Planning a Baby Shower
Baby showers can be a fun way to share in the excitement of a new baby, but planning one is rarely much fun. This Web guide spotlights online resources that simplify baby shower planning and offer suggestions for preparing refreshments, and purchasing baby shower decorations and baby gifts so you can enjoy the party.
Expand All Guide SectionsChoosing a Baby Shower Theme and Sending Invitations
A baby shower takes some leg work before the fun can begin. The Web sites in this section offer theme ideas for the party, and sell baby shower invitations.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many Web sites that sell invitations for baby showers sell invitations for other baby-related events, such as birth announcements and christenings.
- Visit the findingDulcinea Hosting a Party Web Guide for more valuable resources about party planning.
Dulcinea's Picks
For help choosing a baby shower theme …
BabyShowerGamesAtoZ
has a lengthy list of baby shower theme ideas, party kits and games. Shower ideas include “Baby Needs A Name,” a “Little Angel” party and a “Diapers Shower.” Supplies for the themes and games are available for sale.
PartyPail
suggests several baby shower themes and sells decoration kits to correspond with the themes. If you’re looking for a more specific item, use the links in the “Shower Decorations & Supplies By Type” section.
Martha Stewart
offers some suggestions for throwing a baby shower with a modern theme if the usual gimmicky ideas aren’t to your liking.
Sending baby shower invitations …
Tiny Prints
sells all sorts of baby shower invitations but specializes in unique invitations rather than the typical packaged invitations available from most other printers. Search for invitations by designer, by price range or by the inventory that’s new on the site. You’ll find many modern designs here.
Inviting Smiles
offers baby shower invitations, baptism and birth announcements, and more. You can also order a free catalog to look at merchandise. Especially useful are the “Wording Ideas,” which can be a lifesaver for special situations like twins or adoptions (or if you’re just not sure what you want your invitation to say).
Who knew?
Associated Content
explains the relatively new trend of having an online baby shower to accommodate friends and relatives who live far away from the mom-to-be but still want to celebrate.
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Baby Shower Decorations, Favors and Games
Baby shower decorations, favors and games can add a fun element to a baby shower and make the event even more memorable. Browse the Web sites in this section to get ideas and supplies for games to play, and purchase decorations and baby shower favors (or find inspiration to make decorations and favors of your own).
Dulcinea's Insight
- Don’t forget to check parenting publications like Parenting magazine and Parents magazine for advice and ideas about throwing a baby shower.
- Some of the Web sites recommended in the “Choosing a Baby Shower Theme and Sending Invitations” section of this Web guide (specifically, PartyPail and BabyShowerGamesAtoZ) also sell decorations and party favors.
Dulcinea's Picks
For baby shower decorations and favors …
My Baby Shower Favors
sells decorations and supplies for baby showers, including tableware and centerpieces. Also browse the low-cost shower favors (some of which are priced at less than $1 each).
ABCFavors.com
advertises its baby shower favors most prominently, but don’t miss the baby shower decorations and tableware available here, too. Browse the categories listed on the left side of the page to search for baby shower essentials.
Beaucoup Wedding Favors
sells more than favors for weddings; look for several pages of baby shower favors here, too. The site has a clean design that makes browsing for favors simple.
Simply Baby Stuff
offers a wide array of baby shower favors, as well as items to help keep dads and big brothers and sisters involved in the big event. Check here for tableware, balloons and centerpieces as well.
For baby shower games …
Baby-Shower.com
provides a long list of reader-submitted games, as well as directions for classic baby shower games like the diaper pin game.
Babbee
has directions for several baby shower games, and free printable pages for other games that require paper to play, such as Baby Shower Bingo and Baby Word Scramble.
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Baby Shower Food and Refreshments
Baby-themed hors d’oeuvres or a fancy lunch? The Web sites in this section offer ideas and recipes for food and refreshments appropriate for a baby shower, ranging from simple snacks to more complicated entrees.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Searching general recipe Web sites like Allrecipes and Simply Recipes for “baby shower” can return recipes specifically recommended for baby showers or with reviews from people who used the food at a shower.
- See the findingDulcinea Cooking Web Guide and the findingDulcinea Recipes Web Guide for additional help planning food for your party.
Dulcinea's Picks
BabyCenter
offers some suggestions on what to consider when planning food for a baby shower, and explains that the right placement of refreshments can encourage guests at the shower to start mingling.
Martha Stewart
devotes a section to planning a baby shower. Browse the great list of recipe collections (not all are specific to baby showers), or pick a shower theme from the photo gallery and see what food is recommended to correspond with the theme.
The New York Times
features an article with recipes for 101 hors d’oeuvres that can be made in “20 minutes or less.” They’re not specific to baby showers, but one of them just might be a great fit for what you’re planning.
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Buying a Baby Gift
Wondering what gifts to “shower” on the new baby? The sites in this section have baby gift ideas and even list some gift registries parents may want to use to make shopping a little easier for others.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Baby registries are becoming increasingly common. Check the site of almost any product manufacturer or retailer for a registry. Many have a “recommended products” list to help you build your registry.
- For more advice about where to look online for great baby items, see the findingDulcinea Shopping for Baby Web Guide, which includes a section about buying a baby gift.
Dulcinea's Picks
For gift ideas …
Gifts.com
has a fairly extensive section of gift ideas for babies. Look for “Top 10” baby gifts, as well as eco-friendly presents.
FindGift.com
also has baby gift ideas, with special sections of gifts for adopted babies, new big brothers and sisters, and even new grandparents.
Baby Gift Idea
sells unique baby gifts, including jewelry, nursery décor and even family gifts to help moms, dads and siblings feel included in the excitement of a new baby. Parents-to-be can create a wish list for free if they like what they see at this site.
For baby registries …
SpiffyBaby
provides reviews of its favorite baby registries, including Wal-Mart, Babies “R” Us, the Amazon Baby Registry and others.
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Baby Shower Planning Checklists, Special Circumstances, and Etiquette
The Web sites in this section contain general advice for throwing a baby shower, including baby shower etiquette, baby shower planning checklists and tips for special circumstances, such as when the mother-to-be already has a child.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you’re wondering what to do for an expectant mom who already has children, consider holding a diaper shower, which provides essentials she’ll still need for a new baby (like diapers and formula) instead of items she probably already has, like a stroller or crib.
Dulcinea's Picks
Baby Shower Net
can help with all aspects of hosting a baby shower. Two particularly useful features on this site are the baby shower planning checklist and the article about baby shower etiquette.
LifeTips
has several ideas for hosting a successful baby shower. Look for tips about who to include on the guest list, picking the date, how to plan a “man friendly” shower and more.
BabyZone.com
has a page of special considerations for baby showers, including showers for a mom who has already had a baby, showers for single mothers and showers for parents who are adopting a child.
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© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
