Baby Gift Supply - Baby Shower Gift Ideas Helpful Hints for Hosting a Great Baby Shower: Planning a Shower: According to tradition, close friends and family members will usually host the party.  Office coworkers may also choose to plan a shower.  You might want to consider a theme to make decorating easier (teddy bears, storks, toys, seasons, or the theme of the baby's nursery).   Parties are usually planned 2-3 months in advance, however some might choose to wait until the baby is born. Invitations should be mailed at least 3 weeks prior to the shower date and contain an RSVP.   The Big Day: As guests come in, have them address an envelope to themselves.  Put these in a basket and pull them out for a prize.  The mother-to-be will greatly appreciate having the envelopes filled out and ready for her thank you cards. When most guests have arrived, have everyone introduce themselves and identify how they know the mother-to-be.  Name tags are also helpful. A few games may be played to break the ice and relax everyone.  One popular game is Match the Baby Picture.  When invitations are mailed, ask each person to bring a picture of themselves as babies.  Arrange them with numbers, and have everyone match names to their respective number.  The guest with the most numbers wins.  Another possibility is a game called scrambled.  The object is to unscramble baby-related words (for instance apidre = diaper).   Opening the Gifts: Assign at least one person to be the photographer.  You might hand out a few disposable cameras for candid shots. Assign another guest to be the recorder, making a list of the gifts and givers. This is a good time to pass around an "advice" book; ask each guest to write down helpful hints to the new mother. Serving the Food: Light snacks and finger foods are usually perfect for a shower.  If you are using a theme, incorporate the food into it. A simple sherbert punch can be prepared with only 7-Up and sherbet.  Use the color(s) of sherbet that compliment the theme. Remember:  Baby showers are meant to be fun!  Plan ahead, relax and have a good time