Baby shower boot(ie) camp

Over 4 million babies are born in the U.S. each year.That means there’s a lot of baby shower planning going on!

If you’ve never hosted a baby shower, or if you’re a shower pro looking for some new ideas, these tips and ideas from the makers of mom to mom brand baby products will help you host the perfect party for the mom-to-be.

Recruit a Good Team

The shower hostess does not have to do everything. For some of you, this is worth repeating — the shower hostess does not have to do everything. Make the shower process more fun by enlisting friends to help. It will save you time and energy. Here are the types of tasks that can be divided among the team:

•Theme planning: Some people are great with ideas — have a brainstorming session to come up with the best theme for the party.

•Invitations: Introverts on your team can handle printed invitations or e-vites. The extroverts can track down missing RSVPs with a phone call.

•Decorations: Assign this task to whoever has the keenest sense of style. You won’t be sorry!

•Food: Have your foodie friends plan the menu. If catering is an option, let the organized foodies handle the arrangements. If you have good cooks and bakers on the team, turn them loose to work their magic.

•Clean-up: Everyone can pitch in, but it’s probably a good idea to have someone coordinate the effort. Trash, decoration tear-down, dishes clean-up, leftover packing and catering returns all need to be managed.

When and Where to Host

Showers are normally given a month or two before the mom’s due date. It gives her extra time to shop for items she needs but didn’t get at the shower. Some people have a welcoming shower a few weeks after the baby is born. This allows guests to bring gifts specifically for the baby, and it’s also a way to share the occasion with out-of-town relatives or friends who couldn’t make it to the shower.

Most often, showers are held in someone’s home, either inside or out in the yard. But this is your shower, so you can host it wherever you like. A favorite restaurant, a church room, a banquet hall or even a local park — all could be the ideal place for you and your guests.

Themes

Here are some idea starters for your shower theme:

Traditional:

•Décor: Pastel colors; cute animals; baby themed icons such as bottles, pacifiers and diapers. Diaper cakes are popular centerpieces. These are rolled up diapers tied together with ribbon and stacked up like a layer cake. They are then decorated with other baby necessities such as pacifiers, bottles, bibs, lotions and booties.

•Food: Appetizers, finger foods, cake and punch.

•Games: There are dozens of fun and silly shower games. Search online for games such as Don’t Say Baby and Diaper Bag Memory.

Personalized

Tailor the shower to reflect the parents’ personalities. Here are two ideas:

•Modern Mom: Is she a city girl with sleek, contemporary taste? Forget the frills and go with bold colors and modern designs. Serve contemporary favorites such as vegetable sushi, mocktails, grown-up cupcakes and frosting shots (delicious frosting served in shot glasses).

• Eco Parents: Go green with bamboo plates, cloth napkins and decorations made from recycled or reusable materials. Encourage guests to bring eco-friendly gifts wrapped in organic bedding and blankets mom can use later. Serve natural and locally produced foods.

Couples’ Shower: Including husbands and partners in the shower is a great way to let them share in the celebration. These kinds of showers are usually very casual gatherings where friends just enjoy each other’s company and some good food. It might be a fun surprise to have some dad survival gifts and a “Dad’s Cake” just like the tradition of having a groom’s cake at a wedding.

Basket Shower: All gifts should be brought in a nice basket or other fun container. Assign each guest a theme, such as books, toys, nursery, bath or diapers.

Adoption Shower: Celebrate the arrival of an adopted child with a Welcome to the Family party. If the child is from another country, choose food and décor that come from that place. Pass a journal around to guests and have them write notes to the child, welcoming him or her to the family or sharing thoughts about baby’s new family.

There are a lot of fun ways to help celebrate the arrival of a new baby. Get creative, get help and get planning — even a shower rookie can pull off a great party for an expectant friend.

All materials courtesy of mom to mom.