therefore runs out of the room screaming when she sees one of them flying through the air. So what should you do when you can’t know everything that there is to know?
Simple: just have a few options. Keep a few back-up games handy, just in case you detect that people are uncomfortable with the choices. It sounds like a little thing, but it can truly make the difference between keeping awkward at bay, or having it crash the baby shower.

Things to Do: Set a Time Limit

Baby showers are wonderful events filled with relaxing laughter and shared positive emotions. Yet all good things come to and end. Or rather, all good things should come to an end while they’re still good things.
This means, simply, that you should have a clear end-time for the baby shower. This allows guests to efficiently plan their day, and it also gives everyone a chance to leave at the same time and not appear impolite for “having to run and miss all of the fun”.
You don’t have to monitor the baby shower so that is stays precisely on schedule; this isn’t a job, remember, and there are no shareholders!

While you’ll certainly want to usher the baby shower through its various phases (such as moving from games to food with enough time for people to eat), the important thing here is that the baby shower should end on time.

Things to Do: Decorate

One of the most memorable things about the baby shower will be the decorations. They might seem like yet another minor detail in a sea of details, but they will be something that people notice, appreciate, and indeed, remember.

You don’t have to go overboard on the decorations, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. In fact, the biggest investment here will probably be your time. Simply choose the decorations that reflect the theme that you’ve chosen. You may want to consult the mother-to-be on the decorations.

For example, if the mother-to-be is deathly afraid of spiders, a Charlotte’s Web theme with giant spider decorations probably isn’t the wisest decision to make.

Things to Do: Cater Accordingly



Perhaps more than ever before, people are very serious about what they eat; and what they don’t. In the past, it was somewhat safe to make catering decisions based on religious or cultural understanding.

For instance, many Catholics don’t eat red meat on Friday. As such, if the guest list included people who you knew followed this practice, you would simply include non red-meat alternatives, such as seafood. Or if your guests were Jewish, you wouldn’t serve pork.

While these cultural catering rules still certainly apply, more people these days are choosing to eat based on lifestyle choices, not just religious or spiritual ones. Many people, for example, don’t eat foods that contain trans-fats. Or many people don’t eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, or proteins (it’s hard to tell which one is good these days, and which one is bad!). There are also many more practicing vegetarians in the western world right now; and that, too, can be a little confusing. Some people who describe themselves as vegetarians will eat fish. Some will drink milk. Some won’t eat cheese or honey.

For fun, log onto the website of any international airline, like American Airways or Delta, for example. And within their site, just check out the in-flight hospitality section to see the different kinds of meals that are available. You’ll be amazed at how many different categories of food there are. You’ll find everything from low-calorie to lacto-vegetarian, to low-carbohydrate to low-sodium, and even more.

Now, don’t worry: you don’t have to serve dozens of kinds of food! The idea here is simply to be aware that in the world today, people are much more informed about what they’ll eat; and what they won’t.

So when you make your catering decisions, try and think outside of the box a little. This means, see if any choices that you’re making could limit your guests’ enjoyment of a particular food. For example, if you’re ordering little finger sandwiches, it may be wise to have cold cuts on a separate plate that people can pick and choose from at their discretion. Those who don’t want cold cuts (for any reason, including taste preference) can simply not pick them up.

Also consider the types of foods that you offer. If your guest list is going to be predominantly filled with senior citizens, foods like celery – which are murder on dentures! – isn’t a good idea.


Before we go onto the next do, please take a moment to consider whether you’ll have alcohol at the baby shower. Now, this book is not a legal guide and nothing within it, naturally, should be seen as legal advice. However, according to media reports, there have been some cases where people at parties consumed too much alcohol and, as a result, injured themselves and other people. This is tragic enough, but to add even more unhappiness, the party hosts were also seen as partly liable.

Now, these isolated cases which have garnered so much media attention were for holiday and new year’s eve-type parties, where alcohol is considered a party staple. It’s hard to imagine a baby shower where anyone would drink past the point of sensible. Yet it can happen, and it’s something that you simply need to be mindful of. So if you are going to serve alcohol of any kind – be it punch or wine or wine coolers, etc. – then make sure that you do what you need to do to cut people off who may not know when to stop.

Or, like many people, you can just choose to have an alcohol-free baby shower and not give it a second thought! The choice is yours (and presumably the parents-to-be), but it’s something worth discussion beforehand.

Things to Do: Plan

It goes without saying (but let’s say it anyway, since we’re all here together!). PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!

You may be one of those very talented people who tend to do things without a lot of planning; you just have a flair for pulling things off, and often, for pulling them out just in the nick of time. If this sounds like you, then you should really heed these sage word: PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!

The thing about a baby shower is that there are a lot of variables that come together to determine whether it succeeds or doesn’t succeed. As you know from reading the first section in this book, everything from choosing the time of year for the shower, to the amount of time to “RSVP” the invitations, are elements that can influence the shower. Or to put things more frankly: if something is wrong in any of these elements, then they will almost certainly negatively influence the overall baby shower experience.

