I find it so interesting that we generally follow our "regional" norm or family traditions, etc. when it comes to celebrating the announcement/birth/arrival of a new baby.? Here are some definitions based upon my personal experiences.
Baby Shower = 1) Generally a great reason for a?gaggle of women to get together and ogle over an emotional and fat and clueless?woman (who can't drink) while saying "aaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww" while teeny-tiny pastel items are passed around the room and every gift is accompanied by a receiving blanket (which is why you NEVER register for receiving blankets).? Ok, so that might be an exaggeration.? Or might not.? 2) How about...a gathering celebrating the arrival of a couple's first child.? Typically thrown by a family member or close friend.? The couple often has 3-4 of these (mom-to-be side of family, dad-to-be side of family, co-workers luncheons, close friends, etc.).? Can be extremely overwhelming to the parents-to-be..."WTF?do we do with this stuff?? And what the heck is (insert odd baby gadget here)?? Google it!"? Can be EXTREMELY awkward/sad/emotional for that one person invited that is trying to get pregnant but not having any luck.? Can be boring for younger women who are years away from considering babies.? Can be a comedy show for moms who already have 1+ children or older women..."hahaha...I remember when I was pregnant with my first and CLUELESS.? We didn't need (insert newly invented contraption) when I had a baby.? These girls have it easy now-a-days."? Can involve RIDICULOUS baby "games"...guess the jarred baby food, drink out of the baby bottle, guess circumference of the pregnant belly, guess which candy bar was melted in the diaper and now looks like poo (but smells awesomely like chocolate and peanut butter), etc.? However, all of this is often much appreciated by the expecting mom. 3) That event at work that sucks $5-20 from your wallet or your spouse's wallet over and over and over again to contribute to a department gift.? Especially fun when it's for a male co-worker?who then has to open gifts and try to hide the puzzled look over and over and over again.
Sprinkle = Typically held for a pregnant woman having her 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. baby.? It's a down-scaled "shower".? Meaning guest lists and gifts are often down-scaled...instead of swings, strollers, high chairs, etc. (already received for baby #1) the gifts are more focused on new clothes, blankets, burp cloths, books, toys, etc.? Not too common here (that I'm aware of) unless there is a big gap between the expected baby and the last child born OR if gender is different this time around.
Diaper Dump = Held for a pregnant woman where specifically diapers and wipes are requested.? Again, common for 2nd, 3rd, 4th baby where the assumption is that the necessities are already covered.? Often thrown as a SURPRISE event here.
Sip and See = I only discovered this concept when living in Birmingham.? Apparently this is the norm in the south.? Once the baby has?been born?there is a party to meet the new arrival.? People sit around and "sip" some drink while they "see" the new baby.? And I believe this is common for every child born...not just the first.
Here in Cincinnati and in my circle of friends I've?mostly been to?Baby Showers as defined above.? I've been to very few Sprinkles and I've thrown a Diaper Dump for someone having her third child.? Personally, I had one Baby Shower for Stella (photos above).? It was LARGE because I included both sides of the family and friends and I opted to have it at my own house (because I didn't want to have to tote the gifts back home...why not just open them at home and show everyone the nursery??? No worries, I was not involved in any planning or preparing.).? I really enjoyed it and I LOVED the fact that everyone (unknown to me) was asked to contribute a book for the baby's library and sign it instead of buying a greeting card.? I will say that I received a TON of gifts when Charlotte was born and I was shocked.? Especially since she came so soon after Stella and was, yet again,?a girl.? There were even LOTS of gifts for Big Sister Stella.? And meals delivered.? However, when Henry was born the gift-receiving and meals dropped off tremendously.? We did get a lot of cute boy-focused items, but not as many as with baby #1 and baby #2.? And nothing was even expected so it was still all appreciated...particularly the blue items!
So, what have you experienced?? Is it ok to have some sort of party (call it whatever) for EVERY new baby?? Or is the 1st born "traditional" baby shower enough?
I find it odd that often it's considered "rude" or?so abnormal/taboo to have an event for babies 2, 3, 4, etc.? (First of all, don't we shower a bride-to-be with a shower gift and then turn around and purchase a wedding gift?? And sometimes a bachelorette party gift and housewarming gift?)? Ok, so back to kids.? Don't we celebrate a child's birthday every year...over and over?and over?? And generally ask the same people to buy gifts for said birthday over and over and over?? So shouldn't every?baby be celebrated before/after his/her birth?? Is it taboo because generally gifts are tied to the event and there are already kids in the picture?? Is it because of baby registeries?? Did some repeat mommies out there re-register for EVERYTHING and ruin it for everyone?? And therefore, the pregnant mommy looks selfish?? Someone explain this to me.
I'll admit I didn't have any event?for Charlotte or Henry because I didn't want people to see it as a call for more gifts.? So how do you overcome the stigma?? And just celebrate this awesome occasion?? I always make it a point to at least send a gift to all new babies of friends and family.? (Now, if I missed your 2, 3, or 4th child...FORGIVE me.? I meant to...but if you had that child during some chaos point at my house...the action might have slipped through the cracks.? And if you just had a baby within the last 6 months...I've still got time and you're on my list!)
This topic was specifically requested from someone who wants to see others' opinions, so please comment.? She's trying to decide on how to handle her own situation with baby #3 due to arrive in the coming months.? I say CELEBRATE!?
Source: http://www.take10withtricia.com/2011/07/oh-baby.html
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