what else besides a baby shower? - April 2025 Babies | Forums | What to Expect (2024)

FAQs

What is another option for a baby shower? ›

Another alternative to a traditional baby shower is a “sip & see.” This type of celebration normally happens after the baby has already been born and is more or less a “welcome baby party.” This type of low-key party is used to introduce a newborn to friends and family in a casual manner.

A typical baby shower includes playing games, watching the mother-to-be open gifts, eating, and drinking. However, games aren't a must. Some baby shower hosts and hostesses are foregoing the typical games in favor of other activities. Ask the expecting mother what she thinks about games and what she would like to do!

A baby shower is a celebration to mark the impending birth of a baby. It's a way for friends and family to come together and 'shower' parents-to-be with essential items and gifts. They can be flashy affairs with lots of baby shower activities and games, or they can be much more low-key and intimate.

Baby Sprinkle – A baby sprinkle is generally held for mums to be who already have children. It's a more relaxed party to celebrate the upcoming birth of a second, third or more children.

A modern baby shower can be radically different from a traditional baby shower if you choose. Many people are starting to use baby showers as an opportunity to set up their postpartum support and solutions rather than the old fashion collecting of stuff. It's all about making it work for you!

Who Traditionally Pays for a Baby Shower? The hostess traditionally pays for the baby shower and its associated costs. However, the hostess can divide up the responsibility and costs by asking a few close family members or friends to co-host.

Most often, the host pays for the baby shower. This is not always one person. For example, several aunts and cousins might cover the full tab of a shower at a restaurant, or a group of coworkers may help coordinate all the decorations, food and fun.

For coworkers or acquaintances, people tend to spend around $30 to $50. For friends or distant relatives, many people spend between $50 and $100. For close friends or family members, most people spend between $100 and $200 or more.

Traditionally, close friends, cousins, aunts, sisters-in-law, or co-workers of the mother-to-be hosted baby showers. Because gifts are central to showers, having a member of the honoree's (or husband's) immediate family host appeared self-serving.

Who plans and hosts a baby shower? According to tradition, baby showers are typically hosted by a friend or distant relative (like a cousin or an aunt) instead of an immediate family member. This custom is believed to have developed to avoid the appearance that the family was simply on a mission to collect gifts.

What is a good favor for a baby shower? ›

Traditionally, baby showers were hosted by close female friends or not-so-immediate female relatives (like aunts or cousins) of the mom-to-be. But times have changed, and now it's considered acceptable for just about anyone to host this celebration.

Tradition states that when it comes to throwing a baby shower, those who love you should do the honors. This person could be your best friend from college, a colleague from work, the next-door neighbor… or your sister, sister-in-law, mother, aunt, etc.

A baby sprinkle is a casual and smaller-scale version of a baby shower. It is typically held for parents who are expecting their second, third, or subsequent child. The term "sprinkle" is a play on words, as it suggests a lighter celebration compared to the more elaborate and traditional baby showers.

This party is often (cutely) called a 'Sprinkle' instead of a shower since the family welcoming the new child likely already has many of the items needed (though not always!).

Baby Sprinkle

For parents who already have children, a baby sprinkle is a lighter, less extravagant event than a traditional shower. It's focused more on celebrating the new baby rather than stocking up on essentials, which the parents likely already have from their previous child or children.