When it comes to baby showers, anyone in the mother-to-be’s life can plan and throw it for her- it could be an aunt, a mother, a sister, or a friend. It’s a big responsibility for sure, but throwing a baby shower in 2022 doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated. With this baby shower planning guide and shopping list, you’ll have everything you need for the perfect baby shower.
Choose a Baby Shower Theme
First thing’s first- aside from the basics, like setting the date, time, and location, you will have to decide on the theme. The entire event will revolve around this theme, from decor to invitations, to games. A fun theme is an essential part of a festive baby shower, so take your time making your decision.
Some fun and creative baby shower themes include:
- "Baby in Bloom" or "In the Garden"- think gorgeous in-season bouquets and flower arrangements everywhere!
- "The Adventure Begins"- ideal for moms with a hint of wanderlust- pictureminiature globes, maps as backdrops, and vintage suitcases for decor.
- "In the Jungle"- imagine a neutral palette with animal-themed snacks, greenery, and plenty of animal ornaments.
Send Invitations
Once you’ve decided on your theme, it’s time to send out your invitations. Guests should receive their invites about six weeks before the baby shower so they have enough time to find a baby giftand make arrangements. If the mother-to-be has preferences when it comes to gifts, this is where to mention them. For example, she may only want baby clothes made from organic cotton or bamboo.
You can design your own baby shower invitations using an online tool like Canva, or the Adobe Suite, but if you’re less savvy with computers, you can easily find invitations at a local gift shop, like Zinnia’s Gift Boutique in Scotts Valley, in Santa Cruz County.
Another option is ditching hardcopy invitations altogether and creating an event on Facebook or emailing an e-invite to your guests.
Plan the Menu
Now that your invites have been sent it's time to get down to our favorite part of planning baby showers: the details. First, let’s talk about food.
The spread of food at a baby shower is undoubtedly the most exciting part for guests. Baby showers typically feature an array of adorable finger foods and bite-sized appetizers, often on par with the theme of the shower. For example, if you’re planning an under-the-sea-themed baby shower, you could feature mermaid cupcakes from the Mermaid Cookbook.
If you decide not to follow suit with your party theme, then simply create a menu with five to ten food items from Food with Friends- a top-selling cookbookfeaturing hundreds of party food recipes andtips on creating an inviting table.
When the time comes to serve all of your beautiful food at the baby shower, consider displaying your items on gorgeous serving platters, and of course, have plenty of extra silverware and dinnerware on-hand.
Choose a Unique Take-home Gift for Guests
It's customary to prepare a gift for your guests to show them your appreciation and to thank them for attending. Gift bags have been the go-to in the past, but as we’re becoming more conscious of things like fast fashion and plastic consumption, it might be time to rethink the gift bag approach. Rather than buying a handful of less expensive items your guests may never use (and end up throwing out), why not spend the same amount of money on one quality take-home gift that has less environmental impact?
Some unique baby shower take-home gift ideas your guests will actually use are:
- Clean burning candles
- Artisan soaps or creams
- Car deodorizers
- Essential oils
- Tea
Planning an amazing baby shower in 2022 doesn't have to be stressful- in fact, if you’re prepared and organized, it’s actually a lot of fun! Throwing a baby shower for the special mom-to-be in your life is a memory you will both cherish forever, so don’t let the pressure of planning get in the way of that.
Just remember to keep this list on hand, and be sure to check out all of the amazing baby shower essentials at Zinnia’s Gift Boutique.You’ve got this!