Traditionally, baby showers are intimate events, with the average number of attendees being about 20 and definitely fewer than 50. After you figure out who you want to invite, you'll have a baseline guest list.

How many guests is normal for a baby shower?

The average number of guests at a baby shower is roughly 25 – 30 people. This number feels welcoming and celebratory, without becoming an overly long event (all that present opening!). However, the number of guests should be based on the size of the home/venue, and what the honoree is comfortable with.

How big is the average baby shower?

25-30 people are the average number of people that attend a baby shower. This number isn't too overwhelming and has a sense of celebration.

Who is typically invited to a baby shower?

Who should be invited to the baby shower? This party is all about the mom-to-be so, as you might expect, the guest list is typically composed of her closest friends and family members. To this end, “The host(s) should ask the mom-to-be for a guest list of who she would like to be invited,” says Meier.

Should guests pay for baby shower?

It's your party and you can plan it however you want, and that includes who should pay. So, it's okay to throw the traditional etiquette “rules” out the window. Every family is different and has its own comfort level about paying for things such as baby showers.

HOW TO: PLAN + HOST A BABY SHOWER | TIPS + CHECK LIST | BABY SHOWER IDEAS

Does each side of the family throw a baby shower?

It is considered rude to ask someone to throw you a baby shower. Typically a close friend or one of the grandmas-to-be will throw a baby shower. It is acceptable to have a sister or other family member throw the baby shower.

How many hours should a baby shower last?

The typical amount of time for a baby shower to last is about two hours. That gives your guests plenty of time to eat or snack, chat with the mom-to-be, play games (if you're offering games), and watch the mom-to-be open her gifts.

What kind of food do you have at a baby shower?

Savory Baby Shower Food Ideas

• Crudité platter. Arrange a variety of cut or sliced raw vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, or whatever you prefer on a large platter. ...
• Cheese plate. ...
• Olives and pickles. ...
• Swedish meatballs. ...
• Chicken satay. ...
• Egg or spring rolls. ...
• Veggie sushi. ...
• Deviled eggs.

How do you make a baby shower not boring?

Here are some tips and tricks to actually having fun at your own shower.

1. Make it co-ed. ...
2. Hold a separate one for friends and for relatives. ...
3. Make it three hours—max. ...
4. Serve lots of alcohol. ...
5. Make an anonymous tip box labelled “unsolicited advice” ...
6. Pick a convenient location. ...
7. Buy yourself a new outfit for the occasion.

Who is the guest of honor at a baby shower?

It may or may not seem obvious, but the mom-to-be or the parents-to-be are the guests of honors at baby showers. If the baby shower is more traditional where only women are invited then the guest of honor will be the mom-to-be.

Can a mother in law throw a baby shower?

In fact, it's usually considered perfectly acceptable for a sister, mother-in-law, or even the guest of honor's mother to host or co-host a baby shower. It's still unusual for a mother-to-be to host her own shower, though.

What is the first thing you do at a baby shower?

Open Gifts

First, you can have guests send their gifts to the expectant mom ahead of time. Then, during the shower, she'll open all the goodies for everyone to see. If you go this route, think carefully when picking a date for the shower and sending invitations.

Are baby showers tacky?

A baby shower hosted or 'thrown' by the parents themselves is considered tacky, but if thrown by someone else, it's more 'socially acceptable'. There is no set rule stating that a baby shower is tacky (regardless of whom it is thrown by) – it is simply a matter of opinion.

What activities are done at a baby shower?

12 Awesome Baby Shower Activities and Ideas that Aren't Games

• Diaper Raffle. Via MrsAlexPaul.com. ...
• Bring a Book Instead of a Greeting Card. Via CuldesacCool.com. ...
• Supportive Diaper Messages. ...
• Have a Keepsake “Guestbook” ...
• Baby's First Alphabet Book Activity. ...
• Onesie Making Station. ...
• Advice & Wishes Cards. ...
• Polaroid Photobooth.

What's a good budget for a baby shower?

An in-person baby shower's average cost can range anywhere between $100-1000, and a virtual shower averages about $20 to $200. Still, it largely depends on the venue, the number of guests in attendance, and what choices you make with things like party favors or prizes.

Is it rude to not open gifts at a baby shower?

As much as guests would love for the mom-to-be to open their gifts, proper etiquette is respecting her wishes and not asking her to open the presents during the shower. Once one gift is opened, a chain reaction will start and everyone will want theirs opened too.

Do the fathers go to the baby shower?

Historically, baby showers have been an exclusively female affair. Nowadays, men do go to baby showers and dads-to-be are perfectly welcome to celebrate showers with their partners. Male friends and family members making appearances at baby showers have also become increasingly common.

Do you open presents at a baby shower?

Guests have taken a lot of care in selecting their gifts, and part of the fun is watching the mom-to-be open presents. Proper etiquette suggests that gifts be opened toward the end of the shower to avoid the impression that presents are the primary purpose of the party.

What does the host do at a baby shower?

As host, you'll be busy keeping an eye on the food and mingling with guests. Assign the gift-list job beforehand to a friend or family member of the mom-to-be. They'll jump into action when the time comes, and you'll remain free to be an “I've got everything handled” party host.

What time should baby shower start?

What Time of Day Should a Baby Shower Start? Baby showers are usually held in the daytime, starting anywhere from 11 AM to 2 PM, with 1-2 PM being the most common.

What is the difference between a baby shower and a baby sprinkle?

A baby sprinkle is a type of baby shower to celebrate a family's second child. Instead of a traditional shower, the gifts are often diapers, wipes and a few outfits since many families who are expecting their second child already have a lot of the gear they'll need.

Why is a second baby shower called a sprinkle?

The name says it all: Instead of a bigger party where first-time parents are showered with gifts, a baby sprinkle is a more casual, relaxed gathering where the guests of honor are "sprinkled" with support and potentially smaller gifts.

Are baby showers on Saturday or Sunday?

Weekends are often ideal because less people have work scheduled and are able to attend. Saturdays and Sundays are also the time-honored choice, so more traditional mothers will likely prefer this option. If you do opt for a more traditional baby shower, be sure to check out our guide to baby shower etiquette.

What can you do instead of baby shower games?

15 Things to Do at Baby Showers Besides Games

• Raffle. This is a fun way to give out prizes without forcing a game. ...
• Photo Booth. ...
• Onesie & Bib Making Station. ...
• Stamped Burp Cloths. ...
• Creative Dessert Stations. ...
• Rock Blessings. ...
• Advice for Mom Cards. ...
• Family Tradition Cards.

Is two months before due date too early for baby shower?

There's no hard and fast rule, but many baby showers happen one or two months before the baby's due date. Throwing the shower sooner is fine, too; maybe there are scheduling constraints or concerns about the baby arriving early, for example.