If the new mom comes from a large family, be aware that she may actually be given more than one baby shower.  So be sure to check with her – or the new dad if the party is to be a surprise – before setting your date and time in stone. 

Once you have the date and time, the rest will fall into place easily as long as you remember two very important things – the new mom and the new baby.  Plan your party based on what the new mom likes and needs.  If she is first time mom, she may need a complete nursery.  If there are previous children, she may need just the basics depending on what she has kept and given away from her previous children.  Again, if you want to keep your party or gifts as a surprise, don’t be afraid to consult the new dad about your choices and what gifts are needed.  He might even like to attend the party!

Choosing the Decorations…

Most baby showers have a special “theme” for the decorations and gifts.  The most popular is to theme your party based on the room décor of the nursery.  Another is to use the baby’s gender or the mother’s favorite colors as the basics for the party.  

Becoming more and more popular is the “An around the clock shower”.  With this theme each guest is assigned a time of day and asked to purchase their gift with that in mind.  Example:  If you are assigned 3 am.  You may want to get bottles, formula or diapers for the middle of the night feedings.  If you are assigned 10 am, appropriate gifts would include toys, stuffed animals, playpen, or other items that baby would find interesting to play with. 

If the new mom has already has a family to take care of or is receiving more than one baby shower, there is another theme gaining wide popularity – instead of the usual baby gifts, you bring frozen meals for the new parents.  Of course, this idea is dependent on the freezer space available, but definitely one worth considering.  This is a gift that frees up time for the new parents to spend with the baby, gives them precious moments relaxing, and less time stressing over what to make for dinner, as well how to find the time to do it.  With a little research into what types of foods they like, this type of baby shower will make a big hit.  

If freezer space makes a “frozen meal” shower impractical, then consider having each guest bring a quick and easy recipe for the new mom, to help her minimize her – or the new dad’s – time in the kitchen.

Deciding on the Food… 

I used to make all the food for any party I planned all by myself.  However, those days are over!  I’ve decided I no longer need the stress of having the cake come out perfectly, as well as worrying if the store has all the ingredients I need for my favorite dishes.  For an easy, breezy, stress free shower do one of two things – make it a potluck and have each guest bring a dish, or have it catered.  Whatever you spend on catering or having trays prepared is well worth not having the aggravation of doing it yourself.  If money is an issue then have each of your guests chip in a few dollars to cover the catering costs.  

Believe me you will thank me for this tip alone.  There have been many parties where I never saw or talked to a guest because I was running around preparing and taking care of the food.  Don’t make that mistake.  Make sure you are able to enjoy the party and your guests; don’t get trapped in the kitchen. 

Should you have Entertainment? 

Keep in mind that some baby showers are nothing more than a family get-together where everyone catches up on family news while the new mom opens her gifts and everyone eats cake.  That is a perfectly acceptable baby shower practice.  Perhaps having entertainment isn’t your style; just remember you don’t have to have it. 

However, if you plan to have games, remember to choose your games based on your guest list.  Will it be a “Hen” party? Are husbands coming?  Will children be in attendance?  These factors will determine the types of games – and prizes – that best fit your party.  If couples are coming you can choose a few games that pit men against women.  If children are coming then choose a few games that are child-friendly or you can team kids with adults.  Examples of team games with or without kids: 

1. Who can diaper better?
2. Pictionary or Charades
3. 3-legged sack race
4. Bean Bag Toss

Keep your prizes generic for men or women, and remember kids don’t like to lose, so have plenty of prizes available for the small ones.

Whether you have entertainment or not, make sure you have plenty of film and batteries for the cameras.  These will be priceless moments you will want to look back on. 

The Big Day Arrives! 

Its here; the day of the shower!  All you have to do is pick up the food and decorate for the party.  Decorating can be a chore, but don’t think of it as one.  Have a little pre-party party and invite a few friends to help you with decorating.  

Another way to get the decorating done quickly is to actually start your party about an hour or so ahead of the time the new mom or parents are suppose to arrive.  Involve all your guests in putting up the decorations.  Remember to have a special place for gifts, plenty of room for games and lots of chairs for friends to catch up on all the family gossip. 

