Jacoba Fenny asked:


Planning a baby shower is not the easiest task on the face of the earth. There are so many details to consider when organizing such an event that it is easy to become lost in the confusion. It is always a good idea to create lists and it is always a good idea to delegate responsibility when planning a baby shower.

One of the mistakes the organizer commonly makes is trying to do too much on her own. Why run from store to store when you know that Cousin Sally works right next to a great discount store? She can run one or two errands for you. Include Cousin Sally when you are planning a baby shower. You will be surprised by how delighted she will be to help. If she isn’t, then there is really no loss. You just have to work around it.

Creating a sound list is the best starting point when planning a baby shower. Never, ever rely on your memory when there is pen and paper handy at your fingertips. Your memory may be excellent but the list is always better. Planning a baby shower includes too much to try to keep your lists in your head. Write it down. It is very important.

You may be faced with an unusual dilemma that seems to be creeping up on many new couples. More and more adult children are products of divorce. Many of these divorced families are still in turmoil even though many years have passed. When you are planning a baby shower make sure that you are perfectly clear on who to invite.

You also may want to let divorced parents know that the other party is invited. I ran into a very ugly situation at my baby shower. Two dear friends teamed together in planning a baby shower for me. One friend invited my mother while the other friend invited my mother’s arch enemy; my stepmother.

I get along with both very well but when they faced each other in the same room, there was an ugly scene that will not be forgotten by anyone anytime soon. Unfortunately, you have to consider such rifts in families when planning a baby shower in this day and age.

Sometimes surprises should be left in the gift wrapped boxes rather than in the guest list. It is a good idea to go over the guest list with the mother-to-be while planning a baby shower for her. This works out well. The guest list will be one less thing you have to remember.

Baby Shower Gift Ideas:

You have probably been to a ton of baby showers and you may think that you have seen it all but there are plenty of original baby shower ideas out there that you can use. Many of these ideas are quite new and you may find some inspiration for your own creative ideas for the special event as well.

In order to make sure that your baby shower ideas are really unique you want to consider the personality of the mommy-to-be. She may be the best resource for creative innovations for the event that you have. The guest of honor may also provide you with a few subtle clues to help you when choosing a theme for the event.

One of my favorite new items available in stores and online is the signature bear. This furless teddy is one of the best baby shower ideas on the market. The guests pass the teddy bear around the room and sign it with a special note for the new little one. The autographs and notes are collected and given as a present to the mom-to-be.

What is so wonderful about this is that it provides the guests a chance to give a special message to the new baby. The signature bear serves as a great activity to occupy the attendants and it is a magnificent keepsake for the little one. This is the most sentimental of the new baby shower ideas that I have come across in my search.

Other baby shower ideas rely heavily on tradition. This is very appealing to me as well because I like the notion of connecting family with tradition. Some new moms decide to leave the details of the baby’s gender private. Many new moms want to be surprised on the big day.

There is a game that you can play that incorporates an old belief that you can tell the gender of the little one by using a thread and a needle. You can buy the game online which I think would be the best way to go. I think that a regular thread and needle just won’t be enough. You will also need instructions to tell how the whole thing works.

Games are great for creating a fun atmosphere on this kind of occasion and many baby shower ideas revolve around play. I love the baby draw game that is played just like charades but with drawings created by the guests. This is a really fun way to get everyone participating and entertained.

Jb Anthony asked:


If you’re expecting a baby, then it would do you well to expect additional expenses too. With the many things that you would have to buy, you need to differentiate between pieces of baby furniture that are absolutely necessary and those that are mere fills. Here are the absolute top five baby furniture pieces that you should have in your nursery.

Crib

Whether you’re planning to co-sleep with your baby at night, you would still need to have a sturdy and safe baby crib. The crib is the only piece of baby furniture on which you may safely leave your baby unattended for a short period of time.

Cribs are made with safety in mind these days especially since the government and product controllers have set certain guidelines for product users’ safety. Otherwise, crib models would never make it out on the market. You should still be extra careful and vigilant though. Even to this day, there are crib product recalls. The recalls usually happen when certain features are discovered to be potentially dangerous. Keep your ears and eyes peeled for online news on recent product recalls.

