Tips For Having The Best Baby Shower in Toronto
Why Have a Baby Shower?
A baby shower is a great way to get people together for a wonderful event. Since not everybody can be there for when the baby is actually being born, a baby shower is a way for everybody to show their support for the mom and the baby. Baby showers are very helpful to the families of said baby. Having things to support their baby while they are getting used to having a new-born is something that sure is helpful and advantageous for the baby.
Who Should Be Hosting the Baby Shower?
A pregnant woman's baby shower can be hosted by anybody in her life, including friends, family, and even spouses. The host/hostess is usually the person who pays for the baby shower, so someone who can bear that responsibility. But if you are unable to pay for that cost all by yourself, then you can divvy up responsibilities among you and a few others to make the baby shower a more smooth and successful experience.
Where Should I Host the Baby Shower?
People usually hold them at their houses, but the mess after the event is always a hassle to clean up. So a lot of people are paying for rental spaces where they can have their event, and the hosts of the rental space will clean up once they're done. Rental spaces in Toronto may cost a lot, between $100 - $600/hr, but TorontoEventSpaceRentals.ca can host you on the lower end of that range for a space that looks and feels like the pricier spaces with all the features you might need for a baby shower.
How Many Guests Should I Invite?
Although every baby shower is unique, most women feel that 15 to 30 women, or roughly 30 to 40 for a coed shower, is the ideal amount of women. Depending on the size of the family, the number of acquaintances, and even the number of coworkers engaged, these figures vary. It would be extremely challenging to accommodate more than 20 people in a house or even the lawn of an average sized home, where baby showers are typically hosted. You can reserve a space for larger events. There are expectant mothers who, of course, want everyone to be present and celebrate with them, and if necessary, it is entirely feasible to arrange a sizable baby shower.
Who Should I Invite?
The mother-to-be’s closest friends, relatives, and coworkers are typically invited to a baby shower. Siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins can therefore automatically receive tickets, as can very close acquaintances. Work colleagues can also be invited, however some people would rather organize a different gathering just for them. Whether or not children will be allowed to attend the shower is a different factor to take into account. While some prefer to host a baby shower without any children, others decide to invite the entire family. In any case, make sure the expectant mother reviews every guest before adding them to the guest list.
When Should I Host The Baby Shower?
Baby showers are often conducted four to six weeks prior to the baby's due date—early enough to prevent the baby from arriving early and ruining the party arrangements, but late enough that the pregnancy is far along. However, other people would rather take a shower just after giving birth. In this manner, the child can also attend. For religious, cultural, or other reasons, some expectant parents prefer to wait to receive presents until the baby is born (in certain cultures, getting baby things before the baby is born is considered unlucky).
In that situation, you might start making some preliminary plans but postpone choosing a date for the baby shower until after it has been delivered.
Should I Throw A Shower For Parents Who Already Have Kids?
Every pregnancy is a reason for celebration, but since the primary goal of a baby shower is to assist expectant parents in acquiring clothing and other necessities, hosting a typical baby shower for a second or third child is usually not essential. Instead, some folks host a "baby sprinkle," a smaller gathering meant to ease the burden of raising a newborn along with other kids. Think of hosting a "stock the freezer" event or a "Mom and Dad" shower with babysitting services and movie passes as gifts. Another option is to just organize a joyful social event that isn't focused on "showering" the pregnant parent with gifts.
What Kind of Activities Do People Do At Baby Showers?
Planning a schedule for the baby shower comes next. The majority of showers have activities, gift-opening, food, and beverages. The secret is to plan these activities in a way that keeps people entertained and involved. Allow visitors 15 to 20 minutes to arrive, then serve drinks to them as they enter. Once everyone is present, begin a task. For instance, you might want to set up a bodysuit design station or ask visitors to add their thoughts and pictures to a scrapbook for the honored guest. Serve refreshments while presents are being opened, then dessert and coffee.
What Kind of Food Should I Have at a Baby Shower?
Here are a few things you should keep in mind when you are planning for the food in a baby shower.
Take into account the baby shower's size and theme.
Consider whether you want to host a more formal sit-down event or a more informal one.
Will your visitors be standing, sitting at a table, or munching on food on their laps?
Would you rather serve finger snacks to visitors or a complete meal that requires forks and knives to eat?
