How To Organize The Perfect Baby Shower Menu

Writen by Shaunta Pleasant

A baby shower is one of the most important milestones in the life of any mother to be. The upcoming birth of a baby is a time for great celebration, and a baby shower should be a fun party for the guest of honor and the other guests alike. From the decorations, to the party favors to the place settings to the gifts, there are many important elements that make up a successful baby shower.

==Coming Up With The Type Of Food To Serve==

But perhaps no part of the baby shower is quite as important as the food. After all, what is a party without food? The baby shower menu can be anything from a selection of finger foods and scrumptious desserts to a full course sit down meal. Which approach you choose depends on the nature of the party, and of course on what the guest of honor prefers. Of course if the baby shower is a surprise, you will not be able to ask her if she prefers chicken or fish; you will need to take a more subtle approach instead.

==What To Do If The Shower Is A Surprise==

One way to decide on the perfect baby shower menu without blowing the surprise is to ask the family members. The guest of honor's mother, in particular may have a real insight into her favorite foods and drinks. It is then simply a matter of gathering those foods and drinks together in time for the big day.

== Don't Forget The Cakes And Desserts ==

Of course no baby shower menu would be complete without desserts, and cakes and other desserts are just as important as the rest of the menu. A beautifully decorated cake, done in shades of pink and blue and decorated with baby booties and rattles, is one of the best parts of any baby shower menu.

==The Presentation Should Reflect An Overall Theme Of The Celebration==

Decorating the room is also an integral part of planning any baby shower menu. The presentation can be just as important as the food when it comes to baby showers and other kinds of parties, so pay attention to the decorations you choose. The decorations, the food, the drink, the party favors and the games should all reflect an overall theme of celebration and of life.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on baby shower topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.baby-shower-gala.com/baby_shower_menu.html

Planning A Baby Shower Is As Easy As 123

Writen by Jan Kovarik

Get everything you need to help you plan the baby shower that you are going to have for Mommy-to-Be and get everything for free!

This Baby Shower Party Planning Package includes:

Pre-printed baby shower invitations that you can personalize, or the instructions and templates you can use for making your own, including matching mailing and return address labels

Pre-printed baby shower guest book pages, and options for putting together a baby shower guest book that can also be used by Mommy-to-Be for doing her thank-you cards

A baby shower table decoration idea that is easy to make following the illustrated instructions provided and matches the motif of the invitations and guest book

Pre-printed thank-you cards that Mommy-to-Be can use that also match the baby shower invitations and guest book

Baby shower games

More free printable baby shower clipart that you can use to make your own invitations, guest book pages, table decoration, banners, and thank you cards following the instructions that accompany the pre-printed versions!

You don't need anything special, and everything can be made using plain computer paper (although there are options for using card stock or postcard stock).

Each individual piece of the Baby Shower Party Planning Package comes with the links you need to download either the pre-printed items or the templates you can use to make your own. Each includes links to the other pieces of the package. However, all the links you will need for everything in the package are provided in the accompanying illustrated examples page, so you can simply bookmark that page and use it to guide you to everything you'll need.

Each article provides easy-to-follow, illustrated instructions for personalizing the pre-printed invitations and cards, how to complete the mailing labels, and how to make the table decoration. You can easily use these instructions to make your own, using the other clipart that is available at Mom's Break Baby Shower. You can also use the provided templates as guides to help you design your own cards and labels---even if you don't have card-making software!

The motif used for the Baby Shower Party Planning Package uses free downloadable clipart, available exclusively on the Mom's Break Baby Shower website (http://www.momsbreak.com/) . The colorful baby rattle clipart comes in either numbers or letters (0-9 or A-Z). The Baby Shower Party Planning Package uses the 1, 2, and 3 number baby rattles. An example of how to make your own invitations, etc., are shown using the A-B-C motif.

Whether you use the package as is, or modify the pieces to suit your own tastes, planning a baby shower can be as easy as 1-2-3!

Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit http://www.jansportal.com for more information about Jan's free information and resource sites, as well as Jan's business services. Be sure to visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005 to present. All rights reserved.

Baby Shower For Second Baby

Writen by Randy Wilson

Having a shower for second baby used to be considered greedy and unacceptable. But now it is not only acceptable, but it is actually necessary for some families to have a baby shower for second baby. Though mom-to-be may already have a lot of the major items from her first baby. Crib, stroller, high chair - she will need many other items.

Moms-to-be always need things like diapers and wipes, undershirts, bath accessories, and feeding supplies. Second baby showers could actually be a "sprinkle" shower. A "sprinkle" shower is where guests buy only the necessities rather than having a full-blown shower.

You could also consider finding out from mom-to-be what she wished she had but didn't get the first time around. Then add those items to the suggested gifts. It could also be a "Bear Necessities" theme decorated with all sorts of bears for the shower for second baby.

You could have baby showers for second baby for a caboose baby, or a baby born much later than other babies. Might be very similar to a first time baby shower. Most likely, if there are many years between babies, these parents no longer have any baby items and will be in need of all types of gifts for the second baby showers.

For moms-to-be who already have enough for the baby, you might consider having a "mom" baby shower where everyone brings a baby shower gift for mom-to-be instead of for the baby. These can be items with which she can pamper herself, or items that she may need while she is in labor.

Sometimes the mom-to-be doesn't need anything for the baby or for herself, but she wants to have a get together with friends. For this type of party, you may want to ask guests to bring unwrapped baby gifts. You can all wrap these gifts at the party, label them, and then donate them to a charity in mom-to-be's (or baby's) name.

Baby showers for second babies can be directed towards helping out a new mom after the baby is born. If you hold the shower close enough to the baby's birth you can have a "Freezer Party." This is where baby shower guests bring assorted dishes that can be frozen and heated up so mom-to-be doesn't have to worry about cooking. At least for the first week or so that she is home from the hospital.

"Helping Hands" are great for baby showers for second child. Ask guests not to buy gifts, coming instead with a homemade coupon redeemable for their services. These services can include babysitting an older child making dinner, or cleaning the house while mom and baby are still in the hospital.

You may even want to throw a baby shower to remind the mom-to-be that she won't always be pregnant. Suggest buying gifts like sexy lingerie, sinful chocolates, and exotic beverages. All those things she has to keep away from while pregnant. Keep in mind that if you give alcoholic beverages to a nursing mother make sure she also has a breast pump and knows how to use it!

A gift certificate for a massage, dinner, or even a pre-natal class is a great idea as well. And don't forget that mom-to-be will probably need nursing bras plus post-natal support garments as well (these might be fun as gag gifts).

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Baby Shower Invitations and Baby Shower Games. Also has a blog: Baby Shower Planning.