Portable Crib/ Playpen

Even with nursery cribs, it would still be a practical idea to have a portable playpen or a portable baby crib. Portables like these would come in handy for parents who would like to enjoy family trips and picnics with their babies.

Like nursery cribs, standard portable cribs are also manufactured with your baby’s safety in mind. Do remember though that like standard cribs, portables may also be recalled if they have features that may still be improved on. Some parents also use portable cribs as their main nursery crib. It is probably safest though not to use portables as all around cribs.

Cabinet/ Changing Table

Of course you can’t do without some space to store all those baby diapers, clothes and miscellaneous items. A sturdy cabinet with back brackets would be a good piece of furniture to store baby items in. To save you some cash, you should consider buying a baby cabinet that can double as a changing table. This way, you only have to buy one piece of furniture that can perform two functions. A good design would be a piece with a changing table on top and open shelves or drawers below to hold baby items. The top storage compartment could hold diapers and other changing articles to make baby changing an easier chore.

High Chair

As soon as your baby finds out that he can sit and move around while feeding, things can begin to get really messy. You don’t want to forever keep chasing after your baby. This is why you need a good high chair for baby meal time. Pick one with a wide sturdy base to prevent tipping accidents.

Toy Box

Teaching your child to clean his room should begin as early as the baby and toddler stages. This is why it is probably a good idea for you to get your child a toy box. Teach him to store his toys after play so that he can carry over the habit until adulthood. Pick a toy box that doesn’t have a heavy lid. It should also ideally have a lock in place spring to prevent the lid from falling on your child. Other safe designs include the open storage piece that is easy for your baby to use.

Sarah Porter asked:


Baby Invitations to Invite Guests to Baby Shower Party Celebrations!

If you are preparing personalized baby invitations for your baby shower, they should be sent out about six to eight weeks before your expected due date. Hopefully, this date is earlier enough that you’re not likely to go into labor before or during the shower party. However, you can also send these printable baby invitations for other reasons as well, such as to encourage family members to visit your home and see the baby for the first time. Here are some tips for planning such an event.

Preparing Free Baby Invitation

If you want to have this type of “unveiling” babyshower party for your new child, don’t make the plans before the birth, sometimes referred to as welcome home baby shower. You never know, for example, when you’ll actually deliver or how long you may need to stay in the hospital. You should also take into consideration that babies behave differently. Some are very fussy and may not enjoy having so much attention. Other babies will love being held by many people and being the center of attention. Make sure to start writing up your baby invite after you’re both in good health and well-rested after your hospital stay.

Make sure the event is held either in your home or in a relative’s home. You don’t want to send custom baby invitations for a celebration like this at a restaurant or most public establishments. Babies can be easily upset, plus they sleep a great deal and need plenty of diaper changes. That means you want to keep them located as close to your home as possible unless you’re going out for a quick errand. Plus, both you and the baby are like to feel more comfortable on your home turf.

Finally, you should choose a time of day for the event that coincides with your baby’s existing schedule (assuming he or she is on one). Don’t disrupt a perfectly good schedule just to show your new infant off to your family and friends. You’ll be sorry in the long run.

Benefits of Using Baby Invitation Card

While the advice above may make it seem like throwing this type of event is more of a challenge than it’s worth, the truth is there are plenty of benefits. For one, by using unique baby shower invitations you’ll prevent the large number of guests who just drop by to see the baby. Although this is considered rude, you’ll be surprised at how many normally thoughtful friends and family members will just show up at your tour to get a look at your new child, especially if the child is your first.

Another good reason to use photo baby invitations is that you might end up receiving additional gifts. Few people will come to the party empty handed. Although the gifts will be less expensive, you’ll probably receive more baby-centered gifts, such as toys, books, clothes, and stuffed animals. While the baby shower is mostly for gifts to make your life easier (playpens, high chairs, etc.), these printed baby invitations give everyone an excuse to spend some fun time in the baby section of their local store.



