Can You Have a Baby Shower for Your Second—or Third, or Fourth—Child? The short answer is yes, but you may need to adjust your expectations.
Encore Baby Showers or Sprinkles
Some say that baby showers should only be given for the first born. It's fine to have a baby shower for a second or third baby.
Even the Emily Post Institute acknowledges the usefulness of a sprinkle: “It's fine to have a baby shower for a second or third baby. This party is often (cutely) called a 'Sprinkle' instead of a shower since the family welcoming the new child likely already has many of the items needed (though not always!).
It really all depends on the circumstance. If a mother-to-be is expecting a baby soon (a year or so) after her first, “it's perfectly fine to have a second baby shower,” said Lizzie Post, etiquette expert, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-host of the podcast, Awesome Etiquette.
Traditionally, baby showers are given only for the family's first child, and only women are invited, though this has changed in recent years, now allowing showers being split up for different audiences: workplace, mixed-sex, etc. Activities at baby showers include gift-giving and playing themed games.
Consider a different type of celebration.
"For a celebration for a second or third or fourth baby, you might want to include only close family, call it a celebration rather than a shower, and make it clear you are inviting them to celebrate," notes Gottsman.
Traditionally, according to baby shower etiquette, the host would be someone outside of your immediate family – like a close friend or relative. These days, the baby shower rules are more relaxed, with some pregnant mamas even hosting their own baby shower if they're not keen on handing over the reins.
Well, rest assured, it is quite common and acceptable to have a Baby Shower for subsequent children. Lots of women hold a traditional Baby Shower for their second children, very similar to what they did for their first. Alternatively, some Mamas hold what is known as a Baby Sprinkle for their second babies.
Since it's up to others to throw the shower, you can have as many or as few as you like.
The hostess traditionally pays for the baby shower and its associated costs. However, the hostess can divide up the responsibility and costs by asking a few close family members or friends to co-host.
While baby sprinkles are traditionally hosted by close family members and friends, Gosselin says it's becoming increasingly common for the parents-to-be to host an event themselves.
If you're an introvert, or perhaps just someone who feels uncomfortable with the amount of attention a baby shower would put on you as a new parent, you aren't alone. As a result – you might be looking for alternatives if you don't want a traditional baby shower – and that's perfectly OK!
If you have friends and family that want to attend an in-person shower, you could think about throwing a hybrid virtual baby shower where some guests are in person and some are virtual. This can be the best of both worlds!
Who plans and hosts a baby shower? According to tradition, baby showers should be hosted by a friend or distant relative (like a cousin or an aunt) instead of a close family member. This custom is believed to have developed in order to avoid the appearance that the family was simply on a mission to collect gifts.
How Many People Should Attend a Baby Shower. Every baby shower is different, but most ladies agree that 15 to 30 is the perfect number of ladies at a typical baby shower or about 30-40 for a coed. These numbers change depending on the size of the family, number of friends, and even work colleagues involved.
A Baby Shower is a grand party with themed decorations and food, while Baby Sprinkles should require much less work. A Baby Sprinkle is a relaxed gathering of close friends and family to celebrate a new baby on the way. Essentially, Baby Sprinkles are a casual celebration that lasts between 1-2 hours.
As this user demonstrates, it's ok to ask for what you want. So, don't be afraid to tell your close friends and family that no one is throwing you a baby shower. Sometimes, your loved ones may assume that someone else is doing it, which is why they haven't offered. If still no one offers, there's no need to worry.
Baby Shower Seating Etiquette
If this is not her first child, her other children should sit with her. Any woman who will be closely involved in the baby's life, such as Great-Grandma, Grandma, and the mom-to-be's mother-in-law, should be seated with the guest of honor.
For instance, you can't expect your best friend to throw a huge baby shower and pay for it all herself. So it is normal for the cost to be split between the host and the key organisers. This way the cost is shared with her closest family and friends. Guests are not expected to pay for attending the baby shower.
Although traditional baby shower etiquette calls for showering the first child only, the mom-to-be may want to celebrate each birth. If so, a baby sprinkle is the perfect idea for gathering her loved ones without asking too much of them.
A sip and see party is a gathering to welcome and celebrate a new baby. More casual than a baby shower, it's frequently hosted by the new parents or by close family members, This informal event is a chance for family and friends to enjoy some refreshments (sip) and meet (see) your newly arrived baby.
Baby showers were once strictly for the ladies in her life, but this has changed in recent years! Now, showers can also include men and kids. It simply depends on the vibe you want to create and who the expecting mother wants to include.
(You can still have a registry, though!) It's also good to keep this event relaxed — hence the “baby sprinkle” idea. It's a smaller and more casual version of a first baby shower. You can still invite close friends and family and enjoy time with them, though it's generally not as extravagant as the first baby shower.
Baby showers don't have to be only for ladies. Although it's still okay to only have a ladies-only baby shower, It's become more commonplace for guys to attend. So, if you're planning a baby shower, figure out if you want the baby shower to be female-only for the new mom or a co-ed baby shower.
Colic is often defined by the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for longer than three weeks in an infant who is well-fed and otherwise healthy.