Baby Shower Etiquette: How to Support Your Expectant Loved Ones

Hearing that someone in your family or friendship circle is having a baby is incredibly exciting news. There will be plenty of cuddles, photos and catching up in the future. There is also likely to be some level of trepidation and anxiety for the parents to be, especially if it’s their first child. Baby showers are the perfect chance for you to reduce some of your anxiety with the support they need. If you want to show your support to your expectant loved ones at their baby shower, try a few of these tips.

Related Article: 10 Baby shower games that are actually fun

Get The Right gifts

When friends and family get a gift for a baby shower they often go big, thinking this is what will help the parents to be. Most of the time, cheap baby gifts are what the expecting parents really need. Practical items like face washers, bibs, socks and other smaller items that are used regularly are far more supportive gifts. Babies and especially newborns can be surprisingly messy creatures, so new parents can never have enough face washers to help with vomiting and other spills. These kinds of gifts will always be welcomed by the expecting parents and will mean so much more than a toy for an infant. Another great gift idea is a cleaner for the first few months after the baby comes home. New parents won’t have the time or energy to clean, so a cleaner can really help support their transition home.

Meals or a Meal Service

Making food or even the idea of making food will likely stress out any expecting parents. Trying to establish when you’ll have the time or energy to make a meal can be stressful enough, let alone actually making the food. A great way to support expecting loved ones is to get them a meal service that delivers ready-made meals to their door for the first few months after coming home. At the end of a stressful day, putting a meal in the oven or the microwave is just about the perfect level of effort. The best part is the meal service will take care of things like nutrition and ensure new parents are getting what they need to keep their energy levels up. New parents will be eternally grateful for the support and delicious food as they discover parenting. 

Coffee Subscriptions or Vouchers

If the expecting loved ones live near a cafe or have a coffee machine at home, a fantastic gift to show them the support they’ll need is a coffee subscription or a voucher to their local cafe. It may not be a gift for the baby, but it’s a gift that will help the baby more than they’ll know. Coffee is not only useful for new parents who might not be getting much sleep, but it’s also a chance to take a moment to themselves. Heading to the cafe for a coffee once a week or on a walk can be a restorative activity. Each time the new parents enjoy that moment, not only will they be grateful for the energy, they will feel the support from you along the way. Coffee subscriptions are unique gifts as they give the expecting parents a chance to try different coffee and talk about something other than the baby for a minute or two. 

A Doula

If you’ve not heard of a doula before, they are essentially a fairy god person. They have a unique set of skills and experience that is ideal for new parents to learn and get a break at the same time. Getting expecting parents a visit or two from a postpartum doula is one the most thoughtful and supportive gifts there is. The doula will come to the house at an agreed time and help with the newborn, meaning the parents can get some rest. The doula can also help answer any questions, provide advice and just generally be a support person for that time. This experience and expertise at a very vulnerable time are incredibly supportive, helping new parents gain a lot of confidence in the early days. Very few people think about accessing a doula, which is why doing this for your loved ones will be the best gift possible. 

As an expecting parent, there can be so many things to worry about or feel anxious by. There is the environment your baby will come home to, whether you know what to do in certain circumstances or even if you’re ready for the challenges of parenthood. No matter what the challenge, feeling support from your loved ones is critical to successfully becoming a parent. Supporting expecting loved ones goes beyond just kind words, it needs action and creative thinking. For the best ways to support expecting loved ones, try our list of tips now.