Do UK women have baby showers?

[aaaaa]

A couple of things about showers here in the US:

- Gifts are generally bought for the shower instead of after the baby is born. If someone gets you a gift for the shower, usually they will not buy you another gift later. I actually prefer the early gifts since it will give you an idea of what you have left to buy after the shower and before the baby arrives.

- It is actually not all that common for people to buy you big ticket items for the shower. As someone else mentioned, it is usually things like cute outfits, bath items, slings, etc. While often people will go off of a registry, many times they do not (and just buy you something cute they come across in a store). Sometimes, family members or close friends may buy you larger items or go in together to purchase larger items. Generally that is not expected though- so you do still get to/have to do a lot of shopping for yourself usually.

(With that said, I guess it also depends on what your social circle is. I am sure that wealthier people with wealthier friends will expect larger gifts)...


Unfortunately, I live a long way away from my family and friends back "home," so they will not be able to throw me a shower. Some friends/coworkers where I live will be throwing me one though, and I am so excited and touched

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

i went to my friends baby shower and honestly it was a bit boring and awkward as most of the girls didn't know each other :/ we just sat and ate food lol. i personally dont want one, i wouldnt mind having mine and OH's family getting together after the baby is born though but i want no gifts i prefer buying things myself lol.

I'm with you, I've decided I definitely don't want one! Lol. I'm not a sociable person, I don't have many close friends, I imagine my mum and MIL will buy me something nice but I don't want anything from anyone else lol...I don't like people and the last thing I want is people at my house plus I hate being watched while I open things. OH's family do it at every xmas and birthday, everyone sits and watches everyone else open stuff, it's sooooooo cringey, I hate it...not every present will be amazing and that's fine but when being forced to show your pleased face with everything you open so's not to offend anyone argh I hate it. Lol. So there you go, I don't want one I'm looking forward to doing my own shopping

 

[discoclare]

I had a shower (I live in London), and I threw one for my best friend in May. I'm really surprised that UK ladies are saying it isn't common over here as everyone I know who has had a baby recently has had one! I mean it wasn't common 10 years ago but I would say it certainly is now. I've been to maybe 4 or 5 in the last year I think.

 

[pooch]

i'm in the US and don't mind having a party with my friends and relatives but I'm not expecting them to buy everything for me. i'm not going to register for anything expensive but need to register, my mom said you have to leave some stuff for us to buy for you! it's kind of a what goes around comes around sort of thing, you go to everyone's showers then they come to yours so it should even out in the end.

 

[littlebird28]

I wouldn't personally have one tbh feel abit like it could tempt fate and I dunno its not really very english! LOL and I like buying my own stuff!!! xxx

The great thing about a shower is that you make a registry online with everything you want, so you don't get stuff you don't need. You go to the store and they give you a little scanner, you scan everything you want, and your friends and family go buy it for you. Pretty genius if you ask me!

 

[littlebird28]

The other thing is to not have it at your house- lots of people have it at restaurants. Its also not unusual to have a co-ed shower with your husband and his friends, too. Throw in cocktails and music and it turns into a regular ol' party. You also don't have to open the presents in front of people- lots of people put on the invitations to leave the present unwrapped, and you leave it on a table the whole party so everyone can see what you got.

A few games! These can get pretty fun if you have both male and female friends, cocktails and music at your party.

1) Guess Mom's Tummy Size: (Materials- String or yarn and scissors) Have each woman pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mother-To-Be's center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-To-Be's actual tummy. Give a prize to the woman who is the most close! This is a baby shower favorite.

2) Pin The Sperm on the Egg - Check out this wonderfully funny game called Pin The Sperm on the Egg. Just like the old fashion game of pin the tail on the donkey.

3.) Bobbing for Nipples
Instead of apples, try bobbing for nipples. This tends to be a hit with the guys and is pretty hysterical to watch!
Fill a large tub with water and drop in some baby bottle nipples. Have the willing participants take turns trying to grab one in their teeth. You can also time the game and see how many nipples each person can nab in a certain amount of time, then give a prize to the winner.