So how do you deal with this? Simply by planning ahead. Have a plan – write it out! – and see what you have to do, and in what timeframe. If you need help, then talk to the mother-to-be and recruit some deputies. If you need assistance making a decision – such as who to invite – then get the help that you need. By planning, you’re able to see what you need to do, and therefore, you can go ahead and do it.

On the flipside, when you don’t plan, you are almost certainly going to overlook a detail or two. At the time, they may seem minor (“do I really need to follow-up with people who haven’t RSVP’d the invitation?”).

Yet once the shower actually happens, it’s kind of like racing a car in the Indy 500: if there are flaws, they will be exposed. So don’t let your little details come back to bite you, or any of the other guests (including the mother-to-be).

If you aren’t a good planner, then here’s your opportunity to become one. It’s not that hard at all; it just requires a little effort (that goes a long way!).

PART 3: INSIDER’S TIPS

Ah yes. What would a how-to book be without insider’s tips? These are the tried, tested, and sometimes regrettable details that you really need to know in order to create, management, and complete a perfect baby shower.

You’ll likely find some of these to be common-sense; though a few may surprise you. It’s these strange ones that are the most important to you, because heeding the advice – to do or not to do them – can be the difference between making your baby shower memorable for the right reasons, or for the wrong ones. These are all from the great website www.mamabebe.com.


As you plan and roll-out more baby showers (because you’ll be so good at this one people will want to consult your services!), your list of dos and dont’s will increase. Keep a journal handy to jot these insights and experienced down as you go.

Food

Author Randy Wilson (http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Food-Items&id=42045) has put together a wonderful article on the importance of food at the baby shower. He also delivers some fantastic advice on what to choose; and what not to choose.

The first thing that Wilson wisely notes is that a full course meal really isn’t typical for a baby shower. Rather, finger-foods, appetizers, and munchies like chips and crackers are more common. A cake is also rather common, as are other deserts, such as ice creams and pies. If you’re going to splurge on any of the items, then going a bit extra on the deserts is usually considered the more acceptable approach. After all, who doesn’t love cake?

Also, as noted above, the foods in the baby shower can tie into the theme. If the theme is celebrity, for example, then the sandwiches can be in the shape of little stars. The foods don’t have to reflect the theme; which means that you should feel bad, or like a failure, if you can’t find a way to make little star-shaped sandwiches (it really is an art form!). However, if you can tie everything together, it will make your baby shower that much more memorable an event for the guests, and the parents-to-be.

Having a wide selection is also important; and we discuss this in some detail in the “Insider’s Tips” section of this book. Suffice it to say, try and have enough variety to account for tastes and dietary preferences. Nowadays, the wise approach is often to allow guests to do a little bit of preparing themselves.

For example, instead of putting the salad dressing in the salad, or putting condiments such as mayonnaise on the finger sandwiches, you can leave these for your guests to add themselves, if they so choose.

The same goes for deserts. While it’s wonderful to have rich cake and tasty pies available, it’s always nice to offer fruit as an alternative. Some people may not want to (or may not be allowed to!) consume that many calories, or enjoy that much sugar.

Things to Do: Games

Baby showers are ideal places to play games. They not only help break the ice and get people laughing, but since baby showers are about having fun: what’s more fun than a good game? It’s better than working, right!

There are several games that you can play, ranging from old standards like charades, to more modern ideas like trivia games. A trip to your local toy store will fill you with several ideas of what could work.

However, you may feel like creating a game that has a kind of special baby shower feel to it; something that is entertaining and mildly competitive, but ties into the fact that it’s being played at a baby shower.

So in light of that, here are some great baby shower-specific games that come to us from geniusbabies.com (http://www.geniusbabies.com/babshowgam1.html). You can alter these games in any way that you wish to specifically suit your theme.

Game: The Winning Plate


This neat little game involves what most people love in life: food! Simply put a picture of a baby beneath one of the plates that will be handed out to guests as they eat. Don’t tell anyone that the picture is there; just let them eat. When the eating part of the event is coming to a close, tell your guests to peek under their plate, and give the lucky guest who has the picture a prize!

Game: The Price is Right


People seem to love this game, because it’s based on what many feel is the best game show of all time: The Price is Right!

Simply purchase a number of baby items, such as diapers, baby food, a pacifier, or anything that can be found in an ordinary neighborhood grocery store. Then, have the guests bid on how much they think everything cost. Reward each winning bidder with a prize; or offer them points, and then total up the points at the end. The winner of the overall game can then win a prize.


Game: That… Was ME?


This is a tremendously enjoyable game! Invite each guest to bring a baby picture of themselves. Collect each picture, and then put them on a giant board. During the baby shower, allow guests to go up and browse the big board of pictures.

Provide each guest with a piece of paper and a pen/pencil, and have them write down the names of who they think each picture is (put a number beside each picture so that they can be referenced).

At the end of the game, reveal the answers and see who has the best eye! This game is not only slightly competitive, but it also always leads to a lot of laughs and ohhhh you were so cuuuuuuute’s!