What is a baby shower or gender reveal party? How to organize it in the best way!

The baby shower is a party held for the expectant mother and dedicated to the unborn baby, a tradition that comes directly from the USA and is becoming increasingly popular here in Italy.

In the United States, the baby shower or gender reveal party is a true tradition. It’s a celebration in a warm, friendly atmosphere, often organized at home and surrounded by loved ones, where everyone shares in the joy of the baby’s upcoming arrival.

A baby shower is usually organized around the seventh month of pregnancy , or a little closer to the due date, when there is little time left until delivery and the baby’s sex is usually already known. It’s a special occasion during which guests give the expectant mother and her baby many useful and fun gifts, and it’s also a wonderful moment of pampering for the mom-to-be as she prepares for birth. The party can be organized by the mother herself or by her friends—perhaps as a surprise—or by hiring professionals for a real WOW! effect!

Baby shower: what is the origin of its name and who can attend the party

Regarding the origin of the name, there are various theories. What is certain is that the term shower literally refers to a shower. shower of gifts , which are given to the parents by the guests during the party and are mainly intended for the baby .

In America, the baby shower is a true institution, and tradition has it that this celebration is reserved for women only—although in recent years, men have also started to take part in the festivities. So, there are no fixed rules for organizing a baby shower: it can be for women only, for both parents, or extended to relatives, close friends, and colleagues.

Baby shower: how to organize the buffet, sweet or savory?

The first thing to think about is the buffet . Among the various options, you can choose a snack or breakfast spread with cakes, muffins, cupcakes, fruit skewers, and many other colorful sweets like candies, lollipops, and marshmallows—all, of course, themed. Or, if you prefer savory foods, you can plan a cocktail-style buffet full of snacks like chips and savory biscuits, along with some refreshing drinks. If your baby shower takes place around dinnertime, a variety of pizzas—cut into slices and arranged on the table—can be the ideal solution.

Baby shower: which decorations to choose for a perfect green-themed party

For the setup there are no strict rules. If the buffet table is spacious, you can decorate it with the baby’s colors—pink for a girl or blue for a boy—or, if you prefer something less traditional, choose the mom-to-be’s favorite colors. If the available space is only enough for the buffet, add an extra table for decorations and for displaying the gifts you receive.

For a grand and unforgettable baby shower, you can let your imagination run wild and express your style with a touch of care for the planet and the environment ; an extra green touch will be appreciated later on by your little one, too.

Balloons, banners, centerpieces, tablecloths, place cards, tags, napkins, tableware—everything you need for a stylish baby shower. Whenever possible, choose natural and biodegradable materials or recycled paper products; a few small sacrifices won’t spoil the party! One idea could be to make a diaper cake, for example using our line with a reduced environmental impact. It’s very impressive and super easy to make—and once the baby arrives, a few extra diapers are always useful!

Yes to floral arrangements paired with decorative objects made of natural materials such as glass, candles, and stones.

Baby shower: games and original ideas to liven up the party

The games you play during a baby shower can be related to the baby theme, although more classic activities such as board games, karaoke, charades, and many others are, of course, welcome too.

Più insoliti e coinvolgenti per gli invitati e i futuri genitori sono sicuramente i giochi e le attività a tema bambino!

Some original ideas:

  1. buy plenty of plain white bodysuits and fabric markers for guests to decorate and personalize —a sweet keepsake for the mom-to-be, who for a long time won’t be able to do without a bodysuit!

  2. The diaper change area is a must-have among the most fun baby shower games, and watching men and women—parents and non-parents alike—take on diaper changing on a doll will be a moment to capture forever.

  3. The now well-known game names-places-cities in the "newborn welcome party" version : just replace the traditional categories with baby-themed ones, such as baby names, baby toys, baby clothes, cartoon characters, and so on.

  4. Guess the size of the mom-to-be’s belly, or guess what’s inside the hospital bag—these are other fun ways to enjoy your baby shower with ease.

Small keepsakes for the guests at the baby shower

Finally, you can come up with some little keepsakes to give to your guests , such as pins, keychains, or sweet cookies, all personalized and packaged for the occasion. They’ll be small gifts for guests to take home as a sweet reminder of the day, ending the party with a smile.

So for this occasion, you can truly let your imagination run wild, celebrate with all the people who are important to you, and enjoy this very special moment.

Frequently asked questions

In which month is the baby shower held?

The baby shower or gender reveal party is usually organized around the seventh month of pregnancy , or a little closer to the birth, when there is little time left until the delivery and the sex of the baby is usually already known.

Why is it called a baby shower?

There are various theories about the origin of the name, but what is certain is that the term shower literally refers to a gift shower , those that parents receive from guests during the party, mainly intended for their baby-bump.

Who should organize the baby shower?

In America, the baby shower is a true institution, and tradition dictates that this celebration is reserved for women only, although in recent years men have also started to participate in the festivities. There are no fixed rules for organizing a baby shower, which can therefore be arranged for women only, for both parents, or extended to relatives, close friends, and colleagues.

Who is attending the baby shower?

There is no rule, of course, whoever you want! All the people you care about, relatives, friends, colleagues.

What do you do at a baby shower?

This is a special occasion where guests give the expectant mother and her baby many useful and fun gifts, as well as being a special moment of pampering for the expectant mother before childbirth . You can organize fun activities for the guests to see who guesses the baby's gender or challenges for the dads, such as diaper changing! Discover all the fun activities below.