 

Stuart Sherm asked:


Here are top 10 Baby Accessories to decorate your baby’s surroundings with:

1. Musical Mobiles- You can hang these over the baby’s crib or the pay pen, and see how cute the overall effect is. Musical mobiles are one of the most old fashioned, and yet one of the best baby accessories to have in the room.

2. Duvets and Pillows- Select these carefully for placing them on the baby’s crib, or anywhere else in the room, like on the baby rocking chair, etc. Make sure they are soft, comfortable, and are highly washable too.

3. Diaper Stackers- These are absolute must haves in the baby’s room. Select them such that they are not only useful as you might want them to be, but they also look great, going well with the room theme. Get diaper stackers, matching well with the wall color, or the window curtain patterns to create a strong overall effect.

4. Toy Bags- These baby accessories come in very handy, especially when you go on a cleaning spree in order to arrange things in the baby’s room. Get a well designed large toy bag that be huddled away in a corner to take care of all your baby’s toys when he or she does not require them.

5. Wall Hangings- You can use quite a number of wall hangings in designs of popular carton characters, or wall hangings according to the room theme to add a touch of luxury to the baby’s room. These are great bedroom accessories, and can enhance the appearance of the room to quite an extent.

6. Window Valance- Nice and fuzzy window valances, in soft patterns make nice accessories in the baby’s bedroom. Just make sure that you put them up well.

7. Moses Beds or Bassinets- Moses Beds and Bassinets are some of most popular baby accessories. They look nice, and do not cost too much either. The only problem with these is that they cannot be used for too long since as the baby grows older you would need to shift him or her to a larger bed.

8. Throw rug- A soft, comfortable throw rug, put carelessly on the floor of the baby’s room can be a great baby accessory to have. Not only does it look good, it also helps you make sure that as the baby starts making an attempt at crawling, he or she does not end up with a scratched knee or bruised palms.

9. Wall Border- You can use these to decorate the baby’s room. However, do not make the mistake of overdoing anything when it comes to using wall borders, and keep its use reasonable to get the best effects. Opting for wall borders in designs that can be left to remain in the room even as the baby grows a few years older is a smart idea.

10. Soft toys- Soft toys look delicate and sweet, just like the babies. No wonder they go amazingly well in baby’s rooms and you can buy lots of them. Besides decorating the room, they also provide the baby something to play with. Make sure you keep them clean though, since unclean soft toys can cause diseases, including asthma.

David Cummings asked:


How many baby showers have you attended where there were NO games played? Probably every baby shower you have ever attended has had games played. Baby shower games can be a great way to make your baby shower a treasured memory for you and your guests. The games help provide opportunities for both you and your guests to get to know each other as well as get people talking about advice for the new parents as well as some good stories about the mother to be when she was a youngster.

Here are some games which can be played. The first game is easy to set up: “Guess the Size of the New Mom’s Tummy.” You’ll need string or yarn and scissors to play this game. Each women than estimates what she believes is enough yarn to go all the way around the mother to be, and cuts their string. After all the guests have guessed, they can either take turns measuring around the new mom’s tummy (for a lot of laughs) or comparing to a ‘master’ piece of yarn or string which has actually been wrapped around the expectant mother. Everyone has fun and the best guesser gets a prize!

Another game that is fun at baby showers is the “How Many Baby Items Can You Name?” game. All that is needed is paper and pens for each player. Have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name off the top of their heads within a short time, for example, five minutes. Bottles, pacifiers, blankets—whatever comes into your mind, write it down. Give a prize to the woman who names the most baby products. Of course, if someone writes down things that aren’t really baby products, they don’t count! This is both useful and fun. After all, the new mom will have a baby soon, and the winner will have come up with a readymade shopping list which can be shared with the guest of honor as well as any other expectant mothers.

Baby-Maker is another great game. No, it isn’t anything naughty and doesn’t require the presence of a man (or any medical personnel!). Get a stack of baby magazines, scissors, glue and paper. The women form teams of three and cut out pieces of pictures from magazines to put together a composite baby of what they think the new mom’s baby will be most likely to look like. The mother to be can then be the judge of the winner. Give prizes to the winning team. They earned it and laughed during the process. This has the added advantage of being something your child will enjoy seeing when they get older as well.

