Baby Showers - Springfield,VA

C., I don't think it is rude. I threw my own shower the 2nd time b/c none of my friends offered. I missed my first one b/c I was on bedrest and was going to have at least one. LOL. I think you will be fine.
A.

Just to remind everyone about a baby shower, it's not about the gifts. It's about celebrating a new life. An addition to a family. It deserves to be celebrated and you can always leave it up to the guests as to whether or not they want to bring gifts or tell them not to. And for the people who assume you'll have everything you'll need for a second baby, think again. There's lots of things you need even for a same sex baby. I say if you want a party, then throw yourself the darn party! The people that love you will come, they'll have a great time and everyone is happy. :)

Hi C.,

I don't think that it's rude to host your own shower, especially if you simply ask you local friends to help. (No one should care about the host anyway) Just ask one or two friends that love to party to do the games (you can select and they simply execute) and ask someone else to simply get a head count of RSVP's. You and maybe two others can bring (bought or made) food. BUT if you aren't comfortable doing it then don't. I plan on having a welcome home party for my next child so that everyone can meet him/her, I'll have someone help with food and the invites will specify that gifts aren't required. I plan on enjoying myself and I'm sure my guests will too, regardless of who's hosting. Good Luck & God Bless.

I know that times have changed, but yes, I think it would be wrong to throw your own shower. Personally, I don't even attend showers for second babies - I wait for the baby to be born and send a gift at that time.

If your friends ask about it more than once, I would just say that nobody was able to host one this time around and maybe they will offer to do it - if not, then I would just drop it.

I would have to say it isn't usually appropriate to throw your own shower. If the baby is the same sex as the first baby, they may not expect you to have one at all. Some people do throw showers for each baby though, but not the person having the baby. If noone steps up to have a shower for you, you can send out birth announcements, or perhaps, make a webpage about the new baby that happens to include a link to where you are registered. If that doesn't work out, maybe you could try throwing a "meet the baby" party. Best of luck!

I am wanting to know how old everyone is that keeps saying times have changed...I am 29, had my first daughter at 24, two children total. At my age (which I am hoping isn't "old"), I would still think it odd to throw my own baby shower. If I had a friend that did so, I suppose I wouldn't care too much, but to throw one for myself I would feel weird. I hold the same view too, that people have baby showers for the first baby. I did go to a baby shower once for a woman's 3rd baby, but she had thought they wouldn't have more kids, and therefore no longer had any of her baby things. I would also agree that a get together to welcome the new baby is a good idea. Wether you throw a party or not, those friends and family members that want to give you something special for your new baby will do so anyways. I don't think you should feel obligated to have to throw one for yourself if no one has stepped up and offered.
K.

In all honesty, I have only heard of having a second baby shower if the second child is multiples or if he/she is being born much later than the first child. For instance, you have a 15 year old and are now expecting again. Otherwise, a baby shower is not usually given. If your friends want to give gifts, they should do so without a shower being given to show their acknowledgment of the new baby arriving.

How about throwing a 'He-Man' Baby Shower for your husband this time? The last one was for you, right?
It's one way to get around it.
My sister did this and it was a great success.

In my time, mothers were only ever given a shower for the first baby, because people used baby materials for subsequent babies. They considered that more gifts are not necessary when the parents have items from the first child. It was also considered to be rude to expect one for any baby. We looked at it as an opportunity for friends to express love for the new parents, because the family would give presents to a new mother as a matter of family duty.

Times have changed, but I'm not sure they have moved into the level of someone inviting people to a party for the purpose of giving them gifts, especially if they have older children. If your circle of friends is comfortable with this idea, just like throwing your own birthday party, then it would be OK. But I would not include people who are older unless you sort of "feel them out" discretely, because they may feel that you are overstepping your bounds by doing that.

If you are religious and of a Christian denomination that performs infant baptism, then a party to celebrate the baptism would be appropriate and give people the opportunity to gift you. If you are not religious, then the welcome home party is a good idea too, a way to celebrate the event of a new life.

It is not rude to throw your own baby shower but because this is not your first child it's ok. I think you should throw your own baby shower but ask your close friend or friends help out. I could offer advice as well I have allot of ideas.

Hope that helps
TB

Yes, I would say it's rude to throw your own shower. If several friends are saying they want to be invited, simply tell them there is no shower and maybe one of them will step up to throw one.

