For any woman who has been trying to conceive, finding out she is pregnant is the best news! (Of course, second only to the wedding proposal.) Once the wedding is over and the ceremony and celebration time is set, finding out that the two of you will be expecting a new baby is an amazing feeling for any couple.

New parents tend to get a bit overwhelmed and may have a hard time narrowing down all the “new baby gear” they’re going to need when the baby arrives. Making sure expectant parents have all the major necessities can be a tedious task. Writing out a list of all the things you’ll need for the new baby and then narrowing down the list throughout the months of your pregnancy can help you get a head start on booking.

Baby showers are also a great way to get new baby gear, and can take a lot of financial pressure off new parents. In turn, it helps to reduce the stress of the future parents.

Showers are so much fun for the mom-to-be and the guests. Themed baby showers can be color based (if the baby’s gender is already known, a pink or blue theme is widely accepted and very traditional), character themed baby showers (such as Sesame Street, Powerpuff Girls, The Dexter or the Looney Tunes), or even a “time of day baby shower theme” (where each guest is asked to bring something the baby would need or use during that time of day). Baby shower themes can really be anything you want. Have fun and be creative!

Baby shower gifts should be useful and unique for the new parents. The idea of ​​having a celebration shower is for parents to receive items they need, but may or may not have purchased themselves. A great idea is to create your own baby gift basket, or choose the Laundry Baby Gift Basket filled with clothes for babies from newborn to toddler. Other homemade gift basket ideas include a mother and baby basket (a gift for mother is a nice thing to include), monogrammed baby gift baskets, a pampering baby gift basket (for mom! and Dad too!), a bath time gift basket, or a play gift basket. You can create a gift basket based on anything, really. Simply fill the basket with items that fit the theme of the gift basket.

Do not forget these simple tips to organize a successful shower:

Make sure the party is four to six weeks before the baby’s due date, decide on a theme, make a guest list and send out invitations 2 to 3 weeks before the party, plan any party games for the baby you want to have, choose the menu (both food and drink), don’t forget the favors and prizes, and last but not least, remember to have fun while you plan it!