SHOWERED WITH LOVE

If you’re planning a baby shower , LeeAnn Yare has tips to make your party run smoothly The date and time: Six to eight weeks out from the due date seems about right for a baby shower – before you become too tired and scratchy! Invitations: Simple, ready-made invitations from a stationery shop are easy and hassle-free. Stick on wee magnets so the guests can pop the invitations on the fridge door! The food: Finger food is always a winner – it’s easy to eat and mingle at the same time. Don’t be scared to ask guests to bring something along, and remember to provide a non-alcoholic drink option and make sure food options are safe for pregnant people. The location: It’s nice to host it at home, but you could always use a friend or family member’s house, or reserve a large table at your favorite café where there are no dishes to do afterwards. Gorgeous Gifts There’s so much to choose from! Here are some possibilities: Play mats, baby books, photo albums, mobiles, blankets, a gorgeous teddy, wooden letters for the baby’s name, cute clothing, and practical items such as Treasures nappies, linen, bibs, and bath time essentials will be welcomed by new parents. Several family members or friends can get together and buy a bigger budget item such as a car seat, high chair or bassinet. Games and Activities Guess the circumference of the mum-to-be’s bump. Everyone cuts a length of string. The closest one wins! Guess the date and time of the birth along with the baby’s birth weight. Ask guests to bring along a baby photo of them and see if you can guess who’s who! See who can write down the most baby names all beginning with one letter of the alphabet. Celebrity baby quiz: cut out pictures from magazines and paste those on a board, the guests have to match up the baby faces with the mothers’ faces. Provide a plain white singlet and some fabric pens for each guest, and have them create a special or funny message such as ‘the best thing since sliced bread’.