Ultimate Guide to Throwing a Baby Shower
When you’re responsible for throwing a baby shower for your friend, the pressure is on! You’ll need to figure out party activities that entertain the mom-to-be and all her guests. At the same time, your party should express all the excitement everyone feels over the little one and provide loving support to the new mom. With so many people to please, the party-planning stage can feel overwhelming.
That’s where we come in! This baby shower guide is designed to explain all the tips, games, and gift ideas you need to plan the ultimate party. Keep reading to learn how to throw a baby shower in no time. And if you’re looking for baby shower gifts that are just for the mom (Nurtured 9’s specialty!), take a peek at our baby shower gift guide headquarters that’s packed with tons of gift ideas at various price points, or read on for some quick ideas.
Baby Shower Tips
Although every party is different, there are several ways to help make every baby shower special. Check out these tips on how to throw a baby shower as you start party-planning:
Photo Source: Bakewellcookies.com
Run ideas by the parent-to-be: The first step to throw a baby shower is to talk to the guest of honor and ask them what kind of party they want, such as any theme or guest preferences.
Set a date, time, budget, and guest list: You can’t move on with any party planning until these details have been taken care of. Make sure the date and time work with the guest of honor, and let the budget and guest list shape the location for the event.
Pick a theme: Think outside the box! No need to stick to pastels and the stork. Consider the baby’s nursery theme or the mother’s favorite things for inspiration.
Send out invitations: Four to six weeks before the event, mail the invites on paper or digitally. Don’t forget to include details about where the parents-to-be are registered.
Set the menu and decide on decor: Avoid anything the guest of honor has an aversion to, and make sure there’s food for any guests with special dietary needs. If the event is at a restaurant, communicate this menu with them, and ask if decor is allowed in the space.
Write a detailed agenda: To keep the party organized, create an agenda for each phase of the party, such as the arrival, activities, gifts, and dessert.
Choose simple party favors: When choosing party favors for guests, keep it simple and go with flowers, a few decorated cookies, or another token of gratitude that averages around $3 or $4 per person.
During the party, there’s a lot to keep track of. Your number one goal is to make sure everyone has a good time, especially the guest of honor. The tips below can help with that.
Be cognizant of personal struggles: Although everyone is there to celebrate the new parent-to-be, you’ll want to be sensitive to guests who may be struggling with infertility or a loss of pregnancy.
Keep an eye on the food and drink: No one wants to run out of snacks! Encourage people to eat, and make sure you replenish anything that runs out, especially if you’re offering a signature mocktail for the event, which we think it’s a wonderful idea.
Ask guests to address thank-you cards: To take some stress off the new parents’ plates by asking guests to address envelopes when they first arrive and randomly draw one of the envelopes for a prize later.
Pay attention to the guest of honor: It’s hard work being a mama-to-be, so if you notice she isn’t feeling well, it’s okay to tweak the agenda.
Prepare for gifts: Usually a highlight of the event, gift unwrapping can get a little crazy and messy. Before the guest of honor starts tearing into all the exciting packages, gather a notebook and pen to record gifts and delegate the task to a friend. Place a recycle bin and a pair of scissors nearby so you don’t have to hunt for them later.
Document the event: Like other big days in our lives, we tend to forget the details. Help the guest of honor remember the event long after it’s over by encouraging guests to sign a guest book and stop in the photo booth for a few selfies.
When the party's over, your work still isn’t quite done. Don’t forget these steps to wrap up the event.
Transport gifts: If you’re holding the shower somewhere other than the guest of honor’s house, you’ll need to transport gifts to her home. Many of the gifts parents receive at a baby shower are heavy and large (think strollers, car seats, and cribs), so you may need more than one car. This is a great detail to coordinate with mama’s partner.
Don’t let the guest of honor help with cleaning up: This is mama’s special day! And, chances are, she is going to be exhausted. Encourage her to put her feet up and relax while you clean up the decorations and food from the party.
Give the new mom the gift list: Don’t forget to give the guest of honor the list of gifts so she can write thank you cards before the baby arrives. Bonus points for handing her envelopes that are already addressed and stamped!
Baby Shower Gifts
Time to pick out the special gift that you’ll be giving mom-to-be (besides planning her baby shower, of course!). This is our favorite part! Our entire expectant and new mom gift shop, Nurtured9.com, has been curated by moms to contain the coziest, most soothing, and luxe essentials for maternity and postpartum. You can choose one of our signature pregnancy or new mom gift boxes or you can curate-your-own! Here are some of our bestselling pregnancy gifts:
PERFECT FOR AN EXPECTANT MOM OR FOR A NEW MOM DURING POSTPARTUM AKA THE “FOURTH TRIMESTER”. MAKES A GREAT BABY SHOWER GIFT!
