The idea of the baby shower came about as both a special time for family and friends to be together before the baby’s arrival and also to help relieve the financial burden on parents-to-be by supplying them with many of the new gadgets, furnishings and accessories they’ll need once their baby arrives.

And even though today most people prefer to break out of the ‘traditional’ mold, when it comes to a baby shower, these events for the most part still adhere to traditional guidelines. Probably one of the biggest changes to the baby shower format is that they’re no longer exclusively for women.

Plenty of men make it onto today’s baby shower guest list and those who are invited don’t come grudgingly. While they might not play in all the baby shower games, men do enjoy the opportunity to give their regards to the expectant mother- and father-to-be.

In some cultures however, a baby shower is considered a sign of bad luck. If there’s a chance the expectant mother might feel this way, be sure to check with her before proceeding with the baby shower.

In some parts of the world the baby shower is actually held after the baby is born. This makes sense since a baby shower is a celebration of the baby and guests enjoy actually seeing the one who is being celebrated. It’s also easier to select gender-appropriate colors and gifts and should the gift need engraving, guests have all the delivery details they need.

Having the baby shower after the baby’s birth does make sense, but it’s a very busy time for new parents. Plus, many of the baby items the expectant parent(s) need are needed as soon as the baby arrives home. That’s why scheduling the baby shower before the baby’s birth is the more common option.

The baby shower itself is traditional and for the most part, every shower involves the same activities. Guest lists and invitations need to be created and mailed. The shower location needs to be decorated.

Guests expect to be entertained so food, drink and games need to be coordinated. And because it’s a special occasion, there might even be a photographer and/or videographer, musician and other special talent participating in the festivities.

A baby shower can be a big to-do with lots of little details to coordinate and every detail is going to cost money. That’s why it’s highly advisable for whoever is hosting the shower to put together (and stick to) a workable budget.

Pulling off a successful special event like a baby shower doesn’t take special talent, it takes a well-thought out plan that includes a timeline and a budget.

Continuing on average two to three hours, it’s always a good concept for the host to outline a schedule of activities ahead of time so that the speed of the party remains steady.

Planning the Baby Shower Schedule: The start of the baby shower is a good time for socializing. Most of the guests will need to greet each other and talk with the mother-to-be to discover the small print of her pregnancy.

Cuisine is always expected at a baby shower and it needn’t be intricate. It’s just got to be planned. Finger foods are simplest and guests can eat throughout the whole shower, with a special time, often towards the end, devoted to serving the cake.

One of the activities included in most baby showers is the game time. Baby shower games are fun and there is no end to the variety of games, either. Practically any game can be refurbished to make it applicable for a baby shower.

If the guests are a fun group, plan on playing a variety of several baby games. Just be certain to decide on the games about three weeks prior to the shower so you know what games which will be played because the host will have to make certain she has plenty of game pieces and obligatory supplies. And she’ll need to get a prize to award the game winners, too!

Guessing the rim of the expectant mother’s belly is a traditional game that’s’s played at most baby showers. A straightforward game involves filling a baby bottle with jelly beans or q-tips and having each guest make a guess how many the bottle contains.

Other games include baby Bingo, baby tic-tac-toe, pin the pacifier on the baby, and so many more.

If games don’t appear appropriate for the group, for whatever reason, plan a group project instead. When the project is finished, it’ll be given to the guest of honor as a way to remind her of this big day.

Project ideas include scrapbooking, quilting, making a video documentary, or making something like a hand-painted floor mat or wall hanging that the pregnant mum can use in her home.

Creating an advice book is simple. Just get a notebook full of blank pages and pass it around to each person. On another page, each guest writes down a bit of parenting advice and signs the page.

Should men be invited, plan the baby shower as more of get-together, perhaps an outdoors BBQ. The men can make the food and assemble the baby gifts as they’re opened as the ladies sit back and have fun!

Saving the Best for Last: Opening the baby gifts is surely the highlight of the baby shower (at least from the expectant mother’s point of view).

Be certain someone is in command of recording a list of the baby gifts and the person’s name who gave each. Save the bows, too so that when it’s all over, the guest of honor can be crowned with a silly bow hat!

A few things to keep organized while you are planning your baby shower party:

1. Create a guest list. Your guest list should include guest name & address.

2. Plan to have the shower 6-8 weeks before the baby is due. If mom to be has a difficult pregnancy or there is concern she may go into labor early then hold the shower 8-10 weeks before the baby is due.

3. Have your guests RSVP 1-2 weeks before the baby shower.

4. If you are planning to host the baby shower at a restaurant, make your reservation early. Check with the restaurant for the latest date to submit your guest number.

5. Send out baby shower invitations at least 4-6 weeks before the baby shower.

6. To make things easier on the mom to be have baby shower thank you cards purchased and addressed with the guest list. If the baby shower has a theme you can coordinate the thank you cards with that theme.

7. Have activities planned. Baby Shower Games are a great way to break the ice among guests who may not know each other.

8. Purchase personalized favors at least 3 weeks in advance. You need to allow processing time & delivery time if favors will be shipped.

9. Purchase decorations up to a week in advanced.

10. Keep in mind mom to be’s personality when planning her baby shower. This shower is being hosted in her honor.

Christina Cermak is a leading expert in baby shower ideas and has written a number of articles related to baby gifts, baby shower favors, baby shower games and so on. Please visit BabyShowerDepot.com to read her other [http://babyshowerdepot.com/free-baby-shower-articles.html]highly regarded articles or to view [http://www.BabyShowerDepot.com]unique baby shower products.