Baby Shower...to open gifts or nay?

princessandthegator · February 2016

So, I didn't realize there was an etiquette to opening gifts at any kind of shower. I've always felt a little awkward when opening them in front of guests, like "Look at all the loot I scored by inviting you to my party" and I didn't realize it is actually considered bad etiquette to NOT open gifts in front of your guests. So here is my dilemma because I want to avoid that awkwardness:

Option 1 : Don't open the gifts until we get home.

Option 2: Make it into a game (this was a suggestion on the baby shower board), like Bingo. So everyone isn't just awkwardly staring at me as I open them.

What would you ladies do?

(Note: I know some of the ladies on this board are hard core about shower etiquette, but I've been to several showers were they have not opened gifts but I certainly don't want to offend my guests)

DeePaddy24 · February 2016

I am not having anything to do with my shower, so I don't know how mine will end up. But, I was at a shower last summer that turned opening gifts into a bingo game & it went over really well! All the guests had fun with it!

Huskerfanz · February 2016

I think gifts were opened at every shower I have been to. Givers generally like seeing the mom's reaction. Depends on how big it is though, too.

princessandthegator · February 2016

@DeePaddy24 That's good to hear! I wonder if they custom made it or found it on Etsy.

@huskerfanz That's what I was reading! I had no idea, I always figured they'd feel the opposite!

alysemci · February 2016

We did dessert and drinks while I was opening them so people ate, talked and hung out and weren't all awkwardly staring at me. We would announce whoevers we were opening so they could watch you open their present and then they'd go back to hanging with the rest of the ladies

TheHauntedHauswife · February 2016

I think we will be having bingo but also dessert during gift opening. Pretty much every shower ive ever been to did the bingo thing.

chelseay416 · February 2016

How does the bingo thing work?

DeePaddy24 · February 2016

mrsmartinez16 said:

@DeePaddy24 That's good to hear! I wonder if they custom made it or found it on Etsy.

@huskerfanz That's what I was reading! I had no idea, I always figured they'd feel the opposite!

I think they made their own. All guests were given a blank card & you had to fill in things you thought she might get for the baby, so it made it trickier to get BINGO. A group of us worked together to fill out our cards, so we at least knew we had the items we got her on it. It was fun. There was also wine on the tables at this shower so it was all a good time, haha.

PBear93 · February 2016

At my shower the guests filled out their own bingo cards with gifts they thought I would get (bath tub, blanket, clothes, bottles, etc). There was a long list of suggestions on the top of the page of things from my registry, but guests were free to add their own ideas as well. Then as I opened gifts they marked off the items opened in their bingo sheet and everyone who got a "bingo" got a prize of some kind.

NicknShan · February 2016

I would say it is tradition to open gifts at a shower. I love seeing the reaction when they open my gift - even though the rest is boring

Bingo is a great idea.

If the shower is enormous for some reason, gift opening is way more painful. But if you have under 30 gifts or so, I would recommend opening gifts at the shower.

GinnyJ2012 · February 2016

Baby shower bing- everyone gets a blank card and writes in different baby items on the blanks (blankets, bottles, lotion, pacis...) As the MTB opens gifts you mark off the squares of what was in the present. First one for bingo wins a prize. It is helpful for moms who don't like being the center of attention, as people are focused on the game and chatting.

Im all for the mom to be staying out of planning, but if opening presents in front of guests would make you very uncomfortable then suggesting the game wouldn't be bad in my opinion.

meggyme · February 2016

I've been to a bridal shower where they had gift bingo. I think it's a good way to make some thing that might otherwise be dull and drawn out a game. And as far as baby/bridal shower games goes, it's not too cheesy. It keeps people engaged. I'm not sure if they made them or had them made, but basically you take the usual items like socks, bibs, pacifiers, etc and make a bunch of different bingo cards. There may even be some sort of website or app the be able to make them.

ahernandez16 · February 2016

I like the idea of Bingo. I might have to mention that to my mom even though I promised to stay out of it.... Haha I felt so awkward opening gifts at my bridal shower, so I completely understand where you're coming from.

princessandthegator · February 2016

@NicknShan It's enormous. My Mom and Mother in law went crazy with the guest list...not my place to plan so I'm staying out of it.

@GinnyJ2012 I agree. That's what I wanted...to stay out. But it's been a lot of "do you want this?" "do you like that?" so it's hard. For this I wasn't sure, and I had initially told them I didn't want to open gifts in front of everyone but like I said I don't want to offend anyone.

@DeePaddy24 Yeah, the shower is open bar (don't know etiquette here either but this is VERY common in Miami, plus I think it's a nice thing to offer guests) so hopefully that'll make it fun for them!

Thanks for the input everyone. I like the idea of Bingo too, I'll suggest it to "the planners" lol

Rosehip15 · February 2016

I personally can totally pass on gift opening, both as showeree and a guest. I honestly don't remember what I did at my shower for DD (12 years ago).

But as a rule, I feel like the most important gift we can give is our time, and I'd prefer to spend time with my friends than having everyone watching me (or another mama) opening gifts. I realize it's a minority opinion.

WinniethePoohsPants · February 2016

I'm not really one who enjoys being in the spotlight myself so I can understand your hesitation, however I think guests like seeing your reaction- a bingo game sounds really fun if your host is into getting a bingo gift ahead of time.

tan&web · February 2016

What if, you as the guest of honor, goes to every table (if you have tables where people are sitting) and open the gifts at the table with the guests. That way you are close to the person that actually gave you the gift, and your guests only have to sit through their table worth of gift opening (and hopefully they sit with people they know/like)

just a thought, I have never seen it done before--does seem like a bit of work/movement on your part and your other guest would need the drink/dessert or something else to do at that time

Stephanier99 · February 2016

Bingo would be fun. I have gotten bored watching people open gifts (my friend had a giant family shower) so that gives the guests something to do.

Boonhilde · February 2016

Yeah. Do Bingo and have a prize for the winner. (Or another game.) I do think it's only polite to take the time to open the gifts brought in front of everyone since it's a party that literally is for gifts. (Although bonuses are included, such as bonding and etc.)

Boonhilde · February 2016

If you don't want that much attention I've heard of showers where each guest opens a gift, but I think those are a little rude. You don't want to make your guests uncomfortable just because you don't want to be uncomfortable....

TheHauntedHauswife · February 2016

chelseay416

You print out blank bingo boards. Toss them and pens on the table. Guests fill in the their bingo slots with gifts they think the mom will receive. So as gifts get opened they x off the bingo spots, until someone gets 5 across. Hosts usually prep some gifts, such as a few bottles of wine, $10 gift cards, etc. etc. and the first 5 or so people will those.

pkwest04 · February 2016

For my baby sisters bridal shower I did a couple little games and I actually found a free printable template online. I did bingo, one those "how well do you know the bride" type games and also a word scramble. I bought cute colored paper and just had to cut them out because two "boards" printed on each paper. I bought small door prizes and it was a success. Etsy has adorable custom ones, but I was ok with the gerenics I found for free.

Google search baby shower games and something similar would probably come up!

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