Baby Shower
A gentle afternoon celebration built around the parent-to-be
Plan a baby shower that feels warm and relaxed rather than performed. Get a light brunch or afternoon menu, alcohol-free drinks that feel special, games that do not embarrass anyone, and a timeline that respects what the parent-to-be actually wants.
Countdown
The baby shower timeline
Tick things off as you go — it’s a checklist.
6 weeks before
4 weeks before
2 weeks before
1 week before
Day before
Day of
Day after
Menu ideas
What to serve
- Vegetable & dip boardCold, plant-only, arrival-proof.
- Mini quiches, oven trayBakes in a single tray, reheats without drying if covered.
- Slab frittataBrunch anchor; eats warm or at room temperature.
- Little gem salad with dates, avocado and champagne vinaigretteVinaigrette holds a week; lettuce can wait eight hours. Dress at the table so the leaves stay awake.
- Herbed grain saladMade a day ahead, improves cold, no reheat.
- Bought sourdough, cultured butterDeliberately outsourced. Buys back forty minutes of the day.
- Macerated fruit & citrusNo heat, no dairy, no gluten. The safest close available.
- Olive oil & citrus cakeBaked two days out; keeps better than it does fresh.
- Ginger-lime cooler with cucumber and mintConcentrate keeps 5 days. Sparkling water, cucumber and mint go in at the pour — not the night before.
- Zero-proof house pourNo-alcohol house pour. Batched, chilled, poured like anything else.
Décor ideas
- · A soft colour palette carried through balloons, flowers and napkins.
- · A comfortable chair for the parent-to-be, dressed with a throw.
- · A clothesline of tiny baby clothes pegged across a wall.
- · Fresh flowers in small jars, which guests can take home.
- · A welcome sign with the baby's name or the parents' names.
- · A table for gifts and a guest book near the door.
Things to do
- · Advice cards for the new parents, collected in a box.
- · Guess the baby photo: guests bring their own baby picture.
- · Decorate a onesie or bib with fabric pens.
- · A due-date and weight guessing sheet.
- · Write a note for the baby to open on their first birthday.
- · Opening gifts, with a friend recording each one.
Drinks
- · Ginger-lime cooler with cucumber and mint.
- · Sparkling elderflower lemonade in a dispenser.
- · A mocktail bar with juices, soda and herbs.
- · Iced tea with peach or lemon.
- · Coffee and a selection of teas, including decaf.
Music · Soft, happy and in the background.
- · Acoustic pop covers.
- · Light jazz or bossa nova.
- · Songs the parents love, played gently.
Questions hosts ask
How much food per person for a baby shower?
A shower is usually a light meal. For brunch, plan about 230 g (8 oz) of a main like frittata or quiche and 125 g (4.4 oz) of each side per guest. For afternoon tea, as a rule of thumb, four to six small savoury items and two or three sweet ones per guest is plenty.
When should a baby shower be held?
Most showers are held four to eight weeks before the due date, when the parent-to-be is still comfortable and there is time to use the gifts. Some families prefer a gathering after the baby arrives, which is equally lovely.
Who hosts a baby shower?
Traditionally a close friend or family member hosts, often with co-hosts. The most important thing is that the parent-to-be is happy with the plan.
Are there foods to avoid at a baby shower?
Pregnant guests are commonly advised to avoid foods such as unpasteurised soft cheeses, cold cured meats, raw or smoked fish and undercooked eggs. Ask the parent-to-be what they are avoiding, and label dishes so everyone can choose.
How long should a baby shower last?
Two to three hours works well: arrivals and food first, games in the middle, gifts and cake at the end.