Unique Baby Shower Themes, Menus, Craft and Planning Ideas

If you have a particular baby shower theme it makes it very easy to decorate and to plan menu items. Well, sometimes it helps with the menu items.

Of course the reason for the shower is the baby, but you can also decide to have a particular theme. Below are just a few examples.

Have a fall harvest theme. You could decorate in orange, brown and gold colors. Serve pumpkin pie, cider, spiced chai tea and apples. Make some soups and warm dips; and burn cinnamon candles. Having a fall theme is just another added dimension to the shower. It in no way distracts from the main focus of celebrating baby.

If it is summer time perhaps you'd like to have a pool party theme. Suggest everyone bring their bathing suit and a towel. Host the shower outside. Serve lemonade and popsicles.

The seasons of the year offer wonderful ideas on themes. A spring theme could include lots of flowers. Favors could be a little package of bulbs. Stress the new birth that comes with spring and tie it in with the new birth of the baby.

You could do a "pamper-me" theme. Let everyone take their shoes off and dip their feet in the foot massager. Then rub peppermint lotion on your feet. This would be a fun get together - all the while making mom and baby the focus. It will be enjoyable and memorable for the shower guests too.

What about a cookie exchange? Have all the guests bring 2 dozen cookies and swap them out. Chances are your guest of honor will have fun too. Of course a baby shower is all about mom, but sometimes there are only so many baby festivities to do in one afternoon.

What about a luau theme complete with grass skirts, leis and coconuts. Make your shower FUN. It doesn't have to be about tea and crumpets while sitting quietly in a chair. If your guest of honor was fun before she was pregnant, she'll still be fun. (Give her one last hoorah before baby settles her down.)

I've never met a shower hostess who didn't run around like a crazy woman cleaning her house before the guest arrived. Sure there are those whose house always looks meticulous, but many houses get the deep clean only when company arrives.

The house is clean, that's a given but the real Piece de Resistance is when the guests walk in and rave about how adorable the decorations look. Yes. You have done well, my friend.

Ah the pressure, the pressure. Relax; decorating for a shower doesn't need to be a big deal. If you know the baby's gender then blue or pink will be the color du jour. If you don't know, then pretty pastels work well too.

Take a trip to your favorite party supply store and you'll have no problem coming up with decorations. Crepe paper, balloons cardboard cut-outs abound in these types of stores. You can never go wrong with streamers and balloons. You don't even need to tape balloons to anything - just merely have them spread across the floor for a festive look.

If you decide on a particular theme, that will make decorating easy, just follow suit. If the theme is simply baby, then you have many choices. You can make or buy banners to hang either inside or outside. Hang balloons from the mailbox to make it easier for guests to find the party place.

Don't' forget party plates, napkins and cups. Cake tastes so much better on cute little baby themed plates rather than on your fine china or paper plates, don't you agree? While you're at it, don't forget a table cloth. Not only does it tie the whole look together, it makes for easy clean up.

You may want to decorate a "throne" for mom. Take your biggest, most comfortable chair (but one that she can get out of relatively easily.) and decorate it with streamers and balloons. For an added touch give her a crown to wear.

Sure you want your guests to walk into a beautifully decorated room, but more importantly they will be walking into a room full of love and cheerfulness. If you met in a field with folding lawn chairs they would be just as happy.

Presents. Presents. Who doesn't like presents? Further, for a mommy-to-be, her own baby shower is like being made princess for a day!

New moms, especially first time moms, want everything to be just right. Everything about baby should be well coordinated and matching. Wait until you have two or three kids and then see how you feel. Just kidding, mostly.

One fun part of having is baby is registering for gifts. Some stores will give mom a laser 'gun' and tell her to scan anything and everything she wants. How fun is that? "I want one of these and one of these and oh I should have one of these!"

Also about the time she is deciding which baby wipe warmer she would like to have, she passes the stationery department. Oooooooh, look at the adorable wrapping paper and little bows and how cute are these little shower invitations.

"Oh my goodness" I haven't even considered shower invitations!" laments mom. Relax; generally the shower hostess will take care of those little details. That is, unless mom wants to be in on all the details.

Shower invitations are nothing more than information to tell the when and where details of the baby shower. If all the guests have online access, it's not unheard of to use e-vites - electronic invitations; it saves on postage. But some people think that is tacky. It's a personal preference.

All the guests who are invited will already know that there is an impending birth; so that won't be news. They really just need to know what time and where to show up with a gift. Make sure to include a map or directions to the location - not everyone will be familiar with the party place.

It's also a good idea to include the name(s) of the stores where the mommy-to-be is registered. If mom has selected a particular theme (Pooh, fish, fire trucks, etc.) you may want to include that info in the invitation. You may choose to use invitations with the theme on it - assuming there is a theme.

