Planning a Baby Shower

Baby showers are a lot of fun, especially for the pregnant mom-to-be. Not only is the baby shower a celebration for the baby, but it’s also an opportunity for the parents to get the baby items they need. Before you throw a baby shower, there are a few things you should do to plan and prepare for the big day.

Type of Shower

The first thing you want to do is to figure out if the baby shower will be a surprise or if you will tell the mom-to-be you are throwing the party for her. Modern times even require you to determine if it will be a shower for the ladies-only or a couples shower, where the men attend as well. Surprise and regular baby showers both have their own set of benefits. When the mom-to-be knows about the party, she can help you with a list of people that she would like to be there. However, if it is a surprise she’ll be touched that you cared enough to throw her a baby shower.

Making the Guest List

When it comes to making the guest list, things can get a little tricky. Find out if there is anyone that would be upset if they weren’t invited to attend. Never leave out close family or friends. Try to get these names from the guest of honor. If you are throwing a surprise shower, then ask the father, friends of the couple and family members to help you compile a complete guest list.

Games

Planning games for a shower can be a bit difficult because there are so many baby shower games from which to choose. Baby shower games add some fun to the party and it allows guests a chance to get to know each other while participating in the games.

* Mommy’s Belly: Have the mom-to-be stand in the center of the room. Have each guest guess on how big her belly is using a string or a toilet paper. After each guest has their string or toilet paper strip, find out who guessed the closest by having them measure their string or toilet paper on mommy’s belly.
* Guess the Nursery Rhyme: Give each guest a sheet of nursery rhymes, but without the title of the rhyme or with words or phrases that are missing from the rhyme. Have them guess the nursery rhyme or finish it.
* Did You Say Baby?: Give each guest a diaper pin or a clothes pin when they arrive. Have them clip it to their shirt or clothing. The point of the game is to avoid saying baby throughout the entire party. If one guest catches another guest saying baby, then the person who uttered the word has to hand over their pin. At the end of the party, the guest with the most pins wins a prize.
* Memory: Place a bunch of baby items on a tray, such as a bib, thermometer, baby spoon, diaper rash cream, pacifier, etc. You can include any type of baby item. When the game begins, bring in the tray of items and allow the guests to look at it for about 15 to 20 seconds. Then remove the tray from the room. Have everyone write down as many items that were on the tray as they can remember. The person with the most answers correct wins.
* Baby Food Tasting: Have a variety of baby food in jars, but remove or cover the label on the jar. Blindfold the participant and feed them a spoonful of the baby food. See if they can guess what flavor the food is. You can feed them a couple of different options and the person who guesses the most amount of foods correctly wins a prize.

A baby shower tends to have some kind of a theme. Whether it is a character theme or a color scheme, is up to you. The theme makes it easy to weave through all of the aspects of planning the baby shower, including the invitations, decorations, gifts and more. The baby shower theme also helps you to set the scene and tone for the party.

Top 5 Baby Boy Names and What They Mean

When it’s time to come up with a list
of baby boy names, you may want to start by learning the meaning of each name
you add to your list. First, knowing the meaning of a name can help guide you
toward choosing the right name for your baby boy. Second, it can help you avoid
naming your child something that has a negative connotation or something that
has a negative meaning to you.

Jacob

Jacob is one of the most popular baby boy names. It is a Hebrew name. The meaning of the name is “supplanter” or “held by the heel.” A variation on Jacob is Jacoby. The name also has biblical ties, as Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and is the twin brother of Esau.

Ethan

Ethan is another popular name for a baby boy. Its roots stem from both the Hebrew and English language. The meanings, however, are the same: strong and firm. Ethan appears in both the bible and as one of the members of King David’s court. In modern times, the rich and famous also use the handle, such as actor Ethan Hawke and furniture mogul Ethan Allen.

Jayden or Jaden

Jayden is a modern name that is a combination of the common name Jay and the name Hayden. Some experts attribute the name to the Hebrew name Jadon. Others say that there is no direct correlation. Because the name is not associated with any particular origin, it also does not have a specific meaning as far as baby boy names are concerned.

Michael

Michael is a very popular name around the world. You’ll find Michael is one of the popular worldwide baby boy names—used in Germany, France, Czech and the United States. Michael means one is who is like God. Michael is the name of several people in the bible, including a famous archangel, as well as nine Byzantine emperors and
one Russian czar.

Alexander

Alexander is a name that originates from the ancient Greek name Alexandros. It carries the meaning “defending men.” It is a biblical name, but it was also the name of an ancient Macedon king, two kings of Scotland, three Russian emperors, eight popes, the first king of Yugoslavia, and famous inventors of the telephone and penicillin.

Baby Outfits for Comfort and Style

Planning for baby also means buying the numerous baby clothes you need to put together various baby outfits. Most mothers-to-be go on the hunt for baby clothes that are adorable. While you do want your child to be dressed in the best baby outfits that your money can buy, you also want to make sure that your baby is comfortable wearing the clothes. The comfort level of the clothing is important so that it does not irritate the baby’s sensitive skin, and so that the baby can relax while wearing the clothes, napping or riding around in his or her stroller.


Basics

Baby outfits turn into ensembles by choosing one piece of baby clothing at a time. When you focus on buying individual pieces,
you can then mix and match these pieces to create a variety of baby outfits. Keep
in mind too that newborns grow rapidly, so what fits them when they come home
from the hospital is unlikely to fit them even one month later. Buy basic baby
clothing that you can mix and match to create the various baby outfits your
child needs for relaxing in comfort at home or while tooling around town
getting to know the world.

Basic baby outfits include:

* Onesies
* Socks
* Hats
* Pants
* Shirts
* Dresses (for girls)—more for special occasions
than daily wear

Accessories

As the baby starts to grow and you start exposing the baby more to the outside world, the baby’s wardrobe will begin to grow and
transform. While babies do not tend to have an immediate need for shoes, because they are not walking, it is a common accessory that most parents can’t
seem to pass up. Headbands for girls and little baseball caps for boys are
other accessories accent any of the baby outfits that you wish. While these
items do not tend to be necessities, if you opt to accessorize your baby
outfits, then also be sure that you are choosing items that are soft and comfortable to the baby’s skin and overall comfort level.

Comfort and Style

When choosing individual baby clothes and putting together complete outfits, it is possible to choose items that are both stylish and comfortable. While you may want your baby to make a fashion statement, the fabric and design of baby clothing and accessories is much more important than how the baby looks. When you opt for
soft and comfortable fabrics for your baby, it will help make the baby
comfortable, relaxed and happy—no matter what the name brand designer or the
statement their clothes are making.