The biggest thing to remember is that it is a party!  As long as everyone has fun what does it matter if the dip got spilled into the potato salad, or if the kids are running around like wild Indians?  Who cares!  It’s a party!

Kathy Barto
www.fairyliciousdiapercakes.com

Whether you are preparing for the arrival of a boy, girl or twins, you can be sure your family and friends will arrange to hold a baby shower for the new baby.  What better way is there for first-time couples to receive some of the most required items for their nursery?

The first step to setting up a baby shower is to choose where and when to hold it.  If you are needing to keep your out-of-pocket expenses down, then use one of these options:

•    Your home
•    A Friend’s home
•    Your Church
•    A Community Hall
•    A Picnic Shelter at a local Park

Once the site is set and definite for the planned event date, then it is time to plan the guest list for the shower.  After deciding on who is attending, the next step to settling on what entertainment and food you should plan.  First, will it be a surprise event?  Will the new father be invited?  Will it a full family celebration?

More and more, baby festivities are becoming a family affair; especially when older siblings are already part of the family unit.  Making the event family oriented gives you a whole different set of options for having  an extraordinary affair, yet observing the event’s  finances small.  One very laid-back and commonly expected way is to have a Pot Luck where everyone brings their favorite foods.  A Pot Luck is fitting for either a barbecue or a park picnic.

Holding a family baby affair, while eliminating some planning problems, does present others; like what types of amusements to have that everyone can participate in.  This can easily be planned around with a little resourceful cleverness.  Have games everyone can play.  Just be sure to have fitting prizes for any age winner.

•    Egg on Spoon Race, or golf ball on the spoon
•    3-legged Sack Race – always a family favorite
•    Ball Toss – Toss the ball at a target or through a hoop, closest one wins
•    A Scavenger Hunt
•    If you are at the park and the sand pit is large enough, hold a sand sculpting contest.
•    Charades or Pictionary
•    Guess the number of beans in a jar, or similar idea

Now that you have the place, day and time, who’s coming, food and entertainment under control, the next step is to make up your mind about decorations.  I like to use a similar theme as the parents are using in the nursery for the shower and invitations.  I also recommend giving presents in the same theme to go well in the nursery.  If the party is a surprise, be sure to include that on your invite.  If you are having a family party, then make a note to the adults that kids are not only invited, but are encouraged to be present.  I also suggest that the host/hostess of the shower offer to keep a gift registry of which guest plans to purchase what gift.  This simple gesture will be most treasured by the new parents.  Also when several guests cannot choose what to give, you will have the chance to indicate presents  or encourage one or two guests combine their funds.  Invitations should be sent out at least 45-30 days prior to the party date.  Request RSVP’s should be returned no later than 30 days before the event.

Decorations for the shower will be by and large decided by whether the party is inside or outside.  Inside, you can use balloons, streamers and banners, as well has tablecloths and matching napkins and paper plate themes.  Outdoors, you will probably want to keep the balloons, streamers, banners and tablecloths to a minimum in case it gets windy.  However, a lot of scotch tape can help keep most things in place.

One way to give a very useful present yet have a spectacular centerpiece is to use either a diaper cake or a baby gift basket as your central decoration.  Once the party is finished, the diaper cake or gift basket is a fully useful gift for the new parents.  Diaper cakes and baby gift baskets are a spectacular way to decorate as well as give as presents.  New parents are partial to getting all the surprises each holds.

So now you have a fully designed, inexpensive baby party that will be an event that your friends and family will  think of for years to come.  Good Luck!

———-

Kathy Barto
www.FairyliciousDiaperCakes.com

For a creative individual handling baby shower decorations can be a snap.  Going to any online store that has diaper cakes or baby gift baskets can give you a ton of thoughts for decorating, as well as a few unbelievable centerpiece displays.

Before settling on decorations, you need to come up a idea for the baby shower.  There many ideas are available, such as: themes for girls, themes for boys, themes for when you don’t know the gender, themes for the new mom, themes for both parents, teddy bear themes, as well as many other traditional and unique decorating ideas.  Once you have decided on the idea, use it for not only the decorations, but the invitations, the games, etc.

