Nothing says “welcome baby” better than throwing a tasteful party, but do you ever wonder when to have a baby shower?
Being a first-time mom is both magical and stressful at the same time because you’re dealing with a million emotions and you’re thinking of all scenarios. Sometimes, friends and relatives don’t seem to be a good shoulder to cry on either as they might cause you to panic even more and even think that you’re doing something wrong or not enough.
However, baby showers are the perfect way to celebrate the new miracle in your life and a good opportunity to meet with your close friends and family members before one-two years of sleepless nights, crying, changing diapers, and exhaustion. So, if you’re keen on learning more about the topic, here is something worth your time.
Baby showers around the world
Traditionally, Americans throw a baby shower or a party before the baby is born, which may not seem appropriate in other cultures around the world. For instance, most Europeans only throw a welcoming party once the baby is born, healthy, and back in his/her parents’ arms at home.
This can often coincide with the party thrown after the child is baptized in many Christian traditions, both Orthodox and Catholic. If we’re digging even further, many Eastern European cultures show great importance to baby showers and parties.
They see the birth of each child as the most important event in a couple’s life after their marriage or union, and, often enough, the party is similar to a smaller wedding. There is not only cake and Mimosas but full parties, complete with dances and meals that last from dusk to dawn or all night long.
Another big difference between the American baby showers and the baby celebrations you’ll find elsewhere is that, in the first case, almost always, women are the only ones participating. Occasionally, the father might show up for a few minutes to greet and thank everyone for their gifts, but, in most cases, the mother’s closest female friends and family members are the only ones participating.
When is the best pregnancy time to host your baby shower?
Although we cannot talk about a baby shower etiquette, most women choose to throw their baby showers anytime between 24 and 32 weeks, depending on their mood and a series of other factors.
Every woman knows that the first trimester of pregnancy can be the most challenging. Depending on the case, women will deal with nausea, sickness, and many hormonal changes that can affect their mood deeply. Moreover, a premature pregnancy is seen with caution by most women because there are still tests that need to be done.
On the other hand, the last two months of pregnancy come with other challenges in terms of body and hormonal changes. Many women experience bloating, swelling, skin eruptions, moods, cravings, as well as fatigue and tiredness.
At this point, many don’t feel attractive anymore and don’t have the energy or the patience to prepare a baby shower and prepare themselves for the big event. And, since the big event can happen at any moment, most women will prefer to spend the last stage of their pregnancy at home, preparing the nursery, and relaxing.
When is the perfect date to host a baby shower?
Before setting up a date for the event, the mother might have to take into account various other factors, including seasonal problems, due date, how many guests will be attending, the venue, and others.
Various seasons can affect the availability of some of your guests. For instance, the holiday season may be a tricky time to host a baby shower because most people will be too busy shopping for Christmas or preparing to visit their loved ones.
The same might happen around New Year’s Eve, Easter, Halloween, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and other national holidays.
Spring, summer, and even early fall are the best seasons to plan an outdoor baby shower, as long as you carefully pick up the date so that it’s not too hot or rainy outside. You may want to check the weather forecast for about two weeks in advance to avoid any surprises on your big day.
Worst case scenario, you can book a venue that has an outdoor garden or terrace. If the weather is nice that day, the decorators can turn the garden into a whimsical space for your baby shower. If it’s rainy or a storm is about to come that way, the decorations can be easily set indoors.
The right time of the year for an outdoor baby shower also depends on where you’re living. People from Louisiana, Alabama, and even Midwest might not be too keen on throwing a party outside when it’s over 100 degrees between June and September. In that case, mid-fall events, up until October 15th, are the best time to enjoy enough sunlight so that you can wear a dress without worrying about heat stroke or fainting.
What is the best day of the week to host a baby shower?
The answer to this question depends on your work field and what type of people you are inviting to the celebration. Weekends are often ideal because fewer people work and may be willing to attend the party.
However, people who work in essential fields like police officers, firefighters, nurses, and other categories rarely have a weekend off so, if you want them to be present, it would be best to make a formal invitation at least one month before the event. Require RSVPs to know exactly the number of people who will come to celebrate your motherhood and who you can count on.
In case of busy weekends around the holiday, Labor day, or the 4th of July weekend, you can host the baby shower on a weekday, preferably on Friday afternoon. The same rule applies, and you’ll have to ask people with at least one month in advance so they might be able to take the day off, switch shifts, or leave work early to attend the party.
What is the best time of the day for the baby shower?
Being considerate toward your guests should be your priority, even though the party is a celebration of your baby and your future status as a mother. However, you still need to take into account people’s schedules and make sure you come up with the right time of the day for hosting your event.
Most mothers choose to throw a baby shower at brunch or lunch, given that it is the best time of the day for some cocktails and gossip. This way, people with children will still enjoy a few hours of freedom without having to worry about their kids staying up late at night or not eating properly.
Some daycares are also open during the weekends for a fee, while nannies are usually freer in the first part of the weekend, which means finding a sitter for your friends’ children should be easier.
Other mothers will prefer a “happy-hour” themed baby shower, filled with mocktails and real cocktails for the rest of the guests. At the end of the day, you must suit what works best for you and the guests.
However, if your birthday happens to be around the same time as the baby shower, we recommend making two different events. As much as you would love the idea of getting a new baby blanket or a cutie onesie for the little one, you need to be appreciated and celebrated as an individual as well. In other words, don’t let the baby steal your show. Focus on yourself for a short while and treat yourself with something just for you.
Why should you throw an early baby shower?
As we previously mentioned, some mothers prefer throwing an early baby shower simply because the first stages of pregnancy may be easier to handle than the last month. Advanced pregnancies can come with a series of challenges for the new mother, not only hormonal.
Apart from the usual cravings, the mother will also feel tired all the time, may not fit in the same clothes as she did before, and may not be able to wear heels or feel feminine and desirable.
Throwing an early baby shower might allow the mother to still feel feminine and beautiful by putting on makeup, wearing a fancy dress, a pair of nice heels, or doing her hair. It is also the perfect opportunity to show off those gorgeous maternity photos if you have any.
Moreover, since babies have their own schedule, you cannot really tell exactly when you’re due, so you don’t want to wait until the last couple of weeks before planning the event. Don’t forget that during the last month of pregnancy, you might feel tired at all times, moody, and might have to use the restroom one too many times per hour.
All these symptoms, although magical as they prepare your body for birth, might not make you feel overly thrilled to host an event where your baby bump is the main attraction for hours.
