New trend – No alcohol, no men: How to celebrate baby shower parties – Society

Pfaffenhofen/Stuttgart (dpa/tmn) – The baby may not be here yet, but the anticipation among family and friends is huge. So great that the expectant mother will be showered with gifts and affection. And what better way to do that than at a party that has exactly this one name: “baby shower party”!

“It’s all about sharing the joy of having a baby and sharing time together,” says Katja Henning, author of the guidebook “Celebrating Parties – Baby Showers.” This has long been a tradition in the USA, and here too, this celebration is becoming increasingly popular among young women – similar to a bachelorette party.

Everything is good that is good for the mother

There is a big difference though: alcohol is considered a “no-go” at such celebrations. “It would be really stupid if everyone around was drinking and only the expectant mother had to do without,” says Henning. Which doesn’t mean that you “only” have to resort to still water. The author recommends healthy and delicious drinks from the “Mom-osa Bar” such as strawberry or raspberry mimosa or blackcurrant fizz: “They look like cocktails and taste like them too, but of course they don’t contain any alcohol.”

And there’s something else that is often not welcome at these baby parties: men! “It wouldn’t really be for them,” the mother of two is convinced. “I don’t know if that would be an absolute no-go, but for me it’s more of a feminine thing!”

However, there are no fixed rules or limits as to how and where and in what form this baby celebration takes place. Everything that is good for the expectant mother and that she likes is allowed. And that is completely individual.

Girlfriends plan and pay

One thing is certain: the pregnant woman should not have any negative excitement, stress, work or costs. And that also makes it clear who usually plans, organizes and pays for the party: the friends! In other words: they hold the party at someone in their circle. And they bring food and drink with them. If the expectant mother would rather celebrate at home, the rule is: “Everyone helps: not just with the decorations and food, but also with the cleanup afterwards!” says Henning.

It is also usual for the friends to share the costs. This also applies if the celebration is not held privately but in a restaurant. However, a more personal setting is usually chosen – because that is also better suited to the games that revolve around the next birth and motherhood.

Baby games

“A baby food tasting is particularly fun,” says Katja Henning. The type of food is taped onto the jar and the participants have to judge which flavor it is. Creative knowledge is also required in games such as “Baby City, Country, River” – with the categories of toys, care products, type of food, baby clothes. In the baby word search, children’s rhymes have to be filled in in letter squares or gap-filling texts. Henning: “This gives the future mother the same inspiration for later.”

Also popular are games such as filling out betting cards with the motto: “My gut feeling says…”. Guests can give tips on the due date, time, weight or appearance, or even the father’s state of mind after the birth. “Later, we’ll evaluate who was closest.” And there’s another game that can only be played at a baby shower party: “Guess my belly size!” Each woman is given a tape measure and has to cut off the part where she thinks her belly is big.

Gifts and decorations

And what about the decorations? Depending on your level of knowledge, they can be pink and light blue – or neutral light green or “just beautifully colorful.” The location can also be decorated with garlands or lanterns to go with typical motifs such as pacifiers, strollers or cuddly toys. If you want to get active yourself, you can make lanterns with lace and printed baby feet or bunting with baby rompers cut out of paper.

The same applies to the gifts that are meant to be “poured” on the mother: If you don’t want to buy clothes, pacifiers or toys, you can make a diaper cake or diaper snail. Sock muffins are a real eye-catcher: “The socks are rolled up in a muffin tin so that they look like little cakes,” explains Henning.

If friends get together, a Polaroid camera could also be a nice gift: There are then self-made “milestone cards” that can be used as a motto for each photo (“One week / one month old”, “My first trip”, etc.) and will be a great memory years later.

Thank you to the friends

Katja Henning advises pregnant women not only to accept gifts, but also to give something personal themselves – “as a thank you, so to speak, for the friends organizing everything.” For example, a homemade candle with the inscription “Made with love” or a piccolo as “baby champagne”: “When the child is born, everyone can toast to it at home!”

The best time? You should already be “well pregnant”

The question remains as to when the party will take place: “Whether it’s for brunch or coffee or in the evening, the expectant mother should definitely choose.” “Whatever suits her rhythm best,” says the party expert. And of course the woman shouldn’t be in a critical phase like the beginning of the pregnancy. “She should definitely be well pregnant,” says Katja Henning and recommends a party in the sixth or seventh month. But if you want, you can of course celebrate later. The only requirement: “Mum has to be happy!”

Be sensitive, show appreciation

Despite all the joy, the aspect of how the expectant mother feels, not only physically but also psychologically, should not be neglected. “Pregnancy is a very vulnerable phase in which there are also many worries.” “You should always keep that in mind,” says psychological psychotherapist Friederike Echtler-Geist.

If there is a lively atmosphere around you or large gifts are brought and everyone assumes that everything will go well, “the mother can feel very overwhelmed or quickly left alone,” says Echtler-Geist, who specializes in the topic of mental illness during pregnancy. She appeals to her friends: Also consider possible pregnancy depression.

If the pregnant woman has doubts before the celebration about whether she really wants to have a big party and already have presents, should she cancel? “That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case,” says the psychologist. “It would also be conceivable that she could simply say a few words at the beginning that she’s feeling a bit uneasy.” Good friends in particular could then show appreciation and understanding and support her.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:240923-930-241370/1