The journey of having yourown babyis a wonderful thing. As the bump grows rounder and rounder and the due date gets closer and closer it will soon be the perfect time for a baby shower.
Discover more articles:
Baby shower organisation
Decorating for a baby shower
Gifts for a baby shower
Baby shower games
Food for a baby shower
Where does the baby shower tradition come from?
Many people may think that modern baby showers originated in the USA as they are enthusiastically celebrated there. However, while the term‘baby shower’is quite recent, the traditions of celebrating pregnancy and woman becoming mothers come from ancient civilisations.
In ancient India, the Vedic Seemantham ritual was celebrated in honour of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. She is considered the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. Pregnant women arerespected and honouredas they are considered the embodiment of Lakshmi. They were given dried fruits, delicacies, and other gifts to nurture the growth of the baby. The ritual was performed on the7th month of pregnancywhen it was thought that the baby’s ears could perceive sounds. Rhythmically repeated mantras are a central aspect of the Seemantham ritual. Even today, different versions of this ritual are celebrated in different regions of India. For example, in northern India, the tradition of Godh Bharai welcomes women as new mothers and asks for a healthy and successful birth.
The modern baby shower originated during the1950’s baby boomin the USA. The purpose of the celebration was (and still is) to give the mother-to-be much-needed baby items. The name baby shower comes from‘showering the mother with gifts and love’. Nowadays, many American women hold very elaborate baby showers with professional and lavish decorations.
In Europe, holding larger baby showers is becoming more popular. It’s not surprising as holding a baby shower is a great opportunity to spend anice afternoon with all your friends. The modern baby shower is no longer just for women; dads-to-be and good friends are also welcome to join in the fun. A well-planned, professionally decorated baby shower is just one way of celebrating this exciting time. The party should be adapted to what the mum-to-be would like. True to the motto ‘Anything goes’, anything the mum and her guests will enjoy is OK at a baby shower.
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Don't forget...
Set the budget early in the baby shower planning process. It will help decide what is possible for the party.
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Organising a baby shower
The baby shower traditionally takes place from the25th week of pregnancy. It is usually organised by the best friend, sister, or mother of the expectant mother. There are a lot of things to think about.Timing, location, invitationsare just the tip of the iceberg. Readherehow to organise the perfect baby shower. Also, this handychecklistwill give you some ideas on how to organise a baby shower.
Baby shower organisation
Baby shower decorations
The first step in decorating for a baby shower is to decide on a theme that will dictate the style of the room, table, and invitations. If you know that the baby will be a girl, your baby shower can be decorated ingirly soft pink and white. For a boy, the dominant colours would bedifferent shades of blue. You can also choose a completely different theme, for example, an outdoor summer party with lots of flowers etc. Once you've decided on a theme, it's time to prepare and decorate. In this article, you will find lots oftips and inspirationfor your baby shower decorations.
Decorating for a baby shower
Baby shower gifts
Gifts are, of course, a must for a baby shower. Traditionally, the mum-to-be is given useful items such asclothes,equipment, andaccessoriesfor thebaby shower. It's not just the gift that counts - it's also importanthowit's given. Whether it's an extravagantnappy cake, somecute bodysuit cupcakes, or a gift basket: in this article, you'll find lots of inspiration and tips for the perfect baby shower gift.
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Did you know that...
A baby uses around3,000 nappiesin the first year, so anappy giftis something useful for young parents.
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Gifts for a baby shower
Outfits
Multipacks
Sleeping bags
Accessoires
Baby socks
Basics
Entertaining baby shower games
Many baby-themed games are played at baby showers. These usually take a little preparation but will bring a lot of fun to your baby party. Some of them are variations of popular classics with a baby-themed twist that adds a whole new dynamic. In this article, we introduce10 of the most popular baby shower gamesand give you some useful tips on how to prepare for and play them.
Tip: Baby shower games are a lot of fun. Don't forget to take photos! If you own an instant camera, your guests can take the memorable snapshots home immediately after the party.
Baby shower games
Preparing food for the baby shower
What would a party be without good food? Anything that tastes good and is fun is allowed at a baby shower. You could, for example, create a buffet entirely from the favourite dishes of the mum-to-be. But there are also typical foods and finger foods that are part of the baby shower theme. In this article, you'll findlots of ideas for baby showerfood - from candy bars and delicious non-alcoholic co*cktails tostep-by-step guides for baby shower cakes. With our recipes, you will be able to create fantastic food for the party.
Food for a baby shower
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References:
https://www.mothersspace.in/pregnancy/customs-and-traditions/godh-bharai/(last accessed 18.03.2021)
Image sources:
iStock.com/jacoblund
iStock.com/Zinkevych