Baby Food Flav-O-Rama is another fun game. Before the baby shower, get a selection of several different flavors of baby food. Then take the labels off. You’ll want to get about ten different flavors, just to make the game challenging enough to be interesting. The guests have to guess the flavor of the food by tasting it. In the event of a tie, have a taste-off and blindfold the leaders for a greater challenge. The winner, of course, should get a prize. And the new mother will be relieved to know that what she will be feeding her baby is surprisingly edible, even for grown ups.

Don’t be afraid to be creative! You’ll have a memorable baby shower if you create your own games.

Jason Payne asked:


Here are some of our favorites. But before you get started with the games, be sure to get some prizes first. Prizes to consider are full size (not bite size), candy bars, blue or pink pens for the *** of the baby. Additionally, blue or pink balloons with a face drawn on the front, or the words “winner” written across in permanent marker make for really fun prizes as well.

After you have some up with some prizes, here our some of our favorite games to play.



Fastest Diaper Changer in the West. Have smaller size balloons blown up and hand them out to everyone who will be playing. Next give them two diapers. Have the guest carefully put the diapers on the balloon before the game starts. After they have already placed on diaper on the balloon, give them the instructions that junior has just had an accident and being the careful and delicate parent that they are , there objective is to change the diaper without pooping the balloon. Anyone who pops a balloon will be disqualified and whoever changes the diaper first, will win a prize.



How does Mommy Measure Up? Begin by passing out some yarn to everyone who will be playing. Next pass around some scissors and have each guest cut the amount of yarn that will fit Mommy perfectly at her widest point without being over or under. The person who is the closest is the winner.



Guess the Number of Kisses. This is used everywhere and everyone already know how to play. Fill a jar with Kisses (jelly beans are too typical) and have each one guess at the number of Kisses, the closest one will win the jar of kisses.



The Price is Right. For this one, it is played much like the game shows you see on television. Visit some online merchants who have both pictures and descriptions of Baby items and print them up. Pass around some paper and pens. Have the host narrate the online product description and pass it around with the price blacked out. The person who is closest to the item without going over will win a point. After all of the items have been passed around, the person with the most point wins.



As your can see, there are a plethora of baby shower games that can be played for your shower. What is important to remember is to know who your audience is going to be. This means, are the games that you are thinking about playing fit both the audience and the theme you are trying to create?

C.L. Hendricks asked:


It is possible to find baby shower gifts for every budget.  No matter what your financial situation here are some ideas to help you find that perfect baby shower gift without breaking the bank. 

Inexpensive and Easy Baby Shower Gift Basket

A visit to your local dollar store will turn up a number of baby items (example: shampoo, oil, powder, lotion, socks, wipes, washcloths, bibs, bottles and hair bows). Place 5 or 6 dollar items in a basket that you picked up at the thrift store and spray painted a clean bright white.

Tie a pink or blue ribbon (also purchased at the dollar store) around the handle, tuck in a few sheets of colored tissue paper and you have a great baby shower gift basket.

 

Baby Shower Gifts Under $10:

Baby Bottles, Baby Powder and Oil, Baby Shampoo and Conditioner, Baby Wipes, Bibs, Blankets, Rattles, Socks and Washcloths, Baby Tylenol, Booties, Burp Cloth, Clothing, Diapers, Gas Drops,  Hooded Towel, Onesies, Pacifier, Rubber Duck, Teething Toys, Thermal Blanket and Thermometer

Baby Shower Gifts for $15 to $50:

Assortment of baby pharmacy items, Baby bathtub, Baby carrier, Baby monitor, Baby skin care items, Backpack for carrying baby, Basket with diapers and towels, Bath seats, blankets, Bottle warmer, Bouncy chair, Bumbo seat, Diaper bag, Diapers, Exersaucer, Formula, Head-to-toe outfit, Highchair, Layette, Mobile, Outfits, Picture frames, Play gym, sheets, Sink bathtub, Thermometer, and Value-pack size 1 or size 2 diapers & Value-pack wipes

