Adoption Showers

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Baby and child showers are a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of a new member of the family! Here are some suggestions for planning your shower.

Themes ~A theme helps give a shower focus, so invitations, food and games can be easily coordinated. Themes also help guests know what to give to the new parents-to-be. There are many clever ways to announce and plan a shower for a child joining your family through adoption. Below are several themes that can help you in planning your shower:

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• Nursery ~Throw a shower based around the new angel’s little piece of heaven. Using the colors and ideas from the nursery in the party theme is always a smart favorite.
• Office ~ Many co-workers would love to help you celebrate this special time.A lunchtime feast or pot-luck would be a perfect way to share the joy. Everyone can pitch in for a group gift or buy treats for when mom and/or dad returns to work.
• Potluck ~A potluck party where everyone brings a signature dish in baby bowls can be ultra-convenient (especially if there are more than 20 guests) and full of fun.
• Garden ~ Host the party out on the patio, in the cool summer breeze, with gifts of pint-sized garden gear such as a watering can, flowers and a handshovel.
• Coed ~ Bring along the boys for a cool coed shower. Here are a few helpful tips:
  1. Keep the invitations unisex such as fill-in shower notes and make sure there is more than one guy attending - no one wants to feel outnumbered.
  2. Have the couple register online so shopping is quick and easy.
  3. For party favors, keep men on the mind with fatherly advice books and sports.
  4. Have everyone jot down thoughts and reflections in a journal. Thiscreates excitement within the group and starts everyone thinking aboutthe big day.
  5. Play in-the-mood music; this will avoid any temptations to turn onthe sports game of the day and serve plenty of yummy food!

Invitations ~The excitement starts to build when invitations are made and sent out! The big day is getting close at hand; so try to send out invitations 4 to 6 weeks before the party day. Guests should be informed where the new parents are registered and if there is a group gift available, whether it is included with the invitation or you tell them when they RSVP. Many times adoptions happen so fast that there isn’t time to plan the shower before the great event, so host a party after the arrival where everyone can meet the new addition. Be sure to send an invitation to the new parents or save one for them to add to their child's memory book.

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