Throwing a baby shower for a pregnant friend? Follow our money-savvy tips to make it a huge success
What better way to celebrate the imminent arrival of a new baby than with cake, party food, games and lots of cute gifts?
As well as being a fun get-together with family members and close friends, a baby shower is a lovely way to make your pregnant friend feel special. There’s no need to be extravagant – with our guide you can keep costs low, but spirits high!
When should I hold a baby shower?
Don’t wait too long as baby could arrive earlier than expected and disrupt your plans. Four to six weeks before her due date is ideal but check in with your friend and find out when suits her best. If you’re throwing a shower for a pregnant colleague, just before she leaves for her maternity leave is a good time.
Don’t forget, mum-to-be won’t be able to drink, so baby showers don’t tend to be boozy affairs. A tea party with a bunch of friends is a good choice. Your friend probably won’t want a late night, so lunch time or afternoon usually works best.
What’s the best venue for a baby shower?
Hosting at your own home gives you a chance to get everything perfectly ready before the special guest arrives.
Alternatively, your mum-to-be may be happy to have the get-together at her place. It means she won’t have to think about getting to and from the venue, or work out how to bring gifts home. Just make sure that you don’t leave her with the clearing up to do!
If someone’s house is not an option, a local café could work nicely, especially if there’s a semi-private area you can take over to decorate in advance.
In summer, how about a relaxed picnic in the park? Everyone can pitch in and bring something, and you can spread out blankets and cushions to lounge on. Bear in mind that the British weather may have other ideas…
Food and drink ideas for a baby shower
A formal sit-down lunch is nice but probably better if you are at a restaurant, which could be pricey. A buffet is easier and more social, or stick to canapés and party food for a laid-back feel.
Afternoon tea is our favourite and means that guests can help keep costs down by bringing a dish each, like a tray of sandwiches, crisps, dips, fruit and such like. At Asda, you’ll find a tempting choice of cakes and biscuits to suit both your celebration and your budget.
Don’t forget the cake!
A party isn’t a party without a cake, so have a go at making a special pregnancy or baby-themed one, like a baby bump or a baby’s dummy. Or save the stress and get a cake here instead!
Our fizzy drink range includes some sparkling non-alcoholic juices which feel a little special.
Baby shower games
Everyone loves a party game, so organise a few baby or mum-to-be themed games ready for your guests:
Gather some newborn nappies and baby dolls or teddies and race each other to put the nappies on.
Try a quick-fire round of ‘how well do you know the mum-to-be?’ Get her own mum to give some fun stories and facts from when she was a child and base your questions around that.
Ask all your guests to bring a baby photo of themselves along. Stick them on a board and the guests can guess who each one is.
Make a box for baby names and get all your guests to write down their top choices. Ask the mum-to-be to read them out and see what she thinks!
Baby shower gifts
New mums and babies need a lot of stuff, so you could ask your friend what she wants and compile a gift list and include the list with the invitation. Remember we’re in a cost-of-living crisis and money is tight for all of us. At Asda, there are so many cute baby buys that can be both beautiful and practical, like the adorable little outfits in our newborn baby range from George.
Alternatively put together a gift box of baby essentials, from nappies and wipes to muslins and dummies. She’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Share baby stories and nostalgia
Getting together with all your favourite women is a good opportunity for everyone to chat about their own birth and baby experiences – your special guest’s mum may even want to share her own personal stories with the group. There are bound to be lots of fun tales to make everyone laugh and maybe even cry a bit.
Make it fun with a special theme
Baby showers are all about celebrating a new arrival, so think of a few individual touches to make your event extra special, like personalised invitations, a theme close to your guest of honour’s heart, and an appealing colour scheme with matching balloons, bunting and table decorations.
Whatever you do, your mum-to-be will undoubtedly appreciate the gesture and the effort you’ve made to celebrate her pregnancy, and she’ll love that you brought all her friends together to wish her well on the next chapter of her life.
Baby shower checklist
Get organised for your friend’s upcoming baby shower with our planner.
10 weeks before
Pick a venue – you can host a baby shower at your home, your friend’s house, a local coffee shop or restaurant
Prepare a guest list – don’t forget mum-to-be’s friends, family members and work colleagues she’s close to
Set a budget – are you paying for it or are friends and family contributing?
Choose a date and time – usually 1 or 2 months before the due date
Send out save-the-dates – get the date saved in everyone’s calendar 6 weeks before
Pick a theme – baby showers can be themed around the mum-to-be’s interests
Send out invitations – include an RSVP deadline and gift list details if required
Choose decorations and/or flowers – these will complement your theme; you can also consider goody bags for all the guests
Plan the menu – a buffet or afternoon tea is a great choice for a crowd; if you’re eating out try and get everyone to confirm their menu choices
1 month before
Ensure you have enough chairs – you’ll need plenty of seating for all your guests
Plan baby shower games – plan the games you’ll be playing and get all the materials ready for the big day
Contact anyone who has RSVP’d – confirm plans with all of your guests
1 week before
Buy or make the cake – cupcakes and posh biscuits are also a must
Make up goody bags and assemble prizes – put together all of your goody bags, and have prizes ready for game winners
Prepare food in advance – where possible, prepare as much freezable food as possible and buy non-perishables
1 day before
Decorate the party space – set the tables, decorate, arrange flowers, prizes and games
On party day
Get the food and drinks ready and have a fabulous time!
