hi mamas!! We just found out we are having a little girl!! Yay!! We have a son who will be 3 next week, and i was just wondering the proper way to have another baby shower. I have heard that it is appropriate with either change of sex of a baby or if it's been at least 10 years since having a child.....I don't want to have another big shower like i did with my son, but something smaller to celebrate with other woman and to actually receive girly items, since everything i have is boy!! And, is it ok to register somewhere, just at like target or something?? Please let me know what you have heard or experienced, thanks a bunch!!
I wouldn't do either the shower or the registry - but to each his own. :)
I agree that people will still bring you gifts. I'm pregnant with my second and will not be having any type of party. Too often I have heard people express annoyance with second showers.
Sure you can have another smaller shower. Since you have all the equipment you need I'd suggest having a clothes shower and have everyone pick up clothes in sizes newborn through 24 month. That way every time she outgrows something there's always something she'll be growing into.
When I go to showers I usually have something in size 6 month, 12 month, and 18 month. One of the mom's called me and said 'I thought you were crazy giving me overalls in 18 month size but I just put them on Travis and it brought back all the memories of the shower.'
This will sound mean, too...but, what need do you have for new baby stuff? Swing, car seat, bouncer, mat--all should be perfect from your son. Sure. you may want "girly" things..but in today's economy why go beyond? I'm sure you'll receive "girly" items like clothes and toys when people visit you and the new baby. Plus, close friends and family will buy anyway. Please be considerate and not so expecting...sorry if I sound harsh.
tell your best friend/sister that you do want a shower. let her organize it, and then you create a registry. sounds like you want one. now, do remember, you had a shower 3 years ago, so some people might not show up or send anything. which would be understandable. see how that goes. if you want just a get together, then try to organize a lunch out with closest of your girlfriends.
you asked about people's experiences...i wouldn't go to 2nd or 3rd baby showers, although i haven't friends who have had baby showers except for the firstborn. congratulations
Hello A. and Congrats!!! I think it is more than okay to have a low-key shower. Lets face it, people are going to want to know what you need.. Creating a registry takes the guess work out of that.
A.,
Congratulations!
Just my opinion, but I think 2nd baby showers are tacky. It's much more appropriate to invite friends and family to visit after the baby is born, and in most cases they will bring a small gift.
If a few close friends or some family members want to have a small get together, that's great. They'll know what you need so there's no need to register.
I would not go the traditional route as some guests might see this as unnecessary. I have heard of people doing a "hand-me-down" baby shower for second babies. Make a list of the things you would like to receive to the host of the party. The host puts the list in the invitation and asks guests to bring their gently used girl baby items that you need, rather than buying brand new stuff. If there are things that you want specifically that are new, you can register for it, but don't go crazy. I have found that so many of my friends and family member have young kids that we all end up passing around clothes and other items to each other anyway. I hardly have to buy my son any clothes at all. And most of the time, you can't even tell the clothes were worn, especially with the tiny sizes. I did not buy any toys for my son until Christmas, and even then it was only a few because I received so many. It's an economical (especially in these times) and environmentally friendly way to have a shower.
totally go for it!!!! i am in a similar situation. i have an almost 3 yr old boy with another boy on the way due in march. i had a HUGE shower with my first. although i didnt want another shower with this one(ive been on bedrest due to some complications since 3 months) i have registered for a few basic(bottles/double stroller, etc) items b/c everyone keeps asking what they can get me and actually telling me to register to make it easier for them. if it were to be a girl we were defenatly going to have another shower( i would have wanted the whole girly type party). i know plenty of people who have showers with every kid they have reguardless of sex or time lapse. a baby is reason enough to celebrate!!!! ur always going to need things with each new baby, and people are always going to shower you with gifts anyways why not celebrate with all ur loved ones at one time. you can have a sweet brunch or tea party with finger sandwiches, something really "girly". there are so many cute themes. you can even have a makeup party/shower like avon/marykay or even a pampered chef/candle baby shower. its a 2 purpose party!!lol good luck and congrats on your expanding family!!!!
I know this is going to sound mean or negative but I have to say that showers beyond the first child just don't sit well with me. I know I am not the only one that feels this way and I am sorry to tell you this. Plus, the fact that you seem to be planning it yourself does not sound good. If you want a shower, go ahead have one, it's not the end of the world and no one will hate you. Lots of people do. But from personal experience, when I get invitations to second showers (no thirds yet) and the children are pretty close in age and there was a big shower for the first, I get a little annoyed. Why not go out to lunch with your closest family and friends to celebrate your baby? All children should be celebrated. Congratulations and good luck with your baby.
We had a big shower for our first (a girl...and the first grandchild for both sides of the family), so we didn't want to have a big shower for our second, but we did want to do something to celebrate...a new baby is always worth celebrating! My family organized a lunch just for close friends and family to get together. There was no registry. Most people brought a boy outfit or something that was specifically "boy" because it was fun to have a boy in the family (there had only been girls so far).
There is certainly reason to celebrate! (And you always need some new things for the baby.) Just keep it smaller and fun, not as formal as the first. Maybe have a tea party or something really girly. I wouldn't register unless they ask you to, but your close friends/family will probably ask you (or already know) what you need for the baby.
I WOULD register for new stuff, because you probably figured out so much from all the bad or useless stuff you registered for with your first baby! :) It doesn't hurt to register, because then your family and close friends don't have to guess about what you still need. Especially stuff like diapers, basic newborn stuff, new furniture, etc.
If someone wants to throw you a shower, then by all means- enjoy! It's not tacky to celebrate a life, and if you're lucky enough to have a friend who wants to do this for you...awesome! I would keep it small and intimate, and definitely have a "get to know our new baby" party after that. You don't need to advertise the registry. But people will ask, so you can let them know at that point.
It's sooo much fun to have a girly shower, btw! I went to a friend's second baby shower for her little girl, and it was a blast! Enjoy the pink! Enjoy the ruffles!
Congratulations!
I think that if you're close enough to a group of friends/family, you can register for things you need, but you will NOT need a lot of things, thus I don't see the point.
Many of your friends will be giving you gifts, more than you will need, trust me. I have 3 girls and one boy and thought maybe I'd need "new" stuff at one point since I used the same playpen, same crib, etc and things like that- people love you and your family and as a result, when this little girl is boy (yay! :)) -- they will bring baby girl outfits to the hospital, to your home, to your job, etc. You get what I mean. You will be blessed with things you did not expect, trust me when I tell you. Even for my 4th child, I didn't ask for anything - and I still get MORE than I need for my children without ever having more than 1 shower...
:)
Another thought I have that I wanted to share was this- what happens b/w my friends is when someone is pregnant, we all look and see what we can give that is LIKE NEW that we still have from our kids! I have been getting hand-me-downs that are like new for over 4 years now and do the same with all of my 4 children's clothes, shoes, etc. It saves us all money and we get to exchange great things!
If you don't already belong to one, go to www.meetup.com and join a moms group where you can meet other moms. Our moms group is having a "clothing swap" this month and even if you don't have anything to "bring" - plenty of moms are bringing things that they'd rather give to someone they KNOW than stick in a bag for a truck to come and get - KWIM?