It will be much simpler to create your baby shower menu once you've selected this fundamental choice.
Consider food safety.
When preparing fruits and vegetables, wash them well. Use different cutting surfaces for these and other raw items.
Ensure that all meat is cooked through, and when serving, keep hot menu items hot or reheat them to safe temperatures.
Should I Serve Alcohol at a Baby Shower?
Hell yeah! Light alcoholic drinks are frequently provided at baby showers. Because attendees are frequently meeting each other for the first time during baby showers, a little alcohol can encourage conversation. A drink at a baby shower, however, is not an excuse to overeat. You never want to be the only drunk person at a party, and if you drink a couple too many mimosas, you probably will be. There are only a certain number of these drinks, so if you have a few, there might not be enough for the other visitors.
Should I Do a Potluck for a Baby Shower?
A startling number of foods are off-limits to expectant women. It's vital to consider these foods if you've been asked to bring a dish or snack rather than just following mom's usual dietary preferences. Alcohol, caffeine, any high-mercury seafood, any raw fish at all, undercooked or processed meats, raw eggs, and any unwashed produce are examples of these. If you have any questions make sure to properly research and ask the mother herself. Since others are going to be bringing in food, make it clear to them what they can and can't bring.
What Are Some Unique Ideas For Baby Showers?
You can find a lot of unique ideas through the internet, but here are just a few to get you started.
Nursery rhymes
Any specific animal
Dusty desert chic
Baby-q (bbq)
Video game themed
These are a few ideas to get your brain moving, but if you need more inspiration, you can look stuff up online. Surely, you'll find something you will like
Some Alternatives To Baby Showers
You don't have to call it a baby shower if you're arranging a very tiny baby shower, and you certainly don't have to stick to the traditional baby shower format. There are numerous alternatives to the typical baby shower that will still make for a fun day for the expectant mother and the guests. Here are a few ideas:
Jack and Jill party: When organizing a baby shower, the dad is frequently overlooked. Both parents attend a Jack and Jill party, both parents are gifted, and the party is coed to attract more guests.
Lunch or dinner party: The friends can treat the mother by taking her out for a special meal at a restaurant. It completely eliminates the necessity for planning. In recent years, high tea lunches have become very popular for this kind of baby shower.
You can host a "stock the nursery party" for a select group of family members and close friends. Here, you can stock up on items that would not often be seen in baby hampers and baby registries.
If there are only 2–6 people attending the baby shower, a pamper party is the ideal option. The expectant woman and her pals schedule a pampering party at a spa or have therapists come to them.
Baby Sprinkles are ideal for a low-key baby shower or for babies two and up, when the expecting parents may already have all they need. There are no set plans, merely light refreshments, and casual invitations. Baby shower gifts are less important than spending time with friends before the baby is born for the expecting mother.
How Do I Get The Best Decor?
Set these things in stone around three weeks prior to the baby shower when planning one.
Purchase decorations that won't spoil (buy flowers the day before, for instance), and make or buy place cards. Finalize the food to suit the tastes of the honoree. Try micro sliders, mini fried chicken, tiny bowls of potato salad, and mini cupcakes if she's in the mood for comfort food.
Mexican food enthusiasts who are expecting mothers might like tacos, guacamole, salsa, and nonalcoholic margaritas. To make it simpler for attendees to manage the food and participate in the event, serve tiny servings.
What Gifts Should I Get?
If you are the host/hostess, you probably won't have to worry too much about getting gifts, since holding an event that is specifically for the mom and dad to get gifts is a gift enough. But if you feel like you should, ask the mother what she might want and make a list. It would be a good idea to make a registry for all guests to follow just to avoid getting duplicate gifts, and so people can get what they can.
Final Notes
If you're wondering how tiny a baby shower should be, you should know that it entirely depends on the expecting mother (or parents) and the guest list. Even a celebration with just one digit can be fun and memorable. No matter the size of the baby shower, Bespoke Baby will always provide dependable, cost-effective, high-quality baby shower gifts. You should keep your guests in mind while figuring out how to create a baby shower favor. If your party is attended by a lot of coworkers, pencil cups and paperweights are kind gifts. Other moms might appreciate magnet picture frames. Also popular are scented candles, bubble baths, and soaps.