Are you going to be a mother soon? Would you like to celebrate it in a big way to share your joy with family and friends? Well, a good option is to join the fashion of the baby shower or, what is the same, the birth party.
We do not know if Meghan Merkle will leave a fortune to celebrate the birth of her next baby, as she did for her firstborn Archie, but you can. We tell you how to organize your baby shower and decorate it with very special details, without ruining yourself.
What is a baby shower?
Neither more nor less than a party that celebrates the arrival of the baby. It is usually done when there is little left to be born (usually after seven months of pregnancy), but any time is good, even after the baby is born.
It is usually organized by the friends of the pregnant woman but it is more and more frequent that it starts as an initiative of the future mother, especially in Spain, where this American tradition is not yet deeply rooted.
Where does the idea come from?
It may seem to us that it is a relatively recent custom, but the truth is that it already existed in ancient times: it was the way in which the pregnant woman received advice and wisdom from the most expert mothers in the community.
- It is known that the women of the Egyptian, Roman and Greek empires already celebrated the arrival of a baby by offering gifts to the mother. It was a family meeting that took place after the birth, since then there was a lot of mortality in pregnancy and childbirth.
As then everything that had to do with the care of children was the responsibility of the mothers, in these meetings only women met, a tradition that has survived until today, although it is also true that more and more men are incorporated into the babies. shower.
The women gave the new baby clothes made by themselves, useful in their first months of life (blankets, shoes and clothes), but also food to help the new parents.
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In the 18th century it was a way for important families to introduce their new member to society. The party used to be held ten days after the baby was born, since before, both the child and the mother spent their days in a room away from the rest to protect the health of the newborn.
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In the 19th century, in the Victorian era , it was frowned upon to show pregnancy, so the mother gathered her friends around a tea table with the baby in her arms.
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After World War II it became very popular in the United States as a way to help parents.
This party has been imported to other countries, especially Latin America, although the custom extends all over the world: ‘diaper party’ in Argentina, ‘basket tea’ in Costa Rica, ‘Cha de bebe’ in Brazil …
In China, for example, the baby shower is celebrated when the baby is four weeks old . It is a way to celebrate the success of the pregnancy and to welcome the baby. Followers of the Hindu religion, however, organize it during pregnancy, and not after.
Nine keys to get it right
1. The guests
Although traditionally it was a party only for friends of the mother, where diapers, bottles and other baby care were discussed, now everyone attends. The truth is that there is a tendency for parents to also participate in this baby shower. After all, he is also the father of the child, right?
2. Invitations
The friends who organize the baby shower (or the parents themselves) usually invite about 20-25 people who are very close to them.
Today there is a tendency to design a virtual invitation with the place, day, time and theme of the party, and send it via email, at least three weeks in advance. Although if you want to be more traditional, you can order them from a printing company and put them in the mailbox. But it does not usually compensate for the expense, since there are very few guests.
If the organizers are the parents themselves, it is closer to making handwritten cards and hand-handing them to the guests, to show that they are special.
3. The place of the celebration
It is clear that everything will depend on the budget. You can do it in a big way, in a luxury hotel like the Duchess of Sussex (something unlikely), opt for a reservation in a more familiar restaurant, or even do it at home if there are few guests.
In fact, in the United States it is very common for each guest to bring a dish prepared by him (‘potluck’ parties), so you can also opt for this alternative. The important thing is to show your friends that you want to share your happiness with them, because they are very special. And for that no great waste is needed.
4. Food: what you cannot miss
The most traditional thing is to set up a buffet table and have everyone serve themselves whatever they want. It does not need to include designer plates, far from it.
What the baby shower should have is a sweet table or candybar, which has jelly beans, cupcakes and a special cake with the baby’s name if it is already known. You can make it yourself or order it from specialized sites. There are real cuties!
And of course do not forget the drinks to toast the next member of the family and that it has to include some non-alcoholic option for the future mother.
6. Games
Ever since men have joined the baby shower celebration, the party has grown in fun.
Games related to motherhood and babies are the most anticipated moments in all baby showers and all the guests participate in them, including, of course, future dads.
Ideas can come from the organizers, although suggestions from all guests are welcome. An advance:
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Simulate a pregnancy. Guests can put a balloon on their belly and try to tie the laces of a pair of sneakers or even play Twister. Mom doesn’t need the balloon, of course. And whoever breaks the least balloons wins.
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Guess the riddle. Prepare a list of questions about the expectant mother and ask the guests to give their answers. They are then compared to the mother’s actual responses.
