Baby Shower Etiquette For a Second Or Third Child

There is no doubt that the birth of each child in a family is a special event regardless of birth order. Baby showers not only "shower" parents to be with the necessary items they will need, but they also provide a means for family and friends to celebrate the upcoming birth of this child.

While many rules for showers have been relaxed over the years there are a few that you may want to consider when planning a shower for the second or third child...

• Since this is a second or possibly third baby shower the guest list should be limited to close friends and family. If this is baby number 2 or 3, Aunt Gladys shouldn't be invited unless you see her frequently during the year. The exception is guests who were not invited to the first shower (i.e. new friends or co-workers or that cousin you reconnected with) may be invited to this one.


• Baby registries may not be available. Remember parents to be may not need all of the essentials. Host a diaper, pot luck or clothesline themed shower to ensure that parents to be get what they really need.


• Have games as ice breakers or to fill up time. If you are hosting a diaper themed shower all the guests know what mom to be received....diapers or wipes. You won't be spending 30-45 minutes watching her open gifts. Give your guests something to do. If you are having a casual shower there are board or card games that are appropriate for smaller showers. If you are having something more formal then perhaps baby advice cards would fit the bill. The general rule of thumb is 1 game for every 1-2 hours of a baby shower.


• Include siblings in the celebration. They may be taking on a new role in their life and that should be celebrated as well as the baby. A small gift for big brother or big sister would be a nice gesture.


• If there is a considerable age gap between the first and second child then the above rules don't necessarily apply and a full scale shower is appropriate. This is especially true if parents to be are now in need of all the essentials because what they had either is out of date or has been purged from the house for one reason or another. For example, were you aware that car seats have an expiration date of 5-6 years due to the plastic deteriorating? That car seat sitting in the attic or garage may in fact be unsafe for baby to use now resulting in mom and dad needing to buy a new one.

The rest is up to you. You determine if you're going to have a backyard bbq or a cocktail hour style shower with pink and blue drinks. As long as mom to be is comfortable and guests are having fun then you can call this baby shower a success!

Christina Crea is a leading expert in baby shower ideas and has written a number of articles related to baby gifts, baby shower favors, baby shower games and so on. Please visit Baby Shower Depot to read her other highly regarded articles or to view fun baby shower games or unique baby shower favors.

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