Whether you’re a parent-to-be or have graduated to actual parenthood, here are some party ideas to celebrate the milestones
Perhaps this goes without saying but we’ll say it anyway: Babies are a cause for celebration! With a first baby, especially, it’s time to get out the streamers and balloons, order a cake or two, and have a party! And the great thing about babies is that they give you many chances to have fun get-togethers – even if they’re months away from making their appearance. This guide highlights some parties you can throw both before and after your brand-new bundle comes into the world.
Before baby arrives
When your baby is on the way, there are parties that can get you and your loved ones in a festive mood for their arrival. They include:
Baby shower
A baby shower is a must for showering the baby-to-be (and mom-to-be) with gifts, and it can be as simple as having a few close friends over for a brunch or a full-fledged, lavish shindig. If you’re looking to throw a party with a theme, the sky’s pretty much the limit. From “Peter Pan” to “rainbows” to “dinosaurs,” here are some fun ideas to consider. And, of course, a baby shower isn’t complete without games, and there are several you and your guests can play, including:
- Who’s Who? Local Edition – Before the party, you’ll need your guests to send you a baby picture of themselves. Then everyone will have to guess who’s who.
- Who’s Who? Celebrity Edition – Before the party, go online to find pictures of celebrity babies and their parents and see if your guests can match them up correctly. (You can also use baby pictures of the celebrities themselves if you can find them.)
- Baby Bottle Chugging Contest – Fill bottles with milk, water, juice (or perhaps something a little harder), and see how much people can chug in a minute.
- Poop Inspector – A classic baby shower game, this involves melting different candy bars in the microwave and having people guess what they are. For extra grossness, put them in diapers.
Gender reveal
While gender reveal parties have gotten some backlash recently, this doesn’t mean you can’t have one. You just may not want to throw one that involves pyrotechnics. Fortunately, there are loads of other things you can do, such as:
- Have an “election” – As guests arrive, ask them to vote on whether they think the baby will be a boy or a girl, and keep tabs on a pad or chalkboard. If you want, you can have prizes ready for the people who guess correctly.
- Guess the baby name –This works like the election, but instead of votes, your guests will write down a name. You can then read them out before revealing the baby’s gender – and perhaps if somebody got the name right.
- Piñata – Sure, you can pop balloons, but it may be a lot more fun for everybody if there’s a little more action before the big reveal. Get a gender-neutral piñata and fill it with either pink or blue candies and let guests take turns whacking it.
After baby arrives
While things will be hectic for a while after your baby is born, you can’t forget about celebrating your precious gift, and you can do this in different ways. They include:
Baby blessing
If you’re a religious person, you may already have a ritual planned for your baby after the birth, such as a christening, baptism, or naming ceremony. You don’t have to be religious, however, to have a baby blessing. While this can have some spiritual elements, it doesn’t have to. This could include:
- Reciting a favorite poem or excerpt from a cherished book
- Reading vows as parents, similar to those in a wedding ceremony
- Passing down a family heirloom like a baby blanket
First birthday
Your baby’s first birthday is a major milestone, which is why it calls for a major party. And while you can go as lowkey or as traditional as you like, don’t be afraid to get a little crazy! Whatever your little guy or gal likes (or seems to like), you can make that the theme. This could include “space,” “unicorns,” “trucks,” or many other cute ideas.
Of course, we can’t talk about a first birthday party without mentioning smash cakes. If you don’t know about these, they’re basically small, personal cakes that get placed in front of the guest of honor so he or she can – as the name implies – smash it with their fingers, face, or anything else handy. The number one rule with a smash cake: Have your phone or camera ready so you don’t miss a second of the adorable messiness.
Let us make your life with baby easier
Whether you decide to have one or all of these parties, the important thing is to have fun. As a new or soon-to-be parent, it can be easy to get stressed out. This is why if you want to celebrate but don’t have a ton of time or energy, you should consider asking a friend or family member to help out.
You should also look for baby products that can make your life a lot easier, and we have them. These include simple-to-assemble and portable bassinets and playpens. (And if you’re the one putting together a party for the parents, either of these would make a great gift!)