Planning a baby shower in the new year?

Here is everything you need to know about baby showers + tons of inspo to get started!

Are you marking your calendar to welcome a new bundle of joy? Is someone close to you expecting a new addition to their growing family? If so, you might be wondering how to fit a baby shower into your 2023 plans. 

We are here to help! 

Odds are, you have attended a baby shower for a friend or family member in the past, or you may have even had one yourself. But it’s a new year and a new baby, so why not try out some new ideas for your baby shower? 

This article will cover everything you need to know about baby showers. From planning to partying, Table & Thyme has put together a simple guide to baby showers in 2023 just for you. 

Let’s get started!

What is a Baby Shower? 

Baby showers are opportunities for expecting parents to celebrate life’s milestones in the company of relatives and close friends. These gatherings of friends and family are a way to share in the new-baby-excitement, and offer supportive care for the soon-to-be parents. Usually, baby showers include exchanging gifts and well wishes, as well as fun games and activities and even a bite to eat. 

All in all, you can expect a baby shower to be filled with cherishable memories and adoration for a growing family!

Planning a Baby Shower

Baby showers are big moments in everyone’s life. And while planning a baby shower might seem intimidating or scary at first, what with all of the details and etiquette involved in special events, it doesn’t have to be!

We are breaking down the process of planning a baby shower to make it easy, simple, and fun so you can enjoy every moment that matters without stress! 

This guide will cover every step and things to keep in mind along the way, as well as plenty of baby shower games, ideas, and inspiration, too!

When to Have a Baby Shower

With most things in life, there is no set in stone ‘right time’ for anything. And that goes for baby showers, too. 

You can have a baby shower whenever works best for you and your life, even after the baby is born! Most baby showers happen during the third trimester or about 4 to 6 weeks before the expected due date. 

This timeframe is ideal for a baby shower event because it leaves just enough time for parents to get ahold of anything they need that wasn’t gifted at the shower before the baby comes. But, it also ensures that the gifts given aren’t collecting dust in storage for months before use. 

Where to Have a Baby Shower

There are many options to consider when deciding where to host a baby shower. Because the details of the event are entirely up to you, you can have the shower just about anywhere you want!

The main thing to look for when choosing a location for your baby shower is that the space is comfortable and easily accommodates you and your guests. This means plenty of room for the activities you have planned, places to sit, a place to eat, and then some. 

It’s also important that the location you choose adds to the overall ambiance of your baby shower. In other words, hosting the baby shower at home would be a wonderful choice if you are planning a more laid-back and personal get-together. 

What to Do at a Baby Shower

Well, you probably aren’t expecting babies to fall from the sky, but what exactly happens at a baby shower? 

Baby showers are known to boast a lot of friendly conversation and entertain guests with plenty of games and activities. Entertainment helps to pass the time and to make the event all the more memorable! 

Here are 5 baby shower games to try: 

Guess Who

Have baby shower guests submit photos of themselves as babies before the shower. Then, let guests guess who’s who by writing down their answers and comparing them at the end of the party. 

Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt to occupy guests and get them chatting. Include prompts like “someone who drinks their coffee iced” to encourage conversations and story sharing. You can also include specially placed items and hidden treasures to make your scavenger hunt more challenging. Make sure to have a prize ready for the first guest to finish the scavenger hunt. 

Don’t Say “Baby”

As every guest arrives, give them 5 clothespins to place on their person at the start of the party. As the event goes on, each guest has to refrain from saying the word ‘baby’ as much as possible. Should they slip up, they must remove one of their pins. The guest with the most pins at the end of the party wins! 

Diaper Change Relay Race

Set up baby changing stations, substituting newborns with a few adorable plushies. Make sure each station is complete with diapers, baby wipes, and everything else necessary for changing diapers with a designated timer at the ready. Divide baby shower guests into relay teams and have them compete to determine which team gets the title for Fastest Diaper Changes on Stuffed Animals. It is a pretty prestigious title, to be sure. 

