In the late 19th century in America and Western Europe, the tradition of the baby shower, a party for the expectant mother and her baby, was born. The name comes from “baby shower,” literally “rain for the baby. And it really is a real rain of plenty: at such a party, pregnant women are surrounded by attention, care and gifts. The party is held in the 7th-8th month of pregnancy, when the woman is still feeling well enough, and there is no danger of premature birth.

Baby shower – what is it for?

• It is a good opportunity for a woman’s loved ones and relatives to express their love, attention and companionship to her, to share the joy of the upcoming event, and to exchange positive experiences. It will help a pregnant woman to remain calm and in good spirits until she gives birth.
• The baby shower is a celebration of not only attention and gifts. Many parents know how important it is to prepare for the baby in advance and without haste. The right gifts can make life a lot easier in the first weeks after birth, giving women the opportunity to recover.
• When the baby is born, he will have everything he needs. And loved ones, seeing that their gifts were to the heart of the child and his mother, will have a sense of gratitude and will be more willing to provide the necessary assistance.

How to hold a baby shower?

There are several options for holding this party.

In the classic scenario baby shower is a bachelorette party. It invites both experienced, established mothers, as well as young women without children. Baby shower – a very personal holiday, so it is best to invite only the closest people, next to whom the pregnant woman will be pleased to celebrate the appearance of her baby. Sometimes men are also invited to the party, but their presence can cause embarrassment, especially for the expectant mother.

Baby shower is arranged by a common agreement or secretly, when the pregnant woman will not know on which party she was invited. Most often the holiday is held at the home of a close friend of the expectant mother, but if there are many guests, you can spend it at a restaurant.

The invitation to the baby shower is sent at least 6 weeks before the baby is due. The room for the party is decorated, a light, festive menu is prepared, and gifts and congratulations are given. It is best if the expectant mother herself will make approximate lists of gifts, so that the baby will have everything she needs, and at the same time there will not be 10 identical suits.

During the holiday guests communicate, give gifts, discuss the upcoming addition, surround the pregnant woman with care and attention. Depending on the organizer’s imagination, the scenario of the baby shower can also include various contests and entertainment, as well as photo and video filming. At the end of the party, the gifts are unpacked so everyone can admire the cute little things for the baby.

Baby shower ideas

Baby shower decorations can be made with your own hands. The most popular decorating themes are color (blue, pink or yellow), nautical and vintage, but the theme of the party depends primarily on the tastes of her chief guest.

For decorations on the baby shower use:

• Balloons of various shapes, with inscriptions.
• Balloons and fans made of tissue paper.
• Wreaths of cardboard wrapped with colorful fabric and ribbons.
• A collage of cut out photos and drawings on children’s themes.
• Flags of paper.
• Pictures of a pregnant woman and her family.
• Pictures and figures with children’s prints.
• Children’s clothes hung on clothespins.
• Bows of satin and kapron ribbon.
• Colorful cubes and children’s toys.

Stores with handicraft goods sell entire kits of paper, felt and scraps of fabric on children’s themes that can be used to decorate the baby shower.

Separately arrange a place where the expectant mother will sit. This can be an armchair, a comfortable sofa or a rocking chair.

Gifts for the baby shower for the mother-to-be and the baby

So what to give the mom-to-be if she didn’t leave any wishes herself? Here’s a list of the top 

10 gifts that will always come in handy:

1. Bathing and hygiene supplies: baby towel with corner, bath stand, funny thermometer, baby hygiene kit, rubber toys, diapers.
2. Sling scarf or with rings of soft cotton.
3. Baby monitor with breathing monitor function.
4. A set of waterproof bibs with a pocket where uneaten food accumulates.
5. A portable lounger that you can take with you into any room so your baby isn’t afraid to be alone.
6. A feeding cushion.
7. A “white noise” generator or musical nightlight.
8. Toys with cherry bones inside – they are heated and used to soothe colic.
9. Children’s books made of thick cardboard.
10. A CD and book of lullaby songs.

Baby shower feast table

Treats are served buffet-style so that you can eat without stopping the party. It is also important that the food is tasty and light.

1. Invigorating lemonade:

2 lemons, 2 oranges, 1 lime, 2 glasses of steeped hot tea, 2-3 cm. piece of ginger, mint, sugar to taste, 1 l of cold water.

Squeeze the juice from the citrus fruits, removing the seeds. Dissolve the sugar in the tea and throw the peeled ginger root in it. After 10 minutes, remove the ginger, mix everything and let it infuse for 20-30 minutes.

2. Cradle of eggs:

15 eggs, 2 sausages, 100g soft butter, a little mustard, black pepper.

Boil and peel eggs. Cut cradles out of 12 eggs. Grind remaining eggs into paste, mix with butter and mustard. Cut the sausages into thick slices. Inside the “cradle” put a sausage with two peephole peppers, fill the remaining space with egg mass.

3. Fruit salad:

2 large apples of different colors, 2 sweet citrus fruits (orange, mandarin, red orange), 5 different seasonal fruits, 1 cup berries, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons sugar, cream

Chop the fruit finely, drizzle the apples with lemon juice (about 1 spoonful) so they don’t darken. Mix the rest of the juice with the sugar and warm it a little together with 100 ml of water so that the sugar has time to dissolve. Then pour the salad with the syrup and garnish with cream.

4. Baby Shower Gingerbread:

3 cups flour, 1 cup diced butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 0.5 teaspoon each salt, cinnamon and ground ginger, a pinch of cardamom, a pinch of vanilla, icing.

Stir in flour and spices and baking powder. Beat sugar with butter until fluffy. Add the egg and beat again. Then gradually add flour, kneading well after each batch. Roll out the dough 5mm thick. Cut out the gingerbread with kid’s molds. Bake for 13-15 minutes at 180 degrees. When the gingerbread is completely cool, decorate with the prepared icing.

5.  Lemon and chocolate muffins:

210 g butter, 1.5 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1.5 cups flour, 150 g sour cream, 1 lemon zest and juice, 0.5 teaspoon sugar powder, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

For the cream: 210g butter, 4 cups powdered sugar

For decoration: baby dolls of mastic or marzipan

Beat the butter and the sugar with the eggs. Then add everything else except the cocoa. Divide the dough into two parts, mix the cocoa in one part and leave the other part light. Spread into paper forms, filling them 2/3 full high. Bake for about 20 minutes at 180 degrees. For the cream, beat the butter and powdered sugar until smooth. When the muffins have cooled, squeeze a little cream on top and decorate the muffins.