Overwhelmed By The Idea Of Hosting A Baby Shower?

If you are overwhelmed by the idea of hosting a baby shower, you can take comfort in the fact that very few people ever really do it alone. Most baby showers are thrown by a few of the mother-to-be’s closest friends or family members. There are many advantages to co-hosting a baby shower over doing it alone. You can share in the responsibilities, costs and also the fun.

However, as with any group working together to plan or do anything, there are opportunities for miscommunication and conflict based on a differing of opinions. This chapter will help you head off any problems of co-hosting a baby shower before they begin. In addition, you will find a list of tips to help everyone get along and make the day a memorable and enjoyable one for everyone attending the party, especially the expectant parents.

Usually the person who hosts a baby shower is someone very close to the new parents. This may be a mother, mother-in-law, sister, best friend or close co-worker. The best way to decide who should host the shower is for it to be the person closest to the new mother. If you are the best friend of the new mom, and want to throw her a shower, the most considerate approach is to talk to her mother. If she is planning a shower for family, she may ask that you help her with the details surrounding inviting other friends she may not know. If she wants a family-only party, then let her know you’ll be having a shower that includes friends and co-workers. That way each group close to the expectant mom can get in on the gift-giving and fun of a baby shower.

If you are hosting a baby shower alone the whole burden of planning, setting up and paying for everything, doesn’t necessarily have to fall on you alone. It is perfectly appropriate to ask close friends and family members of the new parents to share in bringing food, buying prizes for games, and in setting up and cleaning up. When co-hosting a baby shower, these responsibilities will naturally be divided among the hostesses.

So just how do you diplomatically ask others to donate time, food, and even money to help offset the cost and responsibilities surrounding a baby shower? There are polite ways even Emily Post would approve of. In fact, being asked to take part in some aspect of baby shower can be flattering, showing the person you recognize how close she is the expectant parents.

Here are some areas where you may ask for financial help in a subtle way or donations:

Make food assignments: Let the person know your menu and then ask her to bring something that fits in, i.e. one dozen finger sandwiches or a veggie platter. Ask them what are their favorite recipes and what the think would be a good fit for the overall theme of the party.

Ask someone who is creative with floral arrangements to make centerpieces for tables or arrange flowers for around the room. Once they know the theme or atmosphere you have decided on, let them make their own creative decisions. They will then be sharing in the cost of providing flowers, or you can let them know your budget for flowers, if you plan on paying for that yourself.

If you want a home-based shower, but your house is too small, consider asking someone with a large great room or nicely landscaped back yard to provide the venue for the shower. Let them know you will be providing the food and other decorations, so they are clear that you are asking only for the space and that is all they ar responsible for

Assign out paper products to someone who may not have the time to make or do anything else, but you know would like to be involved. They will have time to make it to the party store and deliver the items to you. Make sure you let them know your color scheme and what types of food you will be serving so they know what kinds of paper products will be needed.

If your budget includes a fully catered luncheon, dishes and utensils will be provided by the caterer or restaurant where you are having it. In this case you can ask other co-hosts to contribute to the cost, and could ask a creative friend to hand make the invitations using embossing, stamping and die cuts from the scrapbook supply store.

It is important when requesting help from others in planning or hosting the baby shower that no one’s feelings are hurt and that no one is slighted. Some ways of ensuring harmony and including all of those close to the new parents are:

Hold a planning meeting with everyone involved and ask for suggestions. You are likely to get donations and offers for help you may not have thought of before.

Don’t shoot down anyone’s suggestion. Consider all ideas and thank the group for their input. After the meeting you can implement a different version of the idea or find some usable aspect of the plan to avoid hurting feelings. For example, if someone suggests a Mexican themed fiesta, and you were thinking of a more traditional shower, suggest they bring their favorite Mexican dip and tortilla chips as part of the menu.

Delegate, Trust and Relax! Remember this is to be a fun time for the expectant parents to celebrate a joyous occasion. Don’t get bogged down as if this were a Royal wedding. Delegate aspects of the shower to people you can trust to get the job done, and let them use their own ideas and creativity.

When the celebration is over, one key way to ensure everyone is feeling good about their role in the baby shower is to acknowledge them with a thank you note and small gift. It may be as simple as letting them each take home a centerpiece, or you could mail to their home along with a thank you note a small token gift such as a picture of them with the expecting mother or new baby if the shower is held after the birth.

Also it is very important to point out and acknowledge their contribution in front of the mother-to-be so they can feel their individual honor and the mother-to-be can thank them herself in person right at the party!

Everyone likes to know they are appreciated and that the work they did contributed to the success of the shower. A verbal “thank you” given several times along the way goes a long way in keeping harmony when you are in the throws of planning too. Be sincere, and your friends and co-hosts will be motivated and excited to help.

Remember to that it can be lot of fun working with your friends and even working with people you’ve never gotten to know before. All of you are really focused on the same goal of giving a great baby shower for the mom-to-be and working together for this will not only be fun but can produce some very touching moments and sharing of experiences. Have Fun!

Article Source: http://www.parentingarticlelibrary.com

Theresa Moore writes on baby shower games and all things baby at www.babynamesandyou.com

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