My sister is 4 months pregnant and due Feb. 15. Her other kids are 15 and 11 and neither was planned as we were both way too young to be thinking about kids. This one is different... she is happily married and planned it and all of us are very excited, especially me because I get to throw her a babyshower! The problem is, I'm not sure if I should plan it for before Christmas, or after. I don't want to be too early, but do ya'll think it would avoid Christmas being about the baby rather than her and her husband, if I was to have it before? Her birthday is also the beginning of January so I don't want to take away from that either. Any suggestions?
I would wait until after Christmas. I am throwing my sister's shower before Thanksgiving (she is due Dec 28th). We didnt want to do it too close to the holidays. I think that anytime between 6mths pregnancy and up till 2 weeks before baby is just fine. :) Good luck!!!
I would do it in the first part of January. 4-6 weeks before the due date seems to be a pretty typical time frame for showers. I think December is a super busy time, especially for families with kids and more people may be able to make it in January when things slow down a bit.
I would have it either about a month before baby is due, which should be after her birthday, or after the baby is born. In our family, we always had them after the baby was born. It was nice that everyone could see the baby and we had a better idea of things in particular we may have needed. Guests liked that way of doing it, too. However, don't forget to be diligent about guests with illnesses. It will still be a little bit of flu season...
Mary
In my family, we always wait till about the 7th month. Since that would be around December, I personally would hold off till mid January. Let the holidays and her birthday go by, then it could be all about the baby after that.
Good luck and congrats auntie!!
Hmm.... I've had two babies and had my baby showers during my 8th month. But some suggestions how about throwing a new years eve party? Instead of starting the year out with a bang you can put on the invites... starting the year out with a baby! I don't think you should have it during Christmas, it should probably be celebrated with the family. You could have a valentines theme baby shower as well as the baby they will be loving a new person soon. Good luck!
I would have it the middle of January. It's a month before the baby is due, after the holidays and her birthday and a time of year that could use a good celebration.
Excuse my briefness, but,
Plan it a month ahead of the due date, Jan. 15 or so.
I had a baby in late January last year and I opted for having my shower at the beginning of December. However I was at risk of having her early and I wanted to be totally prepared beforehand.
It isn't as exciting when you aren't super big so if I had been due mid Feb like your sister, I would probably do the shower in the beginning of January. That way all the craziness of Christmas is over and she'll be really very pregnant but still will have time to finish getting all ready for the baby.
I would do it early to mid January. Let all the Holiday stress melt away a little first so you can all relax and make it all about baby.
After the holidays, mid-January. The focus will be on her baby-to-be, there is a let down after the holidays and people will have more time to attend. It will give you the time to make party favors, plan games and shop without the crowds. Congratulations on becoming an aunt!!
I too agree that sitting through a shower when way preggo was awkward and uncomfortable.
One thing I enjoyed was a "meet the baby" get-together my family held for us about 6 weeks after our son was born. Not only did I have more support (extra hands to hold baby), it was inclusive of my husband and didn't feel like a "gift haul". And there were none of the silly shower games which, in my pregnant state, would have really annoyed me.
One other thing I noticed was that there was a lot of social activity as we geared up for our son's birth, but the days at home following his arrival seemed like a long stretch. As with many moms, it was nice to have something to look forward to--and a reason to dress up a little--after baby arrived. We love to pamper round, expectant mothers, but tired new moms often appreciate being doted on a bit, esp. after the days of nursing, caregiving and sleep deprivation that go with parenting a newborn. After all the excitement is over, it's easy to feel a little forgotten.
So, not to steal your original thought, but all this to suggest that maybe early April would be good? This timing also avoids the onslaught of all the newborn clothes, which the baby grows out of way too quickly, and will give your sis and her family a chance to figure out what they are really needing.
i'd plan for before all holidays. mid november. eveyone gets so busy after that. plus after that she'll know what to say she still needs for christmas for new baby. don't forget black friday...any big ticket items remaining can be snatched up then.
happy shower planning!
ps: aside from the typical baby shower games, i love the diaper door prize drawing...everyone receives a ticket for the door prize if they bring either a package of diapers or wipes (or both). really helps new parents stock up and everyone loves an effort free chance to win a trinket.
You have gotten a lot of advice, so I am not sure if mine will help. But, I had a baby born Feb 17th, and lucky me, I had 3 showers. One was early December, and the other two were at the end of January. I thought all of them were great, but because I am a big planner, I did love having that first one early on in December. That way, I knew what I still had to buy. I guess, it depends on your sister's personality - is she a big planner or not? If so, I say early, like early December, is better. Though it is very important to not pick a day that hardly anyone can come! If she isn't a big planner, then maybe have her shower mid-January - as long as the shower is after her birthday, if even by a week, she'll have a chance to celebrate her birthday apart from the shower.
I think the closer to the due date the better.
Based on my own experience I would err on the side of caution and have it at least 6 weeks out. My daughter was born on the early side of full term and I had her 2 days after the shower. Trying to write all the thank notes really sucks when you're in that early 24 hour nursing and sleepless state. I still hope I didn't forget anyone!
When I was pregnant with my son - I was due at the end of January - we had my baby shower in October to not stress out my friends and family during the crazy crunch time of the holiday's..and other reasons I don't need to bore you all with. But I would imagine having the baby shower in January would be fine. It's after the holiday rush, a new year has just began - what a wonderful way to start it off with. As for her birthday - If I was pregnant during my birthday - I probably wouldn't really care - especially since she is so far along - but that is my personal opinion. Plus we never really do a whole lot for birthdays really anyway. But - I would definately wait until January to have the shower.
I would have it late November or early December
