5 Alternatives To A Traditional Baby Shower

Baby showers have become all the rage over the past few years, and it’s a fun way to get your friends and family together to celebrate the imminent arrival of the little one and to be gifted some essentials that you’re going to be grateful for when the time comes.

Yet not every parent to be is going to be comfortable with this. For some, it could be something they would be anxious about and stress over, and the idea of a baby shower isn’t something that would ever appeal.

If that’s the case for you, the good news is there are a number of different alternatives that you can put in place instead, which will give your loved ones the chance to celebrate the new baby but will give the parents a break from so much attention. Read on to find out what some of these great new ideas are.

Gender Reveal Party

When you host a gender reveal party, you may think you still have to focus just as much on the pregnancy and all it entails – after all, you’re letting people know whether you’re having a baby boy or a baby girl. However, the beauty of a gender reveal party is that it can be as different and unusual – creative, in other words – as you want it to be.

Whereas with a traditional baby shower you would have a group of friends and relatives over who will specifically want to know as much about the baby, the pregnancy, and your future plans as possible, and where you’ll have to sit and open all the gifts in the middle of everyone, a baby gender reveal can be anything you want it to be.

If you don’t want to open gifts (or even receive any gifts), you don’t have to. And once the reveal has been completed (in whichever creative way you choose), you can slink away to the sidelines and let everyone else enjoy the ambiance. If you don’t want to answer any personal questions, this kind of party is the perfect option for you.

Jack & Jill Baby Shower

One of the problems that some pregnant women have with baby showers is that they have to go through it without their partner. This can feel somewhat intimidating, perhaps even frightening and isolating, especially if you have anxiety issues anyway.

Let’s also think of the father in this situation. This is his baby too, and yet he is ‘forced’ out of the festivities. This seems rather unfair since it is likely he is just as excited and just as happy as the mother is. Plus, he’ll want to see the gifts and enjoy the company of his friends and family just as much as anyone else would.

If this is the case for either parent or both, then a Jack and Jill baby shower is an excellent alternative to the traditional one. Essentially, the party happens in the same format, but both parents are present. They can offer one another support, and both be involved in everything that is happening at all stages of the pregnancy.

A Baby Sprinkle

As opposed to a ‘full-on’ baby shower, a baby sprinkle is, as the name might suggest, a much more laid back and pared-down affair. If the mother to be is not keen on being the center of attention, this is a good way to stay out of the limelight and still enjoy the fact that people are so excited for you and about the baby.

There is no need for gifts to be opened in front of everyone (which can be so very daunting) and no great expectations of a large meal or anything special at all. It’s more of an informal ‘drop-in’ situation where you can let people know you’ll be around on a particular day and that if they want to pop round to say hello and have a chat before the baby is born, they are more than welcome. Your guests will probably bring gifts, but you’ll generally only have one person to open them in front of, and you can just hand out chips and dip or a quick buffet-style meal that anyone can pick on if they feel like it.

Art Session

By booking an activity, perhaps one that takes place out of the home, you can still enjoy a sort of baby shower but without all the stress. Of course, the activity will need to be appropriate for a pregnant (potentially heavily pregnant) woman to take part in, which is why art and other creative activities can be ideal.

Your friends and family will have a great time and enjoy spending the day with you, and you won’t have to worry about arranging any party food or games or anything else. You won’t even need to clear up any mess.

To make the day even better, why not go for a meal once your activity is done?

Movie Marathon

We all know that mamas-to-be need to relax and take it easy, and what’s better than curling up in a cozy onesie with Netflix on the TV, ready to binge some amazing movies. These could be classics or new releases or a combination, you might even have a theme, or you could ask each of your guests to put a suggestion into a bowl and then pull out the ideas one by one.

Have some popcorn, ice cream, and soda ready to go, and have a chilled out fun day with your nearest and dearest. Not only will you be able to enjoy the day doing something that pregnant women need to do (relax, in other words), but your friends may well appreciate it too. They could have felt as though they had to throw you a baby shower even if they don’t enjoy such things and weren’t sure whether you would either. By taking the problem away from everyone and organizing something yourself that is calm and a lot of fun, you can keep everyone smiling (especially you).

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