The Mom & Baby Care Package Includes:
For Mom:
Nurtured 9 Maternity/Postpartum Robe in Cream Floral, Oatmeal & Cream Stripe or Solid Dusty Rose a luxe lounging layer with a relaxed silhouette that works for pregnancy and postpartum. Nursing friendly! (Small/Medium - sizes 0-10; Large/XLarge - sizes 12-18)
A Dry Brush to enhance circulation and exfoliate skin for an all-over glow
Lavender, Rose & Cedarwood All-Natural Bath Bomb for a fizzy, relaxing, and moisturizing bath
For Baby:
Diaper Caddy a white rope diaper basket to help Mama organize her diaper station or to store baby’s extra stuffed animals and blankets
Sun Swaddle Blanket a super soft new baby staple, made in a bamboo and cotton blend
Sleepy Bear Lovey to soothe baby so Mama can get some much needed rest!
Silicone Sun Teether a teether made with buttery soft silicone that fits perfectly into tiny hands (BPA free + 100% non-toxic materials)
Why We Love This Gift:
This thoughtfully curated new baby gift basket is the way to go when you want to send love and care to the new Mama AND her brand new baby! It includes items that comfort and soothe both Mom and baby during their first days and weeks together.
To curate this gift, we started with the prettiest maternity/postpartum robe (your choice of three colors) so Mom can feel fabulous inside and out. We also included some bath items to encourage Mama to take a few moments to care for herself: a dry brush and a lavender, rose & cedarwood bath bomb.
Next, we’ve curated four items specifically to help Mama keep baby comfy and soothed from day to night: a diaper caddy to organize and stash all the essentials, a beautiful swaddle blanket for extra snuggles and rest, an adorable bear lovey for cuddling, and a silicone sun teether to help baby feel more comfortable as those teeth start poking through.
Packaging & Shipping Details:
This set of gifts for brand new moms includes an elegant Nurtured 9 notecard. Our team will handwrite your gift message for you! The items included in this baby gift set are assembled in the diaper caddy for a fun presentation to Mom.
In a hurry? No worries! Orders ship within 24 hours, and generally take 2-5 business days to arrive via ground shipping. If you need your order sooner, you may select one of our expedited shipping methods at checkout. If you have any questions about packaging & shipping, please visit our FAQ page or email us at info@nurtured9.com.
WANT MORE GIFT OPTIONS?
Shop our entire collection of PREGNANCY GIFT BOXES and NEW MOM GIFT BOXES or you can CURATE-YOUR-OWN
PERFECT FOR A NEW MOM DURING POSTPARTUM OR “4th TRIMESTER”. MAKES A GREAT NEW BABY GIFT OR BABY SHOWER GIFT THAT’S JUST FOR MAMA!
The Replenish and Restore New Mom/Postpartum Recovery Gift Box Includes:
Nurtured 9 Maternity/Postpartum Robe in Cream Floral, Oatmeal & Cream Stripe or Solid Dusty Rose a luxe lounging layer with a relaxed silhouette that works for pregnancy and postpartum. Nursing friendly! (Small/Medium - sizes 0-10; Large/X-Large - sizes 12-18)
bkr Glass + Silicone Water Bottle to stay hydrated at home and on-the-go (a nursing mom will keep this by her side morning, day, and night). Features the subtle tone-on-tone message “Just For You, Mama” stamped along the side.
Hand Sanitizer (70% Alcohol) - Nourishing Lavender a soothing spritz to keep hands germ-free around the new baby
Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butterto soothe irritated nipples and to relieve dry lips, cheeks, heels, cuticles, and elbows
Nurtured 9 Multi-Use Nursing Cover to provide privacy for nursing mothers and to create a protective sun and wind shield over baby’s car seat
French Girl Organics Replenishing Hair Oil to strengthen and moisturize hair follicles root to tip
Eases These Postpartum Stressors:
Extreme thirst (especially during breastfeeding)
Irritated nipples
Breastfeeding privacy
Postpartum hair loss
Why We Love This Gift:
Baby is here! After months of growing a little human, mom-to-be is officially mom, and she is head-over-heels in love. Overjoyed as she may be…she is also exhausted, physically uncomfortable, and most likely a little overwhelmed at times, too. That beautiful baby has arrived with a lot of adorable needs, and while new mom is thrilled to step up to the challenge, she is also recovering from labor or surgery and trying to navigate the new task of breastfeeding (if that’s how she’s feeding her baby), all while running on very little sleep. It is a physical and emotional roller coaster!
