Baby showers are parties thrown for friends that are pregnant. This practice has significantly changed over the course of the years and has steadily become more and more elaborate and planned.

Baby showers can make an expectant mother feel extra safe in the knowledge that her pals are all pulling for her and giving moral and financial support. Commonly the baby shower is organized by non-relatives.

Inviting the Guests
Who should you invite? Typically, the guest list will only include those nearest and dearest to the expectant mother. It wouldn’t hurt if she gets a first look at the guest list so that she can advise who should be invited. If you are setting up a surprise baby shower, you will have to do a little research on who should be attending instead of running the list past the expectant mother.

If the baby is not a firstborn, you might decide to keep the number of guests down to the closest to the mother. Firstborn baby showers are likely to have a larger guest list since it is, after all, the mother’s first time.

The thing to remember is that the nature of baby showers is closeness. So, for any baby shower celebration, try making the gathering one of intimate friends.

You could use informal ways to invite these guests: email, phone and others. Invitation cards and other letters are the best approach, however, as they provide a tangible, traceable confirmation of invitation. In addition, it is the most certain and formal way to invite a person – and in many cultures – the only way.

What About the Fella's
The nature of the party is doubtless going to tend towards the female side; if the organizers of the party have a provision for this, then inviting men would be fine. It also depends on the guys, since the party may dwell on matters such as pregnancy, kids, and further motherly topics, they might not be that excited to join up. All in all, it is dependent on the preference of the organizers.

Venue
Anywhere! As long as it can keep with the easygoing and enjoyable character of the occasion, any place would be fine. The more typical places on baby shower lists are backyards, formal halls, restaurants, and basically any space that has the facilities to make a baby shower successful. Just make sure the venue is not crowded and demanding to the mother-to-be. It also pays to make sure the venue is set long ahead of the actual baby shower happens.

When to Throw a Baby Shower
Generally this is one or two months before her due date. The baby shower is the perfect time to get your friend baby needs and things she might not have had time to purchase yet. It has to be well-timed though – not too near to the due date, and not to far as to whittle down the excitement.

Baby showers are a pleasing surprise to expecting mothers. It takes a lot of the worry of expecting a child off of their minds and offers a means for friends to confirm encouragement and concern (and of course, baby gifts) to expecting friends.

A properly coordinated baby shower will be really appreciated and forever remembered by mothers long after they have delivered their children.