This is my third baby, but my older LOs will be 7 and 10 when baby arrives, so my MIL and SIL really want to throw a shower. I’m not big on showers (didn’t have a bridal shower, didn’t do showers with the first two, etc.), but I know it comes from a place of love.
Have you attended any alternative baby showers (sip n see? something else?) that you really liked?
persimmon / 1419 posts
I went to a baby brunch for a coworker that was really just a bunch of us going to a nice brunch. Because it was a work thing it was small enough that we were all at one (large) table, and felt more like a nice get together than a shower per se. Could you suggest a meal out for 10 or so close family and friends? Or do they want something bigger?
coffee bean / 30 posts
@karenbme: I think they’d like to something more traditional. I love the brunch idea, but there aren’t really great options for that where we live (kind of rural!).
I suggested a cookout after the baby arrived and to just ask everyone to bring a dish and come meet the baby (and then we’d have cookout leftovers to munch on for a few days!) but they didn’t really like that idea as much. We’re super close to our extended family, so we love the idea of having everyone out to meet the baby.
cherry / 184 posts
I personally like the idea of the cookout for a greet and meet baby. Would you really want to play those games at a more traditional baby shower? (diaper a stuffed animal... guess the weight of the baby, guess the due date).I think you would prefer the company of the people you love... and then have extra food. That would stress me either way to have this kind of big events now....
coffee bean / 30 posts
@bakingdoodle: lol the shower games are part of what makes me not want a traditional shower.
I’m hoping that by late summer/early fall, the risk of a mostly outdoor event will be lower, but we’ll definitely have to assess when we get there!
cherry / 108 posts
I see that the games are a turn off for you (me too!) but besides games what don’t you like about a shower? I think a thoughtful shower can/should be tweaked in form and function to honor what the mom prefers! Do you not like opening gifts in front of others? I don’t! So for my baby shower I told my mom and sisters that I wasn’t going to open gifts there. There was a gift table near the back and then we just packed everything up and opened in private at home that night. That’s just one example, of course, but I think your idea of a shower can hopefully shift to be something YOU enjoy! I like the cookout idea after baby comes too, though. Maybe do both?! Haha.
coffee bean / 30 posts
@togetherthroughlife: DH and I don’t like the idea of people buying stuff for us. We just want to celebrate with people without the expectation of gifts. We didn’t have a bridal shower and didn’t register for wedding gifts. When folks asked, we told them we’d prefer they just come celebrate. For the folks closer to us, that really want to give a gift for the wedding, we asked for them to do something special for the wedding (our aunt gave the blessing, which was really special, his mom helped me get ready, which is one of my most cherished memories of the day, etc.)
kiwi / 583 posts
I think I'd opt for some type of backyard cookout too. Whoever does the inviting could say no gifts, or gifts of diapers and wipes only or something like that?
cherry / 108 posts
@Lilfarmer: I totally get that! Is there a way you could still…call it a shower? Or “sprinkle” I’ve heard too. Or even just call it a cookout? Even if you tell people (who WANT to get you things) just something very small. Like a pack of diapers. Or a board book for baby. Or more sentimental - a letter for the baby to read someday. Idk, trying to think outside the box for people to still feel like they’re contributing in some way if they want to! I get the sentiment behind your thought. Sounds like you found a special way to work around it for your wedding!
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