Parenting & New Baby Advice Blog

Archive for the ‘It's A Boy’ Category

Know a mom to be who is having a boy? You can throw her a fantastic baby shower that focuses on her little bundle of baby boy joy.

Of course, blue is the color that most people associate with baby boys. You can use blue in your design scheme but it doesn’t have to be the plain old powder blue everyone’s going to expect. Make your shower come alive with shades of navy blue, teal, electric blue, or even a faint ice blue. Layer colors in different hues of blue and your party will look more grown up and chic.

One fun way to add blue is to do polka dots. You can do navy blue polka dots against a brown or grey background for a sophisticated look. This color scheme is especially appropriate for a modern shower for a very hip and young mom. Keeping the colors from veering off into pastel land will mean that you can do a lot more with the décor.

Hang navy and silver or gray streamers, use navy napkins with the new plastic “silverware” that’s silver colored. It looks just like the real thing, so much so that everyone will be asking you where they should put the silverware instead of throwing it away. Also, you could float some silver balloons.

For invites, send a navy blue coaster (make them out of paper or buy paper ones) and stamp the face of a baby or a silhouette of a pregnant woman. Stamp the image off center and then write your details on the side or on the back. Punch a hole and string a silky ribbon through it.

Keep your high-end blue theme going with a silk table cloth. No, you don’t have to go out and buy an expensive table covering. Instead, head to a fabric store and buy a long piece of synthetic silk (shiny) fabric. These fabrics are cheap and when you drape it across the food table, it will look very festive. Have some mercury glass silver candle sticks at varying heights. Bring in silver candles that are very chunky and different thicknesses. There’s your tablescape right there.

When it comes time to plan the foods and beverages, go with a blueberry mocktail. Since the mom to be won’t be drinking, invent a cocktail that focuses on blueberries and serve in plastic or real martini glasses. You can combine yogurt and berries to make smoothies or berries and ice cream for decadent ice cream drinks. Add a splash of clear soda and you can have blueberry floats. Get creative with the accents on the glasses. You can do a sparkly blue and silver star on a toothpick or a cute baby face.

Play jazz or blues or classical music to set the mood for a funky good time. Do the unexpected with little touches. Wrap up a bunch of small boxes that each contain gourmet cookies for your guests to take home. Use blue and silver polka dot paper so your wrapped favors will look elegant on the table.

Depart from the usual and expected little boy baby shower. You don’t have to go with just one shade of blue, remember. Set the tone for a mod and hip baby shower that everyone can really enjoy.

When entertaining guests at your "It's A Boy" shower, keep the games simple and focus on the guest of honor!  A fun way to do this is to have her leave the room, then come back into the room with a tray full of odds and ends (kitchen gadgets, baby-related items such as pacifiers, a diaper, onesie, lotion).  She can parade around the room for a few minutes, and then must leave.  Ask your guests questions about mom or what she was carrying on the tray - such as "Was she wearing shoes?", "How many rings did she have on?", "Was there a can opener on the tray", etc.  The person who gets the most answers right wins a prize - great prize ideas are lotions, candles or restaurant gift certificates.  Other fun baby shower games include Baby Bingo, Baby Word Scramble, and Guess the Baby - where each guest brings a photo of themselves as a baby and others have to guess who it is.

When sending invitations, be sure to mention to your guests if the mother-to-be is registered at any stores such as Babies R Us, Wal-Mart or Target.  This helps guests (especially those who don't see the mother-to-be on a regular basis) choose items that the new mom really needs.  Upon arrival at the shower, make sure guests are directed to the gift table, or have younger "helpers" in charge of bringing gifts to the table.  If faraway guests are unable to attend the event, advise them to shop online for baby boy gifts that can be shipped directly to you to hold until the shower.

What about an 'It's a Girl' Baby shower?

When planning decorations for your It's A Boy baby shower, it's fun to include all shades of blue.  From tablecloths to candies to balloons and confetti, mix blue stripes with patterns and polka-dots to add variety and a touch of whimsy to the event!  Fill baby boy-themed favor boxes with blue M&M's, jelly beans or Jordan almonds and use them to tie down helium balloons.  Cover your gift table with a paper or plastic tablecloth, then lay out a marker and have guests leave words of wisdom on the table cover.

Keep your party favors tied into your theme with a practical compact mirror or personalized lip balm favor that features the image of an adorable baby boy!  Fill a fancy basket with your favors so guests can grab one on their way out, or ask the new baby's older sibling to pass them out after all guests have arrived.  Stay true to your "It's A Boy" theme by filling the room with blue and ordering your favors to match.

More "Its a Boy" Ideas on this post: It's A Boy Baby Shower

Before you know it, your friend’s home will be filled with snips and snails and puppy dog tails – items certain to indicate a little boy lives there! But before he starts chasing puppies, give him and his mother a fun-filled It’s a Boy baby shower.

The most obvious color choice for your shower decorating is blue – but don’t discount bright red, green or purple – primary colors make a bold statement and add a masculine feel to the shower. If you do decorate in blue, choose varying shades to add depth and variety.

When inviting guests to the shower, include details about where mom is registered so they can shop accordingly. Depending on the time of day your shower is held, you may want to serve dessert only, a light lunch or a full meal. Check with your guest of honor for any recent cravings and serve some of her favorites. You may also want to offer vegetarian choices or sugar-free desserts for guests with special dietary needs.

Pull the shower together with It’s A Boy baby shower games and table centerpieces. Along with the mother-to-be, honor any older siblings-to-be by giving them a special game to host, decorating a chair just for them, or having a special gift to present to them as mom opens all the baby gifts.

Baby Gifts & Gift Baskets offers a number of baby shower favors, personalized  baby boy gifts and shower centerpieces designed to complement a fun “It’s A Boy” shower – we’ll explore them in posts to follow.

More on an "It's a Boy" Baby Shower.