Baby Showers - 3/4 - Party Planning Professor

Baby Shower Practical Gift Guide

Perfect Gifts that are needed at a baby shower is really not as easy is seems. The very best baby shower gifts are either items taken straight from the mom-to-be’s registry or items that you’ve tried, loved, and know no new mom should be without. The following gifts are kits compiled by a mom who’s been there, tried that, and wouldn’t ever want to be caught with a newborn baby and none of these items. Each kit can easily be assembled and can fit into any budget. Use this guide as a starting point then let your personal tastes turn the gift into something unique and special.

Double AA size rechargeble batteries and charger

Whats it for?: You know all of toys that she will be opening. Will anyone think of batteries? Probably not, but you know that so many toys now and in the future will be needing them. One of the best investments to make would be rechargable batteries.

Middle of the Night Emergency Kit
What it contains: Infant Tylenol, Mylecon Gas Drops, teething tablets, assorted pacifiers, assorted baby bottles, and a set of earplugs.

What it’s for: You never know what’s going to soothe a crying baby, it could be a new pacifier or a different bottle. Having an assortment of items on hand can help a new mom get through one night or ten. The earplugs are for the parent who’s resting up, waiting to take his or her turn with the baby!

Happiest Baby on the Block Kit
What it contains: Happiest Baby on the Block DVD or book, swaddling blanket, pacifier, white noise machine.

What it’s for: Harvey Karp’s book, The Happiest Baby on the Block, explains in 5 easy steps how to soothe a crying baby. Having the necessary tools and mastering the 5 steps should be a requirement for every new parent.

First Feed Kit
What it contains: Cute bibs, baby spoons, baby bowl, and a sippy cup.

What it’s for: Babies don’t eat solids until they’re 4 to 6 months old, and while that seems far down the road to a pregnant mom, anyone who’s already had a baby knows that those first few months whiz right by. Help your friend make that first feeding special by showering her with the perfect tools!

First Bath Kit
What it contains: Baby tub, washcloths, baby soap, hooded towel, and, of course, a rubber ducky!

What it’s for: Baby’s first bath is a special occasion, make it extra special by lovingly picking out her first towel and all the other things that will make the event just right.

All About Mommy Kit
What it contains: Lotions, soaps, plush socks, fun magazines, chocolate…- anything your friend would get if she wanted to pamper herself.

What it’s for: From the shower on it all becomes about the baby, but mommies need loving and pampering too. Since she probably won’t remember to take care of herself, it’s up to you to try!

Filed Under: Baby Showers Tagged With: baby birthday, Baby Showers

Baby Shower Decorations

11:53 by Elizabeth_N · 1 Comment

An easy way to decorate for a baby shower is keeping it inexpensive by using items you may already have. Also you can use items that you will already have at the shower. I will elaborate both of the following ways in this post.
By using items you already have:
You can use parasols, umbrella’s, baby bottles, baby dolls, diaper/safety pins, diapers, and jars of baby food.
Parasols or umbrellas can be hung from the ceiling, or be placed around the room to decorate. baby bottles can be filled with candy or mints, and tied with a pretty blue or pink ribbons. baby dolls can be placed around the room, or also can be used on the food or gift tables. diaper/safety pins can be strung together and hung across doorways or walls, around tables, or in front of the food tables or gift tables. jars of baby food can also have ribbon or bows on them and set around, then the VIP guest can have them to take with her to help stock her pantry. You can also do this with small stacks of new born diapers. If you are lucky enough to have a moses basket you can also have that in the room to have each guest bring a couple of items, either baby food, or diapers, or wipes then as they arrive set them into the basket so the VIP guest will also have those for stock in her pantry.
By using items you will already have at the shower:
Well, first off, start with the food table, place colorful food around the table in an exquisite fashion, not only will it make the table look beautiful, but also your display of food will be so eye-catching to your guests and they will be more apt to eat the food. You can cut a watermelon into a fruit basket, for a fruit salad, you can arrange finger sandwiches in a colorful array. Have salads in many colors, and the desserts as well.
For tiny thank you gifts tie mints in a cute foil wrap tied with a pretty bow and set by each place setting, or use sachets of beautifully scented dried flowers or purport around at each place setting.
use candles at an evening baby shower and have them lit with beauty and sweet scents, making it a glamorous event. Use multi-colored paper plates or plastic ware for the place settings, or alternate pink and blue. cover the tables with elegant tablecloths or pink and blue plastic ones depending on the type of event your having.

One rule of thumb to always keep in mind, make sure to ask before decorating what your allowed to hang on walls and ceilings, if your allowed to or not. You do not want to incur extra charges later if your hall or place you are holding the shower at doesn’t allow. Sometimes, they will say you cannot hang with tape or staples. So you will need to know this ahead of time before you plan out your decorations.