Babyshowers?

excited1stimer

Hi ladies! I thought I would get the ball rolling on this discussion. I’m curious about how each of you are going about your baby showers. Do you plan to have an in-person one and if so, are there any extra safety precautions for covid you would be taking to keep baby, yourself and your guests safe? How do you/your hosts plan to have it - indoors or outdoors? Any idea yet on how many people you would invite? If you’re not planning on having one, I’d like to hear that side of it too. 

I feel like I’m on the fence about this so just thought I’d tap into this amazing group of Jan mammas to pick your brains about it.

For me personally, since it’s been a looooong road to get here and it’s our first baby, we would love to have one. In person. I’m just not sure how to go about making sure the event is safe for everyone.

would love your thoughts!!

Lisa3379

I'm most likely not having one, mostly because this is my third kid in 5 years and I really don't need one. Also the timing is kinda funny - I'd probably have it in November or something, and that just seems like a busy time for people, but if I do have something, I'd maybe have a few friends over for appetizers and drinks or something. I had a shower for my first kid, and I invited maybe 20-25 people? We also included the guys, because I felt like this was a celebration for me and my husband, and it made it more of a party, and not just about me, which made me more comfortable. 

I've been to a couple showers since Covid, and one was totally outdoors because she knew not everyone was going to be vaccinated (and it was in April, so the weather was nice anyway), and the other was indoor/outdoor, and I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people were vaccinated. I feel like if you're going to have one, and you're worried about Covid (I probably would be, to be honest) I'd ask people to wear masks if they aren't vaccinated, or have the thing totally outside, but I guess that depends on where you live. 

fifilala516

I would like to have one. I’m thinking it would be late October/early November so probably too cold to be outdoors. I’m hoping by then things calm down but I’m in NYC and knock wood, rates are low and the majority of people I know and would invite are vaccinated. 

magalina_h

I mentioned in my FFFC post today that I would like to have a get together/sprinkle with my MN family and friends since I didn't get one for my first. I think it really depends on the status of Covid and the Delta strain this fall. All of my MN peeps are vaccinated, so that doesn't worry me too much. I was 6 weeks early with my son, which is why I didn't get my shower, so if I do one, it would probably be in October. 

No one has offered to throw one for me yet, so we'll see what happens there. 

elksamm

I don’t think we’ll do a formal baby shower. We’ll see everyone around Christmas and that’ll be enough. If it were a different time of year I might do things differently.

kcf19

If this was my first baby I’d probably do a small baby shower outdoors in October? 

excited1stimer

@magalina_h: Yes, exactly - this delta strain is concerning for sure! 

excited1stimer

@Lisa3379: If at all we do go about it, will definitely be an outdoor event and yes, we always include the guys/hubbies/SOs with baby showers I’ve thrown in the past and make it more of a celebration/party than the traditional women sitting around opening gifts. In fact, we don’t open any gifts at the shower and just request all guests to send the gifts directly to the registry address.

beckylookatherbump

I probably won’t have a shower. My first was born in July and with COVID we obviously didn’t get a shower. I considered having one this time since we never really got this experience (and several people offered) but with a January baby there just isn’t a good time to schedule one. If we did have one I’d 100% have one inside. Everyone I would invite is vaccinated so I’m not super concerned. 

fifilala516

For anyone who has had a shower in the past/planning one, do you plan to do women only or co-ed? I first thought just women but feel bad for DH...it's his baby too!

Lisa3379

@fifilala516 We did a co-ed one, and it wasn't super baby-centric (or me-centric), which was awesome - I don't like all the attention on me. We just had food and drinks and visited, opened gifts, no games. Low key. 

fifilala516

@Lisa3379 That is kind of what we were thinking. We moved into our place in October and never had a housewarming, so now we are thinking of doing more of a joint event/casual thing. I’m worried some people will think it’s tacky though…

relizabethp

@fifilala516 i did woman only baby shower- I asked DH if he wanted a co-ed event for our DD and he had no interest in doing/being at anything like a baby shower! We did throw a party in the same week that we found out the sex of our daughter so we did a low key gender reveal at that party- we put out pink balloons and we had ultrasound pictures hanging next to a sign that said ‘it’s a girl’- that was DHs idea and it made him happy. 

I had a lovely baby shower with my daughter- I rented a space at a restaurant, put together a brunch menu and did an open bar - it was football season so we had the game on! It was perfect, no games, I opened presents at home- it was more of a party than a shower! I think for this guy I will do something similar or a little bit more low key, not sure just yet! 

rachel0428

I’m hoping to have a shower likely in October with family and friends in Minnesota when I’ll be back for another event (esp since it’s my first as well). Likely will be indoors given the weather and I think everyone will be vaccinated.. but will see how things go w infection rates this fall so this may change as well. 

magalina_h

@rachel0428 what part of MN? I'm from Minneapolis!

pedsoncrn461

I would like to have one but have moved so much in the last few years that family and friends are super spread out. A friend of ours did a virtual shower during the height of Covid so maybe I will do that (they sent packets ahead of time with games that could be done over zoom and the link to the zoom meeting, we all logged on for the party, played the games, and watched them open gifts).