Jewish Mamas

mericherry · September 2013

Are you registering and/or having a baby shower? And if so where are you keeping the gifts. I know we have our superstitions about nothing in the house but I wasn't sure if that was still so common or not.

TheAnalyticalMommy · September 2013

Good question. I know of the tradition too and even though I grew up modern orthodox, I dont know many who followed it.

I started building the nursery before my first was born and am doing the same again with my second

I personally think its up to you and what you are ultimately comfortable with. Good luck!

mericherry · September 2013

It does. I totally agree in thinking its mostly an older tradition but I figured i would ask anyways

kw42775 · September 2013

My mom is refusing to go to a shower until after the baby is born. It kind of works out, though, because my niece and SIL will get to see the baby and throw me a shower...they live in Vermont and I'm in Missouri.
We did order our furniture and will be setting up the room when it arrives. I'm buying baby things, but won't take tags the off of most until after the baby gets here. I will wash the bedding and a few outfits beforehand, though.
Also, we are having a friend shower in November..just no family there.

tiggernorton04 · September 2013

I am a STM but did have a baby shower with my first. We did set up the nursery beforehand too. I think it's personal preference. My family isn't all that religious and we are Reform Jews.

backoffunicorn · September 2013

I'm not having a shower and opting for a baby naming after she is born. At first, we were planning on not bringing anything into the house. After seeing how much stuff we need, we decided it's crazy to wait until we have a newborn to set up her room and have nothing on hand. So we will be setting up the room.

It is a Jewish superstition. My mom talked to a family friend who is a cantor who said that nowhere in the Torah does it say you can't bring things in.

msiskind · September 2013

My approach is a mix of superstitious and practical. I am having a shower because two friends offered to throw me one and I am by going to say no to such a nice gesture. Even though we will start to accumulate things, we are keeping most of the big stuff in boxes in the garage. We painted and are having a ceiling fan installed in the nursery because I wanted that all done in advance but we are not having the furniture delivered until after the baby is born.

JessiUF · September 2013

I am conservative Jewish and had a shower. I think it is important to get things done beforehand.

mplesset23 · September 2013

mericherry said:

Are you registering and/or having a baby shower? And if so where are you keeping the gifts. I know we have our superstitions about nothing in the house but I wasn't sure if that was still so common or not.

With my first I had a shower. It's the one superstition that my family doesn't believe in. With that said, everything for the most part went to my mom's house or my garage. Eventually my mom and MIL washed a bunch of the clothing, but that was it. Personally, I think a lot of our traditions really screw the mom in the long run. Not having things in the house is very stressful for a new mom. Make sure you do have a stroller, carseat a few outfits and a place for the baby to sleep when you get home from the hospital, other than that. You can wait on most stuff.

mplesset23 · September 2013

I want to add, with this kid, the nursery will be mostly done, since we are moving DS 1 into a big boy bed so the baby can get the crib. It's almost impossible to not have more stuff with baby number 2.

mericherry · September 2013

really appreciate everyone's feedback. i think i'm going to have things shipped to MIL's place because she lives nearby and there is a little more space for stuff to hang around while we get everything ready for LO. Otherwise the only place it can go is the room we are going to use for LO.

mandelbread · September 2013

We did not have a shower. We only set up a crib, glider and some clothes before DS was born.

mandelbread · September 2013

Also, there are some places that will hold items and ship them to you when you want (we live in a pretty Jewish area, so they are used to it.)

Brissett · September 2013

No shower for us either. We purchased a crib and changing table before the baby was born. Other than that, my parents brought some clothes for the baby to the hospital and while i was in labor I had my amazon baby wish list shipped to the house. It worked out very well.

lcoppenheimer · September 2013

To be honest, I think this was a "custom" started by Jewish mothers and MILs to get you to leave things at their place so they will have to deliver it to you and just happen to HAVE to see their grandchild...I am really beginning to believe this is actually the truth!!

desertmouse39 · September 2013

My family is conservative (although I married an athiest from a baptist family) and after much deliberation my mother did have a "non-shower" for us, which was totally a shower and everyone brought gifts. We also prepared the nursery ahead of time with several things. Then we had a baby naming when she was about 4 months old. I think it's whatever you are comfortable with. It is an overwhelming and wonderful experience either way (bringing a child into this world!)

avigailandcharlie · September 2013

It's a custom, it's not a jewish law (rabbinical or biblical law). I'm a Jewish Educator (URJ, but still). It's not written in any text. Do what you feel comfortable with.

BB0214 · September 2013

This is my first. We are having a shower and getting the baby's room ready before the birth. We are both pretty high strung , and having everything ready when we bring the baby home will be less we have to worry about.
We are however not sharing the name before the birth, not because we think it's bad luck, but we just don't want everyone's opinions on our name choice.

Want a personalized experience?

Jewish Mamas

Re: Jewish Mamas

Choose Another Board

Search Boards