Baby Shower Invitations for Something New

I have some good friends who are pregnant for the first time and due this next month. I offered to throw them a baby shower. They were a little wary at first. They are pretty non traditional and did not want to obligate people to buy them a lot of stuff. "So, you just send out baby shower invitations and people have to buy you things?" They asked. I understood their sentiment, as I too do not like the concept of the 5 bridal showers some brides throw that always seem to make guests fork out more than they are comfortable with. But a baby shower serves a very legitimate and community oriented purpose. A good number of newlyweds are older than their counterparts of 20 years prior. They have jobs and are usually combining the belongings of two households when they get hitched. Unlike when the bridal shower was first created, many couples do not need assistance with the basic things needed for a house. Guests receiving bridal shower invitations should be asked to help celebrate, not reach into their pocketbooks. People love to buy presents and they will anyway, just do not make them feel like they are expected to.

My friends who were against the idea of a baby shower were afraid of those same bridal shower expectations. I assured them that guests receiving baby shower invitations would be the same people who were overcome with a desire to help as soon as they heard the news of the pregnancy. Expectant first time parents do not have diapers, cribs and baby clothes hanging around the house, regardless of how much money they make. Being pregnant with your first baby, can make you run and hide with confusion over how to prepare. Having a baby shower allows people who know what they are doing to lend a hand and give you some things they think will be special or helpful. I had no idea what a Boppy pillow was before our baby shower, and it turned out to be the thing I relied on most (next to my husband) for the year after we had our first child. A good number of other guests who will be sent shower invitations may not know the first thing about being pregnant or bringing a baby home. You have now given them an excuse to buy something adorably printed with little doggies from Baby Gap.

We decided to go with a theme that made my friends feel like they were not setting an expectation of lots of gifts. Their guests received shower invitations that asked them to attend a "Knowledge and Myths" party. Guests were asked to contribute some kind of baby safety item (outlet protectors, baby gate, baby monitor, etc) and some kind of nursery supply item. I also asked the people who were given shower invitations for the best piece of knowledge they received before they had a baby, and the most ridiculous thing masquerading as advice they had received. I printed up and gave credit for all the input in two separate books (one for the good advice; the other, for the ridiculous stuff) for the couple to have. They loved the books and the fact that their friends and family offered such great advice and funny stories. They were, of course, now stocked with diapers, cream, magazines for labor and delivery, swaddling blankets, lullaby CDs, etc. The shower invitations did not leave anyone with an obligation to purchase anything beyond the theme. I think all the guests, however, happily brought additional baby gifts. But all the guests loved being asked to be helpful and contribute something. And that is the whole reason my friends wanted to get everyone together to help them celebrate such an exciting time in their lives.

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