Get a friend to host your baby shower so you can sit back and enjoy the event.

Plan to hold the even when you are around 35 weeks pregnant.  You want to have a nice big tummy at the time, but remember sometimes babies come early, so don't leave

it too late.

Send a gift suggestion list with your invitations. Most people appreciate these suggestions (especially if you include some less expensive options). Otherwise, most people will buy newborn clothes, toys, lotions and potions. 

Make it a morning tea or afternoon tea event.  Keep the catering simple (a beautiful fruit platter, a nice cake, fruit punch and some snacks). Ask people to bring a plate of food to share if you are hosting it yourself.

Have some games and activities prepared. The host can start these as soon as most guests arrive. Have some prizes for the winners ( eg. nice chocolates, decorative candles etc).

Some fun games are:-

• Baby Bingo (can purchase or make your own).
• Using string to estimate your tummy circumfrance.  Each person cuts a string to the length they think will wrap around your tummy.  The most accurate length of string wins.
• "Don't Say Baby". Everyone recives a safety pin (or similar trinket)  if someone hears them saying "baby" during the baby shower that person can take their trinket.  The person with the most trinkets at the end wins. This can become very competitive.
• Have a note book where people can guess the baby's sex, weight, length, date and time of birth (these are fun to look back on after bub is born).
• Treasure hunt for baby item (clues and suggested hiding places can be found on the net).
• Guess the baby item (hide 10 small baby items in paper bags (eg. nail cutters, dummy, etc) pass the bags around and get guests to write down the answers.  The person with the most correct wins.
• Everyone is asked to bring a baby picture of themselves.  People then try to guess who owns which baby photo.

Some alternative activities are:-

• Birthday wishes - every one attending writes a wish for your baby.  One wish is read to your child on their future birthdays ( could  also have quotes, life lessons and prayers).
• Painting for the nursery - everyone attending adds a decoration or picture to a canvas. A friend of mine pre-painted a beautiful tree, guests added a sun, lady beetle, fairys, birds etc. This was then hung in the babies room.
• Pampering the pregnant woman - guests give hand and foot massage to the pregnant woman (my closest friends did tis for me - it was divine!).
• Other rituals - lighting candles for the baby, sharing birth stories.

A baby shower is the perfect time to suggest to people what you intend to do after the baby is born (eg any special requests). Some people ask that their friends light a candle when they hear you are in labour. Some people ask that ONLY grandparents visit at the hospital, other people request that when friends visit after the birth they bring a casserole, or ask for housework or babysitting help. 

If it is your second baby - you can have a baby 'sprinkle' rather than another shower.  You will already have most baby related things so you won't need as much. Suggest that people buy you smaller gifts (eg. nappies, wipes, your favourite baby soap etc). It is perfectly ok to ask people not to buy you clothes, toys etc (especially if you have too much already). Ask for extra help after your second bub is born.  Perhaps people could bring over a dinner, entertain your oldest bub while you care for your newborn or help you go on an outing when you are feeling up to it rather than buying more gift.

Relax, have fun and enjoy these last few weeks before your beautiful baby is born.