Baby Shower Etiquette
When it comes to baby shower etiquette, there are no hard and fast rules to follow, only suggestions. Most rules of etiquette for a baby shower are based on tradition. There are some instances when traditions are made to be broken or when you can create your own traditions.
Baby shower etiquette pervades all parts of the baby shower process from the invitation list to the invitations to food to thank-you notes. If you have any major baby shower etiquette questions, there are quite a few websites on the internet that go into more detail on the do’s and don’ts. However, read on below for some of the major highlights:
1. Baby shower invite etiquette – Who should be invited? The basic rules to follow include inviting the mom, mother-in-law, sisters of the mom-to-be and father, close aunts, cousins, friends and co-workers. There is no steadfast rule when it comes to whether or not children in attendance are appropriate.
2. Baby shower invitation etiquette – Typically, you should mail out the invitations up to a month in advance. This gives people a chance to plan and purchase a gift. And when it comes to etiquette for baby shower invitation wording, it is totally appropriate to include the baby’s name and sex if it is already known as well as where the mom-to-be is registered.
3. Etiquette for baby shower gifts – Mom-to-be’s register at several stores for a reason – because they need specific items! If possible, choose what you can afford from her registry. However, if you are close to the mom-to-be and know how tastes, it is totally cool to get her a personal keepsake such as a quilt or memory book.
4. Mom-to-be baby shower etiquette – While most everything is taken care of by friends and family when it comes to the baby shower, it is a great idea for the mom-to-be to find a personal gift to give the hostess as a special thank-you for orchestrating a wonderful baby shower.
5. Baby shower thank-you etiquette – When it comes to thank-you’s, the mom-to-be should send out personal handwritten thank-you notes within a week to ten days of the baby shower. While she is opening gifts at the shower, the hostess or someone she designates should write down each gift and who gave it so that the expectant mom can thank the right people for the gifts.
There is a whole host of other situations that are covered by baby shower etiquette. When you are in doubt about something, refer to the many web resources on the internet or even in the library.
