What is the etiquette for baby showers?
Friday, June 4th, 2010 at
3:36 pm
If you already had a shower for your first baby during your first marriage, then had another shower for your first baby in a new marriage, is it appropriate to have yet another baby shower for your second kid in the current marriage?
But where do you draw the line? If this person plans on having 6 more babies, I have to go to 6 more showers for this one person? Isn’t that a tad much?
Filed under: Baby Clothes
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My opinion on baby showers is that you have a nice big shower with the first baby. If the second baby is born several (6 or more) years later, then it would be okay to have a nice second shower. If the babies are born just a couple of years apart then a small office shower or a shower given by a club or class the mother belongs to would be okay, but a big shower is inappropriate because she should still have most of the things she needs (unless they were destroyed by a natural disaster of some sort, in which case a big shower would be very appropriate).
I really feel that parents should do their best to preserve and care for all their baby things from day one, so as not to have to depend on other people (showers) to help them provide for any other children they may have. This does not seem to be a popular opinion with the present generation of child bearing couples. They seem to think that each baby is special and deserves a shower. While each baby IS special, babies don’t know the difference as to whether they are wearing or using brand new clothes or bedding, so it is actually the parents that want their children to have ALL NEW…….another flaw in this throw away society we live in. I don’t have to participate, so I don’t in cases like this.
Maybe a smaller one. But definitely not the shindig that was thrown for the first one. Close friends and family only, to celebrate the occasion.
I think it’s appropriate to have a shower for each baby… although it sounds like this woman should have everything "for baby" by now and hopefully it’s more of a chance for people to get together and celebrate rather than simply acquire more stuff.
Yes!
The "etiquette" for baby showers is one shower, for the first child, only. With that being said, those rules of etiquette were written in another day and age – when people received the items they needed for child-care at that first shower, when women breastfed or used glass baby bottles, cloth diapers, etc. – and in a society where everything was kept and re-used again and again.
In today’s society, women might receive gift baskets with disposable diapers and a lot of other things that become expensive when expecting a child, but aren’t re-usable. And most baby bottles are plastic, and should be replaced in time (a year at the most, really) because of the possibility of chemicals leaching into the milk/juice/etc.
I’m not offended when I am invited to showers for later births, and I don’t see anything wrong with them personally. But a true stickler for "etiquette" will differ.
I believe the proper etiquette is one shower. Period. I mean people can get so greedy. Yes every baby is a celebration, etc. But let’s face it, babies are not in attendance at the showers, except in utero. LOL Showers are for the mom and for gifts. If someone wants to celebrate the baby they can have a "welcome baby" party with no gifts please on the invitation. People get out of control nowadays with showers in my opinion.
It’s appropriate for each baby. It is up to you if you want to attend.
If a person is planning on 3 or more kids they most likey won’t have huge showers for all the babies, maybe just a smaller luncheon for her and her friends.
I agree with the others, a smaller more intimate gathering is nice and maybe you could say no large gifts as you are already prepared this being a "second" child. The only difference is maybe is if it’s been YEARS between children.
I see nothing wrong with having a shower for each baby. You don’t have to give as extravagant of gifts at subsequent showers, but you should still go if it is your good friend. Over the years women get new sets of friends and coworkers, so the new friends will want to celebrate the new children.
Plus, if someone does have 6 children it will likely be over 10+ years. Stuff gets old, worn, torn, stained, lost, broken, etc. You aren’t supposed to reuse carseats. You can’t dress your boy in girls clothes. You need new diapers.