How to Celebrate a Second Baby

Holding a baby shower is a fun way to help new moms and dads to have a smooth start to being parents. It’s a time-honored way for the parents’ friends and family to show that they can count on their support. For some people, holding a shower for a second baby was not considered proper, as the parents probably already had most of the items they needed. However, it is no longer improper to hold a shower for a second baby, as long as you make a few adjustments.

You may want to consider having an essentials-only shower, having guests purchase those basic items that every baby needs new, like diapers, bottles, and bath accesories. You could also ask the parents what they did not receive the first time around, and add those items to the registry. You can also have a shower where the gifts are for mom, with guests bringing relaxing and useful items for her to enjoy during the last days of her pregnancy and after the baby is born. She’ll appreciate receiving something soothing like aromatherapy candles, or even something for day-to-day use, like a soft robe.

Your shower can be extra entertaining if everyone brings gifts that remind mom that she is also a woman – fun items like a comfy lace nighty or a yummy alcoholic beverage. You can also pool your money together to purchase gift certificates for spa treatments or an elegant dinner, though if you can prearrange babysitting, even better. Another idea is to have a planning meeting with dad and the guests before the party, in order to schedule days and times where help is likely to be needed, using a dry-erase calendar.

Some tasks that you could arrange for include getting the house organized and laundry done so mom and baby can come home to a clean house, helping transport the older child to his/her activities, or going along to help out on a big grocery or warehouse club run. Mom will be delighted at receiving this calendar full of helpful offers, as well as the names and phone numbers of the helpers (in case of changes). Sometimes, both the baby and the mom have everything they need already. You can also just have a straight-up party, intimate or with many friends and family, to celebrate the upcoming birth.

An optional activity is to have guests purchase small baby items and then donate them to a local shelter or charity. You might also have a “freezer” party for the new parents, where all the guests show up with a small dish that can be frozen or stored for later consumption. Mom will appreciate this help in the last days of her pregnancy and immediately after the birth. Be sure to check with mom first to find out if she has enough space, and also choose a date for the shower close to the delivery date.

Finally, if the new baby is going to be several years younger than the next-oldest sibling (a so-called “caboose” baby), you can feel free to host a full-on baby shower. A lot of moms and dads won’t likely have even the big items (cribs, etc.), anymore, or they could be outdated in terms of safety requirements.

Regardless of the type of shower you are holding or if the gifts are large or small, remember that you are there to let the mom know that she and her new baby have all your love and support.

Thank you for reading our article, for more info check out baby shower invitations, baby shower cake ideas and baby shower invitations. Hope you have a great day!