There are a lot of awkward moments that come with pregnancy, but there's one that doesn't involve putting your legs in the stirrups at the ob-gyn's office: baby showers. Though it's always fun to catch up with friends and family (and most of us will take any excuse to eat cake), these kinds of parties can be a little much. Does anyone actually want people playing a game where their friends guess the circumference of their belly? And aside from the traditional games, some people simply don't like being the center of attention — especially while pregnant.
If you hate baby showers but are planning to have one anyway, all is not lost. Here are things you can do to ensure that your baby shower is anything but cheesy — and instead, is a day that you'll look back on fondly that you spent celebrating your baby-to-be.
Nix the baby shower games altogether
This is your baby shower, and if you don't want to play games, NBD — don't play them! There's no law that says you have to have diaper relays or even decorate onesies at your shower. Instead, you can decide that there won't be any games at all, instead going for a more casual feel. Play background music, eat, and mingle … just like you would at any other party.
If there must be games, consider bringing your favorite board games to the party instead — ones that have nothing to do with you, your baby, or your belly.
Make it co-ed
Though many people feel that baby showers should include a women-only guest list, that's definitely not necessary in 2021! To keep your baby shower more casual and even more fun, make it a co-ed get-together, and make it clear to your invited friends and family members that their partners are welcome to come.
Register for gifts early
As overwhelming as making a baby registry can be, it can also be a blessing in disguise for moms-to-be. Not only will you cut down on the number of gifts you have to return, but you'll also encourage your guests to buy their gifts online and ship them directly to you.
That means their gifts will arrive at your house, where you can open and appreciate them in privacy if you know you'll be self-conscious if everyone at the shower is watching you open gifts. Of course, don't let this stop you from showing your guests how much you love what they sent — heartfelt text messages, photos, and thank-you notes are all musts.
Open gifts as your guests arrive
Another way to avoid sitting in the middle of a circle of people who are all staring at you while you open gifts at your shower? Open your gifts as your friends and family arrive. That way, you can share a personal moment with each guest when they get to your shower, they can see your reaction when you open your gift, and you can place it on a table where the rest of the guests can see what you got. Everyone wins!
Keep the guest list small
Some showers can get out of hand quickly — not only did your guests make the list, but somehow so did the guests your parents wanted to invite, and just about every single one of your coworkers — even the ones you've barely spoken to. But this doesn't have to be the way your shower goes!
If someone else is throwing the shower for you, this is where it's time to put your foot down. Only those you have decided to invite should be on the guest list, and by keeping your shower small, you can also keep it low-key … and ensure that you're able to chat and spend time with the people who are most important to you on the big day.
Host it somewhere entertaining
Instead of gathering at a home, church, or other meeting place, consider throwing your shower somewhere that entertainment will serve as a distraction, taking the attention and the pressure off you in the process. Instead of a party-style shower, consider booking a private room at your favorite restaurant and having brunch, or even think outside of the box and host it at a botanical garden or even a bowling alley. It's up to you, mom-to-be!
And even though you can't drink, that doesn't mean your guests are also abstaining. Even while pregnant, you might be surprised at how much fun a shower at a brewery (with plenty of yummy food and mocktails) can be.
Don't have a baby shower at all
Of course, not having a baby shower probably means forfeiting your right to gifts, but for some moms-to-be, it's worth it. If you feel that any baby shower, no matter how low-key, will make you uncomfortable, know that you are fully within your rights to skip this particular tradition. You are the mom-to-be, and you should do what feels right for you.
Baby shower or not, you're welcoming a baby into the world very soon, and focusing on what makes you happy and keeps your mind and body healthy is what matters most. Even if you decide to shirk tradition and have a baby shower that looks nothing like what you've seen on Pinterest, you deserve to have a good time celebrating your journey into parenthood.
