Meet and Greet Shower After Baby Is Here

Updated on May 07, 2008
A.B. asks from Hutto, TX
18 answers

Everyone was so helpful with my last question I thought I would ask another. My sisters and 2 close friends really wanted to have a shower for our family now that we are expecting a baby boy (our first was a girl). Due to Mother's Day, family birthdays and a c-section date of the 20th it is not going to happen before hand so they have decide to have a ‘meet and greet’ (everyone can just come and go during the time frame set and finger foods will be served) shower after the baby is a couple weeks old. They have asked me if I want to have it at my house or at my in-laws. I can see the advantage to my in-laws house because I would not have to get my house cleaned up before or after but if we go over there I would have to transport stuff for a newborn and my daughter. On the other hand if we have it at our house I would have to clean up before and after but everything would be there-no moving stuff! And if it is at our house the baby will have his crib to sleep in, I am sure that is what he would do most of the time anyway, and my daughter would have her own things to play with and keep her busy while we visited. Well, I think I just answered my own question but any other thoughts would be appreciated.

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So What Happened?

I talked with my sister who seems to be heading up everything and she did not mind at all. I gave her the reasons and being that she is a RN she agreed and said she did not even look at it that way. My husband is working on getting both the new baby's room done (we are painting it) and getting the pictures hung in both his room and our daughter's room so she can show off too. Thanks for all your thoughts!

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D.L.

answers from Austin on

My son was born on the day we were to have his shower.. a little early so we postponed it and did what you mentioned. Believe me family and friends will volunteer to clean before and after for you. For us it worked wonderful and when everyone left I had a cleand house. Good luck

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C.B.

answers from Odessa on

Hi A.!
I make cakes of all sizes out of Pampers diapers. I custom make them to the color and theme you would like. I can make simple 1 or 2 tier cakes or elaborate 3-5 tier cakes. Great for a baby shower gift or centerpiece and very useful for the new mom. I need about a week in advance to make it. If you would like a picture of one of my most recent cakes, let me know and i would gladly email it to you! Have a great day!
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Chist you are serving." Colossians 3:23

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from San Antonio on

I would actually do it at the in-laws house. You shouldn't have to stress about how your house looks when your baby is new. Let the baby sleep in his car seat and you can just enjoy yourself with your friends and family.

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K.K.

answers from Killeen on

If you do it at your house, ask FOR HELP!!! I am serious...the first month or so with a new one is the hardest and everyone knows it. Your church group may be willing to send a group of volunteers to help with this or ask your family and friends to help with ggetting the house ready. Whomever is planning the meet and greet should have getting the house ready and cleaned up as part of their plans anyways for someone with a 2 week old baby!

Don't be shy. You will have just had surgery and should not be doing anything that strenuous that soon afterwards anyways..I know C-sections are not that long a recovery, but this is your second child and you will be taking care of a newborn AND a 2 year old...

Good Luck!!!

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A.W.

answers from Austin on

Hi there! You will have just had a baby for the meet and greet, and if your 2 sisters and close friends knew anything about that, then they would CLEAN your house for you, do the food and the hostessing. You should be sitting down RESTING, and nursing your baby. I remember what I was like after two weeks with my second one. I was tired, and all I did was sit down and nurse!

You should not be expected to do ANYTHING except take care of your new baby, and show him off!

Let them know you are stressed and you want help with cleaning! They should totally understand.

A.

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J.R.

answers from Houston on

Your friends and your sister really want to do this for you, so let them come over to your house and clean up for the meet and greet. If they were having a shower for you, you wouldn't be expecting to clean and you shouldn't for this either. Having it at your house is a great idea, you won't have to get everyone ready and go and then haul all the gifts home, but leave the cleaning and cooking to others!

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V.A.

answers from Sherman on

I think either place would be fine, as your sister and two friends should do most of the work, including transporting the gifts to your home. The great part about a meet/greet, is meeting the new baby! Therefore, a bassinet or mini-crib should be set up for him and others can admire him, rather than him be asleep in another room. Your daughter will be so busy helping you open gifts and eating cake, I doubt she will be bored, and she can have the special task of introducing her new brother. Either way, you will make it work just fine, and I am sure your hostesses will take much of the hard work off of you, either pre-cleaning, post-cleaning or hauling gifts. Have fun with it and enjoy showing off your new bundle of joy!

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G.F.

answers from Houston on

I agree. Do it at your house. Ask them to help clean before and after, and explain why it's just easier. I'm sure they won't mind. Congrats on the new baby!

