Gift registries
Once your plans for the baby shower are in place, it’s up to the parents-to-be to create baby gift registries at a few stores; websites are best and make it easy for out-of –towners to purchase and send gifts. New mothers-to-be should consult friends and family who have recently had babies to determine the exact products, brands and quantities to include on their registries. You may or may not be qualified to advice; at the very least, registering parents should remember to include older babyhood items, not just those for infants. One can never register for too many bibs, burp cloths or thin, soft wash cloths. Another tip: don’t register for several quantities of one type of bottle because you may have to try to a few brands to see which one works best for your baby.
Gift guidance
As hostess of the shower, you may find yourself fielding an array of gift-related questions when guests call or email to RSVP. To the end, make sure you follow the guidelines, opposite:
Where the parents are registered These days, almost everyone who accepts an invitation to a baby shower will expect to purchase their gift from an online or in-store gift registry. Whether it’s a website or a physical address or both, you should know where these registries exist as well as the particulars of accessing them.
The sex of the child Ideally, your invitations would include this information or imply that the shower is “unisex”. If not, additional clarification may be needed.
How many babies are on the way Is the person carrying twins, triplets or an even larger brood? This is something that guests will certainly find helpful when shopping for gifts because they’ll know to buy in multiples.
The child’s age Applicable- and important- if you’re planning a shower to celebrate an adoption.
The gifts that are already spoken for Parents and close relatives often call dibs on significant purchases like the baby carriage, crib, bedding and changing table- guests planning to give an expensive group gift will appreciate having this information.
Any items that aren’t needed If the couple has already had a baby or two, the gear they acquired upon the birth of their first child may not need to be replaced this time around.
Shopping tips
If you find yourself in a deeper baby-gift conversation with certain guests, you may wish to volunteer the following shopping advice:
Sizes New mothers often receive a surplus of infant-size baby clothes that they end up not being able to use because new babies tend to outgrow this size range very quickly. Encourage guests to buy clothes in larger sizes: buying in the 12 to 18 months range will set your outfit apart and practically guarantee that it gets worn.
Season When deciding on a particular item or size, always consider the season in which baby will be wearing it. If the baby is expected in July, it doesn’t make sense to buy cozy sleepers, warm coats and long-sleeved shirts in size 0 to 3 months when the weather will be hot.
Allergies If the mother is allergic to wool, she’s not going to want to clothe or swaddle her baby in anything made of this material.
Practicality New parents generally agree that stuffed animals, no matter how cute and cuddly, are not as desirable as the infant care essentials they will be using on a daily basis.
Safety Stay away from glass-eyed dolls and stuffed animals and any other toys that might be harmful to baby if he/she puts them in his/her mouth.
Opening the gifts
Let’s be honest, the opening of
baby shower gifts is the focus of the baby shower and everyone attending is prepared to “oooh” and “ahhh” accordingly as the showeree unwraps each and every one of those beribboned boxes. However, some showerees choose to open up gifts in private, preferring instead to spend the event socializing with guests. If you showeree is prepared to go the traditional gift opening route, a friend or family member should be in charge of handing over each gift; once opened, it should be set aside with the card or gift-tag carefully placed inside the box. Another close friend or family member should sit alongside the mother-to-be with pen and paper to jot down each gift and person who gave it. This important step makes the process of sending thank-you notes that much easier.
