Diaper Showers
A Creative Baby Shower Idea for the Mom Who Has Everything
There's no need to skip baby showers for second-time moms! Diaper showers celebrate the arrival of a new little one while providing practical gifts.
Most moms are already stocked up on baby gear by the time their second child comes into the picture. Strollers, changing tables, even bottles - they've got it all. And this can make it tough when it comes time to buy a gift to welcome their newest addition to the world.
The answer? Diaper showers! A alternative to the traditional baby shower, these celebrations provide moms and babies with something they will need for a very long time - disposable diapers. Read on for some great tips on hosting a diaper shower.
First Things First: Decorations and Invitations
Decorations for a diaper shower are very similar to those of a regular baby shower. Traditional "boy" or "girl" themes are suitable, or the "diaper" theme can be played up with appropriate accessories. For example, unused diapers could be strung up like streamers around the room. Brands with pretty colors, like Huggies and Pampers, are especially festive. Decorators should take care to not stretch out or tear the diapers, so the mother-to-be can still use them.
Themed invitations might be made from construction paper in the shape of a diaper pin, or include a picture of a baby in a diaper. The invitation should inform guests of the diaper shower theme. After listing the time, place and date, the invitation might read: "In lieu of a baby gift, please bring a package of disposable diapers in any size from 1 to 4." Since most babies only wear newborn diapers for a couple of weeks, buying them in larger sizes will ensure that all of the diapers get used.
Great Diaper Shower Games
There are quite a few diaper-related games that would work well at a diaper shower. Guests can divide into teams and race to see who can diaper a baby or a stuffed animal quickest. If the mother has a good sense of humor, a game called "What's in the Diaper?" is often fun. For this game, various chocolate candy bars should be melted in the microwave and smeared onto the inside of a clean diaper. Guests take turns sniffing each diaper and guessing which candy bar is in which diaper.
Ideas for Gifts from the Party Hostess
It is appropriate for the hostess of the diaper shower to provide a gift that will complement the others' gifts and fill in any gaps that are left. A few days before the shower, the hostess should call around to the guests and find out what size diapers they plan to bring to the shower. If any sizes are left out, the hostess can then buy a package or two of diapers in that size. It is also a good idea to put together a small basket of diapering accessories, like baby powder, baby wipes, Desitin diaper cream, and grocery coupons for diapers.
Alternatives for Cloth Diapering Moms
Moms who cloth diaper can still have diaper showers too! Instead of asking guests to bring packages of disposable diapers, the hostess can simply ask them to bring the mom's preferred type of cloth diaper in various sizes, or cloth diaper accessories like plastic pants. Since cloth diapering moms do a lot of laundry, a bottle of perfume- and dye-free laundry detergent might even be a good gift.
