If you know anybody who is pregnant, or are close to somebody who has a pregnant relative or friend, there is a chance that you are going to get invited to a baby shower for that person. Usually people only have a baby shower for their first child, or if there is a big age gap between their children. When you get invited to a baby shower, whether it is from a relative or a friend, there are actually a lot of different things you have to do if you are planning on going to the shower. You need to buy a card, a gift, and you also need to ask the hostess if she would like you to bring any kind of food or help with the preparations of the shower.
If you are not close to the person who is having the baby, you should not feel obligated to go to the baby shower. If you think that you will not know anyone, or you think that you might feel uncomfortable and out of place, do not feel like you have to attend. If there is an R.S.V.P. in the invitation, be polite and call to let the hostess know that you will not be able to make it. You should not have to give a reason as to why you are not going. If you want to, you may ask for the address of the person the baby shower is for, and then send a card or a gift at a later date, but you also should not feel obligated to do this.
If you are close to the person who is having the baby, you should be excited to go to the baby shower. A baby shower is a place to celebrate a new life coming into the world, and it is also a time for the new mother to see all of her friends and family together before her big day! Before the baby shower, you can ask the hostess if she would like you to bring plate of food to pass, a desert, or any other small things like napkins, utensils, or table clothes. Most likely, the hostess will tell you no, but thank you. If she does ask you to bring something, be polite and tell her you would love to. A baby shower is a big event to plan for, and even if the hostess has everything planned, she probably will not turn down help if someone offers it to her. Do not offer your help if you do not plan on following through.
When you decide to go shopping for a present for the shower, there are a few things to consider. Remember, this is a party for the new baby, but also for the pregnant mother. A lot of people forget this. It is nice if you bring a small gift for the mother to be also. You can bring something small like lotion, bath bubbles, socks, or anything else small that you can think of. The new mother will love it, and also appreciate your thought. If you would like, you can also bring a card or small gift for the hostess, but it is not necessary. Do not feel obligated to bring any presents at all if you cannot afford it, or if you have already brought a gift to the mother to be. A card with a little note inside is a great gift.
If you decide to buy a present for the arriving baby, look inside the invitation to see if the mother to be has registered at any stores near you. When somebody registers for gifts, all you have to do is bring the small piece of paper to the store with you, scan it at the gift registry, and out will come a list of all of the presents she would like to receive. Do not feel like you have to buy a lot of things from the list. One or two small things will do. If you know if the baby is a boy or girl, go with blue for a boy, and pink for a girl if you decide to buy clothes as a gift. If you are not sure of the sex of the baby, buy green or yellow, which are neutral baby colors. If you know a few other girls going to the baby shower, you may all want to pitch in for a bigger gift such as a swing, a rocking chair, a car seat, a crib, or anything else that is a little expensive. If someone else asks you to pitch in, but you do not want to, tell them that you have already spent what you planned to on the baby, but thank you for including you.
Remember to buy a card to go along with your baby shower gift. If you have a family, you can write in the card that the present is from your whole family, even if your husband and children were not invited. Many people that receive gifts at parties keep the cards with the gifts so that they know who gave them what. It makes it much easier for them to write thank you cards to everyone who came to the party and also to thank the right person for each gift.
Baby showers are a time for fun and celebration. There will be games and food, and you will see many friends and family. Have a great time at the party, and thank the hostess for inviting you!
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