Baby Shower Invitation Etiquette

Below we have provided a list of common baby shower and baby shower invitation etiquette questions and answers. Baby shower etiquette is forever changing, however we have provided answers that are a guideline as to what is commonplace and accepted today.


Who should host the baby shower?

In the past, etiquette dictated that a female friend or a group of female friends of the mom-to-be were to host the baby shower. However, today it is becoming more common and acceptable for sisters, mothers, mother-in-laws, or other family members to host the shower. Anyone besides the couple themselves.


When should we have the baby shower?

If the guest of honor chooses to have her shower before the baby is born, host the shower a month or two before the baby's due date. This provides a cushion in case the baby arrives a little early. If the the mom-to-be decides to have the shower after the baby is born, target a date one to two months after the birth.


Is it appropriate to have a baby shower for a second or third child?

Absolutely! The guest lists for these showers are usually made up of close friends and family and anyone who was, for whatever reason, not invited to the first shower. And because a mommy having a 2nd or 3rd child typically already has the "big" essentials, gifts of diapers, burp cloths, formula, etc. are perfect. Typically this smaller scale baby shower is called a "sprinkle" which has been gaining in popularity over the last several years. See our baby shower invitation wording page for examples and suggestions for baby "sprinkle" shower invitations.


When should we send out the invitations?

Ideally, baby shower invitations should be mailed out three weeks before the shower date. If your expecting out-of-town guests for the shower then sending them out a month in advance is preferred so your guests can make the necessary arrangements to attend.


What information do I need to include on the invitation?

Shower invitations essentially contain the same basic information: date, time, location, name of expecting mom or both expecting parents, host(s) name(s), and R.S.V.P. information. Many invitations today have a cute saying or poem at the top of the invitations. See our baby shower invitation wording for examples and suggestions.

How the address is to appear on the invitations depends entirely with how familiar the guests are with the location of the baby shower. If all of the guests are from the same city or general area, then only the street address is needed. The city should be added if the guests will be coming from other cities or are not familiar with the location. The state can be excluded unless there are out-of-state guests attending the shower. Maps and/or directions can be printed on the backs of informal invitations or can be included on an insert for a more formal approach.

It is recommended to include R.S.V.P information on the invitation. "R.S.V.P." is an abbreviation for the French "respondez s'il vous plait" which means "please respond". You specify "R.S.V.P." if you would like your guests to respond whether they will be attending the shower or not. Use "Regrets Only" when you only want the guests to respond if they will not be attending the shower. You should always give a deadline for the response. For example, "R.S.V.P. by November 2nd". Another option would be to use "Please Reply".

If the couple has a gift registry, it is completely appropriate to list the places where the couple is registered.