How to host a baby shower

Ask the parents first

A ten-minute conversation prevents most of the awkward moments showers are known for. Confirm who they want invited, whether partners and children are welcome, how they feel about games and gift opening, and whether they want a quiet afternoon or a big party. Write the answers down and let them settle every later decision.

• Preferred date and two backup dates
• Guest-list size and any must-invite relatives
• At-home, restaurant, park, or virtual gathering
• Food restrictions and accessibility needs
• Registry links, no-gift wording, or a group-gift plan

Set the date around the due date

Most showers land four to eight weeks before the due date: late enough that gifts are still useful, early enough that travel and standing for hours are comfortable. Weekends between late morning and mid afternoon work for the widest group, such as 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM or noon to 3:00 PM. If the baby arrives early, decide quickly whether to reschedule or turn the shower into a welcome gathering, and send one clear update to everyone who replied.

Match the guest list to the space and budget

Decide the size before the place. A home comfortably seats 10 to 15 guests for a seated lunch; 20 or more usually needs a rented room, a restaurant, or an outdoor space. Set the budget before shopping: food and drink usually take 40 to 50 percent, the venue or rentals 15 to 20 percent, and the rest goes to decorations, games, and paper goods. If the budget gets tight, cut decorations before you cut food.

Put useful details in the invitation

Include the guest of honor, date, start and end time, area, RSVP deadline, host contact, registry, and anything guests should bring. Send it four to six weeks out, and six to eight if many guests travel. On a new PartyWelcome invitation, the street address is shown after a guest replies unless the host chooses to show it sooner. Anyone with the guest link can open the invitation.

Order food for the people coming

Plan on 60 to 75 percent of invitees attending, then adjust to actual replies a week out. For a shower over a meal, allow roughly eight to ten bites per person per hour, or one main serving plus two sides if you serve a seated lunch. Offer about two drinks per guest for a two- to three-hour gathering, at least half of them non-alcoholic, and always keep a caffeine-free option since some guests may be pregnant or driving. Label any allergen-free serving and keep it physically separate.

Run the day calmly

Set up everything except food the night before, and finish food no later than 45 minutes before guests arrive. Ask someone other than the parents to manage gifts, food refills, and the timing of games. Take one group photo in the first hour while everyone is fresh. Pack leftovers and a slice of cake for the parents before cleanup starts.