A baby sprinkle is a type of baby shower to celebrate a family's second child. Instead of a traditional shower, the gifts are often diapers, wipes and a few outfits since many families who are expecting their second child already have a lot of the gear they'll need.
A baby sprinkle should not be hosted by the parents or immediate family. Instead, friends and siblings can join in to host the sprinkle, and certainly anyone can be invited although it's best to keep the list of invitees small, especially now, in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Baby Sprinkle Gift Etiquette
Parents who are expecting a second, third, or fourth child are usually not expecting shower guests to bring big presents on their special day. Traditional baby sprinkle gifts are diapers, wipes, bottles, and other simple things that won't be left over from previous children.
How Long Does A Baby Sprinkle Last? The typical time period for a baby sprinkle to last is around two hours. There won't be all the specific details like there would be at a baby shower. For example, you won't have as many guests, resulting in a more relaxed atmosphere with only light finger foods.
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).
For coworkers or acquaintances, people tend to spend around $30 to $50. For friends or distant relatives, many people spend between $50 and $100. For close friends or family members, most people spend between $100 and $200 or more.
They are! Men are allowed at baby showers — especially if the father's in attendance. It's rare for a mom to have a co-ed or Jack&Jill baby shower and not invite any of her and the father's male friends and family members.
Think clothes, toys, diapers and potential big ticket necessities, like a car seat, stroller and high chair. If you're the guest, stick to any gifting guidelines noted in the baby sprinkle invitation wording, or check out the mom-to-be's registry to see what she really wants and needs.
Since a sprinkle is a generally casual affair, you can invite as many or as few people as you'd like. Typically, though, a baby sprinkle has a shorter guest list, with only close friends and family invited. Big brother or sister can come to this one, too.
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.
The name says it all: Instead of a bigger party where first-time parents are showered with gifts, a baby sprinkle is a more casual, relaxed gathering where the guests of honor are "sprinkled" with support and potentially smaller gifts.
"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.
A baby sprinkle is just like a baby shower but scaled down. If mom is on her second, third (or fourth) child, consider throwing her a baby sprinkle instead of a full blown baby shower.
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.
While many baby sprinkle and showers are thrown without any games, some hosts still prefer to have them. if you're interested in having some sprinkle games, here are a few that we love: Diaper Raffle.
Most importantly, baby sprinkle etiquette dictates not to include registry information on your baby sprinkle invitations. Yes, you can (and should) register, and provide the information to guests if they ask for it. But guests shouldn't feel required to bring a gift for the sprinkle, through many will want to.
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.
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.
It is considered inappropriate for you or your spouse to throw the baby shower. It is considered rude to ask someone to throw you a baby shower. Typically a close friend or one of the grandmas-to-be will throw a baby shower. It is acceptable to have a sister or other family member throw the baby shower.
If so, you'll be relieved to know that having more than one baby shower is completely acceptable. Not only that — 72% of Babylist users reportedly have more than one shower, according to the data, and we see the exact same thing. Typically this entails a baby shower for each side of the family or co-workers.