Planning a baby shower is one of the nicest things you can do for a parent-to-be — and with the right checklist, it's genuinely fun to organise. Whether you're hosting a small gathering at home, a brunch at a café, or a more elaborate garden party, the planning steps are the same. This checklist helps you cover everything without missing a detail, so you can focus on celebrating the mum or parents on the day.
The sweet spot is 4–8 weeks before the due date — early enough that the parent-to-be is comfortable to attend and enjoy it, late enough that the pregnancy is well established. Avoid the final month when the parent may be very uncomfortable or in hospital. Always check with the parent before setting a date.
Two to three games is the right amount — enough to add structure and fun without the event feeling like a game show. Popular choices include 'Guess the baby food', 'Baby bingo' during gift opening, and 'Price is right' with nursery items. Keep each game to 10–15 minutes and have prizes ready.
It's traditional to open gifts at the shower, but it's not mandatory. If the guest list is large, gift opening can take a long time and some guests may need to leave. A good middle ground: open gifts near the end of the event so guests who need to leave can do so, and have someone quietly recording who gave what so thank-you cards can be written accurately.