Baby showers are celebrations held to honour an expectant mother and help her prepare for the arrival of her child. While this tradition has ancient roots in various cultures, the baby shower as we know it today is a more recent concept. It became particularly popular in the post-World War II baby boom era. While initially more common in the US, globalisation and the influence of (social) media and entertainment have helped to spread the tradition to other parts of the world, including the UK.

Baby showers typically involve family and friends gathering to offer gifts, support, and well-wishes for the mother-to-be and her baby. The term "shower" signifies that the mother is "showered" with gifts and love. While UK baby showers often incorporate similar elements to their American counterparts, they tend to be less elaborate and more informal.

You are about to throw a baby shower for a friend or relative? We've got what you need: Discover 12 fun and creative ideas for baby showers with us!

Inviting inspiration: Baby shower invitation ideas.

First things first: if you want to throw a baby shower, you need an invitation. This ensures that all guests are informed about the details of the event, such as the date, time, location, and any special instructions. Creating an invitation yourself is a way to save costs and get creative – and it can be done easily using Adobe Express. Here are some baby shower invitation ideas and themes:

#1: Baby shower invitation idea 1: Let’s have a tea party.

Bridgerton, anyone? This baby shower invite idea is for you if you want to throw a baby shower in an afternoon tea party style. It's perfect for a cosy gathering with tea, scones, and finger sandwiches. Design the invitation to look like it’s for a classic tea party, evoking a sense of charm and sophistication. Use elegant floral patterns, pastel colours, and vintage teapot and teacup illustrations.

#2: Baby shower invitation idea 2: Join the countryside picnic.

This idea is perfect for a summer baby shower. The invitation can be designed to resemble a countryside picnic setting, with elements like gingham patterns, illustrations of picnic baskets, and scenic landscapes. The colours would be earthy and natural, such as greens, browns, and soft yellows.

#3: Baby shower invitation idea 2: One for the books.

The mother-to-be is a book lover? Then this baby shower idea will be perfect for her. Design the baby shower invitation inspired by classic children’s books and characters like Peter Rabbit or Winnie the Pooh. Feature illustrations of beloved characters and scenes. The design could include whimsical fonts and pastel colours. You can also add some beautiful quotes from children’s books.

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Decor delights: Baby shower décor ideas.

Next up: The decorations. Décor for a baby shower sets the tone and creates a festive, welcoming atmosphere. It typically includes themed elements like balloons, banners, table centrepieces, and wall decorations that align with the chosen theme of the baby shower. Personalised touches, such as custom signs with the baby's name or due date, can add a unique charm. Here are some baby shower décor ideas that fit the themes we have introduced for the invitations:

#4: Baby shower décor idea 1: The afternoon tea party theme.

For this baby shower decoration idea, you can use a vintage floral tablecloth, lace doilies, and mismatched china teacups and saucers. The food is one of the main actors here and also serves as a centrepiece. Get tiered cake stands with finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries, and add fresh flowers in teapots. To set the atmosphere, you can also use candles and fairy lights around the room.

#5: Baby shower décor idea 2: The afternoon countryside picnic.

This baby shower takes place outside – so check the weather forecast ahead of time. Lay out picnic blankets and pillows in the garden (or, if you don’t have one, go to the park). Place wicker baskets filled with fresh flowers, fruits, and picnic essentials around your blankets. Serve drinks in mason jars and use them as vases for wildflowers.

#6: Baby shower décor idea 3: The storybook theme.

Books play the main role with this baby shower décor idea. If you feature multiple books, you can pick up on certain foods and drinks that are featured in these books – for example, a carrot cake for “Peter Rabbit” or honey cookies for “Winnie the Pooh”. You can also use books as décor elements and use them as a base for vases or cake stands. This idea lets you really get creative!

Game on: Baby shower games.

Baby shower games play a big role at most baby showers. They add fun and interaction to the event, helping guests to bond and celebrate together. Such games break the ice, create laughter, and make lasting memories, ensuring everyone enjoys the celebration. If you are planning a baby shower, here are three fun and creative ideas for baby shower games:

#7: Baby shower game idea 1: Baby bingo.

This is a classic baby shower game. Customise bingo cards with baby-related items and enjoy a game of bingo together. You can use Adobe Express to design some custom bingo cards (and even make them fit the overall theme of the party).

#8: Baby shower game idea 2: Guess the baby food

The name says it all with this baby shower game: “Guess the baby food”. Guests taste different baby foods and guess the flavours. Whoever correctly guesses the most foods wins the game.

#9: Baby shower game idea 3: Don’t say baby.

This baby shower game is not only popular, but also simple. Each guest gets one pin and needs to put it onto their shirt. Then, the game starts – and anytime a guest says “baby”, their pins can be stolen. The guest with the highest number of pins at the end of the baby shower wins the game!

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Thoughtful tokens: Baby shower gift ideas.

Baby shower gifts are an important part of the tradition. These gifts help parents gather necessary items such as clothing, nappies, and baby gear, alleviating some of the financial burden and ensuring they are well-prepared for their baby's needs. Additionally, the act of giving gifts allows friends and family to express their excitement, love, and support. These three baby shower gift ideas are always appreciated by parents-to-be:

#10: Baby shower gift idea 1: Nappies and baby wipes.

These essentials are always in high demand and provide practical support for the parents, ensuring they are well-stocked for the baby's arrival.

#11: Baby shower gift idea 2: Blankets and swaddles.

Cosy blankets and swaddles are perfect for keeping the baby warm and comfortable. They come in various styles and designs, making them a thoughtful and versatile baby shower gift.

#12: Baby shower gift idea 3: Monetary gifts.

Giving money at a baby shower is increasingly common and can be a practical and appreciated gift. It lets the parents-to-be purchase exactly what they need. If you choose to give money, consider presenting it in a thoughtful way, such as in a beautifully designed card with some lovely words or quotes for the parents. You can easily use Adobe Express to design a unique baby shower card online.

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Good to know.

What do you do at a baby shower?

At a baby shower, guests meet to celebrate the impending arrival of a baby and participate in various activities. These typically include playing games, sharing parenting advice, enjoying food and drinks, and watching the expectant parents open gifts.

What is the most classic baby shower game?

The most classic baby shower game is probably a classic baby shower bingo. In this game, guests receive bingo cards filled with baby-related terms. As the parents-to-be open their gifts, guests mark off the corresponding items on their cards. The first person to complete a row or column shouts “Bingo!” and wins a prize.

What gift do you bring to a baby shower?

Popular gift ideas for a baby shower are practical items such as nappies or baby wipes, baby clothes, blankets, or essential baby gear like bottles and pacifiers. Some guests might opt for a more personalised gift, such as a custom-made card or a book that holds special meaning.

How do I decorate for a baby shower?

Choose a theme or colour scheme that complements the occasion, such as pastels for a traditional look or a specific motif like animals or stars. Use balloons, banners, and table centrepieces to create a festive atmosphere. Personalised touches, such as custom signs with the baby's name or due date, can add charm. You can also utilise some of the baby shower ideas presented in this article.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, the basic version of Adobe Express is free to use and includes everything you need to start being creative: professionally designed image templates, videos and design elements, royalty-free photos, videos, and music titles, quick actions for image processing, and much more. Adobe Express also contains many useful tools, tutorials, and tips that help you learn to utilise all of its features. You can also create menus, photo collagesor Instagram stories online, and then share, download, print, and send them.