One way of welcoming unborn children and to share the joy of the parents for their upcoming bundle of joy is to hold baby showers. For first time parents-to-be, there may be a lot of questions that would bug their minds when it comes to the proper way of handling the said event. Questions such as who must throw the party, when should it be held, and what to do during the event need to be answered first to make that day worthwhile for everyone---from the parents, to the guests, etc.

One rule in throwing the party for an unborn offspring is to make sure that the expectant couple will not be the ones hosting it. Anyone can plan it---relatives, acquaintances, etc. Some people, however, believe that a person who's not related to the soon-to-be parents should be the one hosting as part of formal etiquette, in order to avoid thoughts that the family are blatantly asking for gifts for the little one.

The right day to rejoice in the coming of an infant is anytime for as long as it is close to the date of conception. Some parents, however, arrange it after birth, helping the invited parties bring the most appropriate gifts especially because the sex of the newborn is now known.

When planning the exact date, the hostess should first ask the input of the couple as well as find out at which time will be convenient for the guests e.g. the grandparents, god parents, relatives, etc. Make sure that there won't be a lot of schedule conflicts and that the most important people will be able to attend the get together. This also applies to coming up with the list of people to invite to the said event.

There are still so many things to think about during the planning stages. Sometimes, a theme should be chosen to make it fun for everyone and make it easier for the people behind the bash. For example, the chosen focus is a Luau feast, because the parents are from Hawaii, which may mean that the decorations, food, etc. are automatically Hawaiian inspired. Not having a motif may cause confusion especially when deciding on what decorations to put up, what meals to serve, and a lot more.

Events like these also would not be complete if there are no fun games to play. These also serve as a form of entertainment. Examples of appropriate games include: Baby Bingo, Guess the Gerber's, etc. Prizes are more often than not awarded to the winners. Favors may also be given to each and every person who drops by the merrymaking.

The main event in this kind of celebration is actually the opening of the presents, aside from socializing with the expecting mothers and their husbands. It may be a good idea for the party planner to come up with a registry that people may consult when shopping for the tot.

Baby showers will not only serve as a welcome to the babe, but also help prepare the married couple in their journey to parenthood.