Baby Shower Gifts for $50 to $100:

Activity centers, Baby Einstein DVDs, Baby monitor system, Baby rocker or jumper, Baby wash tub w/ towels, shampoos, body wash, lotions & Vaseline, Bassinet, Car seat, Carrying sling, Exersaucer, Gift cards for restaurants that will deliver, High chair, Jungle gym, Massage for the mom-to-be, Pack-n-Play, Playpen, Savings bond, Strollers, Swings and Walkers

Baby Shower Gifts over $100:

Baby bath tub (marble), Bed, Car seat, Changing table, Clothes, Corner playpen has 3 sides, fits nicely in the corner of a room), Cradle, Crib w/ mattress, Diaper service for first few months, Gift cards, Gift certificate for spa treatments for mom, Gift certificate to youth furniture store, Jogging stroller for new mommy fitness, Rocker glider, Rocking chair, Stroller and Swing

Finally, another source for baby shower gifts for every budget is the gift card. Gift cards can be purchased in any amount and are available at almost any store, spa or restaurant. They are often the perfect gift, because the parents can use them to buy those items they did not receive as gifts.

Richard Dinae asked:


My friend is a mother of two kids. Her eldest is a seven year old girl and her youngest is an eleven month old boy. She is working full time at a contact center as a Training Manager and her schedule is really quite hectic. She grew up with values such as being a devoted mother to her children and not having other people babysit them as much as possible. It is not that she doesn’t trust nannies and sitters to watch her kids. It is just that she doesn’t want to blame anyone else when something unexpected happens.

She starts her day with preparing breakfast for her husband and 2 kids. Her husband understands that she have a lot of things to do so after eating, he fixes himself up. Her schedule at work varies because she works open time with no permanent schedule. With this, she could maximize her time with her two kids.

The busiest time of the day for her is when she prepares her daughter for school. What she does is she lets her son crawl on the tiled floor while she gives her girl a bath and dress her up. She personally takes her to school because they cannot afford carpools. The one thing that helps her do this is her son’s baby car seat. He is a really naughty kid and if not for the baby car seat, I wouldn’t be able to do her errands successfully.

Amongst all theirs baby furniture at home, the high chair, crib, play pen and mobiles, the baby car seat is her favorite. There are several designs you could choose from. Her son’s is an orange race car seat with West seatbelts. She could just pop him in when she goes to the grocery, visit her friends, and take her daughter to school and back everyday.

With these thoughts in mind, let me give you tips in buying your perfect baby car seat. Like my friend, she is a busy mom; she has a walker and a baby car seat for her son. When they are on the go, car seat, when inside the house, walker. For some, like those moms with younger babies, a car seat that goes in and out of the car will do. If this is the case, choose one that has lighter weight so it slides out of the car easily. For long driving, one that has reclines will make the journey easier since this will allow your baby to sleep while in the baby car seat. Bypass all the after purchase baby car seat accessories for you may not have an idea whether they are safe or not. If the items did not come with the car seat itself, it probably is not suited for the car seat that you purchased.

The most outstanding way to keep your child safe in your car is to make use of a car seat with the highest degree of crash protection for as long as it fits your baby. This worked for my friend, and it will work for you and your baby too.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Having a baby can be a joyful time as well as very stressful. Nothing else comes close to the joy a mother will feel when she is holding her baby for the first time and coming days. Parents, especially the father, will show off their little newborn and take tons of pictures.

Now there is nothing more stressful than the worrying that comes with having a baby. Parents worry that everything will or will not be okay and if they are prepared for their little bundle of joy.

When it comes to clothing, new parents often feel they are unprepared when it comes to clothing their baby. Before the baby is even born, parents are getting ready for the arrival by getting the items that he or she may need. This includes: a crib, changing table, playpen, walker and last but not least baby clothes.

Parents will focus more on the cute baby outfits and not ones that still look cute but are a bit cheaper. Mothers often make this mistake more than the fathers. They focus on these outfits and not more on what babies really need.

