Host's baby @ baby shower?

Miggg · March 2014

I'll be throwing a co-ed baby shower for two friends of mine (a couple) in mid-June when LO will be 6-8 weeks old. I'm not sure on the proper etiquette here but am I right to assume that my LO should not be present? I would imagine that having him there would really distract from the MTB and her LO?

Miles2Go · March 2014

I'd bring him especially if you're breast feeding. But that's me and there aren't many places I wouldn't take my baby. Maybe heck with the MTB if she'll be offended? I've brought Norah to numerous showers and no one has ever cared and MTBs have enjoyed her being there. I just don't see it as a big deal.

Ladiebug30 · March 2014

I think that would depend on your group. My cousin brought her 5 week old and another friend brought her 4 month old to my shower. I don't know if it's proper, but it didn't bother me at all. My concern in your shoes wouldn't be will the baby take away the mama to be ' s attention but will I be able to complete my hosting duties while taking care of my baby? I think it's possible, but you would need probably extra hands.

christieep · March 2014

I would definitely make sure you have ample help with the shower if you plan on bringing baby with you. I've never seen LOs at a shower really take away from the event for the guest of honor, so actually having the baby there is NBD in my opinion. My biggest concern would be accomplishing all of my hostess duties with a newborn present.

chillypenguin · March 2014

Everyone I know always brings their LO's to showers. I am actually throwing a baby shower for my best friend tomorrow and DD (18 months) will be there for a little bit. It's during nap time and I am hosting, so she will be there for maybe a half hour or so to see everyone, then DH is going to take her home to nap.

cbrust · March 2014

There were 2 babies at my baby shower, one was 5 weeks and the other was 9 months. The 5wk old was no problem at all and everyone loved having him there, however the 9mo old was distracting. I see nothing wrong with bringing a baby that is content to be held most of the time, but maybe thinking twice if babe can't sit still. But that's just my opinion and I wouldn't judge anyone who brought their baby! (in the case at my shower, the mom with the 9mo old is a single mom and didn't have anyone to watch her LO, which I totally understood). But I think at that age I would try and find a sitter.

Soupy84 · March 2014

When my sister asked for a guest list, I specifically asked her to include the children on the invite. If my friends are going to go the distance (most live out of town) to attend my shower, I want them to enjoy themselves as much as possible. I realize life will get busy, but no one wants their friendships to feel like work or a hardship to get together.

I think it's fine to have your little one there. Everyone will understand. At my friend's shower last year, her SIL (hostess) had her baby there.

Lild09 · March 2014

My friend just asked me if she could bring her almost 8 w old to mine this weekend I said of course! Also another friend RSVPd and she literally just had her little one just over a week ago...I know she also bfs so I don't expect her to not bring him! It's a baby shower for goodness sakes and I'm sure I'll be getting plenty of attention even with two uber cute babies there

haylo33 · March 2014

My husbands cousin asked if she could bring her 11month old to mine. I said of course. I don't mind at all if people give attention to a baby and not me but I'm not a big fan of being the center of attention. She is active but her entire family will be there keeping her busy. I would definitely take my 8 week old especially is BF. They are pretty chill at that age

Peaceb0ne · March 2014

I think it would be fine, as long as you had some help with hosting.

shaunamw · March 2014

Bridal shower maybe not but a baby shower I think is fine. If she isn't used to babies yet she better get used to it. When I had a shower

Bootsie327 · March 2014

I don't see why you couldn't bring LO, I had 2 friends bring their babies to mine!

AugustGlass · March 2014

I'd think it's fine to bring your LO. Sort of a strange place for anyone to be anti-baby.

tjkdlhb · March 2014

Any baby under 6 months, without a doubt I would bring.

Older than that I would have to think about.

My 22 month old? no way!

Mittens14 · March 2014

Personally, as the host, I wouldn't bring my newborn as there's so much that the host needs to do at the shower and it would be distracting for me to have to care for a newborn and be a good host. Additionally, I wouldn't want my 6 week old around that many people/germs... Just my opinion.

