All things Baby Shower....

[Bluedaisy]

Hi Ladies,

Since we seem to be from one end of the country to the other I thought it might be interesting to talk about what's the norm in baby showers where you are.  

Where I'm from we generally have showers after baby is born so it's more of a sip n see or meet the baby party (they are usually only held before baby is born if the mother really can't afford to buy the basics and it's seen as bad luck) and it's very common to have a "shower" for each baby.  That being said the gifts tend to be small things, cute outfits, toys, etc.

I'd never heard of a Baby Registry until I was browsing the place that shall not be named.  It's just not done here.  I'd also never heard of diaper raffles, card instead of books, etc.



So let's hear it! What are showers like in your area?

[Deleted]

Everything in OP except we have registries here.

[momofcatan]

No showers here, but by here I mean specifically my religious community. Everyone else in my geographic area does showers and registries. We did a small registry of mostly big ticket items because we knew some family and friends would want to buy for us after the baby was born. Didn't advertise it, but our parents passed along the info to anyone who asked what we needed.

[sympkin]

Showers, yes, registries, generally. Usually done before baby arrives, sometimes after.

It is definitely more accepted to give off registry for a baby shower than it is for example, a wedding. Less formal.

[tiffbot]

Everything you said OP. I live in a very very small town and everyone knows each other here and the surrounding area. So we didn't even really have anything "official" once baby was born, people just brought us over gifts whenever they wanted. I guess invited my extended family over for an afternoon to meet him, and H's work throws a "meet the baby" for every baby no matter what number it is, so if any of his staff wants to do gifts they do it then. It was combined with their start of the school year party, so super casual.
Our friend's actually threw us a surprise "you're having a baby party" before he was born, but it was more just for fun and there was drinking and just a regular friend get together, and they just brought us gifts haha. Which was perfect, getting everyone together and having fun.

[Deleted]

We have baby showers here in NS, but it isn't a big dinner or anything like that.
It is typical to have the shower before baby, and have it in a family members home or a church hall/lions club hall. Some people will have the shower after baby though, so it isn't unheard of to do it that way.

[headisbest]

Baby showers prior to the birth of the baby are very normal in Ontario. Typically it is done 1-2 months prior to your due date around here. Registries are quite the normal. The books instead of cards is a newer trend but that is typically decided upon based on the person who is throwing the shower (usually close friend or family member). Subsequent baby showers for second/third/fourth etc babies is not usually done and is considered tacky and may get side eyed.

The shower itself is usually a mid afternoon event. There is usually finger foods/sandwiches offered to guests but I have been to BBQ showers instead that were co-ed.

[Bluedaisy]

Feb 11, 2015 8:36:20 GMT -5 headisbest said:

Baby showers prior to the birth of the baby are very normal in Ontario. Typically it is done 1-2 months prior to your due date around here. Registries are quite the normal. The books instead of cards is a newer trend but that is typically decided upon based on the person who is throwing the shower (usually close friend or family member). Subsequent baby showers for second/third/fourth etc babies is not usually done and is considered tacky and may get side eyed.

The shower itself is usually a mid afternoon event. There is usually finger foods/sandwiches offered to guests but I have been to BBQ showers instead that were co-ed.

DH is from Ontario and before I'd met him I really hadn't known people who had showers before baby is born.  Now that we are expecting our first his whole family seems very confused by the fact that the shower will be after the baby is born (I'm from B.C. as are the people planning the shower).

[heavenwhip]

I had my 'baby shower' after my daughter was born, it was more of a meet and greet than a shower. But I have been to lots of baby showers that were held before baby was born. I live in Alberta which is a bit of a provincial melting pot, so I think we run the gamut of what's 'normal'.

[funhaven]

I live in a "big city" in Ontario, everyone has a registry for their Baby Shower and like headisbest said, they are done 1-2 months before baby's due date. It is common for MTB mother to host the shower as well. Showers are typically at 1-2pm and last for a few hours. I have seen the book instead of card thing a few times, never seen a diaper raffle but I am sure its common too. I have also been to a few co-ed showers which I actually liked, made it seem more like a party, and IMO baby is both mom AND dads, I like the switch to more modern baby showers rather than the pure baby pink - baby blue, chocolate on diapers days of the past

[Bluedaisy]

Where I'm from the MTB definitely does not host the shower, it's even really frowned on for it to be in her house. I remember once my friend was hosting her own and my mom was horrified that I would go.

[funhaven]

Feb 13, 2015 8:53:32 GMT -5 Bluedaisy said:

Where I'm from the MTB definitely does not host the shower, it's even really frowned on for it to be in her house. I remember once my friend was hosting her own and my mom was horrified that I would go.

oh i think my post was  unclear, i mean the mother of the "mother to be" so the grandma.

[blush]

Feb 11, 2015 8:36:20 GMT -5 headisbest said:

Baby showers prior to the birth of the baby are very normal in Ontario. Typically it is done 1-2 months prior to your due date around here. Registries are quite the normal. The books instead of cards is a newer trend but that is typically decided upon based on the person who is throwing the shower (usually close friend or family member). Subsequent baby showers for second/third/fourth etc babies is not usually done and is considered tacky and may get side eyed.

The shower itself is usually a mid afternoon event. There is usually finger foods/sandwiches offered to guests but I have been to BBQ showers instead that were co-ed.

I am also from Ontario. Ontario is a big place so I guess it is normal to have a lot of different ideas. My family is from Toronto on both sides but were from eastern Canada if you go back further. (also on both sides oddly enough)

The book for a card thing has been around a while but most of the people I know find it tacky. (including me)Same with diaper raffles and things like that.

Subsequent baby showers are more of a depends on who it is thing. My family has always done them within the family. (since before my grandmother and well before Miss Manners was writing anything) I have also met many others who do them. However, I also know people who consider showers to be cake and punch sort of things. A shower would never be thrown by the mother to be, ever. Registries are sometimes done, sometimes not.

Our showers usually start in the afternoon but there is no end time. There is a lot of food, a lot. There are drinks and everyone stays for hours. Near the end men will sometimes show up, if they don't they usually get a plate of food brought home to them. They are basically big parties of food and family, with presents. 

[Ray]

Feb 11, 2015 8:36:20 GMT -5 headisbest said:

Baby showers prior to the birth of the baby are very normal in Ontario. Typically it is done 1-2 months prior to your due date around here. Registries are quite the normal. The books instead of cards is a newer trend but that is typically decided upon based on the person who is throwing the shower (usually close friend or family member). Subsequent baby showers for second/third/fourth etc babies is not usually done and is considered tacky and may get side eyed.

The shower itself is usually a mid afternoon event. There is usually finger foods/sandwiches offered to guests but I have been to BBQ showers instead that were co-ed.

This. I'm in rural Ontario.

[Bluedaisy]

Where I grew up babies showers are always after baby is born and that's what my family is doing...throwing my shower after. But where I live now they can be either and my friends/co-workers have decided to throw one for me before baby is born so now I'm having one before baby is born and one after.

[amandamh2]

Growing up in rural Manitoba, baby showers were almost always done after the baby was born. People usually make a registry, but guests often just buy what they want. Baby showers are kind of a chance for people to meet the baby, socialize, and bring a present all at once. My parents and in-laws have each claimed one of the big items off our registry which they plan to buy before baby's arrival and we're taking care of all the other basics ourselves since we'll have a shower with our friends back home after baby is born.
The first baby shower I went to where it was held before baby was born was after I moved to Ontario.