Who to Invite to Your Baby Shower

The question often comes up when planning a baby shower-who should I invite? Although most showers are given by close friends or family members, they will usually want to confer with the mom to be on the guest list, so here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding who to ask to share in your special day.

Family Members:

Obviously you are going to want to invite family members. The grandmothers of the new baby should be invited, any sisters of the mom to be, close cousins, aunts, and great-grandmas too. If the baby shower is going to be coed, then dad to be, grandpas, uncles, male cousins, and great-grandpas should also be invited.

Many couples live in different cities or states from their families, so there is often concern that inviting family members who live far away will place a burden on the family to fly in for the occasion. However, it is a good practice to invite all close relatives. If they cannot make it, they will be happy that you thought of them and included them in your plans.

Friends:

How good of a friend does one need to be to receive an invite to your baby shower? It depends on how intimate you want your shower to be. If it is a small gathering, then only your closest friends should be invited. However, if the baby shower is going to be a larger affair, then co-workers, college classmates, and more casual friends might also be included. Another tip is to invite friends that have invited you to their baby showers, bridal showers, and/or wedding. If they thought enough to invite you to their special event, then returning the favor will always be appreciated. If the baby shower is coed, make sure that the dad to be has an opportunity to invite his friends as well.

Follow the same rules for out of town friends as you do for families. If your best friend lives in California but you live in Florida, make sure you send her an invite even if you are positive she won't be able to attend. It will make her feel included and a part of your special time.

The guest list for your baby shower doesn't need to be a time consuming, nail biting process. Simply decide how big or small you want the party to be, and follow the above guidelines to ensure that you and your family and friends will have a great time at your baby shower!