Is there anything more worthy of a celebration than a new baby? While many parents decide to eschew baby showers after their first child, that doesn’t mean that the parties are over.
There are so many milestones along the way to celebrate. Throwing parties enable your friends and family to recognize these important milestones together and create memorable moments. The best part? How you chose to celebrate your pregnancy is completely up to you!
Read on for some party inspiration to celebrate the newest addition to your family.
Gender Reveal Party
If you’re wondering when you can find out the gender of a baby, it depends. Most parents get the news during a routine ultrasound scheduled between the 18th and 22nd week or decide to wait until birth. An innovative DNA test can give you accurate results in seven weeks.
If you decide to find out before the baby arrives, you’ll probably want to share the news with your friends and family. You can make the reveal a festive occasion by throwing a gender reveal party. For even more excitement, you can ask the doctor to keep the secret from you and your partner and find out alongside everyone else at the party.
Gender reveal parties usually include a unique way of unveiling the highly anticipated information. Simple but effective ideas include popping a balloon full of biodegradable confetti, cutting a cake to reveal a colored interior, or simply opening the doctor’s envelope.
Baby Shower
Baby showers celebrate both the child and the mother. While these events are traditionally women-only, co-ed baby showers are becoming more common. Friends and family gather together to play games and give gifts that every expectant parent needs from a baby playard to baby clothes.
To ensure that you only get gifts you’ll actually use, set up an online registry with items in several price ranges. This allows invitees to purchase an affordable gift and ensures that you don’t receive duplicates.
Baby showers are also a great time to introduce culturally-significant traditions. For example, many African cultures follow special naming ceremonies. You can consider adapting a ceremony and celebrating your child in your own way.
Babymoon
This celebration is meant for couples to acknowledge their transition into parenthood. Babymoons usually involve some type of travel. However, you can decide how far or close to home you want to go.
Most people plan their babymoons during their second trimester when morning sickness has dissipated, and most women are still fit to fly. If you choose to go to an international destination, consult with your physician first.
Babymoons can be relaxing or adventure-filled. It comes down to your own physical limitations and what you want to get out of the trip. For most couples, a babymoon is a chance to indulge in a little romance before family life starts.
Sip and See
The first few weeks of bringing a new baby home are exhausting, but you may have a line of family and friends waiting to see your little one. Throwing a low-key sip and see the party is the perfect solution to hosting visitors without wearing yourself out.
Depending on your recovery and the baby’s health, you can have a sip and see the party as early as two weeks after delivery or wait until a few months later. You and your partner can lay out an easy spread of snacks and beverages for visitors to nibble on while they see the baby.
Guests aren’t obligated to bring gifts to a sip and see, but they should follow some basic etiquette. Babies’ immune systems are still developing, so invitees should take a raincheck if they come down with a cold. Visitors should also avoid wearing irritants like scratchy fabrics or strong fragrances, especially if they want to hold the baby.
On that note, babies and new parents can get overwhelmed by having so many interactions with visitors. Guests should keep their visit brief and understand if either the parents or the baby need some alone time.
Big Sibling Party
If your bundle of joy is not your only child, you can make sure older siblings can feel included by throwing a big sibling party. These parties celebrate how the baby will change your other children’s lives. Parents can help their child understand their role as an older siblings by reading books and or creating a scrapbook for their new baby brother or sister.
If the idea of a completely separate party for siblings is a bit too much for you, you can give your children meaningful roles in your already planned baby-related events instead.
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