Is somebody close to you expecting or have they recently become a proud parent? If the answer is yes, take a look at our fool proof guide to planning and hosting the best baby shower in town.

When should I host my baby shower?

A close friend or relative usually hosts the baby shower on behalf of the mum-to-be during late pregnancy, usually a few weeks before the birth itself. This not only allows close family and friends to join in the celebrations, but for them to admire mum’s baby bump too.

Who should I invite?

If you are planning on hosting a baby shower, you’ve probably made your mind up about whom you are going to invite! The host of the shower typically invites close female family and friends of the expectant mum to join them in the celebrations of their baby coming into the world.

You can invite guests in various ways, and this all depends upon your budget for the baby shower. Facebook, Twitter and emails are a cheap and easy way of doing this. If you wish to do things a little more traditionally, you can send invites in the post, or why not explore your creative side and make your own! Check out our top tips on how to make your own invitations.

Have a theme

You want the venue to look a million dollars for the occasion, so go all out and dress the place up. There are loads of decorations available in the shops, but give it a go making them yourself – it’s loads more fun. Things like bunting, streamers and banners look great and really easy to produce – they’re also lots cheaper than in the shops! Have a look at some of our handy hints on how to make your own decorations which will help get you started.

You can have your guests dress up for the occasion – have them dress in blue or pink, depending upon the gender of the baby.

Grubs up!

Most hosts provide food at their baby shower and you want to make sure your spread is a hit with the guests. As there will be a lot to organise in the days leading up to the baby shower, you want the preparation to be as simple and as hassle free as possible, but you can still provide food that that would be fit for a king by keeping recipes simple but also tasty.

For some fabulous ideas, guaranteed to send your guests taste buds into overdrive, check out some of our recipes here.

How can I entertain my guests?

There are loads you can do to entertain your guests. Party games are a lot of fun, regardless of how old you are! Ask your guests to predict the weight, date of birth and gender of the baby, and present the winner with a prize once the baby is born.

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(Image: www.nonstopparty.co.uk)