Baby showers are beautiful occasions where people celebrate and welcome a new life. Such events require much planning, from the decor to the entertainment, and not forgetting the guest list.
In most cases, baby showers are not planned by the parents of the expected baby. So, who plans and pays for a baby shower?
Who plans a baby shower?
Baby showers are usually planned by a close friend or family member of the new parents.
Baby showers are rarely hosted by the parents of the expected baby, but if you’re eager to celebrate your baby, and you’d rather manage the planning on your own, you’re allowed to break the rules and plan your own baby shower.
To have a successful baby shower, the organizer should ensure that the following is covered:
Entertainment
Venue
Decor
Guest list
Food
Gift registry
Having a gift registry for a baby shower helps you avoid having a repetition of gifts and allows guests to focus on what the new parents need for the baby. You can use Moonsift to create a shareable registry with items from any online store.
It’s important to note that a baby shower doesn’t have to be planned by one person. It could have multiple planners, or one person who delegates tasks to friends and family members who are willing to take part in the planning.
Who should pay for a baby shower?
The expenses of a baby shower should be covered by the person or group of people who are organizing the event.
When you’re planning a baby shower on behalf of the mom-to-be, you might already have an idea of what her taste is, and whether or not you’re going for a small or big baby shower. Identifying these things will help you determine the cost for the baby shower.
You might also wonder if it’s appropriate to ask guests to contribute towards the baby shower. The answer is no. It’s best to allow guests to focus on buying gifts for the baby shower, because asking for contributions might come across as offensive.
Plan the best baby shower
Planning a baby shower can get very stressful, but, no matter who plans or pays for the baby shower, it’s important to remember that this is a joyous occasion that’s meant to celebrate a new life.
FAQs
Baby showers are usually planned by a close friend or family member of the new parents. Baby showers are rarely hosted by the parents of the expected baby, but if you're eager to celebrate your baby, and you'd rather manage the planning on your own, you're allowed to break the rules and plan your own baby shower.
Whose responsibility is it to pay for a baby shower? ›
Who Traditionally Pays for a Baby Shower? The hostess traditionally pays for the baby shower and its associated costs. However, the hostess can divide up the responsibility and costs by asking a few close family members or friends to co-host.
Who is responsible for planning a baby shower? ›
Most baby showers should be hosted by a sister, mother, mother-in-law, or close friend. Baby showers were traditionally thrown by family members who weren't close with the parents-to-be, to avoid the assumption that close family members wanted to collect gifts for themselves.
Who typically plans a baby shower? ›
Who plans and hosts a baby shower? According to tradition, baby showers are typically hosted by a friend or distant relative (like a cousin or an aunt) instead of an immediate family member. This custom is believed to have developed to avoid the appearance that the family was simply on a mission to collect gifts.
Whose job is it to plan a baby shower? ›
Typically, a close friend or family member will throw your shower, but coworkers or another loved one can host the party. While every baby shower is unique, the host usually takes care of organizing everything — so you can sit back and enjoy being celebrated.
Do you ask people to pay for a baby shower? ›
Most people have baby showers at the home of a relative or close friend. People are also not typically expected to chip in for the cost of the party or the meal. Some people may ask for the guests to bring a pot luck dish to help with the expenses.
Who is supposed to give the mother-to-be a baby shower? ›
Traditionally, close friends, cousins, aunts, sisters-in-law, or co-workers of the mother-to-be hosted baby showers.
Is someone else supposed to plan your baby shower? ›
There are several ways hosting a baby shower can happen: you can specifically ask a close friend, family member (yes, we think the grandmother-to-be can host if she wants to) or a group to host, someone can throw a surprise shower for you or you can host it yourself.
Who traditionally gives a baby shower? ›
Tradition states that when it comes to throwing a baby shower, those who love you should do the honors. This person could be your best friend from college, a colleague from work, the next-door neighbor… or your sister, sister-in-law, mother, aunt, etc.
Should a woman plan her own baby shower? ›
Should Parents Be the Ones to Arrange the Baby Shower? Can you throw your own baby shower? Absolutely! In fact, many parents decide to put together their own baby shower, so it's exactly how they want it to be.
The maid of honor customarily covers everything related to the shower, including planning, hosting and paying, Miles says. But, it's OK to suggest that bridesmaids chip in since costs add up.
What month do you throw a baby shower? ›
As a fast rule, baby showers are often held at the end of the second trimester or early to midway through the third trimester — usually four to six weeks before the due date. Expectant parents who are having multiples may prefer to have the baby shower on the earlier side.
Do grandmothers give baby showers? ›
They feel that, along with close friends, cousins, and coworkers, it is now appropriate for anyone, grandparents-to-be included, to host a baby shower as long as there's a good reason.
Who is financially responsible for a baby shower? ›
Traditionally the host will pay but this will depend on many factors. This includes the venue, budget, size of the guest list, and how extravagant it may be. For instance, you can't expect your best friend to throw a huge baby shower and pay for it all herself.
Who is responsible for the cost of a baby shower? ›
The host pays for the expenses of the baby shower. That being said, co-hosting a shower with one or two others is a good way to split the costs (and the planning).
Can mom help plan a baby shower? ›
Baby showers are usually planned by a close friend or family member of the new parents. Baby showers are rarely hosted by the parents of the expected baby, but if you're eager to celebrate your baby, and you'd rather manage the planning on your own, you're allowed to break the rules and plan your own baby shower.
Should grandparents pay for baby shower? ›
Who Foots The Bill? The host pays for the expenses of the baby shower. That being said, co-hosting a shower with one or two others is a good way to split the costs (and the planning).
Do dads pay for baby shower? ›
So at a traditional baby shower, it is often the host who will pay. However, this doesn't always settle the issue of who the host is. And of course, the host can be a wide variety of people. Usually, the mother will choose a close friend or family member.
Who pays for the gender reveal? ›
So, to be on the safe side, parents throwing a gender reveal party should bear the cost or most of it if family and friends offer to help with the expenses.