Diaper cakes are a logical choice for a beautiful, yet functional centerpiece.  They are chiefly made from rolled up disposable, cloth or organic diapers and then tied in layers with trimmings.  Then instead of frosting, you use baby blankets or baby bath towels to cover the diapers.  And, top the whole thing off with plenty of most needed baby products, toy and stuffed animals, and plenty of ribbons and trimmings.  What could make a better decoration or gift!  If you feel that making the actual diaper part of the cake is too complex, then buy a ready-made 3 or 4 tier diaper cake base.  These are actually very sensibly priced and will decrease your work by half.

Baby Gift Baskets are also a heartfelt gift for the expecting parents.  Instead of placing your “ingredients” on a cake they are beautifully arranged into a basket, bucket, or other such container.  These are especially nice if you set up a long table and need more than one centerpiece.  Or, they make a whimsical addition to any diaper cake and you can put one on each side of the diaper cake for a truly special display.

Make your own banners.  Most everyone has or has access to some type of computer graphics program.  Once you have your artwork finalized take it to a copy shop and have them put onto a banner size of your choice.  Accent your banners with balloons and streamers which are in general accessible at any party store or website.

If you are having an all ladies’ party, then plan your games with a few crafts included.  Everyone likes to take something home as a keepsake, so include at least one or two craft type project with your games.  You can make candles, soaps or even 3D decorations for the baby’s nursery, such as wall artworks or photo frames, etc.

Many hostesses now are planning showers for both the new mother and father.  If that is the case, then gear your games to include ones that will keep the guys involved.  The same goes if you are including kids.  Keep in mind to have prizes for all the winners.

If the new baby’s father, older brother(s) and/or sister(s) will be in attendance, it would be very kind to give them each a personal gift just for themselves.  It will make them feel a part of the merriment and make the new mother very appreciative for your forethought.  There are now a lot of very smart gift ideas for new dads and siblings, as more and more the complete family is being invited to the baby shower.

Whether you are crafty or not, planning for a new baby’s shower can be a totally pleasurable  process.  Don’t by shy, let the “inner you” come out and astonish everyone!

Kathy Barto
FairyliciousDiaperCakes.com

Come Check Them Out!

The principal obstacle can be to choose which of the gifts most needed by the new parents that you can afford to pay for. One way to get more expensive or better quality gifts is to have several people or couples “chip in” together and pay for one main gift. This is a really helpful way for parents without previous children to get some of the larger chief nursery items like cribs, dressers, changing tables, etc.

If the new parents already have their nursery setup, then the task of choosing your gift is to some extent easier, but can be just as complicated for those new to the baby shower game.  If the new baby is going to be a boy, what better way to welcome him than with a NY Yankee themed baby shower!

1. Diapers are one of the most popular gifts for new parents. After all, who wants to run out of diapers at 2 am? No one, of course. One way to achieve this type of functionality is to purchase a diaper cake. A diaper cake is mainly designed from diapers – either disposable or organic – with small versions of baby products, toys and clothing items used as decorations. All these “ingredients” are designed into a stunning gift that very much resembles an actual cake. It is one way to stock the nursery and still give a stunning gift at the same time.

2. Baby Gift Baskets are another inexpensive way to give multiple gifts and help the new parents to stock up on baby supplies, wipes, diapers, keepsakes and clothing items. Now a days there are many matching diaper cake and gift baskets themes so that you can give the gifts to match either the decorations chosen for the baby shower or the room décor of the nursery.

3. Personalized baby items, such as blankets or onesies, also make great gifts – if you know the name of the new baby-to-be. When baby outgrows the gift, it will then become a meaningful keepsake for mom to pass down through the family.

4. Every baby needs a much loved stuffed animal to go to sleep with. There are so many to choose from and almost all of them are hypo-allergenic. You can’t go wrong with an adorable stuffed teddy bear or other stuffed animal. It will afford years of joy for the new baby.

5. Baby clothes are also a logical gift. Be aware of the time of year the baby is expected in. Remember in the summer when it is so very hot, most babies are only wearing onesies, diapers and hats. So don’t go overboard on the expensive dresses and playsuits. If the baby is expected in the winter months, then a little more attention to clothing is usual, but again as babies grow so swiftly don’t go overboard on clothing that she/he will possibly only get to wear once or twice.