Sorry, this one is just gross, but I've played it at every baby shower I've been to

4.) Delectably Dirty Diapers
Buy a variety of chocolate bars (for example, Milky Way, Snickers, 100 Grand, Baby Ruth, 3 Musketeers).
Right before the shower, melt each one down in the microwave and smear it into a disposable diaper. You'll be asking the guests to examine the diapers and figure out what types of candy bars they've been dirtied with. Be forewarned: Some guests will be pretty grossed out! Make sure you number the diapers and keep track of which bar is where. During the shower, set out the diapers for the guests to examine and smell. (If you want to make the guessing a little easier, you can also display the candy bar wrappers.) Have each guest write down a numbered list indicating which type of chocolate bar is in which diaper. The one with the most correct guesses wins.

Another fun game for the guys is to fill bottles with juice and see who can chug it the fastest. The winners of all of these games get prizes. Sorry for the few UK ladies who've had "boring" and "awkward" baby showers, can't say that I've ever been to one of those!

 

[XxCalxX]

i work in a busy town centre pub/restaurant and as i have worked there for 2 and a hlf years full time most of my friends are those that i work with,i had a baby shower a few weeks ago as the pub gets really busy over the christmas period so not everyone would be able to book it off if i had it later.. we just went for a meal at Frankie and Bennies, i didnt ask for any gifts but was overwhelmed as got given loads of presents for baby

 

[Pocketmonster]

i went to my friends baby shower and honestly it was a bit boring and awkward as most of the girls didn't know each other :/ we just sat and ate food lol. i personally dont want one, i wouldnt mind having mine and OH's family getting together after the baby is born though but i want no gifts i prefer buying things myself lol.

I'm with you, I've decided I definitely don't want one! Lol. I'm not a sociable person, I don't have many close friends, I imagine my mum and MIL will buy me something nice but I don't want anything from anyone else lol...I don't like people and the last thing I want is people at my house plus I hate being watched while I open things. OH's family do it at every xmas and birthday, everyone sits and watches everyone else open stuff, it's sooooooo cringey, I hate it...not every present will be amazing and that's fine but when being forced to show your pleased face with everything you open so's not to offend anyone argh I hate it. Lol. So there you go, I don't want one I'm looking forward to doing my own shopping

I'm with you. I don't like the idea of the shower and the expectancy of gifts and registries. I chose to get pregnant and I don't expect others to provide and I also love doing my own shopping.

I am however having a spa day with a couple of close friends just to have some girlie time and relax.

We are having a welcome baby gathering once we are home and settled and this will be open house to friends and both families

x x x

 

[Noirin]

it is here all my friend have had one, im in belfast! x

 

[sarahloulou]

I literally responded with "isn't that something American women do" when relative offered to do mine but having said that we organised one in 2006 for a friend of mine, though that is the only one i have ever been to. But I am having one now organised by my other halves sis in law, so its all out of my hands now, I just get to enjoy it! X

 

[jenniferttc1]

Think we are generally comin more americanised here. Ive been to loadsa baby showers, n i noticed someone mentioned registering for gifts, we can actually do that now too, mothercare n mamas n papas have online registaries. i wasnt sure wether to register as felt a bit cheeky but soooo many ppl have been askin me and my family what they should buy so im gonna make one n just have gifts rangin from cheap ones (bout £5) onwards so i dnt feel like im bein cheeky an will only tell ppl who ask about it. I love american traditions, they seem to make special occassions so much more special.
Would also like to know what games US ladies know of? xxx

We are playing how big is mommys belly, where everyone cuts off a piece of string of how big they think around the center of the belly is, and the closes to get it wins a prize.
We are also playing baby shower bingo, the guest right down on the bingo cards what they think mommawill get at the baby shower and as the mom to be opens the gifts, if its on their card they mark it off and whoever gets bingo first wins a prize.
There are also games like who can drink the fastest out of the bottle, a dirty diaper game where you guess the chocolate bar in the diaper.
They are tons of games to play