I have a question...what is the norm with inviting children to baby showers now a days. I had one for each of my kids and I could have cared less if people brought thier kids or not but I have a couple of friends who have been told that children are not welcome. On friend was told this about her sister-in-law's shower for her third child which resulted in her only sending a small gift. Which leads to another question...I thought 3rd children baby showers were out UNLESS you 3rd child was 5 years or more younger than your youngest or you were having a different sex than the other two. I'm just curious about these things.
"It's not to late to become who you've always wanted to be..."
Wow I don't know who came up
Wow I don't know who came up with that but I had a baby shower for every one of my kids ( first was a girl the 2 were twin boys and the next a girl )
I would have rather had a baby shower for all of them ne-way I mean I would have threw it myself if nobody wanted to I needed help then and it helped alot ! knowing that friends care that I have diapers and wipes for at least the first couple months
So long story short I think you should have a baby shower reguardless of childrens ages or sex of the baby ( and yes children should be able to attend )
As far as showers for 3rd
As far as showers for 3rd child (and more) - mothers always need diapers and wipes, shampoo, etc. And what would that 3rd child think when he grows up if he didn't get a shower and his siblings did? The mother to be just shouldn't get greedy and register for a bunch of new stuff.
For kids, I think the same thing goes for showers as with other occasions - if the child is not going to be running around, screaming, getting into everything, then normally kids are welcome. Babies at baby showers I think are not only welcome, but expected to be brought.
I think it is nice not to
I think it is nice not to have kids at baby showers to give the expecting mommy and all the other mothers some adult time. Everyone can enjoy the shower without running kids to the bathroom, getting juice, breaking up arguements etc.. However if this is not possible then it would be a good idea to set up kids tables and have activities planned for them so they are not bored.
I also think it is fine to have as many baby showers as you have kids. You are always going to need something even if it is just diapers.
I totally agree. In the end
I totally agree. In the end I think it's a personal choice. It's her party and maybe the last party for a while without a baby and maybe she just wants it to be kid-free.
I also think each child should have their own shower.
I agree. Children should be
I agree. Children should be left out of showers because it is time for the mother to be to shine, not someone else's adorable or terribly behaved children. I also think EVERY baby deserves a shower. Things wear out and like the other posters said, each new baby will need diapers, wipes, toiletries and a few things that are just for them. I can't imagine telling my next child that there wasn't a shower for them, but there was for their brother. I also feel the same about nurseries. I think they should be changed up a bit instead of starting out with everything being a hand me down.(even if it is just a new crib bedding set or something.)
I'm glad to hear that baby
I'm glad to hear that baby showers for all are ok...I was curious about this because I too thought you celebrated each child with one. I'm working on my 3rd but my youngest is 7 and there was some questions about it. As far as having kids there I guess I can see it both ways. The children in our family are quite behaved but I can definitely see why you wouldn't lol..
"It's not to late to become who you've always wanted to be..."
I think each child
I think each child (pregnancy or adopted) deserves a shower - regardless if it is the first or third. Like someone above said - always need diapers, wipes, bottle nipples, etc. Also, really it is more a celebration of the child not all about 'gifts'. As far as kids go, really it should be the choice of the mommy-to-be if she wants children there. I've been to some where no children were there (the majority of them) then a few where some brought their baby because maybe the didnt have childcare. I think everyone can make the shower whatever they want - there are no set rules.
LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 7 months and 3 years old.
I know I'm in the minority
I know I'm in the minority here, but the baby shower is for the Mom, not the baby. A baby shower for the 2nd or 3rd or whatever just seems like a gift grab. That said, if someone wants to host a shower for a subsequent child, just keep it smaller.
What if you are in my shoes.
What if you are in my shoes. I was the first to have a baby of my friends and handed down ALL my stuff to them...my youngest is 7 and we are trying for a 3rd. Do you think it's weird for someone to throw me a shower? I'm just curious because I was planning on buying ALL my stuff and my husband said "why? don't you think you'll have a shower?"
"It's not to late to become who you've always wanted to be..."
Well, if a baby showered is
Well, if a baby showered is offered, take it, just don't count on it.
Why don't you ask your friends if any of them still have the things you handed down, and can you get any of them back. They may not, but they may be able to network out some "new" hand me downs for you.
I actually will have lots of
I actually will have lots of clothes hand me downs for girls. Boy things, I'm not so sure about. My stuff was given to a lot of friends back in the day that I have lost contact with over the last 7 years. The few things I get, I'll get from my friends that have had babies over a year or two ago and have kept stuff.
Honestly, I don't expect a shower because I have "been around the block" so to speak. I will gladly accept any and all items given to my baby but when my husband and I decided to have another one, I started putting money aside so I can buy as much as possible on my own (and honestly, I want a new crib, stroller, car seat, for safety reasons).
My feelings won't be hurt either way and I'm pretty sure that family and friends will get small stuff for the baby that will help! I was more shocked about the kids not being allowed to go to showers. I had never heard of that.
"It's not to late to become who you've always wanted to be..."
I think each time a woman is
I think each time a woman is pregnant she deserves a baby shower. Even if you have everything you need for the baby, Mommy should be celebrated. Even if no gifts are brought you can have a little get together to celebrate bringing another life into the world, or just to show off your pregnant glow. Why do you need an excuse to celebrate ? I say have a party take lots of pictures and show off your bump.
I guess I am in the minority
I guess I am in the minority here as well, but I did not have any showers after my first child. With our first daughter the help was needed (we were younger, poorer, etc.), but after that, it felt a little *greedy*.
No one complained, and those friends and co-workers who wanted to do something, did.
I know my other children will not compain about not having a celebration---they were certainly celebrated when they arrived!
I feel like the grinch here,
I feel like the grinch here, but I think a baby shower is for the first baby only.
I had several people give me baby presents for my other two, but it was never expected.
As far as children as showers...ultimately it's up to the recipient. I always enjoy children at baby showers.
I agree. A baby shower is
I agree. A baby shower is intended to be a celebration welcoming a woman into motherhood for her first child. As far as etiquette goes, showers for subsequent babies are a no-no, whether or not they are different sexes, spaced far apart, etc. I really don't understand why people say things like "but every baby should have a shower and they all need clothes, diapers, wipes, etc". You're right, they do. However, if I couldn't afford to buy those things myself I wouldn't get pregnant. Anyhow, back to the original question. For my baby shower I didn't care if kids were there or not and neither did the hostess so we welcomed kids. However, I have also received invitations for baby showers that requested that no children over 1 year attend. The shower is about the mother to be and it is very difficult to manage a bunch of kids running around. It really is up to the hostess of the shower whether they want kids there or not since the shower is their gift to the mother to be.