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Informal baby shower planning and etiquette
Filed under: Your Pregnancy
According to babycenter, anyone can throw a baby shower—although etiquette sticklers would vehemently disagree. Formal etiquette dictates that a non-relative throw the shower in order to avoid the appearance that the family is begging for gifts. Babycenter's advice is to ignore formal rules and suggests that anyone close to the mom-to-be, even a —gasp!—relative can host the celebration. In another break with tradition, the site also suggests hosting a shower for the expectant mom and dad. Although many baby showers still follow the "for women only" tradition, co-ed parties are gaining in popularity. Also, to Miss Manners' shock and horror, it seems showers are also fine for second and/or subsequent babies, and you don't even have to call it a "baby party." The site even advises inviting anyone who was, for whatever reason, not included in the first shower. But rules of etiquette aren't completely thrown out the window. In keeping with tradition, babycenter advises that if parents are registered for baby gifts, it is better, easier, (and more tasteful) to mention it to guests when they call to RSVP.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-18-2005 @ 6:39PM
meredith said...its places like babycenter and the like that make me despise "proper etiquette". my purse doesn't match my shoes. my shutters don't match my front door and trim. i also had a "baby barbeque" where my husband and i (gasp!) invited all of our friends and family.
but this also is from the couple that ran off to vegas to avoid an "etiquitte ridden" wedding and reception. we just ran away and had a party when we got home. the horrors.
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12-18-2005 @ 6:39PM
sarah gilbert said...i like living by the two "house rules" one of my friends was telling me about the other day: be safe, and be kind. it seems to me as if parties are kind, so my version of mom-etiquette agrees with all parties no matter who throws them or what birth order they represent. i love the fact that parties are not mandatory, and you don't have to bring a present. if you don't like the "etiquette" of a baby shower/baby party/whatever you want to call it - hey, don't go! or, most insidious, go and don't bring a gift (hee hee).
i think it's time the etiquette guides were re-written to reflect our reality - not everyone was born with a silver-plated country club membership.
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