[Cindy]

I have the task of planning my single grand-daughter’s baby shower. She is due June 1st.

I don’t have a clue what is involved these days.

Any advice on how to plan…timing, food, favors and activities that are very frugal yet nice would be appreciated.

[Jackie]

Timing: hold it in March (tax refund season, spring shoppers and everyone is more generous-because they can be), food; sampling platters from your local deli-can include ribs, sliders, picnic sides (we girls love wings!), assorted cookies and non-alcohol fruit punch.

Favors-the cutest I saw was when someone knew the baby’s sex and it was revealed in what looked like a Hershey Bar (Spelled out HereSheIs or HereHeIs and looked like a Hershey bar!

Go old fashioned on the favors-google Baby Shower Favors from the Past and you will see baby soap carvings with reusable soap dishes for 80 cent each, pastel candles, etc!

Activities are wildly inexpensive (and somewhat gross though truthful!); the clothes pin game, identify the poo (involves putting things like corn or melted chocolate nut bars into a diaper and when indetified correctly-the winner gets a full sized bar!)

But one thing I DO hope you won’t do is that TACKY “Money Tree” thing!

Most people do not have money to spare and nobody wants to be the girl who could not afford to pin a hundred dollar bill to a tree-but she could knit a lovely outfit yet felt so ashamed that she didn’t even come to the party! Be INCLUSIVE so everyone feels welcome and appreciated!

These people are your GUESTS so behave accordingly and do NOT forget to send out handwritten Thank You cards, describing the gift each guest sent and how much it meant to know they came!

[Debby]

Have a “diaper raffle” where anyone who brings a package of diapers (any size) and they entered into the diaper raffle.

The guest gets a card to fill out (their name & baby tip/advice) Have a box/basket to put the cards in.

Draw name at end of shower and the prize is flower bouquet (that you used as table decoration).

Make sure you include something on invitation about “Bring package of diapers to be entered into diaper raffle”.

Use baby pictures of mom-to-be as table decorations. Add simple vase of fresh flowers with the pictures.

I would suggest Saturday or Sunday afternoon (like 2pm) so all you need is light snacks & cookies/cupcake or cake.

[Beth]

Last one I went to they also had a $25 gift card raffle…entry was a package of diapers, any size.

The mother got about 25 packs!

[Nikki]

Today, I heard about a new trend. It’s “nesting parties” instead of a baby shower.

It’s where the attendees spend time helping the mom to get ready for the baby. A check with Goog will get you lots of ideas.

You could feed them with a taco bar, salad bar, sandwich bar, baked potato bar or soup bar.

All of these can be done with a small budget.

[Val]

Get a list of names and addresses from her for people she wants you to invite.

Send out invitations about 5 weeks prior to the baby shower date so people can put the date on their calendar.

[Linda]

Have the guests fill out an envelope with their address to make it easier for the mom to be to send out thank you notes

[Jeannie]

I would have an open house for a few hours, no wrapped gifts, just put on display and serve light refreshments.

No need for games

[Emily]

They have great decorations at dollar tree! Very affordable! You could also maybe pick some fresh flowers that might be blooming in May and use them also.

[Trish]

-I typed up my own cute matching game for a shower- match the baby animal name with the adult name (google the answers though lol).

-Guess the melted candy bar in a (generic brand) diaper or on a plate…resembles poop, so it depends on the humor of your guests.

-Taste or look and guess the (again generic or puree your own) small sampling of baby food. Get the smallest jar. Preferably fruit so they are willing to try it.

-Ask someone to bring diapers and each guest writes a small note of encouragement on the front for when someone is changing the diaper.

Give them to the mom as a gift.

[Lori]

We also played the game of if anybody says the word baby everybody gets a PIN to put on themselves and if they say baby they lose their pen Whoever has the most pins wins

[Linda]

If you do it at 2pm (not lunch, not dinner) you can serve just punch and sheet cake.

