A baby shower is a traditional way of celebrating the coming (or the birth) of a new baby and welcoming him or her as a new member of the family. They can be hosted and organized by anybody, usually the close friends/group of friends or relatives of the expectant parents. It was once considered improper for family members to host baby showers (because they usually center on the gift giving), but nowadays it is fine for family members to help (and plan) them.

Baby showers are usually held a month or two before the mother’s expected due date (some cultures, however, consider it bad luck to hold baby showers before the baby is born). They are intended not only to welcome the baby but also to help the expectant parents by giving them gifts that they will need for the baby.

Planning for a baby shower can be an enormous task. Everything requires a great deal of planning – from the guest list, to handing out invitations, to the decorations, to the games, to baby shower favors – and, most especially, to the food.

Every party cannot be without food, as they are considered as one of the best parts or the highlight of a party. This applies to baby showers as well.

There are numerous types of food that you can serve during baby showers. Some of them are the following:

· Bread or sandwiches · Dessert (cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc.) · Chips or fries · Pasta · Pies (pizzas, etc.) · Salad · Drinks (punch, juice, wine, etc.)

Below is a list of several tips and guidelines on food ideas that will surely delight your guests and the parents-to-be:

1. The baby shower food that you serve will largely depend on the time of day when it will be held. A baby shower that will be held at noon or at dinnertime usually requires a full ‘sit-down’ meal, while early afternoon or early evening showers can do with appetizers, salads, and finger foods. In addition, the amount of food that you need to prepare will depend on the number of guests you will be inviting.

2. Have multiple snack trays for serving different varieties of food – you can have one with an assortment of finger sandwiches, another with sliced turkey or smoked chicken, and still another with sliced fresh vegetables served with a dip that you can place in the center of the tray.

3. Try to match your food and keep them in-line with the baby shower’s theme (if ever there is any). You may consider serving scones and finger sandwiches if your baby shower theme is a tea party. Or, if you are having a nursery rhyme-themed baby shower, cakes and pies that resemble the characters from famous nursery rhyme (such as Humpty Dumpty deviled eggs).

4. Put some ‘life’ in the baby shower foods that you will serve. Instead of serving your fruit salad in a simple salad bowl, try presenting them in a melon bowl (or better yet, in a baby carriage-shaped melon server).

5. Decorate your food table by tossing baby pacifier candies, chocolate bars, and confetti all over it.

6. Personalize your eating utensils. Match their colors with the color scheme of the entire party. Consider using disposable cups or plates for easy clean up.

7. It is important to take into account the special diet of the mom-to-be, so try to avoid serving food that the pregnant mom herself would not eat. In addition to her allergies and food aversions, avoid the types of food that are prone to contamination and food poisoning, such as soft cheeses, uncooked meat and (most especially) alcohol.

By following these food tips, you will surely be able to pull off a successful (and memorable) baby shower.

Hosting a great baby shower means thinking of your party guests at all times. These days, it’s not enough to give your baby shower guests good company, hospitality, and food. The most unforgettable showers include party favors to memorialize the occasion.

When Cost Doesn’t Matter
Baby shower personalized favors don’t need to be expensive or extravagant. Simple party favors can be just as unique as more expensive favors; it really is the thought that counts.

Custom Cookie Baby Shower Personalized Favors
Custom baby shower cookies make great baby shower favors. Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut rolled cookie dough in “baby” shapes – teddy bears, rocking horses, ducks, baby carriages and babies.

Another great custom cookie baby shower favor is a personalized fortune cookie. Guests get ordinary looking fortune cookies, but the messages inside are geared toward a baby shower theme. “We Are So Blessed” is one example of a personalized fortune cookie message.

Custom Candle Baby Shower Favors
Another popular baby shower favor is a personalized tealight candle. Purchase one affordable, unscented white tea light candle for each guest at the baby shower. Using your best handwriting or your favorite computer font, print a message telling each guest to take the candle home and light it in honor of the new baby when they receive the news that the baby has arrived.

Color Coordinated Baby Shower Favors
If the mommy-to-be knows the sex of the baby, choose a pink or blue party favors, depending on whether the baby is going to be a girl or boy. Choose bath beads, soaps, mints, or candies in pink or blue, wrap them in matching mesh fabric and tie the bundle with a pink or blue ribbon.

Baby Shower Keepsake Favors
Another popular baby shower personalised favor is a keepsake you make yourself. Using a color printer and a simple computer graphics program, you can print labels that can be applied to lip balm jars, mint tins, magnets, and soap wrappers.

Miniature Baby Shower Favors
Miniatures are a recurring theme for baby showers – after all, a baby is a miniature human, and part of the appeal of baby things is their tiny size. Send your guests home with popular baby items in miniature sizes, like pacifiers, baby bottles, or even little baby dolls.

Your baby shower guests have taken time from their busy schedules to shop for a gift and come to the shower. Giving your guests baby shower personalized favors will help communicate to them how much you appreciate their taking the time and effort to celebrate the new baby.