No matter your love for or superstitions about traditional baby showers, there's something special about celebrating your impending arrival with loved ones. The occasion doesn't have to be traditional by design; in fact, it doesn't even need to involve gifts or games. Here are a few fun ideas to creatively celebrate your little one…
Book Shower: Throwing a book shower where guests bring their favorite kid books instead of traditional gifts is a really great way to establish your child's library. As the guest of honor open gifts, ask the person who gave the book why they love it so. Mom and Dad will always remember the stories and have something special to share with their child one day.
Mocktails & Dinner: What's a mocktail? It's a super-yummy, non-alcoholic beverage that's even more delicious for expecting moms because they can freely and limitlessly indulge. Take advantage of free evenings now and celebrate the parents-to-be. Throw a dinner party complete with mocktails and stay up way past bedtime.
Day of Indulgence: There might not be anything more delicious towards the end of a pregnancy than a spa day. Grab her best gals and celebrate mom-to-be with a day of manicures, pedicures and massages.
Couples Shower: Couples showers aren't a new concept but they're still a fun spin on the tradition. Involving hubby and his pals makes for a fun dynamic where laughs will surely be had. Put a creative spin on the party and choose a theme the couple is passionate about, like sailing.
Cupcakes & Crafts: What's a better way to celebrate a little one than with a craft party? Personalize onesies, create a handmade mobile or craft softies for baby's play mat.
Sprinkle Shower: Maybe you're superstitious or perhaps you're on your second or third baby — maybe it's been awhile since you were a new mom — it's okay for someone to throw a Sprinkle (aka light on the gifts) Shower for you and your bundle.
Join me as I transform a 100 sq. ft. room into a cozy, eco-friendly nursery.
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• 10 Inspiring Patterned & Papered Nurseries
• Mixing High-Quality & Budget-Friendly Furnishings in Our Nursery
(Images: Landis Carey)
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I became a parent through adoption. Even before we were picked to be parents by our daughter's mother, our friends threw us a book & CD shower. It was lovely! Recommend it highly to all pre-adoptive parents. Friends and family gave us their favorite books so we got books for all ages. We love reading them and remembering how they were once gifts.
I have been to many showers where we were encouraged to bring a book in lieu of a card. My only problem with this is that there tends to be a lot of duplicates. Most tend to go for the popular books ("Goodnight Moon",anything Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein, etc.). Next thing you know, you've got three "Green Eggs and Ham" books with personal messages written on the inside. Can't return or exchange something like that. Maybe it is just me (I have only ever been a guest; no babies yet for me). I don't like having duplicates so that idea turns me off a little.
We solved the problem of getting duplicate books by having people sign their names to a bookplate sticker instead of in the book itself. Then if there were duplicates we could stick multiple names in that, and the parents could exchange the others! Although we were fairly lucky that people tried to get more unusual books, we just had three Goodnight Moons, the rest were different. =)
Being the parent of a book-worm, it's been great to have duplicates of the classic books. We've gone through 3 copies of Where the Wild Things Are and my son is only 2.5.
Where are the boats from??? I love them!
@KCAT- you were BRAVE. I, too, became a parent through adoption and I was just thinking how nice it would have been to have a shower BEFORE becoming a parent. But I was too afraid the adoption would fall through to have friends and family celebrate before placement. I had my son for a couple of months before my shower so I really didn't "need" anything (everything you "need" I'd already purchased). Plus I'm too much of a control freak to leave picking out a car seat or even a diaper bag to others, lol. So the book party was perfect for us!
May I suggest a formula party for mothers who can't breastfeed, lol. Those bad boys are like $25 a pop, by far my biggest expense!!!
@jamieson AT seems to have given up on crediting images. I know the fabrics, but I too would like a source for the boats.
@JAMIESON and @HINMELB, Landis, the writer, here. Sorry I've not chimed in yet. I took the image, which is why it's credited to me...
BUT the wooden boats are adorable (also bath toys) and can be purchased from Tweet Toys on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TweetToys
Enjoy!