The Replenish and Restore New Mom/Postpartum Recovery Gift Box is a care package for natural labor and C-section moms that has been thoughtfully curated to include an assortment of elevated yet practical items that are perfectly well suited for a new mom during her “fourth trimester”. From nursing discomforts (like sore nipples, extreme thirst, and privacy concerns) to middle-of-the-night feedings to postpartum hair loss (yup, it’s a thing). This new mom care package is full of beautiful items to help this new mama feel more comfortable in her skin, and help you show HER just how much you care. The nursery is full of items for baby – this postpartum recovery gift box is just for mama!
Packaging & Shipping Details:
This new mom care package is beautifully packaged in our luxe signature Nurtured 9 gift box, topped with ribbon and your gift note, handwritten on our Nurtured 9 card (no need for additional gift wrapping!).
In a hurry? No worries! This postpartum basket ships within 24 hours, and generally takes 2-5 business days to arrive via ground shipping. If you need your order sooner, you may select one of our expedited shipping methods at checkout.
If you have any questions about packaging & shipping, please visit our FAQ page or email us at info@nurtured9.com.
WANT MORE GIFT OPTIONS?
Shop our entire collection of PREGNANCY GIFT BOXES and NEW MOM GIFT BOXES or you can CURATE-YOUR-OWN
PERFECT FOR A NEW MOM DURING POSTPARTUM OR “4TH TRIMESTER”. MAKES A GREAT NEW BABY GIFT OR BABY SHOWER GIFT THAT’S JUST FOR MAMA!
The Peaceful Postpartum Gift Box Includes:
Earth Mama Organic Periodic Tea to gently ease postpartum cramping and discomforts
Blush Pink Slippers to warm and comfort a new mama at home (S/M for shoe size 6-8 and L/XL for shoe size 9-10)
Boobie Lactation Oat Cookie Bites delicious, indulgent & packed with nutrients that boost milk supply
Nurtured 9 Bloom No. 2 Non-Toxic Candle a refreshingly light scent to set a relaxing and cozy mood at home
Nurtured 9 “Moment For Mama” Apothecary Matches to make the relaxing ritual of lighting a candle meaningful from the strike of the match
Why We Love This Gift:
The days immediately after giving birth are so amazing and so exhausting at the same time. Despite the sleepless nights and nursing-filled days, Mama will look back with joy as she remembers this special and magical phase with her little one. This postpartum care package is all about soothing the new mom in the days after birth, so she can really enjoy these fleeting moments. With a healing warm tea, cloud-like slippers, delicious chocolate peanut lactation cookie bites for a sweet and comforting pick-me-up that also boosts milk supply, and a clean-burning non-toxic candle and matches to set a tranquil mood, the Nurtured 9 Peaceful Postpartum Gift Box is the ultimate care package for the new mom to enjoy while she cares for her beautiful baby.
Please note: the Earth Mama Periodic tea is not for use during pregnancy (postpartum only).
Packaging & Shipping Details:
This postpartum gift box is beautifully packaged in our luxe signature Nurtured 9 gift box, topped with ribbon and your gift note, handwritten on our Nurtured 9 card (no need for additional gift wrapping!).
In a hurry? No worries! Your order of gifts for postpartum moms will ship within 24 hours, and generally takes 2-5 business days to arrive via ground shipping. If you need your order sooner, you may select one of our expedited shipping methods at checkout. If you have any questions about packaging & shipping, please visit our FAQ page or email us at info@nurtured9.com.
WANT MORE GIFT OPTIONS?
Shop our entire collection of PREGNANCY GIFT BOXES and NEW MOM GIFT BOXES or you can CURATE-YOUR-OWN
The Mom and Baby Care Package: With a few items for mom (flowy lightweight robe, dry brush, bath bomb) and a few items for baby (sleepy bear lovey, swaddle, silicone teether, diaper caddy), this well-rounded baby shower gift basket has it all.
The Replenish and Restore New Mom/Postpartum Gift Box: Focusing more on mom’s breastfeeding journey, this postpartum gift box includes a chic nursing cover that provides privacy, Earth Mama organic nipple butter to soothe sore skin, a “Just For You Mama” water bottle to help keep mom hydrated, and a gorgeous nursing-friendly robe.
The Peaceful Postpartum New Mom Gift Box: From soothing tea to delicious cookies to plush cloud-like slippers to a non-toxic candle and matches to set a relaxing tone at home, this postpartum gift box is all about peace and rest for mom!
