Tips for Throwing a Baby Shower

Have you been tasked with throwing a baby shower for a friend or family member? Are you helping to plan your own? Then I have some tips for you!

Tip 1: Make a Pinterest Board
I wanted to be surprised about when my shower would be but I also wanted to make sure it was the theme I wanted. How did I stay involved without knowing every detail? I made a Pinterest board! The hubby and I didn't find out the sex of the baby so our shower was going to be gender neutral. I searched "gender neutral baby shower" and got a TON of pins with different themes. Once I selected my theme, Dr. Seuss, I started pinning invites I liked, decorations I thought would be fun, games, ect. After I was done pinning I let those who were actually planning my shower know that way they could see all of my ideas. If you are planning your own shower, a Pinterest board will help you organize all of your thoughts and ideas into one place. 
Tip inside the tip: Make this theme board private then invite only those who are helping you to see it. This way the theme is a surprise for most of your guests and you won't get inundated with ideas from other people that you don't really need. ​

Tip 2: Have a Diaper Raffle 
Having a "wishing well" at a bridal or baby shower is common. The idea behind the well is for guests to bring in a little something extra, that is small in addition to their gift.

Often times those attending a baby shower are asked to bring a book they liked as a child so the new parents can share the story with their baby. We didn't do this at my shower, instead we had a diaper raffle. 

For a diaper raffle, guests bring in a pack of diapers; any size, any brand and then they are entered into a raffle where they could win a gift card (or a candle, frame or anything you'd like). I cannot stress enough how amazing this was. We had to buy minimal diapers for the first six months of our daughter's life. I think we only ended up buying an extra pack of newborns and one box of 1's to get us through. We had guests who brought size 2's so we were still reaping the benefits long after the shower.
Tip inside the tip: ​Have whomever is sending out the invites include an added note either at the bottom of the invitation or on a separate piece of paper included in the envelope explaining the diaper raffle.

Tip 3: Keep Guests Entertained 
There are a ton of games you can play at a baby shower. My friends and family knew I would NEVER want anyone sticking their nose in a diaper with melted chocolate on it to try and guess the candy (yes that is a real thing that happens at baby showers) My favorite game for showers? BINGO!

This will keep your guest engaged as you (or the mom to be) opens gifts, which sometimes causes the party to come to a complete halt. Prior to opening gifts have the guests fill in a blank Bingo chart with items they think the mom to be will receive. As the gifts are opened the guests will X out the boxes. The first guest to X out all of the boxes in a line (vertically, horizontally, or diagonal) wins. Prizes for guests are usually low-dollar amount items such as picture frames, candles, and chocolates.