6. Keepsakes make great gifts. Special rattles, cute nightlights, brush, mirror and comb sets, music boxes, picture frames, all are endearing little gifts for the new baby. If they can be personalized with the new baby’s name, all the better.

7. Crib toys are another great gift idea. Babies love stuff that moves and make sounds. For the crib the sounds should be comforting and less loud than non-crib type toys. No one wants baby awakened during the night by accidentally bumping or rolling over on a noisy toy. Mobiles are great too. In the baby’s early years the basic colors are best – blue, red and yellow. Just choose a theme to match the nursery décor and you will be a hit.

Any of these gift ideas will make your offering very special indeed. Remember, if you want to give a larger gift basket or chip in on nursery furniture or larger items; be sure to let the baby shower hostess know. That way she can let others who wish to combine forces know who to get in touch with.

Kathy Barto
www.fairyliciousdiapercakes.com

Party preparations should begin when the new mom is about five to six months along in her pregnancy.

1.  Make sure with all family members that they know that you are planning the event.  I am sure no one minds giving the new parents two baby showers, but it would be nice if they are not both being held on the same day and time.  So make sure you set the day and time of the event well in advance to eliminate would-be controversy.  Customarily, baby showers are planned for about six weeks prior to the expected due date.  Pick a convenient day and time for those guests who work.  Be sure to add on the invitation if the event is to be surprise.  And, always ask for a R.S.V.P. no later than 30 days in advance of the event date.

2.  Determine how many people you want to invite.  Do you want to include co-workers? Spouses? Children?  Or, do you want to limit invitations to the event to the new mother and her closest friends?  Do you want to hold the event at your house, another friend’s house, a restaurant, or another venue?  Once you know how many people will be invited and where it will be held, you need to set your budget and start deciding your menu.  If you want to cut down on some of the food expenses, consider making your event pot luck and ask everyone to bring a dish – keep track of who is bringing what, otherwise you could end up with a bunch of potato chips and dip.

3.  Are you going to ask that everyone tell you what they plan to bring as a present?  This is a special service the baby shower hostess can perform to help the new parents receive gifts they need and get only one present of each.  I highly recommend that each hostess seriously consider setting up a gift registry and keep track of who is bringing what present.  There are also stores and websites where parents can go and register for the gifts they would like to receive.  As hostess, you can help your guests to find the stores or websites where the parents have listed their favorite picks, thus making sure they will get at least some of the items they really want.

4.  Next you must need to settle on on a theme for the event.  Does your new mother know the sex of the baby?  Knowing the sex can help decide the best theme and decorations for the shower, particularly if the new mom has a favorite color, animal, or already plans to decorate the nursery in a specific theme.  Let say the new mom is going for the jungle theme with the nursery decor.  Continue with that scheme for the baby shower with your invitations and decorations.  You can use a jungle themed diaper cake or baby gift basket as a wonderful centerpiece.  This type of decoration serves a dual purpose; it is both decoration and a functional present.  Advise your guests on your invitations that where applicable, gifts matching the nursery’s decor will be appreciated.

5.  Now that you have your celebration’s date, invitations, have decided the theme and location of the shower; next you need to decide on the menu.  I prefer to cater when possible and use menus that are within the context of the theme of the party.  So name your dishes with your theme in mind and put little cards next to them advising each guest what the dish is.  Example:  for deviled eggs, a suitable jungle theme name could be Crocodile Eggs or Snake Eyes.

6.  Next settle on on the games you plan to play at the shower.  There are some really excellent games available online.  Your guest list will decide the type of games to pick.  If you are having couples than you will want games where one or two couples can be teamed together.  If you are having kids as well, remember to have games especially for them.  And if it’s just the ladies, then the games should be decided on with just them in mind.  Just remember that each game should have a prize for the winner(s).

7.  About 30 days prior to the party, your R.S.V.P.’s should all have been returned and you can see who is coming.  If you are going to track the gifts for the new baby, now is the time you will want to start your list.  If you included an announcement on your invitation about your gift registry, then it would be totally correct to start calling those attending (who didn’t note their present on the R.S.V.P.) and start noting what their gifts will be.  If any guest is still undecided, you can make suggestions based on what the new mom is already receiving from others.  If they new parents are having their first baby and need high-dollar items, you can suggest that several guests might wish to go-together and purchase a more expensive present.

