When to have baby shower?

[amylw1]

my mum organised the shower with my eldest son. i had both male and female friends attend. we played loads of games and had loads to eat, it was all recorded in a book. i was about 7months.

the wording on the invite was something likr "boots is the theme, please wear your when you come. due to having been bought/received many items please dont buy gifts as they are not expected. however if you wish to get something "boots vouchers" would be appreciated so amy can get any little bits that have been forgotten." not every1 brought them and i was greatful to those that had.


my mum died when i was 5weeks pregnant with lil man and therefore i didnt have a baby shower as "no-1 wanted to tread on mums toes, as she had done all the 1st 1". i was abit upset about this. this time i have decided that me and OH are organising it and combining it with a bbq for close friends etc. there will be some silly games as well! we are planning on end of july/beg aug, but if my BP keep going up and PE is decided by docs i may not get 1.

 

[Kota]

I was at one today, it was a co-ed bbq/shower, there were no baby games no tacky decorations, just a bunch of friends sitting around in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine, having a few drinks and somethig to eat. We took a present, but they certainly weren't expected and you could see the appreciation on their faces that we didn't buy yet another 'cute little newborn outfit or soft cuddly toy' (we got them a tommy tub bath thing, 3 rollaway bibs, 2 packs of newborn nappies and 2pks of wipes - all of which were on their gift registry) It was a lovely afternoon and as I didn't know many of the mothers other friends ( I was there more as a friend of the father) I didn't feel uncomfortable trying to make conversation with a bunch of women I didn't know at all, that I also would have had a language barrier with as they were all brazilian!!

Personally for me it will depend greatly on where we are when baby is born, its still something we're talking over but it could be here or in my home town in Australia. Here we really dn't have the room for a shower in our tiny little flat with no yard, so I would be more likely to steal Tigerladies idea of having a 'welcome baby' party that we could have at a local fancy pub. they actually do mothers clubs and playgroups there and are so well catered for kids its crazy!
If we end up moving back to Australia before bubs is born I might possibly have one as I'll have my mum, aunties and all my close girlfriends around again, however it would still be a co-ed, relaxed casual thing...