Do UK women have baby showers?

[Mrs_Grissom]

Hi

Title says it all really? Is it something that women in the UK do?? I've only ever seen it on American tv but I've got the feeling that I'm behind the times and maybe they do it here now too? I'm not sure I'd feel at all comfortable expecting people to come and buy me presents...but also not wanting to miss out could you let me know if that's the done thing lol xxx

 

[Dizzy321]

It would be bloody great getting everything bought for you and not having to worry about it and getting a party thrown for you lol but nope, I have never had one and nobody I know has had one, not common in the uk at all I don't think! I have always bought everything myself x

 

[Emma1987]

I'm from Scotland and won't be having one, but if you want to do it then go for it!

 

[kristen77]

Yup, agree with Paula! Great idea but never had one, been to one or heard of anyone I know having one! Booooooooo.....

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

I'm from Scotland and won't be having one, but if you want to do it then go for it!

Nope. I really don't think I do...LOL. I organised a 30th birthday party for myself last year I was really excited about and then panicked at the last minute and hoped people wouldn't come LOL...they did

 

[ashlee23]

im having one! and so have pretty much all my friends. think they are slowly moving over here, n its not like u tell everyone to bring u presents, if they wud have got u one anyway wen little un's born they can bring it to the shower n its an oppertunity to spend some time with ur friends before baby comes n turns ur lives upside down (in the best way of course) xxx

 

[DueSeptember]

wow I never knew that I thought everyone had a babyshower...

 

[MaybBaby]

its becoming more common in the UK now that we see the US doing it,its a fun idea although - someone in my family had one and demanded ONLY mothercare items to be bought...thats just plain rude i think.

i'd be happy if i got one...but i doubt it would happen so wouldn't expect it at all heh x

 

[ashlee23]

i think the tradition is for someone to throw it for you, not sure though, maybe any US ladies can let me know? why not speak to your friends and family and see their general reaction to the idea? my mum and friends are throwing me one. xx

 

[AFwife77]

Wow, that kinda sucks it isn't as common! My mom and MIL are throwing DH and I one next month. I can't wait; I love parties!

 

[donnalou]

My friend had one last year it was great fun but I wont be having one, I don't like the idea of people feeling that they have to buy you something for the baby shower which they open in front of everyone so has to be something decent and then buy you another present when baby arrives.

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

hahaha my best friend lives round the corner and I haven't seen her in months and my family are totally anti-social (not in a bad way...I am completely the same...just not that into people LOL) On the other hand...OH has a big family and they love love love their 'get togethers' lol, maybe MIL will do it lol.

 

[ashlee23]

My friend had one last year it was great fun but I wont be having one, I don't like the idea of people feeling that they have to buy you something for the baby shower which they open in front of everyone so has to be something decent and then buy you another present when baby arrives.

i think generally they buy for the baby shower instead of when baby arrives, not both xxx

 

[donnalou]

My friend had one last year it was great fun but I wont be having one, I don't like the idea of people feeling that they have to buy you something for the baby shower which they open in front of everyone so has to be something decent and then buy you another present when baby arrives.

i think generally they buy for the baby shower instead of when baby arrives, not both xxx

Do they?
I think we all bought twice for my friend, in that case I would much rather have pressies once I've had the baby x

 

[CanadaMom]

I'm in Canada and yes it is quite common here to have a shower. Usually someone else plans it and throws it for you. my mother in law is already talking about throwing one!! it's a fun way to have all your friends and family together. I've had fun at all the showers i've been to for other people but am nervous about my own as i hate being the center of attention - i get embarrassed at the thought of people watching me open gifts! i had no idea this was mostly a north america tradition!

 

[Mummy Bean]

I know my bessie mate is throwing us one in Jan, but this is the first baby in the family and in our group of friends.

Cant wait

xx

 

[Leids]

In the US it's typically someone else throwing you the party, I don't know anyone who has suggested the idea themselves. Sometimes they're surprise parties and sometimes they're not. The baby showers I've been to have all been surprise (work related) and they were around the time the mom was 6-7 months along. As far as I know, no one really buys anything for the baby after they're born except maybe a stuffed animal just to be nice.

 

[1982emmac]

my friends threw me one before i had my first baby, i didn't know what I was having and knew people would want to buy the baby presents when it arrived so i just wanted to have a party etc and play games, so possibly defeats the purpose of a shower?! people still bought me presents namely things for baby like unisex things like hats and vests and I also received some pressies for me such as posh stretch mark cream and book on motherhood.

Then when my friend was pregnant my other friend and i threw her a shower, we all chipped in a fiver for a cath kidston change bag she wanted and played games and ate cake.

i definitely think they are becoming more and more common and are a really nice idea for making pregnant friend feel special, not for giving gifts etc. i would never throw myself one and have heard people doing that. one girl at work received vouchers and flowers when she left then invited us all to her baby shower the next week!

 

[mrsthomas623]

A baby shower is more of a celebration of a couple's first baby. Yes, you bring gifts but it is not like us US/Canadian women expect our aunts, cousins and friends to go and buy our crib or other big ticket items, usually its along the lines of clothes or bath supplies, sheets, etc.

Women do not throw their own showers and typically it is only for the first baby or maybe if the mom has a large age gap between her children.

 

[Skippy54]

I'm from wales and I threw one for my sister last year, and this year she's arranges one for me! Mine will be slightly different though, I'm being talen for a day out of shopping, lunch and pampering xx