The baby shower has in recent times increased in popularity in Australia and according to many sources it originated in the late eighteen hundreds. Why the name baby shower? Well the mum-to-be was showered with love and presents! Traditionally the baby shower was held for the first baby however this has changed with some holding a baby shower to celebrate each new addition. The baby shower should be organised by someone close to the expectant mum. Following is a guide to organising a baby shower and included is some gift ideas for the mum-to-be.



Who? It is a good idea to consult with the mum-to-be on who she would like to be invited. Usually it is close friends, family and workmates of the female variety but recently parties are being held with partners being included. Ask the expectant mum to provide names, addresses and email addresses (if appropriate).

When? Baby showers should be held in the last trimester but not too close to the due date as the baby could arrive early. Having it then also leaves enough time for mum and dad to organise or set-up any larger gifts. Baby shower parties tend to be held in the afternoon on either Saturday or Sunday and they generally go for a few hours.

Where? The location will determine how many guests can be invited and it is nice to have the baby shower at someone's home but other alternatives could be a restaurant, park, church hall and ideally not at the mum-to-be's home.

Food? Usually finger food is served at baby shower parties and can range from nibblies to hot food such party pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches, quiches and pastizzis to cakes and other sweets. To help with costs you could ask guests to bring a plate. Remember there are some foods that mum-to-be will have to avoid so consider her when choosing the menu.

Fun and games?Rather than pass the time telling horror birth stories it can be nice to include a couple of games. Remember to keep these to only a few otherwise the whole baby shower party can get taken up with games and guests won't get a chance to catch-up with the expectant mum or other guests. Giving guests a numbered ticket as they arrive can help later on with choosing participants for the games. When participants are required, tickets can easily be drawn from a hat. A lucky door prize can also be given out.

Some ideas for games include:

Guessing the baby's details. Each guest has to guess certain details of the birth and new arrival such as the sex, date of birth, time and weight. If some of these details are known i.e. the sex and date of birth substitute these for other details. The winner is the one whose details end up being the most accurate.

Quick change. Have three or four guests attempt to put a disposable nappy on a teddy or doll blindfolded. The guest who can do this task the quickest is the winner.

Guessing competition. Fill a jar with cotton wool balls and guests have to guess the number of balls.

Prizes. A few hours of babysitting the new bub is a great prize not only for the guest but also the soon-to-be tired and exhausted new mum. Other small gift ideas such as chocolates, bath oils or candles are suitable.

Gift ideas. If guests aren't mums themselves they may be clueless when it comes to gift ideas so asking the mum-to-be to write a list of things she would like to receive can help. babygiftpacks.com.au have a range of great gift ideas. You can choose from various gift packs containing baby essentials or you can go for something a little different like a voucher for photography. Giving the expectant mum a little bit of pampering is something she will always appreciate and may not do for herself. babygiftpacks.com.au can organise a therapist to give the guest of honour some pampering at the baby shower or you can order a voucher to be used at a later date.*

Cost. Baby shower parties can range from being quite chic to a more casual affair and can also be themed. So, depending on the tone of the party the costs can increase. When working on a budget don't forget to include invitations; food; beverages; plates, glasses, cutlery (plastic or otherwise); decorations; prizes; and venue hire (if required). In order to cut costs you could ask guests to chip in.

And for something a little different... A nice relaxing way to celebrate the new little person on the way is to have a brunch or lunch at a restaurant. A great idea for second or subsequent babies ? there is less to organise and each guest can pay their plate as well as a little more to cover the cost of the guest of honour. It gives the expectant mum some time away from the responsibilities of the other children and chances are she will have guests there who may be in a similar situation and would appreciate some time out too!

Whatever you choose to do be sure to have fun, have a few laughs and enjoy the celebration of new life!