Lastly if there is something special you would like guests to bring, be sure to include that in the invitation. Some hostesses ask that guests bring baby pictures of the guest of honor, or favorite memories or some even request that everyone bring a package of diapers or a container of wipes.

Basically the invitation needs to state when, where, what to bring and where to RSVP. It's that simple!

Ah the centerpiece - the main focal point of the table. If men had baby showers, their centerpiece might consist of a six-pack or a bag of chips. Oh not so for the women. We want something pretty! We want something appropriate. We want a centerpiece that will make your guest comment on how wonderful it is.

I would recommend staying away from open flames. Whenever you get a group of people together, and bearing gifts no doubt, it's just not a good idea to center your table on something that could potentially start fire.

However, if you had your heart set on pretty little candles, then stick with floating candles. Take a pretty bowl, a deep bowl and fill it with water. Then use the candles that float in the water. You can often find flower shapes or you may be able to find some candles in the shape of baby rattles. Check your favorite party supply store.

A fresh bouquet of flowers always works well as a centerpiece. You can arrange one using flowers from your own garden or you could purchase a bouquet of pink or blue carnations. Purple, green and yellow work well if the baby's gender is unknown.

Another suggestion is to use little Mylar balloons nestled in a large vase, surrounded by tissue paper. That makes a fun, adorable centerpiece, too.

If you are feeling creative you can make large poppy style flowers from tissue paper. Chose colors to match the theme of your shower or of the baby's nursery.

If you're really crafty you can make votives roses. Supplies needed include long plastic balloon sticks plus the plastic balloon cap (as affixed at the ends of mylar balloons), tulle squares, green floral tape, ribbon, silk leaves and a hot glue gun.

2. Glue the bottom of the votive to the balloon cap with the hot glue gun.
3. Wrap the votive with the tulle square
4. Starting from the base of the votive, begin wrapping the balloon stick with green floral tape, add a few leaves on your way down the stick.
5. Finish it with a ribbon bow.
6. Repeat until you have a nice bouquet of votive roses.

Or bake some sugar cookies with skinny dowels in them. Decorate the cookies and put them all into a vase. You'll have a memorable, edible cookie bouquet.

Still want a different idea for a centerpiece? Ok, you'll love this one - open up a disposable diaper and fill it will potpourri. That one is sure to get noticed.

Your centerpiece design is limited only by your imagination. Be creative and have fun.

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Remember going to birthday parties as a little kid? You always came home with a goodie bag. Sometimes it would contain candy or bubbles or a pinwheel. It was so fun to go to a party for someone else's birthday and come up with a little present for yourself.

Bring a present - get a present. We still get to do that as grown-ups %u2026 only now we call them "favors." It sounds much more dignified, don't you agree?

It's a nice gesture to have something that your guests can take home with them after the festivities are finished. If your shower will be like most, you'll probably play some silly games. No game would be complete without prizes or favors.

But no one likes to leave empty handed. You should have some small favors for everyone to take home, whether or not they've won a game. How about a little tin candle with a custom label that reads "Your friendship lights my day. Thanks for being part of my special day"?

Most everyone likes chocolate. Little boxes of chocolate that read, "You're so sweet. Thanks for coming to my baby shower." Or a little package of nuts wrapped in tulle, "You're nuts. But that's why we're friends - thank you for coming to my shower."

Lotion is always a good little favor for women. Be careful not to get something too fragrant - as some people are bothered by strong scents. The truth is that it doesn't really matter what you offer as a favor. It's a small token of your appreciation for the time your friends devoted to celebrate your baby.

I will say this; your favor should be something they can use. Even it is it s small bud vase with dried flowers from your garden. When deciding what you'll have for little favors, try to think, "What is not going to end up in the trash as soon as they leave?"

Perhaps you could give your guests a small gift booklet and inscribe something sweet on the inside cover: "I appreciate your wisdom and support of my new baby." Or "Thanks for all times I've cried on your shoulder, I appreciate you." Or if you don't feel very sentimental how about simply: "Thanks for coming to my baby shower. June 1, 200x"

Baby shower favors don't have to be anything fancy, just something to show your appreciation.

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What to serve, what to serve? Although the hostess puts much effort in determining what foods will be on the baby shower menu, we know that if there was a bowl of potato chips on the table, few would complain.

However, if you're one who thinks a bowl of chips is totally unacceptable, perhaps we can give you some suggestions that will make your baby shower the envy of all mommies.

For starters you want to keep it buffet style. Most guests will be eating over their laps, so you'll need to keep it simple; simple to make and simple to eat. Sloppy joes or spaghetti might not be the best idea.

The time of day will help determine what to serve. If you schedule your shower at breakfast time you will obviously have breakfast foods: fruit, pigs in a blanket, orange juice (or mimosas), bagels or pastries.

