are 2nd baby showers tacky?

liznco

i was just wondering what your ops are on this? my mom and sil say they want to throw me one but ive always had mixed feelings about this. i told them id be on board if its a boy this time just for clothes sake really and maybe a few things that i have that are pink but i pretty much have everything i need since i purposely bought and registered for gender neutral big items so i could use them in the future. but bottles, clothes and little things would be nice to not have to buy of course.

another option i thought was cute (just for having a party's sake) that ive seen becoming sort of popular is having a gender reveal party! but i would just invite close family and friends.... its kind of early to think about this but we were just talking about it yesterday so i thought id ask TIA!!

colaquez23

I think every baby deserves to be celebrated.. it doesn't need to be huge but Im for it

lindsayanne14

I posted a similar question the other day about a "baby sprinkle" I was invited to for a 2nd baby.  Just a small gathering of family and friends, no registry and guests bringing important things for any baby (no matter the number).  I thought it was a cute way to celebrate the new baby!

KatieKim0815

UO I'm sure we're doing on. My MIL lived elsewhere for my first and we have a new step family. It's important to me to celebrate it with them. 

I don't know if I'm going to register. I mean there are quite a few things I'll need but I'm prepared to buy themself. However, I'm wondering if not doing a registry is worse for the guests who may want guidance? 

lau1021

Not at all! I have been to plenty of them!! They usually call them "sprinkles." Sometimes they are not as eleborate as the first shower and I have seen some ladies not even register. It's your call though! I say go for it! Celebrate the new baby!

kbow213

There's a whole section of TB for this, it's called "Baby Showers" and found on the left hand side in the loooong list of boards. I was reading some of their posts yesterday, and it seems like the second time around they call it a "Sprinkle" since it's a much smaller version of a "Shower" - GL!

mjs_pmk

I am not a fan of showers for second babies unless there is special circumstances (like my friend having twins next month).

One of my friends had a meet the baby party about a month after her 2nd daughter was born. They told people not to bring gifts, but quite a few of them did anyway.

egingras

colaquez23:

I think every baby deserves to be celebrated.. it doesn't need to be huge but Im for it

 

This.

jelly0822

IMHO, I'm kinda against things like that if the babies are closer together than five years. It takes on a feeling of being all about the mom and not about celebrating a baby. I've been to a few, and they're kinda annoying because the parents obviously already have things for the babies, but they just want more.

Also, IMHO, I don't believe in gender assigning by color, so we don't plan on telling anyone the gender until the last minute so we don't get pink dresses or blue overalls.

But if your family wants to throw you a party to celebrate, and make it not necessarily a shower, then I'd go for it! Who doesn't love a party? 

WiscoMom67

2nd showers are conisdered tacky by many.  Some give exceptions for opposite gender, and a few think they're fine no matter what.  The gender reveal party would be neat, but keep in mind that you wouldn't get any gender specific clothing if you're not sharing the gender until the party!

I am considering having a "meet the baby" party a week or so after the baby is born.  In my mind, that makes gifts more optional AND gives a chance for everyone to see your adorable newborn.  It would also eliminate (hopefully) some of the random drop-by visits in the first few weeks.  It's nice to have company, but in all honesty, sometimes you just need some peace and quiet with your baby, too!

Just a thought... 

liznco

yeah i was over there reading them a little while ago just thought id ask over here(they didnt seem to like it over there) but the baby sprinkle sounds so cute ive never that one before!

 

KikiCohen

lau1021:

Not at all! I have been to plenty of them!! They usually call them "sprinkles." Sometimes they are not as eleborate as the first shower and I have seen some ladies not even register. It's your call though! I say go for it! Celebrate the new baby!

This.

gsalyer06

mjs_pmk:

I am not a fan of showers for second babies unless there is special circumstances (like my friend having twins next month).

One of my friends had a meet the baby party about a month after her 2nd daughter was born. They told people not to bring gifts, but quite a few of them did anyway.

This. I think a "meet the baby" party is the way to go. That way, people can see your little one, but aren't pressured into buying a gift.

ndolehan

colaquez23:

I think every baby deserves to be celebrated.. it doesn't need to be huge but Im for it

yes! This! 

If you're still not sure, you can do the "meet the baby" party someone else suggested! 

cjdottie

You I think its really a personal choice.  Personally I think there are times they are okay.. But for the most part I dont like them.  If someone offers.. Great!  Do it..  But I personally like it when people ask for them.

I also think its okay if children are far apart in age..  or if you have a smaller one for a different gender..