Guess the Due Date

Like the title suggests, this game is a simple guessing game where guests write down when they think the baby is to be born. Some may be right on the money, while others could be way off. What results is an entertaining bonding experience for everyone! 

At any baby shower, you can expect a gift exchange to take place. Guests bring gifts from your baby shower registry or that they think will be helpful during the transition into parenthood to be opened at the baby shower. Additionally, you can arrange to hand out favors to guests as a thank-you for being in attendance at the event. Baby shower favors are a way to show appreciation for the support your guests bring, and they often include small souvenirs to remember the event. 

Stick around for baby shower favor ideas below! 

Finally, food can be an instrumental feature in making your baby shower an enjoyable experience for you and all your guests. A well-crafted menu or a substantial buffet keeps spirits high and allows the perfect opportunity for guests to connect. 

For baby showers, lighter fares like finger foods and fruity mocktails are preferred by most guests. And opting for artistic displays of baby shower menus enhances the experience even more! 

How to Plan a Baby Shower

Now, apply what you’ve learned and begin planning a spectacular baby shower! 

Remember, you have complete control over your event. So, use this baby shower planning guide as a resource, but feel free to customize your event how you see fit!

Pick a Theme

It is easier to plan an event when it’s something you are excited about and when it feels inspired. Spark that creativity by choosing a theme for your baby shower! 

There are so many different themes to choose from. The list is truly endless. It could be as simple as a blue-themed baby shower for a bouncing baby boy or a baby shower inspired by your favorite movie, TV show, or book! Having a theme makes planning decorations and party favors much easier, and it even gives guests something to look forward to!

Here are 6 baby shower themes to consider in 2023:

Fairytale 

Tropical

Precious Pastels

Sporty

Nautical

Day and Night

Set a Date

Propel your baby shower planning by moving forward with the high energy of selecting a theme. Set a date for your baby shower! 

We’ve already discussed the most popular timeframes for when to have a baby shower being sometime during the third trimester, a few weeks before the expected due date. But remember that if you can’t contain your excitement and want to celebrate the occasion before, that is fine, too! 

Book Venues and Vendors

Part of setting a date includes working with any vendors you are interested in hiring for your baby shower. If you plan to book a venue, your date may depend on the availability of the space. 

Some venue ideas to consider for a baby shower include community and recreation centers, public parks, and even at home! 

And for Birmingham locals, we have worked with many venues in the past and recommend open-concept spaces like Asthetik Birmingham and The Battery for a memorable baby shower event. 

Don’t forget to book any decorators, caterers, rentals, florists, or any other vendor that may help make your baby shower a success, too!

Send the Invitations

Once the date is set and the vendors booked, it’s time to send out the invitations! 

You can easily design your own custom baby shower invitations with Canva’s free and premium templates, or you can choose from a variety of designs from Zazzle, Etsy, and more. Simply fill in your baby shower details and send them off!

Gather Supplies

Before the baby shower actually takes place, it is a good idea to begin gathering any materials and supplies. That way, no one is rushing around the day of or having to go without. 

Decorations and other forms of entertainment depend largely on your baby shower theme and whether or not you are using local vendor services. 

If you are hoping for a memorable event, you can plan for fun baby shower details like a photo booth or balloon arrangements. 

You can also have specially designed baked goods at the baby shower or added to goodie bags for guests to take home! 

Have Fun!

At this point, just about everything should be accounted for and all that is left is to attend your baby shower and have a good time! 

Baby Shower with Table & Thyme

Save yourself the trouble of planning and book Table & Thyme as your baby shower caterer! 

Browse our grazing table gallery for a sneak peek of our magical grazing table displays and take a look at our convenient Graze Box selection to find the right fit for your event!

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If you found this guide to baby showers helpful, be sure to share it with friends and family. 

For more information on Table and Thyme, contact them today! Follow us on our social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest to see the other amazing events, lavishing grazing tables and beautiful graze boxes we have created.