How to Plan a Baby Shower: A Checklist

one to two months before the baby shower

This point in your planning will have the most collaboration between you and your host.

Finalize Your Registry Before Invitations
Start your registry early! If you’re stuck on what to add, ask a friend who’s been through this before, they may have excellent recommendations. Crate & Kids also has a handy checklist for creating the ultimate baby registry.

The Host Mails or Emails Invitations
Include the host name and contact info, an RSVP deadline, directions and optional baby registry information.

Start Planning Decor
This can be done jointly between you and your host. It’s a great time to also think about games and party favors to fit the theme.

Plan the Menu
Once you and the host have decided whether you’ll DIY the shower menu or hire a caterer, decide on the details of the menu and what food you’d like served.

one month before the baby shower

Now comes the really fun part: deciding on all the fun and games.

Plan Any Games & Activities
You’ve decided on a theme already, so now highlight an activity or two to bring everyone together.

Host Orders Party Favors & Prizes
Order any guest prizes or party favors well in advance in case of hiccups.

two weeks before the baby shower

At this stage of planning, you have a lot of the big to-dos done! The host should take time to follow up on some of the more administrative tasks. For example:

• The host follows up with guests who haven’t RSVP’d yet.

• The host confirms any reservations that they’ve made.

• The host finalizes the baby shower agenda, and confirms who will be available to lend an extra hand before the shower.

one week before the baby shower

Remember the people you’ve enlisted for an extra hand? Here’s where they come in:

• The host and/or helpers shop for any food that can be bought in advance (and that isn’t being catered).

• Decide on who will be the person responsible for taking photos during the shower.

• Decide on who’s responsible for recording gifts and to keep track of who gave what.

two to three days before the baby shower

It’s almost the big day, and there’s a big rush to get to some last minute to-dos. Here’s where you should be on your checklist to stay organized.

• The host finishes shopping for the rest of the food, beverages and party supplies.

• The host connects with all the helpers and confirms the details that should be taken care of.

• For home baby showers, the host helps clean and prep the space for the party.

one day before the baby shower

You’re almost ready for the big day! Today the host and any helpers should set up for the baby shower at the venue if possible, or at least anything that can be set up or prepped before the day of the event.

day of the baby shower

Today is the day you, the guest of honor, get to enjoy your shower and relax, so the host should do their best to be sure you won’t be expected to do anything but have fun and open gifts. The host should make sure that anything not catered has been organized, like any food and beverages, and that there’s a designated area for gifts. Most important of all: everyone should have fun!

one to two weeks after the baby shower

Congrats to the host and expectant mom for a job well done. Once all the gifts have been unwrapped and sent home, you should take the time to send each guest a personal thank you card.

more baby shower planning pro tips

Use this checklist for a quick guide on planning your shower:

• The host should make sure that all major decisions are discussed with the parent(s)-to-be.

• You don’t have to have a baby shower if you don’t want to. It is by no means required. However, if you have a baby registry, feel free to share it with loved ones so they can help with purchases you really need.

• The baby shower host is often a close friend of the expectant mother or parent(s)-to-be, but they can also be a family member or a close coworker. Traditionally, it’s considered a faux pas for the expecting parent(s) to host their own shower.

• When selecting a date, it’s important to be mindful of holidays and other major events that could affect attendance.

• It’s important to set the budget early so you don’t go over later in the planning stages.

• Throwing a baby shower at someone’s house is always more cost effective than going elsewhere—just make sure there’s enough room for everybody.

• The guest list does not need to be limited to women. Anyone can attend! If your shower is at a venue, make sure you’re mindful of the maximum capacity.

• Ideally, invitations and thank you notes coordinate with the baby shower’s theme.

• The baby registry doesn’t have to be 100% completed by the time invitations are sent but it should be mostly finalized so when guests get their invite, they’re able to start shopping right away.

• Baby shower decorations don’t need to be grand. They can be as simple as balloons, flowers and confetti.