Baby showers are typically held four to six weeks before the baby's due date—late enough that the pregnancy is well along, but likely early enough to avoid the baby arriving beforehand and disrupting the party plans. However, some people prefer to have a shower after the delivery.
Traditionally, baby showers are held in the third trimester of pregnancy from 28 to 32 weeks. This is because this is a great time to start planning and hosting your event. Mom-to-be is comfortable and mobile enough to enjoy herself but is still weeks away from labor.
According to etiquette, the best time to have a baby shower is in the middle of the third trimester — about four to six weeks before the due date.
There's no hard and fast rule, but many baby showers happen one or two months before the baby's due date. Throwing the shower sooner is fine, too; maybe there are scheduling constraints or concerns about the baby arriving early, for example.
The short answer is that there's no "right" time — some parents opt for a shower early on in their pregnancies, while others wait until a week or two before their due dates. Ultimately, the timing of your baby shower depends on what works for you, your family and the person hosting the event.
From parents to college roommates, and anyone else who plays an important role in the parents-to-be's lives. It's safe to say that those who weren't included in the initial guest list are the people you shouldn't invite.
Who Hosts a Baby Shower? Most baby showers should be hosted by a sister, mother, mother-in-law, or close friend. Baby showers were traditionally thrown by family members who weren't close with the parents-to-be, to avoid the assumption that close family members wanted to collect gifts for themselves.
Baby showers can be held at any time in pregnancy, though they are most commonly held early in the third trimester - somewhere around 32 weeks.
Baby showers are typically held four to six weeks before the baby's due date—late enough that the pregnancy is well along, but likely early enough to avoid the baby arriving beforehand and disrupting the party plans. However, some people prefer to have a shower after the delivery.
Most people agree that anytime between 24 and 32 weeks (six to eight months) is the best time to throw a baby shower.
Don't Schedule It Too Early or Too Late
A baby shower should not be held before the 20-week mark in pregnancy. Showers held too late, after 38 weeks, run the risk of the baby joining you for the baby shower. Use these two marks as your best guide.
When it comes to the timing of baby showers, some people say you should have it earlier than 37 weeks. Yet, others will tell you there is no problem with having a shower so close to the due date. Typically, the preference for a baby shower is between weeks 32 to 35, but this isn't a strict rule.
It's traditional to throw a baby shower around 32 weeks of pregnancy. This is NOT a hard rule. 26-34 weeks is the normal window, but you can do whatever you prefer!
In some families the ceremony is held when the mother-to-be completes her seventh month of pregnancy. It is believed that after the seventh month, the baby and mother are in a safe phase. In some families it is celebrated at the end of the eighth month.
The Number of Weeks You're Along
On the other hand, if you're late into your third trimester and are feeling ready for labor at any moment it might be a little too late to have a baby shower (plus you may be super uncomfortable!). From experience, my favorite time to have baby shower is around 22-26 weeks.
After the umbilical cord stump has dried up, fallen off, and healed completely, you are free to bathe your newborn for the first time! It is best to use the sink or a baby bathtub instead of the regular tub. Our Whale Bubble Bath Inflatable Bath Tub™ is great for littles who can sit.
Yes! Men's attendance at baby showers is not something that's seen as taboo anymore. As men are more involved in raising their children than they may have been in past generations, they may want to enjoy baby showers. Coed baby showers are a natural progression.
When to Send Out Baby Shower Invites. Invitations are sent out three to six weeks before the shower. This gives guests enough time to respond, and get/send a gift if they are going to.
But keeping things small is great, too. Suppose you want to know what the averages are. In that case, a typical number of guests for a shower will usually fall between 20 and 50. You may choose to host more than one event or get everyone together at the same time.
Traditionally, baby showers are held in the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy. The beginning of the third trimester, from 28 to 32 weeks, is a great time for a baby shower!
The survey of more than 2,000 Australian parents found more than half hosted a baby shower, with 27 per cent paying for the party themselves. Almost half of the parents-to-be shared the cost with family, while the rest (28 per cent) allowed family and friends to carry the cost.
If you've thought about throwing your own baby shower, you should know it is completely okay to host your own (and lots of people do). Today, more and more parents-to-be are hosting their own showers. It's more common than you'd think, and it's not the social faux pas it may have been in the past.
For a fancier event, a nice dress or skirt-and-blouse combo are a safe bet. If you prefer pants, opt for dress pants and heels over jeans or leggings. For a casual affair, however (think: at someone's home or a park), jeans might be totally acceptable with a dressy top or a blazer. “When in doubt…
Baby Registries: The gift of giving
Guests have taken a lot of care in selecting their gifts, and part of the fun is watching the mom-to-be open presents. Proper etiquette suggests that gifts be opened toward the end of the shower to avoid the impression that presents are the primary purpose of the party.