Baby Shower?

[hmr11913]

Good Morning Lovely Ladies.... so yesterday my mom & SIL were asking about when I'd want to have my baby shower. (I can't even believe that we're talking about this! Eeee!) When is a good time to have it ---- 1, 2, 3 months before hand?? We are due July 5th, so I was thinking maybe the beginning of May, that way I could have everything ready and/or put together/washed by the time the baby comes. What do you think? Also, how far in advance do you send out baby shower invites?? 

[chimomma19]

***lurking***


We actually did my best friends' shower a month before. I don't think this is traditional but even with that she had plenty of time to get ready for the little bambino. She delivered in May, so we kinda wanted to do it when it was warmer outside. We sent invites a month in advance, but gave out of state travelers a call maybe two months in advance so they knew to get their flights.

[smagglebit]

I've heard a lot of people say that around 30ish weeks or so is a good time to do it. That way you're not so big you're uncomfortable and can still enjoy the party, and it still gives you plenty of time to get things ready before baby arrives. And I agree with PP, you probably want to send out invites about a month beforehand. And congrats! I'll be thinking about my own pretty soon too, and it still feels so unreal!

[hmr11913]

Thanks ladies! We'll probably shoot for early-mid May.... for our bridal shower we had 2 because we live about 3-4 hours from most of DH's family, so we had one where we live with our friends and most of my family; then had another one down south where most of his family is, so I'm thinking we'll probably do the same for the baby shower.

That's a good point about having it a little earlier so you're not too big and uncomfortable, especially since it could be really hot out!!

[downtheshore]

Mine is going to be when I'm 34 weeks. I cannot wait! I guess that's on the later side but I should still have plenty of time to prepare after the shower. One good thing is that having it later is keeping me from buying every cute little girl outfit in the world because I know I should wait to see what I get.

[heathersf11]

I have moved several times in recent years, so will be traveling to my home town for my baby shower. I decided I didn't want to do it any later that thirty one weeks, in case I wouldn't be up for the five hour drive.

[flippinchica]

It is early to think about for me but my sister already asked about throwing one. I am due mid august so we are thinking about late June which ends up being 33-34 weeks.

[grailseeker14]

Oh the stories I can tell about timing...
When I threw a shower for my SIL, I was aiming for around 30 weeks, but the "powers that be" (SIL, MIL, SIL's other sister-in-law on the other side, and her MIL) all procrastinated even discussing it, and we ended up scheduling it for 38w because it worked best for the nephew's visitation weekend with his dad. She ended up delivering at 37w, so she had no time to prepare with the things she ended up receiving, and she was adjusting to life with a newborn again at the same time that everyone descended upon them for a shower. It was definitely less than ideal.

For me, my mom was aiming also for about 30w (which would be this week) but none of the people she asked to help got back to her with a date, my BFF is in Mexico until later this month and there was some drama with SIL about my mom suggesting a date that was near SIL's daughter's first birthday party (which she had told NO ONE on our side of the family about AND is 2 full weeks AFTER the kid's actual birthday... ), so my mom picked Pi Day to do ours... because we're geeky and the timing worked fine for us. I'll be about 34 weeks.

My mom finalized invites this weekend so will probably be getting them out in the mail this week, a little over a month in advance. If there are any people traveling to yours, you'd probably want to give them more time to plan. For us, no one is really coming from out of town (made no sense to us to have people travel for a party... travel later when it's time to meet the baby!) so a month or so in advance is probably fine for invites to go out.

[amanda33758]

I just had mine yesterday at 34 weeks. For me that feels like a good time, I have enough little things to do to get ready but not an overwhelming amount.

[lyndz333]

With my first, we were due on August 17th and we had our shower on the 23rd of June. About two months before our dat.e. Have fun!!

[mpiemont]

I think 6 weeks or so before your due date is a good time. Mine with DS1 was the 1st weekend of March and I was due 4/15. I was still feeling good and not too uncomfortable and had enough time to send thank you notes and get organized with all the stuff we received.

[jthomp]

I was 29 weeks for my first one because I was told I could not travel after 32 weeks and then we had to plan around the holidays. For my second shower (same baby), it was in the town I live in and we still had to plan around the holidays so I was 35 weeks. Both showers were great time for me, as I am currently 39 weeks and have everything ready to go. I would let the hostess pick a date that works for her, but I think 32-36 weeks pregnant would be great.

[mrskblack11]

I will be 31 weeks at mine. I told my hostesses anytime in April would be good and they picked a date that worked for them. Not sure when they are sending out invites, but they haven't asked me for input on a guest list yet so I have no clue!

[meredithcarole]

Lurking*

I am throwing one for my BFF at the end of the month. She will be 35 weeks (it's a little later than I intended, but I had to work around her close friend from college who is a surprise guest). I sent out invites 2 1/2 weeks ago - and have gotten RSVPs from like 10% of the invitees (grrrr).

[hmr11913]

@feegan, NEXT MONTH.... EEEEEEEEE, so exciting!

[backstreetpixie]

My situation is different because all my family and friends live in TX and I love in CO. So even though I am due in April we had ours at the beginning of January because I was still in town after Christmas. But I am so happy we did because I am so out of breath now and unable to walk around much I know a 12 hour drive home for a shower wouldn't happen. My MIL is planning a virtual baby shower for the end of this month. Basically everyone will buy gifts and have them sent to my house. Then on the day of the shower all the people go to her house and we will do a video chat in which I will open all the packages. My advice though, do it when you will have time to still go get things people don't get you that you need. I still have so many things I didn't get because everyone wants to give a blanket and bibs! So many bibs... And i know people who only got clothes! So give yourself time to go get what you need that people don't get ya.

[hmr11913]

backstreetpixie, Great advice.... thanks hun! I'm due 3 months after you and I'm already starting to notice that I'm getting short of breath more quickly... I can't imagine how much quicker I'll be getting out of breath. WHEW!

[grailseeker14]

It feels weird to me but, like backstreetpixie, my mom planned our shower to be be an online/virtual shower since aside from my immediate family EVERYONE we know lives out of state --- MH's entire family and 99% of our friends live farther away and are scattered all over the country. To make it more interactive and less gift-grabby only the plan is to do several online games with prizes and activities to encourage interaction between everyone who wants to participate and to make it more about connecting than just gifts. I did something like that for my SIL and it ended up being a lot of fun, people seemed to enjoy being able to play along and participate since they wouldn't have been able to travel to an in-person shower. The only challenge was figuring out how to include baby's great-grandparents who are definitely not comfortable online.

[meagpt22]

Lurking..because of family vacations and my work schedule I had mine about 2 months before I was due. It was on the earlier side but gave me some time to slowly get the must haves that I didn't get at the shower. I don't think there is a right or wrong time..it's just when it works for you and the host. When I've done bridal showers invites went out a month before RSVPs were due.

[Deleted]

I was 36 weeks at my shower. It was on the late side due to the timing of holidays and another friend's shower. I was pretty stressed leading up to it knowing that there may not be that much time btwn shower and baby. Not to mention that it was tough finding energy to wash an organize everything at 37 weeks. I would definately recommend 34 weeks or before