If you follow these simple suggestions, by the time the party date arrives, you will be able to relax and enjoy the event with minimal fuss on your part.  And the new mother will be very grateful for all your thoughtfulness and hard work.

Kathy Barto
www.FairyliciousDiaperCakes.com

There are many, many places to get specialized baby shower invitations, as well as places where the new parents can register for gifts. Yes, register for gifts. Doesn’t that make perfect sense? Register at online stores or have your shower hostess track  who is bring what, so you don’t get inundated with same gift or gifts over and over.

Make your event a surprise for the new parents. Hold the shower at your home or another friend’s. Keep everything on the QT and get all the friends and neighbors involved in keeping it secret. Just remember to make sure your invitations indicate that you are giving a surprise party, or someone will be bound to spill the beans by accident.

If the parents already have children, holding a co-ed or family baby shower with other children present will make them part of the festivities. You might even consider having a special present just for the new dad, big brother and/or big sister. Making them feel special will help ease any potential jealousy over the baby getting a lot of gifts and make the new mother very grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Be creative with your entertainment. Remember to include the children in the games if they are attending. Hold races for the kids, bob for apples, have a scavenger hunt. For adults have word games, pictionary or charades. As hostess you can even get several couples to go together and get specific presents for the new baby.

With a co-ed baby shower you just need to keep in mind to keep it guy-and-kid-friendly; so maybe use less frilly decorations even if the baby is going to be a girl. Don’t turn the guys off; you want them to be excited about the big event. The same goes for the kids as well.

Perfect gifts for baby showers are the newest thing in baby shower party decorations – a baby shower diaper cake and/or a baby shower gift baskets. An you can even theme the diaper cake and gift basket to match whether you are using a jungle, animal, Mother Goose, or just about any theme imaginable.

Having a co-ed baby shower brings a whole new level of excitement to the celebration. You can host a dinner, a barbecue, and backyard party for not only parents but their kids. Whether the new parent(s) is single mom, adopting or already has children, a family or co-ed party can be just the ticket to having a truly memorable event.

We do suggest however, that as guys and kids will be attending, that you actually have a REAL cake too!

Kathy Barto
FairyliciousDiaperCakes.com

The giving of presents to honor the new baby’s arrival is a centuries old tradition in almost every country and culture on Earth. However, in light of today’s troubling economy, deciding on the most useful gift to give within your price range can be a difficult undertaking. Finding the right gift at an affordable price can be a daunting task.

Therefore, when deciding on the ideal baby gift, then you may want to reflect on some of the following possibilities:

1. Is your gift necessary?

2. Will baby out grow it?

3. Is there a possibility that baby will be allergic to it?

4. What if someone else gives the new mom an identical gift, will baby need more than one?

5. Can I get another mom, couple or co-worker to “go in with me” to purchase a better quality gift?

One way out to this dilemma is a gift basket of newborn clothing and baby products, including hypoallergenic soaps, shampoo, toys and clothing. Gift baskets can be personalized with the new baby’s name or sex, if the parents know whether they are expecting a girl or a boy and have already chosen a name. And gift baskets are very affordable when either purchased alone or as a group.

Another affordable way give a practical and functional gift is the coolest trend in Baby Shower decorations – a Diaper Cake! That’s right a Baby Shower Diaper Cake. Diaper cakes are basically made from disposal or organic diapers and decorated with stuffed animals, baby products and baby gifts. These “decorations” come in so many styles and themes there is sure to be one to match your decorating idea for a baby shower. There are all sizes and price ranges available.

New parents gratefully welcome these wonderful presents, because they provide supplies that both stretch their baby care dollar and also prevent running out of supplies at the last minute. No new parent can have too many diapers or baby products!

Therefore, given the possibilities above, giving a baby gift basket or a diaper cake make the most practical gift in today’s world. Whether you are giving the new parents a Baby Shower and use these presents as party decorations, in addition to other presents, or whether you plan to give the gift from yourself, these presents meet all the criteria for an extraordinary gift-giving and gift-receiving experience.

These great gift ideas are perfect for corporate gifts or as a gift from co-workers who can’t decide on a common gift between everyone.

Kathy Barto
FairyliciousDiaperCakes.com