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S.T.

answers from Houston on

I have had 4 c-sections and I don't want any visitors for a couple of months after the baby is born. So you might want to do it at your inlaws. Just take a bag of toys for your daughter or ask your mother in law to have some things there for her to play with. You could get things over there in stages, like drop off a diaper bag full of extra clothes, toys, diapers ect that stays at her house for when y'all visit.

Do you have an infant carrier car seat? He'll probably sleep in that the whole time. Babies don't mind sleeping in their carseat at all.

Make sure your trunk is cleaned out (husband's job) and bring home everything you can, but leave larger items you don't need right now with inlaws to pick up next time.

S., mom to four girls ages 13 months to 5 years.

K.N.

answers from Austin on

Hi A.... I thought most doctors advise restricting "people encounters" with newborns. Their systems are so vulnerable that is it best not to bring them in contact with other people or public places. My 2 cents is to wait until your baby is 3 months old before having the shower.

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C.H.

answers from Houston on

We had this type of shower at a neighbor's house and it was great. We were only there for a short period of time (~1 1/2 hours) and we called it a "Sip and See." I held my little one most of the time and I didn't have to stress over people coming into my house or my family having to clean my house. Hope you have a wonderful birth!

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J.D.

answers from Austin on

I agree that you should have the shower at your house so you don't have to pack everything up to take to your in-laws.

Tell your sisters and friends that you need their help to get your house cleaned up before and after the party though. Not only will you have your hands full with your two little ones, but you will also be recovering from a c-section. I had a c-section with my son and I know it's really had to get around for awhile, much less clean your house for a baby shower.

Good luck and congratulations!!

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J.J.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Why not tell them you'd love to have it at your place (and give them all the reasons you gave us), BUT with a newborn and recovering from a c-section, you just wouldn't be able to do all the cleaning before and after. Chances are, they'll volunteer to do the cleaning for you, and then you'll even get a clean house out of it! They've been thoughtful enough to offer to do this and to give you the choice of location, so I'm sure they'd love to help you out as well.

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S.V.

answers from Houston on

I would definitely have it at your house. This way, your baby can sleep where he's comfortable and used to and you can excuse yourself when you need to. If you have it at the in-laws, you're obligated to stick around until everyones gone. And I'm not saying that you'd want to leave and get out of there as fast as you can, there's just something about being comfortable in your own place...it's your turf, it's your comfort zone.
And moving all the stuff from one place to another with two children will be hard work.
As far as cleaning, don't worry about enlisting some help to clean up before and after the party. You've got a newborn, I'd bet your family would be eager to help and your friends too!
COngratulations on your newest addition to your family!

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M.H.

answers from Houston on

Maybe its just me but, I would stay put. Let me tell you, people DO NOT CARE what your house looks like. They just want to see you and the baby. I'm sure that if you asked your sisters and close friends, they would be more than willing to help you straighten up before and after the event. If you have the relationship with these gals as I do my own sister and friends, they will be more than willing to do it for you. Just be honest with 'em. (especially your sisters) Simply say, I need help cleaning up before guests arrive. Then stick to the basics. Clean kitchen, bathrooms and general visiting area. The rest of it surely can be thrown behind closed doors! After all, thats why the doors are there!!!
Thats just what I think.
Margaret :)
P.S. Like I always say...as long as youve got a full roll of TP in the bathroom...ita all good!!!

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J.M.

answers from San Antonio on

We had a "Big Sister Tea" - we said - a brand new baby for you to see, come to my house, meet my new sister and play with ME! Emily invites you to a Big Sister Tea! That way my older daughter got some attention...We had tea and cookies, we had tea bags that said "Look what we added to our "brewed" or look what we "brewed" with her name and birthdate. It was fun, it was at our house and come and go...

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H.F.

answers from San Angelo on

Tell your sister and two friends that if you have the shower at your house, that the only gift you want from them is to clean up after it! I think that is reasonable and fair, especially after a c-section!

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H.P.

answers from Corpus Christi on

GO TO THE INLAWS!!! Moving a swing and a pack n play is way easier than having to clean up after a 3 hour party. But this is just my opinion. For one I highly doubt that your son will even need something to sleep in because everyones going to be playing pass the baby (make sure you have some hand sanatizer.) As for your daughter if you and your inlaws are close enough for you to have a party at their house don't they already have toys and things for her there? And wouldn't they at least let you lay down in a guest room or if they don't have one their own bed? I'm not that close to my inlaws but I could always do that. That and I don't know how your inlaws are about your house but my mother in law is awful. She will go through and rearrange my kitchen when she would come over or clean things with out asking and not do it up to my standards and then run her mouth to her daughter about the condition of my house, so I would just as soon keep them out of my home. Hope this helps.

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