While traditional baby showers consist of women only, co-ed baby showers are becoming more and more common. However, if you're looking to throw a traditional baby shower and still have the dad-to-be attend, this is completely acceptable and appropriate as most dad-to-be's will want to thank guests before they leave.
Traditionally, the baby shower is a party to celebrate the impending birth of a new baby. The mom-to-be and the baby-to-be are the focal point of these parties.
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.
Sometimes referred to as the “Manshower” or the “Dad-chelor,” the male version of the baby shower has, in recent years, become a thing. (Really.)
Overall, a father bathing with his young toddler is not considered inappropriate or even a warning sign an adult might be at risk to harm a child. Of course, every family has its own comfort level with issues like nudity, bathing practices and parenting styles.
There is nothing intrinsically harmful about dad and son showering together as long as it seems easy and natural to both of them. It may simply be part of their daily routine just as two people would stand side-by-side brushing teeth.
Strict rules like “female guests only,” “the parent-to-be or their immediate family can't host the shower” and “you shouldn't have a shower for any baby after your first” were largely indisputable 60 to 80 years ago. Some people love sticking with those traditions, but with new decades come new flexibility.
When and Where to Have a Baby Shower? Early on in planning the baby shower, remember that when you hold the celebration is just as important as where to have it. Usually, showers are held later in pregnancy, often around four to six weeks before the due date, but always check with the expectant family first.
Traditional Baby Shower Length
Games, food, and opening gifts are all part of the fun but can run long. Check with the guests of honor to see what they feel comfortable with and adjust if needed. Parent's magazine recommends a shower last three hours at the most.
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.
Should you open gifts at the baby shower? Tradition would have you open all the gifts in front of the guests. But, times have changed and it's more common not to.
Do Men Go to Baby Showers – Conclusion. 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.
Who Foots The Bill? The host pays for the expenses of the baby shower. That being said, co-hosting a shower with one or two others is a good way to split the costs (and the planning).
While a baby shower is usually thrown for a first baby, a baby sprinkle typically celebrates a family's second (or more) child, has fewer guests, presents and overall to-do and doesn't last as long as a baby shower.
Many hosts opt for a weekend date to host a baby shower. Weekends are often ideal because less people have work scheduled and are able to attend. Saturdays and Sundays are also the time-honored choice, so more traditional mothers will likely prefer this option.
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.
Is it ok to plan your own baby shower? Absolutely. If you're planning for a more casual baby shower or you love the process of planning a party yourself, it's perfectly acceptable to plan your own baby shower. It's less traditional to take the reins yourself.
In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex.
Dr. Basora-Rovira says there is no specific age that is “too old” for co-sleeping. She encourages parents to not begin practicing co-sleeping in the first place. And, if you are already co-sleeping with your child, to transition him or her out of your bed and into his or her own room as soon as possible.
Traditionally the host will pay but this will depend on many factors. This includes the venue, budget, size of the guest list, and how extravagant it may be. For instance, you can't expect your best friend to throw a huge baby shower and pay for it all herself.
The average baby shower gift spend amount typically ranges from $25 to $200. The range in the average is explained by different closeness levels to the mother-to-be.
Most often, it's a close friend of the mother-to-be who organises a baby shower, however it could also be the expected baby's grandmother, god parent or mother-in-law.
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.