Nimanto

Guide

Baby shower invitations: wording and timing

By Nimanto · · 5 min read

The short answer

Most baby showers are held four to eight weeks before the due date, and invitations go out four to six weeks before the shower. Name the parent or parents-to-be, the host, the date, time and place, a reply date and, if there is one, a short registry line. Say whether it is co-ed, virtual or a surprise.

Who hosts a baby shower?

Traditionally a close friend or relative hosts, not the parents-to-be, so the invitation comes from them. Today showers are hosted by sisters, groups of friends, colleagues and the couple themselves, and all of these are accepted. Put the host’s name on the invitation so guests know who they are replying to.

  • Friends or family hosting: “hosted by” and their names, under the details.
  • Parents-to-be hosting their own: a relaxed tone and an invitation to celebrate together, not a request for gifts.
  • Colleagues: often a lunchtime shower at work, with a shared card or a group gift.

When should you have a baby shower, and when should invitations go out?

Many showers are held in the third trimester, roughly four to eight weeks before the due date, while the parent-to-be is still comfortable and gifts can arrive in time. Send invitations four to six weeks before the shower, and ask for replies about two weeks ahead so the host can plan food and seating.

  • Twins or an early planned delivery: hold it a little earlier.
  • Guests travelling: send a save-the-date six to eight weeks ahead.
  • After the birth: some families prefer to wait, for cultural, religious or personal reasons, and hold a “meet the baby” party or a sip-and-see instead. Word it the same way, with the baby’s name if it has been shared.

Can you put registry information on a baby shower invitation?

Yes. Older etiquette kept registries off invitations, but a short registry line or link on a shower invitation is now widely accepted, because a shower is a gift-giving party. Keep it to one line after the details, and never make it sound required. Guests who would rather give something else should feel free to.

For gift ideas, their registry is linked below.

Instead of a card, bring your favourite children’s book with a note inside, to start the baby’s first library.

No gifts, please. Just come and celebrate with us.

Co-ed, virtual and sprinkle showers

A co-ed shower invites friends of every gender, often in the afternoon or evening with a barbecue or brunch. Say so in the first line, so no one expects a ladies’ tea.

Join us for a co-ed baby shower, a backyard barbecue for Nia and Jordan, on Saturday, July 11, from 3 to 6 pm.

A virtual shower needs a time zone, the video link or when it will be sent, and how long it lasts; an hour is plenty. If gifts will be opened on screen, say so.

Join us online for Leah’s virtual baby shower on Sunday, May 3, at 11 am Pacific / 2 pm Eastern. The video link is below. We will open gifts together, so feel free to post yours ahead.

A sprinkle is a smaller, lighter shower for a second or later baby, when the family already has most of what it needs. Gifts are usually small: diapers, clothes in a new size or a few meals.

It’s a sprinkle for baby number two. Join us for brunch and a few small treats for Ava and her soon-to-be big brother.

Baby shower invitation wording samples

Oh baby. Join us for a shower in honour of Grace Kim on Saturday, June 6, at 1 pm, at 24 Linden Avenue. Hosted by Ellen and Jo. Please reply by May 23.

A little one is on the way. Celebrate with Tom and Elena at a garden brunch on Sunday, August 9, at 11 am.

Please join us for an afternoon tea honouring Shreya Patel and her baby boy, Saturday, March 21, at 2 pm, at the Rose Room, Oakville.

It’s a surprise shower, so please don’t mention it to Maya. Arrive by 1:30 pm; she arrives at 2.

What are godh bharai and seemantham?

They are Indian ceremonies that bless the mother-to-be and her baby. Godh bharai, “filling the lap”, is common in North India; seemantham, and valaikappu in many Tamil families, are South Indian. Many families hold them around the seventh month, with the time fixed by an elder or a priest.

  • Guests are often women and elders of the family, though many families now invite everyone.
  • If a muhurtham sets the ceremony time, put it first, then lunch or dinner.
  • Traditional dress, bangles for the mother-to-be, and fruit or sweets are common; say what your family prefers.
  • Naming ceremonies, namakaranam or naamkaran, follow the birth. Some families hold them on the eleventh or twelfth day, others months later, often with a cradle ceremony.

With the blessings of our elders, we invite you to the seemantham of our daughter Divya on Sunday, March 15. The ceremony begins at 10:30 am, followed by lunch.

Join us for Anjali’s godh bharai, an afternoon of blessings, songs and lunch, on Saturday, April 18, at 12 pm.

Sending a shower invitation on Nimanto

A Nimanto invitation can carry a gifts page with each registry as a tile guests tap, and it stays out of the invitation if you leave it empty. Each guest can get a personal link by e-mail, text or WhatsApp; see sending and sharing.

Replies, with plus-ones and dietary notes, land in your dashboard as they arrive (tracking replies), and guests can add their photos from the day to a shared album.

Questions people ask

How far in advance do you send baby shower invitations?

Send baby shower invitations four to six weeks before the shower, and ask for replies about two weeks ahead. If many guests are travelling, send a save-the-date six to eight weeks out. For a small sprinkle or an office shower, two to three weeks’ notice is usually enough.

Can the parents-to-be host their own baby shower?

Yes. Older etiquette said a friend or relative should host, so the couple did not seem to be asking for gifts, but parents-to-be hosting their own shower is now common, especially for co-ed showers. Keep the wording about celebrating together, make any registry line gentle, and let a friend run the games.

What is a baby sprinkle?

A sprinkle is a smaller, more casual shower for a second or later baby. The family usually has the big items already, so the focus is on celebrating, with small gifts such as diapers, clothes in a new size or meals. Saying so on the invitation helps guests know what to expect.

Who should be invited to a baby shower?

Invite people close to the parents-to-be: family, close friends and, if they like, a few colleagues. Guests are usually people who will be part of the baby’s life. Check the list with the parent-to-be before sending, unless it is a surprise, in which case check it with their partner or a close relative.