Lunch showers will be a little lighter. You could serve a vegetable tray, antipasto or perhaps shrimp cocktail. Seven layer taco dip and tortilla chips are always a big hit.

Depending on when you will put the food out, you may want to have small finger bowls of nuts, pretzels or trail-mix strategically placed around the room.

Whether or not you serve cocktails is up to the mommy-to-be. Some guests feel uncomfortable about partaking when the guest of honor isn't. In other circles it doesn't matter. Have coffee, tea and lemonade available as well.

Keep in mind that there are no rules for baby showers. Most of us are so busy it's hard to take a few hours out to enjoy an afternoon with the girls. What food you serve really isn't that important. If you're not a cook, or don't feel you have time to cook - then don't.

Pick up prepared items at the store. Put some prepackaged meatballs in the crock pot; toss some mini-tacos in the oven, and crack open a package of cookies.

If you are hosting a shower for your friend or relative, you probably already know some of her favorite foods. You may also know what foods or smells make her a little queasy. If you're not sure - ask. Reinforce that it is her day - and she can have anything she wants to eat at the shower. She may surprise you with a response like watermelon and sauerkraut.

Most importantly - keep it simple. Don't stress. Just have fun.

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Wouldn't be nice if all your friends and family were to RSVP to your baby shower right away because they simply could not wait to play THE GAMES?

Baby shower games - it's a rite of passage. What's a shower without silly games? Ok, admit it, while some may grumble and groan (generally silently while they outwardly smile and play nice) there is guaranteed to be much laughter and memories with baby shower games. Below are some suggestions:

One of my favorite games is the baby food tasting. Sit mom in a chair, blindfold her and be prepared for some funny faces. The hostess will spoon mom different kinds of food and she'll have to guess what flavor it is. Or better yet, blindfold all the guests and have THEM try to guess the flavor. Have them remove their blindfolds (or if on the honor system, open their eyes) so that they can write down their guess - then begin with the next flavor.

Along the same lines is to put a dollop of baby food inside a disposable diaper. Eww, yes it is somewhat gross, that's what makes it so fun. Everyone must sniff and try to determine what kind of baby food is in the diaper.

Pass a roll of toilet paper around to all the guests. Tell each one to take as many squares as they think will be necessary to fit around mom's tummy. This also works with string but the toilet paper is funnier because if someone guesses too little, the paper squares break apart. Nothing like making mom feel HUGE.

Unscramble the words. Write baby related words on pieces of paper - rattle, diaper, teething, colic, bath, ointment, bouncy seat, etc. and then scramble up the letters. Give everyone a few minutes to decipher as many as they can.

Have a box or a tray with baby related items - wipes, diaper pin, diaper ointment, ear bulb, teething tablets, booties, washcloth, hair bow, etc. The smaller the items the better. Put the box or tray in front of everyone for two minutes then remove it. Have guests write down as many items as they can remember. Of course mom gets to keep the box when the game is finished.

You should have some little prizes for the winner(s) of each game. Candles, bath and body items, dish towels, or lip balm work nicely. Think of anything small that most women would like.

Don't dread the games - have fun with them. Make sure to take lots of photos during the festivities.

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Have you heard moms complain of "pregnancy brain" or "pregnesia"? Whether it's physiological or just a case of too much on the brain - many women will tell you that from shortly after learning they are pregnant until the time their children leave the nest - they can get a little forgetful. Others even call it "mommyheimers."

One area that will help out mom tremendously is setting her up with baby shower thank you cards. As mom is opening the gifts, someone should be making a list of the giver and the item given. This will make it so much easier when it comes time to write thank you cards.

Even better, is to actually supply mom with thank you card, and pre-addressed stamped envelopes. When the guests arrive, hand them all an envelope and ask them to address it to themselves. That is not an unheard of practice. Remember, you're inviting family and friends; you don't have to be so formal. It's not like you're entertaining the Queen.

What about the actual thank you card? You can always pick up some cute ones from the store. That works just fine. It's the sentiment inside that is more important that the actual card. However that doesn't always suit all people, does it?

Thanks to modern technology, a.k.a. digital camera and color printer, the possibilities are endless. You could have a group photo of all the guests, and then print that onto a thank you card. You could take a photo of each guest with the mommy-to-be. You could have a profile picture showing mom's beautiful belly. Or if you're really creative maybe you can create a before and after side by side shot in one of the graphics programs.

Let's face it, there are many card recipients who simply read the inside text, say "ah, how sweet" and then throw the card away. Yes, it's true. Of course there will be other guests who save everything anyone has ever sent them.

The point is making it simple for mom to get her thank you cards sent out. The memory of those closest to her celebrating the impending birth is far more important than what was on the front of the baby shower thank you card.