Help!!! Need baby shower ideas???

[japple]

I got rooked into giving a baby shower. My SIL is bringing cupcakes and that's as far as I've gotten. I have only been to a couple of baby showers in my life and that was many, many years ago, so I can't even remember what we did or ate. Any suggestions for food, drink, and especially games will be greatly appreciated. There probably will be no more than 10 people attending.

Edited to add: my niece is making a "diaper cake" centerpiece. If you aren't familiar, it's a "cake" shapped centerpiece made out of rolled, stacked, disposable diapers. Really clever and cute.

[Vinca]

1. I was recently invited to, but didn't attend, a baby shower where

the woman throwing it provided the guests with tiny white t-shirts, disposable gloves and the fixings for tie-dye. It sounded cute, but messy. Maybe a project with fabric pens on the shirts would be better. Little messages, drawings, etc. I guess it depends on the attendees.

[Dora]

3. That's a cute idea!

Rubber stamps are another alternative to messy tie-dye.

[The empressof all]

2. I can't help with games but for food

I'd focus on easy to eat tid (kid) bits and a nice salad. I might have some chicken satay (or grilled veggies on a stick), a relish tray with "baby" vegetables, a tall glass full of pretzel rods, a bowl or two of M&M's and a nice punch or "mocktail" of some sort. Usually women who come to these kinds of events aren't expecting a full fledged meal and really want things they can just pop into their mouths. Don't get too elaborate.

[NashVegas]

4. Just Have Lots of Wine and Strawberries and It'll All Work Out

With soft drinks for mom, of course.

[yellerpup]

5. How about a scrapbook with greetings welcoming the new baby

into the family that includes old family photos, remembrances of how baby's parents were greeted as newborns and an explanation of the baby's genealogy? A time capsule including sonograms, before and after photos of mom & dad, and current events leading up to baby's birthday?

[yellowdogintexas]

8. or a book in which all the guests write their favorite baby advice for the mom.

This is where my daughter wrote "You have to teach Jake not to Tutch the But".

[yellerpup]

9. LOL! That is the sweetest advice EVER.

And what a great idea.

[japple]

12. Your daughter is full of great advice!!!

That is hysterical. Bet it was hard to keep a straight face when you read that one. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[yellowdogintexas]

15. oh I cracked up! I do not know if the new mommie has read it yet

poor thing, her baby was born with pneumonia and was in NICU for a long time. He is doing well now. Anyway, I look forward to explaining the back story on that one. She is an animal lover and has a couple of large kitties.

[Warpy]

6. Well, they're about the loot, not the food

so you need to concentrate on stuff people can pick off a tray and pop into their mouths between "oohs" and "aaahs."

Even cupcakes might be a little ambitious.

You'd be more successful with a deli platter from a supermarket than you will with anything that needs a plate and silverware, in other words.

Drinks should be sodas and coffee. This is one party where the honoree is not supposed to drink, so bag the champagne.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

7. I think I've had chicken salad at every shower I've ever

been to.

As for games and stuff, the only one I remember is we were shown a tray of baby items. Then the tray was removed and we had to write down all that we could remember. The person who had the most correct won a prize. I remember another one where we had a diaper pin. If you crossed your legs, the first person to notice got your diaper pin. The person who ended up with the most diaper pin won. (I hated that game and lost within seconds.)

I'll bet if you googled 'baby shower ideas/menu/games' you'd get a million hits.

[Inspired]

16. I've made chicken salad piped in creme puffs before for showers.

They were easy to make and easy to serve.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

17. Pate a choux is my 'go to' appetizer, entree and dessert.

Easy to make and always a hit.

[sandnsea]

10. Here's a couple ideas

For my granddaughter, the hostess video-taped while we all added a bead and a wish to a strand. It was very moving actually.

We had a brunch shower a few months ago. I think they bought quiche at Costco, and they were really good. We had a fruit plate and chocolate chip muffins. And mimosas.

Personalized Hershey Kisses are cute as favors, and pretty cheap. You can buy them online.

Hang onesies by clothes pins on a line on the window or wall.

Washcloth lollipops make cute centerpieces. Roll up a baby washcloth, wrap in a circle, pin, wrap with cellophane, put on stick, tie with ribbon.

Around here, there are as many couple baby showers as there are just for the mommy. The guys hang outside and bbq while the women open the gifts, and then everybody gets together and eats and has cake. They also don't go in for the paper centerpiece and streamers, they're usually either toned down or decorated with fresh flowers and items that can double, like I said above. But everyplace has different treands, I imagine.

Make a list of the things you think the baby will get and whoever gets the most right, wins a prize. You can only put down the number of people who are at the party.

The put the pin on and pick a word you can't say.

Oh, they made special Grandma ribbons when my grandson was born. I still have that.

All my daughter's friends are at that age, I think somebody is having a baby once a month.

[Lugnut]

11. Assorted wraps are nice.

Fruit trays are always a hit with our group moreso than veggie trays. Potato and macaroni salad seems to go well also. Hummus was a hit. Fruit punch was very good. I went to two baby showers this past summer and helped my sister with her daughter's.

My sister-in-law had a baby shower for her daughter-in-law and got assorted Bath & Body Works liquid hand soaps for favors. My sister opted for the B&BW hand sanitizer.

[japple]

13. Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. I am going to try

to keep it simple: a couple of games, unwrapping presents and refreshments. The bride has had ultrasound and we know the baby will be a girl, so I'm doing pink decorations. I read about a game that involved the guests in a diapering contest wearing mittens. Since I don't have a large baby doll, I think I'll use the same idea, but on a tiny doll, with tiny diaper and pins, and have the guests wear gloves.

For refreshments, we'll have finger foods and some kind of hot and cold drinks. Your suggestions have given me lots of ideas. Thanks again.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. If you want to make it REALLY fun,

why not hire a midget male stripper, and then use him in that mitten/diapering contest?

OK, it was just a thought......................