Guide To Throwing The Ultimate Baby Shower in 2024

Planning a baby shower is a lot like planning a birthday party. You're probably planning it for someone else, and you want to make sure it's perfect for the expecting parents.

There are a lot of things to think about when planning a baby shower and it can be a little overwhelming. Even though it can be stressful, it can also be super fun, and the payoff of smiling faces at the end makes it all worth it.

As a local Winnipeg party store, we’ve seen and helped countless people throw the perfect baby shower for their family and friends. With this experience, we've put together the ultimate guide to help you plan the perfect baby shower.

Start With The Basics

To start, you want to figure out where to have the baby shower. At your own home or maybe at the expecting parent's family member's or friend's home? Will the weather be nice enough to have it outside at a park or maybe you want to rent a venue? If you’re looking to host it outside of a home, we recommend checking out this list of Winnipeg venues.

While looking at locations, be sure to consider how many people you want to invite and who. This is something you should consider discussing with the expecting parents since it's for them, and you don't want to invite someone that is not wanted. 

Do this far enough in advance so that people can book it off work (if they have to) and to work it into their schedules. We also suggest starting a group chat with all the possible attendees. It’s a great way to keep all info in one place that everyone can access. 

Pick A Theme for the Baby Shower

After you've finished deciding on a location and sending out the invites, it's time for the fun part - planning the baby shower! It's easier to search for decor and come up with ideas for games and food when you have a theme picked out.

Do the expecting parents have a favourite show like The Office? We've seen a lot of The Office themed baby showers recently. Maybe they want to go with a seasonal theme like "winter wonderland" or a "fabulous fall". Whatever you choose, make sure it won't be too hard to find decor to match!

Top Baby Shower Themes In 2024:

• Floral Baby: The perfect theme for celebrating the blooming joy of motherhood! From an adorable floral diaper centerpiece to a pink and gold backdrop, adorned with flowers, you will be surrounded by the beauty of nature and the promise of new life. 

• “Oh Baby” Gold, Pink & Blue: A touch of elegance and a sprinkle of joy for your baby shower celebration! Our collection features white and gold baby shower items, adorned with colourful polka dots that add a whimsical twist. 

• Superhero Baby: Celebrate the baby's arrival as the newest superhero in town. Incorporate popular superhero motifs and colours.

• Gender-Neutral Themes: Many parents are opting for gender-neutral baby showers, focusing on colours like mint green, yellow, or grey. This theme promotes inclusivity and flexibility.

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: A starry theme with celestial elements and a colour palette of blues, silvers, and golds is both enchanting and timeless.

• Garden Tea Party: Host an elegant tea party with floral arrangements, vintage teacups, and an assortment of teas and treats.

• Rainbow Baby: A rainbow-themed baby shower symbolizes hope and joy after a storm. It's a heartwarming theme with vibrant colours.

Food And Snacks

Let's be honest. Food is the number one thing people look forward to at a party. When throwing a baby shower, ask the expecting parent's what their favourite foods and snacks are. You will also want to reach out to the attendees and ask about any possible allergies. 

You can also do foods that match the decor and colour theme. Or if it works for the group you're inviting, maybe do a potluck! But still have other food's and baking prepared if you go that route.

Baby Shower Food And Snack Tips 

• Dress up the table with proper dinnerware that matches the baby shower theme. There are so many fun plates, cups, utensils, napkins, linens, etc. to choose from! 

• If you don't want disposable plates/cutlery and don't have enough of your own supplies, rent dinnerware instead.

• Cupcakes and doughnuts are better to offer than cake. Finger food is easier for the guests to eat and it's less of a clean-up for you. 

• If you don’t want to worry about the food all, Winnipeg has plenty of catering options for any group size! We understand that not everyone has the time to prepare and plan out meals, so here is a list of the best catering options that Winnipeg has to offer. 

Baby Shower Games

The one thing every baby shower needs is fun games. You can buy fun little games from us, your local party store, or you can make your own! Ask the guests to bring a baby picture of themselves and have everyone try to guess who's who! You could bob for apples, but instead of apples you can use pacifiers. Do a baby shower bingo, or have everyone decorate white onesies with fabric markers. There are so many fun options!

Fun Baby Shower Games:

• Baby Shower Bead Game: Whatever you do, don’t say baby! Each guest receives a beaded necklace when they arrive. If someone says “baby”, the person who calls them out, steals their necklace. The person at the end of the baby shower with the most beaded necklaces, wins! 

• Baby Shower Purse Game: For this game, everyone gets a print out of different items they could have in their purse. Whoever checks off the most items, wins the game. Some items are worth more though, like a rock compared to nail polish. This one is especially fun for other moms, as you never know what you have in your purse!

• Baby Shower 2-In-1 Word Game: This game comes with not one, but two games! One is a word search filled with tons of baby-related words. The other is a list of 24 words that you need to unscramble. Who will finish their cards first?

Add A Personal Touch

Remember that this party isn't just for the coming baby, it's also for the parents! Be sure to include some of their favourite things and consider them when planning the shower from start to finish. Buy their favourite flowers, prepare some of their favourite foods, and play the music they like!

Baby Shower FAQs from A Local, Winnipeg Party Store 

Q: When is the best time to host a baby shower?

A: We have found that the best time to host a baby shower, is around 28-32 weeks into the pregnancy, which would be the second trimester

Q: Who should host the baby shower? A friend, family member, or the mother?

A: Traditionally, a family member or close friends would be the one to put together and host the baby shower, on behalf of the mother. However, the parents can also host it. 

Q: Do people host virtual baby showers now?

A: For sure! This option has rised in popularity in recent years. This is a great option for those you can’t attend or are not comfortable with a big group setting.

Q: Is it ok for men to attend a baby shower?

A: Back in the day, it was less common for a man to attend a baby shower but modern day, this is quite common and even welcome. The more the merrier!

Q: Do you have to have games at a baby shower?

A: While it’s totally up to the host and the parents, as a Winnipeg party store, we believe games are one of the best parts of a baby shower. They add both fun and excitement to the shower. However, it totally depends on the shower you want!

Q: As the host, how can I make the event memorable for the mom or parents-to-be?

A: Remember that the focus is on both the baby and the parents. Be sure to personalize the experience, especially for the mom, based on their likes and interests! 

No matter what you come up with, we're sure you'll throw the perfect party! Remember, above all else, to have fun with it. It will surely be a baby shower to remember!