Adoption Showers

Baby showers are for EVERY baby! The birth of a baby is a celebration for everyone involved. Adoption is a very acceptable way to add to your family, so use the following tips to plan your baby shower.

Themes ~ A theme helps give a baby shower a focus, so invitations, food and games can be easily coordinated. Themes also help guests know what to give to the new mommy-to-be. There are many clever ways to announce and plan a shower for a baby that came into your family through adoption. Below are several themes that can help you in planning your shower:

• Nursery ~Throw a shower based around the new angel’s little piece of heaven. Using the colors and ideas from the nursery to base your party on is always a smart favorite.
• Office ~ Many of your co-workers would love to help you celebrate this special time of celebration.A lunchtime feast or pot-luck would be a perfect way to share in the joy. Everyone can pitch in for a group gift or buy treats for when the mommy returns to work.
• Potluck ~ A potluck party where everyone brings a signature dish in baby bowls can be ultra-convenient (especially if there are more than 20 guests) and full of fun.
• Garden ~ Host the party out on the patio, in the cool summer breeze, with gifts of pint-sized garden gear such as a watering can, flowers and a hand shovel.
• Coed ~ Bring along the boys for a cool coed shower. Here are a few helpful tips:
  1. Keep the invitations unisex such as fill-in shower notes and make sure there is more than one guy attending - no one wants to feel outnumbered.
  2. Have the couple register online so shopping is quick and easy.
  3. For party favors, keep men on the mind with fatherly advice books and sports.
  4. Have everyone jot down thoughts and reflections in a journal. This creates excitement within the group and starts everyone thinking about the big day.
  5. Play in-the-mood music; this will avoid any temptations to turn on the sports game of the day and serve plenty of yummy food!

Invitations ~ The excitement starts to build when invitations are made and sent out! The big day is getting close at hand; so try to send out invitations 4 to 6 weeks before the party day. Guests should be informed where the new parents are registered and if there is a group gift available, whether it is included with the invitation or you tell them when they RSVP. Many times adoptions happen so fast that there isn’t time to plan before the birth for a baby shower, so host a party after the birth where everyone can meet the new addition. Be sure to send an invitation to the new parents or save one for the new mother to add to her baby scrapbook.

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