Planning the Perfect Baby Shower

There are two things women love...Babies and Parties. That is why baby showers are so much fun and everyone almost always attends. When you are pregnant you feel bloated, tired, sick and basically like a whale but when your baby shower rolls around you feel like the most beautiful woman on the face of the planet.

When you are the hostess of a baby shower planning it is not always fun because you want everything to be perfect for the friend or relative that you are throwing it for especially since you do not want to upset a hormonal woman.

There are lots of things to consider when planning the perfect baby shower. If you want a great reference guide for planning a baby shower visit the Free Printables Page or Baby Shower page on Onestopshopforkids.com

1. The Location- Normally the best place to throw a baby shower is at the home of the expectant mother. That way the soon to be mom can show off the babies nursery to everyone that attends. Some mothers wait until the very last minute to put the nursery together so in that instance I would suggest having it at the home of one of the hostesses or at the home of a relative of the mother to be.
2. The Hostesses- Planning a baby shower alone is something that only SuperWoman can do. Get with a couple of the best friends of the mother to be and see if everyone is willing to split up some of the duties (an of course the cost) to make it a smooth ride for all.
3. The Budget- Make sure you discuss your budget with the guest of honor and the other hostesses. That way you know exactly what should spend and narrow down the most important items that you can spend a little more on.
4. The Guest List- The guest list will vary upon the location. Some showers are only family, some people prefer couples showers and some prefer to invite everyone they know in hopes of getting lots of gifts for their little one.
5. The Theme- The theme can be simple blue for a boy, pink for a girl or yellow if the sex is unknown. Some mothers prefer the decorations and theme of the shower to go along with the nursery motif. You can decorate with balloons, ribbons or decorate napkins for simple bursts of color.
6. The Cake- There are many options when it comes to a baby shower cake. You have to decide on the flavor, the size, the theme or decoration and the price you are willing to pay. Sheet cakes are convenient but two or three-tiered cakes are memorable and adorable.
7. The Food- Food varies upon the time of the shower. If early in the morning you might want breakfast/brunch type foods. A lunchtime shower might call for sandwiches, salads or finger foods. An evening shower may call for wine, heavy appetizers or small finger foods.
8. The Invitations- Invitations can also be based upon theme as well. Check out the One Stop Shop For Kids invitation page for lots of great options
9. The Gifts- Normally it is best to buy off the registry so the parents-to-be get exactly what they need but but bibs, burp cloths and blankets are always great gifts. I recommend that the hostesses get together and choose one of the big gifts on the Mothers registry such as car seat, stroller, high chair, pack-n-play and purchase it.