But I would never ask for one or expect it.

ckkgb2001

Every single baby deserves a celebration! Granted for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th I won't bring as big of a gift but I will be thrilled to go! Typically I tend to buy an outfit for the newest baby!

bsn1752

egingras:

colaquez23:

I think every baby deserves to be celebrated.. it doesn't need to be huge but Im for it

 

This.

I agree with this as well.

Celebrate your baby!

+Jasha+

We will not be doing another shower nor registering anywhere.  But I am debating on doing a "meet the baby" type event a month or so after the baby is here. 
As far as the sprinkle I think it depends on your circle of family and friends as to whether or not it's acceptable.  If they insist they throw you a 'sprinkle' and you decline you risk hurting their feelings.  But if they throw one for you and you aren't comfortable with it - neither will anyone at the party. 

pamiva1

I do not understand all of the concern about having a second baby shower. Showers do not have to be about gifts -- they can, and should, be celebrating the new baby that's about to come into the world. I don't think I'd register for a second shower, either. But, I'm definitly in favor of parties for every baby and love when my friends invite me to theirs.

6fsn

90% of the time I say they are tacky.  Showers aren't to celebrate the baby, they are to help the parents.  If you want to celebrate the baby do something after they are born.

8daysaweek

Personally, I'm not a fan. My feeling is that if someone wants to buy us a gift for this baby, they'll do it whether we have a specific event or not and I feel like a shower makes people feel like they have to buy a gift. We can celebrate our new baby plenty of ways without a shower.

choppinbroccoli22

Second showers are tacky IMO. I have heard of sprinkles, and I'm not entirely opposed to these smaller gift fests for items that you need with a second baby, particularly if it is of the opposite gender. However, if I had a sprinkle thrown for me, it would have to be a surprise. I would not want to know about it because of my mixed feelings about it.

robyn2201

8daysaweek:

Personally, I'm not a fan. My feeling is that if someone wants to buy us a gift for this baby, they'll do it whether we have a specific event or not and I feel like a shower makes people feel like they have to buy a gift. We can celebrate our new baby plenty of ways without a shower.

I agree with this.

We really don't need anything for this next baby. All our big items were gender neutral. We will need a toddler bed for DD. I would like an Ergo this time around. If this one is a boy, we will get tons of hand me downs from my friend and SIL who both have boys. They grow so quickly at that age and they are in those clothes for such a short amount of time, so why buy new. And DD's clothes look brand new. I would love it if this one is a girl so she can wear all of DD's clothes.

sschwege

6fsn:

90% of the time I say they are tacky.  Showers aren't to celebrate the baby, they are to help the parents.  If you want to celebrate the baby do something after they are born.

Agreed!  I especially don't buy the argument that if it's the opposite sex it's OK.  I'm sorry but if you didn't buy gender neutral stuff the first time around that was your decision!    

JenniatONU

sschwege:

6fsn:

90% of the time I say they are tacky.  Showers aren't to celebrate the baby, they are to help the parents.  If you want to celebrate the baby do something after they are born.

Agreed!  I especially don't buy the argument that if it's the opposite sex it's OK.  I'm sorry but if you didn't buy gender neutral stuff the first time around that was your decision!    

ALL OF THIS!

"Showers" are called that because you "shower the parents with gifts." That does not mean celebrating the birth of a baby. If you want to celebrate the baby, have a meet the baby cook-out after it's born. 

MamaJovie

sschwege:

6fsn:

90% of the time I say they are tacky.  Showers aren't to celebrate the baby, they are to help the parents.  If you want to celebrate the baby do something after they are born.

Agreed!  I especially don't buy the argument that if it's the opposite sex it's OK.  I'm sorry but if you didn't buy gender neutral stuff the first time around that was your decision!    

I very much agree.

A "meet the baby" party sounds like a lot of fun, and a great way to celebrate the baby. I would tell people not to bring gifts. 

operilman

I just threw my sister in law a shower for her second baby.  It's the first girl in the family in 5 generations so it's kind of a big deal.  We kept it really small and most people bought clothes or stuff for the babies new room which she registered for.  I just made everything pink and girlie.  We also decorated onesies with fabric paint so the new little one can have some personalized things.   Big brother got to decorate one too which was pretty cool.  

Nikjones08

I personally think it's tacky to have a 2nd baby shower. I've heard various reasons why people do them i.e. large gap between children, different gender, etc. My BFF recently had a shower for her 3rd. I hosted the first shower and even went against my better judgement and hosted the second shower. Although the second shower was definitely way less formal. So, when the 3rd shower came up - I just couldn't do itl  We leave 4 states away from each other so I just sent a gift (which I would have done anyway) I love the idea of a "Meet the Baby" party though.