Use old baby books from thrift store as table decor (bonus mom can add to her collection)

[Carolyn]

If you are a decent cook try to prepare as much of the food yourself as you can if you are trying to be frugal. You didn’t mention how many people you will be

hosting but if it’s not huge crowd you should be able to host this easily and reasonably priced. As some one else mentioned, Dollar Tree has cute baby

shower decor, plates etc. When I was younger and hosting a lot of baby and bridal showers my go to menu was

chicken salad croissant sandwiches (I made my own chicken salad & purchased the croissants but you could

buy both), potato salad, fruit salad which I served in a water melon I shaped like a baby carriage, deviled eggs & another salad which varied each time plus a cake which I purchased & punch.

It’s easy to find games online . I know your granddaughter will appreciate all your efforts!

[Leslie]

I used my good China and silver for a baby shower for my daughter’s best friend.

More work but very nice and no power plates etc.

[Lori]

I have used a piñata to decorate at baby shower: gets broken open on a later birthdate.

[Lou]

We just did one for my daughter..we made her favorite dips as the food, made her favorite dessert, and played a couple very low key games, she opened presents and boom.. done!

[Dianna]

Heard about a new trend that, instead of (or could be in addition to) material presents, “gifts of time” are given — help prepare baby’s room, fix-ahead meals for the new parents/family, run errands or help with household chores after the new arrival to allow parents some free time,..

[Gail]

Keep it simple with a “come and go” shower. Finger foods, desserts, and individual visits with the new mom are all you need.

No fuss, no games!

[Elizabeth]

Gave a baby shower for my DIL — very simple, my little house, mostly my generation of the two families. A few more peeps came than we expected, but OK, spread to kitchen, etc.

Specified 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. and planned just punch, cake, coffee. No games or favors, but silliness enough.

Mom’s aunts (herbDad’s sisters) apparently expected a meal, inhaled the few dainty finger snacks we’d prepared!

I was embarrassed but everyone had a good time anyway.

Geography was an issue, other grandmother couldn’t come, there hadn’t been a bridal shower — so glad we did it anyway, very happy memories.

Wonderful grandchild!

[Mom]

If guys are also attending the shower a really fun and funny game is played. The guys stand in a side by side row. Each is given a balloon to blow up.

After blowing up balloons the guys must put the balloon under their shirts.

Then they must “deliver the balloon out from their shirts. No arms or hands can be used nor pushing it out using a wall, furniture or another person.

They squirm and wiggle while the ladies giggle. This makes for a very memorable fun game.

[Lori]

Ask for a younger family member in the guest list and a friend on her guest list to help ya. Hardest thing for new Mom is feeding themselves and anyone else they are responsible for beside the new baby – freezer meals and recipes is very helpful.

I was a single Mom when my baby arrived June 6! No shower cause baby came very VERY early!

Formula diapers and wipes NEVER enough. Take a picture of every one there all together everyone then the person taking the picture needs to trade and get in too.

[Brenda]

Step 1. She needs to create an invitation and that dictates the theme. Then it’s easy to find stuff. Step 2 go to Etsy for favors. These take time to arrive.

I think favors are the most memorable but overlooked item.

I don’t scrimp here! Step 3, decide on games (we prefer passive ones) and gifts. I tend to go all out on these; making large gift baskets for the winners. Hold a raffle for the kids.

Step 4, decorations. Balloon arch (these are so cheap and make a big impression) or backdrop of some kind for pics. Last is the food.

Depending on the time, season, and amount of people; include creative dessert.

I buy all the dry goods and paper products ahead of time. I know this because I’m currently working on my dau 2nd baby shower. I have so much fun doing it!

[Laura]

My best friend did one and we had to guess the name, weight and due date of her baby as well as future occupation.

We also played guess the diameter of her bump x

[Shannon]

For our second grandbaby we did a backyard Baby-Q. Minimal decorations, bbq and some sides. It was great. For the last one we did a fall theme and did chili and finger sandwiches.

We also used a lot of decorations that were not specifically baby shower but added a balloon arch and a few things.

Most everything is reusable for any group gathering.

[Author]

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