Baby Shower Etiquette - Baby Shower Rules Guide!

Baby showers have been around for a long time and baby shower etiquette has changed. A baby shower is a lovely gift-giving ceremony where the mom-to-be is “showered” with gifts and cards! At the same time, it provides the perfect atmosphere for close friends and family to bond with her and perhaps share a few gems of parenting wisdom!

In many societies, there was a strict set of rules that determined how a baby shower ceremony (or its equivalent) would be conducted. However, things have changed these days, and the rules of baby shower etiquette vary quite a lot.

Today, baby showers and how successful they end up being will largely depend on the preferences of the mom-to-be. However, there are still a few baby shower etiquette guidelines that you should follow if you want to throw a successful baby shower.

Who should throw the baby shower?

According to tradition, it is unusual for the parents-to-be to throw or host a baby shower themselves. This is because the main purpose of a baby shower is for your relatives, friends, and coworkers to “shower” you with gifts.

Baby shower etiquette, therefore, demands that the parents-to-be should not host the party themselves. This is mainly to avoid the perception that the family is collecting gifts, something that could be frowned upon. Instead, your baby shower should be hosted by a close friend to the mother-to-be or a relative. Find out how to plan a Baby Shower here.

How should the mom-to-be conduct herself at her baby shower?

As a mom-to-be, you should be a courteous and pleasant guest of honor and be gracious when receiving gifts and cards. You will be spoilt, so enjoy it Mama!

Additionally, baby shower etiquette dictates that the guest of honor should send thank you notes for the gifts within two to three weeks after the shower unless the birth of your baby intervenes.

What do you do at a baby shower?

A baby shower should be a fun and exciting party. Some of the main things that take place include the opening of gifts and cards, eating, and drinking. You can add more personality to your baby shower by including games and fun activities.

A recent entrant into the baby shower scene that is increasingly becoming a popular trend these days is the Gender Reveal surprise. You can opt to combine your gender reveal with your baby shower or have two separate parties. To make things even more fun, everyone can guess the gender of the baby before the mom-to-be reveals the actual gender of the baby. Read more about the best Gender Reveal ideas here.

What is the right time to have a baby shower?

The best time to have a baby shower is often asked! Baby showers are typically held when the mom-to-be is about 25 to 35 weeks pregnant. At this time, the pregnancy is well along and the timing is right to avoid the risk of the baby arriving before the party! Also, at this period, the mother-to-be is still energetic and the baby bump is manageable.

Arranging the party a few weeks before the due date also gives sufficient time for her to exchange duplicate gifts. Then she will have all the necessary things for the baby’s nursery.

How long should baby showers last?

Baby shower etiquette stipulates that the party should last between two to three hours. Therefore, the opening of gifts, the meal, and fun activities are the ones that should take up the most time at the party.

When should the mom-to-be register?

The mom-to-be should register when she is about 12 weeks pregnant. At this time, she will be in her second trimester. Plus, registering at this time gives her ample time to figure out the things she needs for her baby’s nursery.

You can register for baby shower gifts through an online service, a store, or a catalog. This helps you to avoid duplicates and returns. Registries may also be a relief for guests who may have no idea of what gifts to give at the baby shower.

Amazon’s Baby Registry has the largest collection of Baby goods and offers free 365 days returns plus a Welcome Box valued at $35!

Who do you invite to a baby shower?

The great thing about baby showers is that the guest of honor gets to invite whoever she wants. This means the whole event should be based almost entirely on the preferences of the mother-to-be.

As a mom-to-be, you can opt to have a traditional female-only baby shower, where you celebrate with your female friends and relatives. However, inviting male friends, spouses, and relatives is increasingly becoming popular. A co-ed party keeps the father to be involved and is lovely if it is also a gender reveal!

Whether the baby shower ends up being a female-only event or a co-ed baby shower depends on the mother-to-be.

Should your Baby Shower have a theme?

Many Baby Showers have cute themes to tie the party together. You can choose a theme based on the gender of your baby, the time of year or just pick a theme you like.

There are lots of pretty Baby Shower themes for girls and cute themes for boys.

These are some of our favorite themes:

Can you have a baby shower as a second and third-time mom?

Baby showers for second and third-time moms are becoming more common and acceptable and are often called Baby Sprinkles.

It makes sense to hold a second or third-time baby shower especially if there is a big age gap between the children or if the second baby is of a different gender. Besides, if your family, friends, or co-workers want to throw you another baby shower (or a Baby Sprinkle), who are you to stop them?

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it; everything you need to know about proper baby shower etiquette. If you are planning to surprise a special friend with one, this should provide the perfect starting point. And if you are looking forward to your own, then these tips should help!

Generally, almost anything goes when it comes to baby showers these days. Keep in mind that the guest of honor is queen and anything she says goes! That way you shouldn’t have a problem throwing an amazing baby shower!

If you are planning a Baby Shower, be sure to download our FREE Smart Party Planning Guide for money-saving party tips and party checklist to help you throw the best party ever!

About Author

Jane Sheriff is the founder, creative director, party planner and mom of three. She started Darling Celebrations back in 2012 to share easy and beautiful ideas for celebrating the special events in life.