The Feel Good Pregnancy Gift Box: This gift box includes a cozy Nurtured 9 robe, a non-toxic candle, nourishing Zoe Organics belly butter, and soothing tea to help every mom-to-be feel her best.
The Spa Day Pregnancy Gift Box: This gift box features everything a mom-to-be needs to pamper herself, such as a beautiful Nurtured 9 robe, Mother Mother face and belly oil, Kitsch spa headband and rose quartz face roller, SnowFox Skincare sheet mask, and Ella + Mila nail polish.
The Soothing Recovery Postpartum Gift Box: This gift box comes with a pair of nursing-friendly Nurtured 9 maternity pjs, a postpartum cookbook filled with replenishing recipes for mom, a soothing sitz bath from Mother Mother, and a lightly-scented non-toxic candle to help Mom relax, rest, and recover after birth.
Baby Shower Games
Most baby showers involve baby-themed games for guests. However, these activities run the risk of being boring or even awkward. To make sure you choose games that won’t make the guests cringe, give these ones a try:
Guess Who? Parent Edition: Tape each of these printable cards with famous parents on each of the guests’ backs and give a prize to the first person to guess the name of their card.
Lullaby Emoji Pictionary: Have guests try to guess which popular lullaby the emojis in this printable pictionary game represent, and give a prize to the person who guesses the most correctly.
Other baby shower games we love are the Left Right game and Baby Shower Family Feud, which are both described in detail by our friends over at The Bump.
When you’re in charge of planning a baby shower, the process can feel daunting. However, by using these tips, games, and gift ideas, you’ll be well on your way to throwing every mom-to-be’s dream baby shower! When all else fails, remember to put mama first and fill her up with all of your love, well wishes, and support - you simply can’t go wrong with that sentiment guiding the way. Good luck and enjoy!
ADD BABY’S NAME TO OUR SLEEPY BEAR LOVEY BLANKET!
For an extra special personalized touch, add baby’s name to his or her lovey! Once you add this item to your cart, you will be prompted to enter the baby’s name, which will be printed in a gender-neutral gray font in the bottom corner of the lovey.
Product Description:
While we are all about Mama, this Bear Lovey Blanket was just too sweet to resist! Perfect for cuddling, this cotton security blanket will help soothe baby, so Mama can get some much needed rest of her own. This gender neutral oatmeal colored bear is made from super soft cotton, making it cozy for naps, or for snuggles on the go. It is the perfect token to show baby some love too, while also keeping Mom's need to run errands or catch a snooze in mind.
Adorable oatmeal-toned bear lovey that’s perfect for cuddling
Made from super soft cotton
ADD BABY’S NAME TO HIS OR HER SWADDLE BLANKET!
For an extra special personalized touch, add baby’s name to this adorable swaddle blanket! Once you add this item to your cart, you will be prompted to enter the baby’s name, which will be printed in a gender-neutral gray font.
Product Description:
Truth be told we actually curated this adorable swaddle for newborns because of how beautiful we could picture it wrapped around one of our gift boxes as a packaging meets gift item. Then we thought, if this swaddle looks this gorgeous wrapped around a box, imagine it on an adorable newborn, or peeking out of a nursery basket, or draped over the stroller for some shade! This soft swaddle blanket is all about optimal Mom function, with a sun design to make her smile...both at her happily swaddled napping baby (they're so cute when they're asleep!), and at how effortlessly chic she looks as function meets style.
Product Details:
47” x 47” muslin swaddle blanket
Super soft bamboo and cotton blend
Perfect for swaddling, tummy time, monthly photo back drop, stroller cover and more
Why Moms-to-be and New Moms Will Love It:
Personalize this little bunny stuffed animal by adding baby’s name to its leather name tag! The perfect add on for baby and Mama to snuggle, this stuffed bunny is supremely soft and sized for the new baby (or an older sibling) to cuddle up with day and night!
Product Details:
From O.B. Designs in Australia, this fluffy, cuddly bunny makes a great companion for your special little one.
Suitable for Ages 0+
Toy 10 inches long
Weighted beads in arms, legs & belly
Made by a Sedex audited Manufacturer
Interior of toys are recycled material
100% Polyester interior and exterior
O.B. Designs’ products are made to the highest standards, however if used incorrectly and breakage occurs, they may become a choking hazard. Please check before each use and discard at the first sign of wear. Do not alter in any way and always use under adult supervision. Machine Wash before use and hang dry. Inspect product for defects before use. Do not leave with babies unattended or when sleeping.
Our soft toys meet EN71 1,2,3, ASTM and ASNZ toy standards for children under 36 months.