A baby shower is a party in which expectant parents receive gifts or money for their expected child. By convention, the shower is intended to help parents get things that they need for their baby (such as basic layette items), especially items they may not be able to afford. It is a fairly recent tradition in the United States and in other cultures influenced by American culture or media.
The shower has been stated by many sources to have originated in the late eighteen hundreds and received its name from the "showering" of love and gifts for the mommy-to-be. It started as a tea party for only women who would share the day with the mommy-to-be and her female family members. The gifts given to the new mom were very practical in nature as well as handmade.
A shower was originally offered for the first baby of the mommy-to-be but that tradition has changed to being for all "new additions" to a family since they are all miracles and deserve to be showered with love and gifts. Typically, the shower is thrown in an afternoon time on a weekend when everyone can attend. The person throwing the shower is usually a family member (cousin, aunt, etc.) or close family friend. Originally, one shower would be thrown for a mommy-to-be, but today many women have more than one party because they have different groups of friends, co-workers and family members.
A shower party can range from very elegant to very causal, depending on the mood you would like to set! They can take place at a restaurant, bar, country club or someone's home and usually don't take place for more than a few hours. It is customary for the mommy-to-be to receive baby shower gifts from her guests as well as give gifts out to the women who plan the baby shower.
Holding showers for expectant parents have become more common in the past few decades, as families have become smaller and each child gets more individual attention. Though they are traditionally only held for the first child, they can also be arranged for subsequent children and for children who have been adopted. It is common for the host to provide baby-themed games during the shower. In some regions, shower favors (small gifts for the guests) are common.
Not all Americans hold baby showers. For example, in Jewish tradition, nothing may be bought for the baby before it is born. But many American Jews today do not subscribe to that tradition. Many Italian-Americans also do not hold showers for their babies.
Other terms
"Daddy's shower" refers to a men-only shower for the dad-to-be.
"Grandma's shower" refers to a shower at which people bring items for the grandparents to keep at their house, such as a collapsible crib and a changing pad.
A "diaper shower" or a "baby sprinkle" refers to a small-scale shower, generally for subsequent children, when the parents don't need as many items.
DayCelebration Articles
A Baby Shower | Cake Recipe | Shower Centerpiece Ideas | Shower Cupcakes Recipe | Shower Decoration Ideas | Shower/Party Favor Ideas | Baby Footprint Invitation | Shower/Party Games | Gift Ideas | Shower/Party Themes | Shower Invitation | Invitation Wording | Party Favor Ideas | Poems for the Baby | Shower Theme Ideas | Free Shower Games | Free Shower Invitations | Free Printables | Free Printable Shower Games | Free Printable Shower Invitations
Mini Diaper Cake Centerpieces