Miggg · March 2014

Well I'm glad I asked! I thought about asking the MTB but I can't imagine anyone would say no when directly asked that even if they really didn't want the baby there. My fear was it turning into a "Meet Migg's Baby" party when it should be a "Celebrate MTB's Baby" party but I guess there's room for both. And this MTB is baby-crazy so she'd probably be happy to share the spotlight with LO. And DH is hosting with me so it should be manageable between the two of us.

Thanks for all the input ladies!

lauralou3x3 · March 2014

I would totally bring my LO as long as you are comfortable with all the germs. Most people (including myself) love playing with babies at a baby shower. Plus I'm sure there will be many volunteers to watch LO while you do your duties.

Jillzy86 · March 2014

My family loves seeing the new babies at showers. I would say if your on the fence you could have who ever is watching your LO bring him/ her at the end?

fatbarbie0226 · March 2014

Baby showers are a great place to bring a baby! Whenever I go to baby showers, there are babies there. Sounds like you are a great considerate friend to make sure you have all of your responsibilities under control. Good luck with the shower!

iqwedding3 · March 2014

I know nothing about baby shower etiquette (but I am learning through these boards). At my baby shower there were TONS of babies (we're a bit behind our friends), and I thought that made it more awesome. We had a baby covering just about every 1-2 months of age up until 2 years.

ABColeslaw · March 2014

I say bring yourself a wrap and strap your LO in a Moby and do your think. I wouldn't think twice about a newb at a shower.

dogsombrero · March 2014

In my family it's the norm to invite children to baby showers, if you aren't sure you could always double check with the MTB. My 38 weeks pregnant cousin was going to come to my shower but instead she had her adorable little boy the day before, I didn't care that she was going to be more pregnant than me. As PPs have said I'd just make sure you have back-up help. I forgot my little cousin (6 months) came too and he was really adorable. The main issue is trying to host with a baby there, not a baby being there IMHO.

hfooter · March 2014

I've always been under the impression children are welcome at a baby shower. So I say bring your new born if you're up for it. Personally I wouldn't mind the attention being diverted from me the entire time!

danabsd · March 2014

I'd bring mine.

Storrmys · March 2014

I would bring mine. I know at my shower there will be at least 6 kids there from 9yrs old to almost a year old. Its a baby shower and I couldn't imagine not having my great neices and nephew and of course our older kids there.

Empireceo · March 2014

A nursing baby, yes. Any older than that and I'd say it depends. Sometimes baby showers are kid friendly and sometimes, it's nice to just have adults.

sisterjanet · March 2014

Miggg said:

Well I'm glad I asked! I thought about asking the MTB but I can't imagine anyone would say no when directly asked that even if they really didn't want the baby there. My fear was it turning into a "Meet Migg's Baby" party when it should be a "Celebrate MTB's Baby" party but I guess there's room for both. And this MTB is baby-crazy so she'd probably be happy to share the spotlight with LO. And DH is hosting with me so it should be manageable between the two of us.

Thanks for all the input ladies!

If your friend is like me, she'd totally appreciate the baby taking some of the attention.

One of DH's cousins had a baby a month or two before my shower, and having such a little baby there was actually really nice, sort of grounding all the fluffy abstract baby-ness. I can't remember for sure, but probably my nieces and nephews (age range about 5 to 12) were there too.

alphalyrae · March 2014

FWIW, my shower was this past saturday. My family is huge, and we had 2 children over 6, 4 children between 3 and 5, and 2 children under 2. I didn't mind it at all. All the kids 3 and over helped open gifts, and frankly, they didn't steal any thunder for otherwise cause any issues. It was nice to have them there in my opinion.

Helmink0804 · March 2014

At being that young I would think it's fine. My SIL who was co-hosting my wedding shower with the rest of the BMs brought her 1.5 year old to the shower and she was running all over and when they yelled at her she just clinged to my SIL and wouldn't leave her side which prevented her from being helpful with the other BMs. Like other PP suggested put LO in a wearer so you still can do any co-hosting jobs that need to be done.
My kmm is hosting our first shower and we're expecting one baby at 5/6 months old, one that's 10/11 months old and my friends 14 month old and I don't mind having them there.
If you're worried about the person the shower is for minding that you have your LO there just ask her. If you're worried about the other co-host minding, talk to them about it as well.

iqwedding3 · March 2014

My host suggested that I be allowed to feed/change/soothe the various babies at my shower to get some practice

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