Themes & Decorations For Your Baby Shower

Babies have always inspired us. We love the idea of a fresh start, a new beginning, perfect innocence and for parents, the opportunity to be part of raising a little person is very exciting. Although the joy of being blessed with having a baby hasn't changed much over the years, the way in which we celebrate the event has undergone a minor transformation. Where formerly a baby shower was seen as a woman's event, now the father-to-be is welcome and many couples include both men and women.

Today we're seeing a more relaxed tone at baby and bridal showers alike which leads to new challenges as we try to cater to everyone involved.

Decorating and themes have changed with the years as well; no longer is it considered necessary to stick to "blue for boys, pink for girls" color scheme. Many women are incorporating a wider range, from green and yellow to purple, so be sure to ask the parents what they are planning for the nursery and try to accommodate their wishes into the theme of the shower.

Other fun ideas include setting aside a special seat for the parents-to-be, decorated with ribbons or balloons if you wish (being sure to think of the mother's comfort in this stage of her pregnancy). Don't forget the Grandmas-to-Be (and Grandpas!) as they will probably appreciate some special recognition.

Refreshments are an easy and fun accompaniment to the theme of the party. Look online for some recipes or use the ideas listed below to get you started.

Brunch
Fruit plate, quiche, flavored coffees or teas

Luncheon
Mini salads, finger sandwiches, shrimp

Afternoon Tea
Scones with jams, cookies, finger sandwiches, flavored teas

Potluck Dinner
Guests can participate in this meal, and some parties even have them bring a freezer meal for the parents to have after baby's arrival

The market abounds with party favors and we're limited only by our space and budget. From an amusing "bun in the oven" candle to decorative candies, you have many options of creative gifts to send the guests home with.

In addition to gift registries, it is popular for the shower to have a gift theme as well which is especially useful in the case of multiple showers. One shower may focus on bath essentials, another toys, and another books and picture frames. Again, include the parents in this decision to see if they have other plans and what their needs are.

It is important to think of the type of guests that will be invited to the shower when deciding upon entertainment, for many people don't include the traditional baby shower games and you may be better off eliminating them altogether. For a light-hearted crowd consider that knows each other, consider playing soft music and simply allowing everyone to talk.

An amusing game might be appropriate, especially if men are involved; for example, guessing belly size of mommy and daddy using pieces of ribbon is always fun. Or perhaps mom would enjoy hearing stories and advice from other parents in the group use your imagination!

No matter what the theme or how many the guests, the important thing to remember is that it's a celebration of a new life and beginning family, and mommy is sure to appreciate the care and thoughtfulness that you've put into her special day!