OK - Let's put it to a vote - 2nd showers (clicky)

ayram

[poll]

SeaMama

Not my style, but I didn't reallllly want a first shower either.... on the other hand, I hate that people feel they aren't allowed to shower a pregnant woman with love and affection and celebrate every baby.  I don't judge anybody who has another shower - I've been to a couple and they're wonderful affairs, just like for the first baby. 

kcisthebombdotcom

I think they're ridiculously tacky about 95% of the time, but there are exceptions to the rule. If it's just a sprinkle, those are fine. Also, if there's some extenuating circumstances, like someone got pregnant with surprise triplets, had another child 5+ years apart (especially if it's the DH's first child), circumstances prevented the mom from having a shower the first time around and they are in need, etc. then I'm not so bothered by it. As a general rule of thumb I think they are horrible etiquette, especially on this board. Asking people to shower you with more gifts when they just did a year or 2 ago is pretty ridiculous IMO. A shower is solely for the mom, not for the baby (considering they cant even witness the party!)

LJR 84

I think they're tacky. Showers are meant to shower the mother with gifts- not necessarily celebrate the baby. If friends and family want to celebrate the baby, that can be done once the baby is here! There's no rule out there against buying baby gifts for a new baby, I just find 2nd time showers tacky.

Telyco

For 2u2 they are tacky.

There are definitley circumstances that can make it less tacky - like a small diaper/meet the baby brunch or something after the baby is born.

If people want to give you things for the second baby - awesome! But I think it's tacky to invite people to a second shower. People just don't do that around here so it just seems so odd to me!

designer_wifey

I don't judge, because I know this is a regional thing too.  However, I'm not a fan of showers when there's only a few years between the children.  I also am not a fan of buying everything in the color of the gender, (I.e: pink car seat, pink stroller, etc for a girl and all boy colors for a boy).  This isn't meant to offend anyone by any means, but we purposely went GN on all the big items, so we could use them again.  We were Team Green for DS, but even if we'd know the gender, we still would've gone GN on these things, b/c we plan on keeping our kids close in age. 

I think sprinkles are more appropriate for pregnancies following #1 and that's only if someone offers to throw it, as opposed to expecting one. 

roundtheworldgirl

I voted "other."  I personally think they're a bit gauche, but I'm probably influenced by the norms where I am from.  I know they're the norm in some places.  So I guess it really depends on where you are.

StefB28

I think they're fine. If someone wants to throw a shower/sprinkle/brunch/whatever for you, then why shouldn't they? (Asking someone to throw you a shower is tacky no matter what baby it is.)

My kids are only going to be 14 months apart. I had two showers for DS and I have already had friends and family approach me about having showers for this baby. We think that this baby is a girl (they were 75% sure at the last ultrasound) and people are so excited to celebrate by throwing a shower.

If someone is invited to a shower and they think it's tacky, then they simply shouldn't go. No need to take away the fun from everyone else.

ETA: I had never even heard of a sprinkle until I started posting on TB (and think it's a silly name)-- call it whatever you want, but it's still a shower. And as far as the size and scale, the host of the party decides on how many people to invite & the guests decided what gifts to bring-- not the mother.

CrystalDaun

I think expecting a 2nd shower is tacky. However, I think that a surprise sprinkle is ok. My best friends told me we were all going to our fave thai place for lunch. They all met at my house since I'm in the middle and they brought gifts, carry out from our thai restaurant and cupcakes w/ blue frosting (since I was having a boy for # 2). It was so cute! However, there were only 6 of us total and we just sat around eating at my kitchen table and they each got a small gift, mainly an outfit or diapers. I think anything bigger is kind of tacky. So I'm not really even sure if that counts as a "sprinkle" or just awesome friends bringing lunch and gifts? LOL.I consider it a sprinkle 'cause they brought cupcakes. Ha!

JLSmith124

I agree they are tacky.

I do think they are useful if say you have had 3 boys in a row then got pregnant with a girl, or are having multiples the second time around.  

CA_EAM

I think they are tacky, but I am having one!!!  I just have to laugh at it really.  But the thing is this is the first girl (and probably only since everyone is done having kids now) in my in-laws family.  They are so excited, and everyone seemed to think I was nuts for NOT wanting a shower.  My MIL really wants to do something and she's been so wonderful to me, I want to indulge her.  However, it is just family, like a dozen people aunts, cousins type of thing, for a casual lunch.  I registered for a handful of things, but really only because I plan to buy those things myself and wanted the completion coupon.  There is no resgistry info that went out to guests.