Babies’ basic essentials.

What are baby’s basic essentials? Believe it or not, cotton bodysuits top the list along with absorbent baby blankets, bibs and baby booties. They can never have enough of these items.

Remember babies are messy in general. They possess lots of drooling, slobbering, spewing and are waste producing machines during their first year of life. This, despite of all the cuteness they contain, too.

With all the messiness, a parent may find themselves changing clothes just as much as their diapers. Sometimes it may be more. So it is wise to have plenty of clothing washed, ready and on hand.

“Onesies”! Stock up on “Onesies” suits, baby tees and cotton blankets so there will be plenty in the drawer. Yet, do not stock up on so many that eventually you have a worthless pile of baby clothes that no longer fit the baby when he or she outgrows them. Here’s a hint: Have close to five or more clean outfits ready for when you need them.

Whenever you want to take the baby out, pack extra items such as clean backups and rags. It may be that it is an additional laundry duty but you will enjoy bringing those extra clothes when it boils down to it. Let’s just say… that is one of the joys that comes along with your bundle of joy.

Being practical works best when staying at home or just running to the store. Yet, those baby clothes that you find adorable are great for church outings or a visits to the relatives. It’s also good for family photos.

You must remember that these are babies. The moment you put that cute little outfit, it could have spit-up or even runny **** on it. You may have your daughter in a pretty pink ribbon or your son in a tuxedo.

So if you find out you and your family are expecting, forget the cutie baby clothes and go for the more practical ones. In the long run, only you are going to remember what your baby wore anyways.

Should a baby shower be thrown… let your guests get them cute outfits for you. You are going to need your money for other important things.

Apurva Shree asked:


Baby shower parties would not be half the fun without the baby shower activities or baby shower games that is integral to this tradition of pregnancy celebrations. The baby shower activities sustain the interest of the participants or guests until the very end. To a considerable extent, popularity of baby showers is attributable to the various activities or games that form part of these functions.

Some of the baby shower activities or games are traditional and quite womanish whereas some others can be termed gender neutral. However, in case men also form part of the gathering, you may either have to add activities conforming to their tastes or modify some of the traditional games to bring in masculine content. Read on to have an idea about some basic baby shower activities for all three categories.

The Traditional Ones:

One of the traditional activities is to guess tummy size of the mom-to-be. For this type of game each woman is given certain length of yarn and she has to cut it to the length she thinks would fit properly around the mom-to-be’s tummy. The participant who comes closest to the actual measurement wins the prize. Another interesting game encompasses giving writing pads and pens to the participant women. Then ask them to write down as many baby products as they can think of within a period of 3 to 5 minutes. The hurry-scurry of the women to search for more names towards the later period of the game makes for some hilarious fun. You can give the women jars containing various kinds of infant foods. The women’s job is to guess the type of food that the jars contain.

The Gender Neutral Types:

One of the games that can be played by men and women alike is ‘Finish the Baby Rhyme.’ The host of the show reads out aloud some of the sentences from baby rhyme except one word, which is to be guessed by the participants. The participant who guesses the most number of words correctly wins. Alternatively, you can take a list of about 15 words and scramble the spellings. The participants’ job is to guess the actual word. The participant who is able to unscramble the most number of words in the specified time limit wins. A game that can even earn the mom-to-be some useful decorative pieces entails asking each participant to craft handmade wall hanging out of the materials given to them for the job. The one who makes the best hanging wins (make mom-to-be the judge).

The Male Oriented Ones:

Some baby shower activities are particularly suited for male participants in couple showers. One of them is to hand participants a baby bottle full of some sort of beverage and to ask them to **** it as fast as possible. The one who finishes first wins. Another interesting game is to fill a jar with a particular brand of beer. Have the participants sip the beer and guess the correct brand of the beer. You can have a cake made for the baby shower party just like a birthday cake and fix some lit candles on it. Have the participants attempt to extinguish all the candles with a single blow. This makes a fun game!

The idea behind baby shower activities is to bring about a mood of pregnancy celebration and cheer up the expectant mother.