How to plan the perfect baby shower

Baby showers can take place at any time during pregnancy, but tend to happen in the last couple of months when the big day is imminent.

It’s also one of the last times that the mum-to-be will be centre of attention, as after the birth the baby will be the star attraction.

You could wait to have the shower after the baby’s born, but this is more unusual.

However, having the baby shower post-birth has its perks; it can help with getting more accurate gifts, as the new mum will have more idea of what she needs.

Many expectant parents set up a baby gift registry for their unborn baby, so guests can choose a gift that’s going to be more useful.

If they haven't you could gift the mum a relaxing pamper set to help her sleep better and show her how much you care. This Sanctuary Spa New Mum Pamper Bag contains so many brilliant goodies that she'll love!

See more ideas here in our baby shower gift ideas.

A shower gathers together the female relatives and close friends of the expectant mum for games, food, and gift giving, and is normally organised by someone other than her, maybe a best friend or sister.

Showers have been traditionally female-only events, but they don’t have to be, and you should feel free to invite whoever you please.

It’s a very personal gathering, so don’t worry about numbers, too many people and it loses its close, intimate feel.

Handwritten invitations can be a lovely way to invite friends and loved ones, plus they'll get to keep the invitation as a keepsake for years to come. You could get creative making your own, or buy these adorable pre-made ones from Amazon.

Avoid having the shower in the mum’s house if possible, as you don’t want to create extra work for a heavily pregnant woman (unless you make sure everyone tidies up before they leave!).

So, choose a friend or family member’s house as a venue, or even a restaurant – a booth or private area is a good idea as you can still decorate and personalise it, but it will be a pricier option.

Afternoon tea seems the obvious choice, as there is lots of scope for gorgeous-looking (and tasting) cakes, sandwiches and nibbles, but any time of day could work in theory.

You don’t have to have a theme, but it can help with making the shower as memorable and visually gorgeous as possible.

A colour theme is the simplest, maybe if you know the sex of the baby or it could even the mum-to-be’s favourite colour.

Carry this through from the initial invitations to the decorations, tableware and even the food.

You can be really creative and choose a more unusual theme (for example inspired by the mum’s job or hobby) or stick to something more traditional.

Some ideas:
Nursery rhymes
Books
Vintage tea party
Stork/baby animals
Colour (either gender themed or something on trend – like grey for example)
Pattern – stripes or spots always look striking

Why not create a Pinterest board for inspiration?

You can make your own decorations or buy some online, such as this set of pretty pink, silver and gold ones, and they don't have to cost a fortune!

Buffet and finger-type food works well as it's easy to prepare and less formal – just remember to make sure everything on the menu is suitable for a pregnancy diet.

So one person doesn’t end up doing all the hard work, each guest could bring a pre-arranged dish (plus it cuts down on washing up too as everyone takes their dirty dishes home).

Ideas for food could include a traditional British tea party, with scones, jam and cream, and tiny sandwiches, or something with a more international flavour, for example flatbreads, humous, olives and dips.

It goes without saying that you’ll need a cake!

There are specialist companies that can provide something personalised, or a tower of cupcakes is another popular option (and easier for someone to make at home if budgets are tight).

Waitrose and Marks & Spencer offer a personalised cake-ordering service, or if you’re attempting to make it yourself, Pinterest is always a treasure trove of ideas.

And it’s not just sitting around eating nibbling cake either, fun and games are an important part of any shower.

These can range from the traditional ‘guess the weight of the baby’ to more sophisticated quizzes and games that need props and a bit of forward planning.

Here are a few ideas:

Painting onesies
Buy a plain white bodysuit or onesie for each guest, which they can decorate with special fabric paints and pens as gifts for the new baby.

Baby sock game
What you need: 14 pairs of baby socks, timer
How to play: Put all the socks, unpaired, in a pile on the floor. Each guest must match as many socks as they can in one minute. The person who matches the most socks is the winner.

Don't say baby!
What you need: Safety pin for each guest
How to play: As each guest arrives, attach the safety pin to their t-shirt or blouse. If one guest hears another say the word baby, they can take their pin. Whoever has the most pins at the end wins.

Who’s the baby?
Everyone brings along a baby photo of themselves (younger the better so it’s harder to guess) and the hostess passes them round so everyone can guess who they are. The person who guesses the most wins.

Celebrity baby names
The hostess will have to prepare this before the shower begins. Guests have to match celebrities with their child’s name, either working in teams or by themselves.

You can also buy some ready-made games, which make your life easier if you're planning a party in a rush. This one from Amazon includes three different games and guarantees to keep you entertained!