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Like a baby. Try taking a bottle without using your hands. The winner is the one who gets it first.
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How long is the gut of the future mother. It is very common to have to trim as much toilet paper roll as the diameter you think your belly has. It is clear that whoever comes closest wins.
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Boy or girl? Parents can reveal their child’s gender or name at their welcome party. They can ask their friends to write their options on a piece of paper and figure it out at the same time. Or even naming possibilities for parents, when nothing has been decided yet.
- A memory for the future baby. Each guest can write a dedication for the newborn on a bodysuit or write wishes for the little one and put them in a box. Mom won’t read them until she has her baby in her arms.
7. Gifts
Of course they are not mandatory, although they are still a tradition. Of course, whoever organizes the party can promote ‘a birth list’, with gifts already chosen (as in the wedding lists) and that are already available in many specialized establishments.
But it is still common to leave the choice to the guests, since one detail is enough: the important thing is their attendance.
The normal thing is to discover them at the party itself. What the hostess can also do is give a souvenir detail of the party , such as an allegorical figure, a box with candies inside, a ‘fake’ pacifier with the baby’s name … and with a small card or engraving that you remember the day.
8. The photos
It is important to decide who is going to be in charge of immortalizing the most endearing and fun moments of the party. Although you can hire a professional photographer, surely among the attendees there is someone who has a good hand with the camera and can take care of the photos. Remember that that day you have to enjoy yourself, not having a camera in hand!
9. Decoration
We have saved this point for the end, because without a doubt it is one of the fundamental points of the party. It will depend on the available space (since it is not the same to do it in a garden than in the living room at home, which also does not exactly stand out for its spaciousness.
A word of advice: the simpler the decoration, the more elegant and the better it will work. Do not forget to include some ‘baby themed’ details (pacifiers, bottles, bears …), to give a fun touch to the festive atmosphere. Let’s look at each basic element separately.
The choice of color
It is common for the color of the ornaments and motifs to allude to the baby’s gender (if known) and even include balloons or hanging ornaments with their name. But better to get rid of gender stereotypes and opt for the tones that attract the most.
Why not a garish yellow or purple? But neutral tones that do not define the sex of your baby are also very elegant, especially if you still don’t know what it will be: pastel green, cream …
- This one in gold and white is spectacular. You can get the idea and reduce quantity (and budget).
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The balloons
Something that can not be missing. With them we can decorate the walls, the central table, the sweet or dessert table, and create a lot of curious details.
See what more original “sculptures” can be made with balloons …
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We love this one from the event planner Moira Creyes.
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But if you don’t want to complicate your life, they already sell it ready to place, like this one from Amazon.
Garlands
Either made by ourselves or purchased. Of hearts, cakes, bears, pompoms or the theme that we have chosen.
Here are some examples:
- Paper , 7 euros at Amazon.
- Of fabric , for only 9.69 euros
- With very baby details. The whole kit for 9.99 euros in Amazon, with balloon-baby, garland and pompoms.
Letters
They are also welcome at any baby shower. To name the baby or simply decorate, if we have not yet decided what we are going to call it.
You can choose them made of wood, plastic, paper, balloons … The possibilities are very wide.
- Transparent boxes , from Amazon.
- Made of aluminum foil , like the ones in this complete kit for only 9.99 euros to celebrate the baby shower.
candy bar
The table of sweets and drinks are “almost” mandatory at a baby shower. If you want everything to be movie, you can decorate the table and its content in the tones of the rest of the details.
Now that the weather is nice, why not ride it outside?
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But also the same idea, inside the house …
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Cupcakes
They all serve us, they are all delicious, but if they are also decorated ad hoc for the occasion, the party guests will be left with their mouths open.
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Learn to do them yourself.
Or simply order them and have them delivered to your home. There are companies, like Happy Cupcakes in Madrid, that make fun sweets like these.
The cake
Decorated specifically for the occasion, they are another of the most colorful elements of the party.
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You can customize it as you want, to the taste of the mother.
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Or throw yourself to prepare it with your hands.
One last tip: if you want to share your joy over the birth of your child with your friends, but you don’t have the time (or desire) to organize a baby shower or ask your loved ones to do it, you can always hire an organizer of events for you to just enjoy. This is what Meghan Markle did at the baby shower of her first child, Archie, at an intimate party, organized by her best friend and wedding planner Jessica Mulroney.
Photos | iStock
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