My opinion is that throwing your own shower is a bit tacky. I am not familiar with people having a shower for a 2nd baby. I would think you already have most of what you need from the first baby.

Hello C.,

It is not rude to plan your own baby shower. If you know for sure no one is throwing you one, go ahead and throw one. I had plenty of friends a family members who plan their own shower.

Best of luck and blessings!!

Honestly most people do not even have a second shower so I wouldn't be too upset that no one has offered. My group of friends usually just have a 'necessities' shower on our Wed girls night for the second baby.

I find htat it is usually family and closest friends that throw a shower, as it can get expensive, and you are still expected to give a gift as well. I had a shower for my now 2.5 year old, who was my second child. But my first was 10 years older and from my first marriage. When my now 7 month old was coming, I did not expect to have a shower. I do not think times have changed that much, a shower for your first is expected to give the opportunity to get you set up with the major things you will need.
Just let your "young" friends know when the baby is born and I would think they will send a gift then. And as someone else stated if you are religious, you may have a ceremony a few months later as well.
K.

I personally think it would be in poor taste to throw you own shower. As in, Hello, I'm having a baby, please shower me with gifts. Um, no. Especially not for a second child. But then again, I never had a shower for my wedding or babies, so maybe I'm a little bitter! ;)

I do not think that it is rude to throw your own baby shower but I do feel that regardless of their ages and lifestyles on either side your friends should be more than willing to give you a shower. My husband is older than me as well I am 24 and he is 33. When I carried our daughter all of my friends who are young as well were fighting to throw mine. I think that maybe you should communicate with some of your friends and just throw it out there and then if no one steps up to the plate then you should consider it. It is not as fulfilling when you have to do it yourself. Goodluck!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I was part of the "planning committee" of my babyshower and I do not think there is anything wrong with you throwing a shower that will celebrate your new baby. If you feel strange about it, just ask your husband to be the host. Also, I do not anyone that has had more than one child that did not have a baby shower for the new baby. At the end, you should do whatever makes you feel comfortable. Hope this helps!

I know they say that "times haven't changed much" however, I don't think that having one baby shower is sufficient since your children will be almost 4 years apart and most of the clothing and other essentials would be worn. However, I don't think you should throw your own. Not necessarily that I find it pressumtious or rude, but too much work for you to do. So...is your husband willing to organize it with the help of a female relative of course. If to no avail....just discuss the need for more shopping with your husband before the baby is born. Good luck

Maybe I'm just naive, but I thought baby showers were for your first child. I've never been to one for a second, third, et al. The thought is to get things (hopefully) for parents who do not have baby stuff. Once you've had a child, presumably you've got the basics already.

I don't think it is bad to give your own shower I was in the same boat 6 months ago all my emediate family and best friends live out mof state except for a cousin and an aunt they offered to help but I did almost everything myself along with phone help from my mom. If no one is offering and you would like a shower to celebrate your second child. Then go ahead you might be surprised with what help you do get. Good luck and congrats hope it works out.

I do not think it is rude to throw your own baby shower. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I didn't have anybody volunteer to throw a shower for me, so I organized everything myself, with help from my husband. We actally invited entire families, not just women, and we had over 100 people turn out for the event! It was truly an event for everyone, and looking back, I wouldn't change it if I had the chance. I felt better that my husband took part in the festivities, as well as all of our friends. Maybe this is an non-traditional outlook, but it worked for us. Good luck!

In my opinion, yes. I believe that if you already have a 3 year old, then chances are that you have all the essentials needed for a newborn. If this baby is a different sex than your previous child, then I would imagine the most you'd absolutely need would be different clothes.

If someone else offers to throw you a shower, than that's different, and kind of them, but I would certainly never expect another shower when you already have a young child. Think about the gifts...what would you register for? What do you really need? If your last child were born 14 years ago, than that's a different matter, but I'm fairly confident you probably have most of the essentials already and don't really need a shower.

If you wanted to have a get-together with friends before the baby is born, then by all means organize one, but don't do it under the guise of shower or expect gifts.

I hope you don't think me too harsh, but I'm also expecting my second child after having my first 2.5 years ago, and I definitely don't expect or want anyone to go to any trouble for a shower for me. I hope this helps!