Planning an Indian Baby Shower

The baby shower is a tradition celebrated in almost every culture and most parts of the world. It is meant for mothers-to-be to celebrate the wonderful journey of pregnancy. Planning an Indian baby shower? Read on. Named ‘Godh Bharai’ in Northern and Western India, a baby shower is known by many names across the length and border of the country, such as ‘Puli Oonu’ in Kerala, ‘Swad’’in West Bengal, ‘Seemantham’ in Tamil Nadu, ‘Dohal Jevan’ in Maharashtra, and ‘Satwasa’ in Muslim households. The rituals might differ, but the purpose and excitement are the same.

9 Tips For Planning an Indian Baby Shower

Planning a ‘Godh Bharai’ is not a mere tradition. It involves hosting a function that translates into a fun-filled day for everyone. Here are some suggestions for planning a successful baby shower:

1. Fix The Date and Shortlist the Guests

The most important thing is to set a date that is appropriate for everyone, especially the mother-to-be. The baby shower happens towards the end of pregnancy, either in the 7th or in the 9th month, according to Indian traditions. If you are planning it for the 9th month, make sure it is not too late. Exhaustion and fatigue at the last stage of pregnancy can be harmful to the mother and the baby (1).

An Indian baby shower is an intricately closed ceremony where only female members of close relatives, friends, and neighbors are invited. However, in today’s multicultural environment, a baby shower more or less turns into a family-friends get-together. Whatever it is, make the guest list short. Because too much gathering can lead to noise and discomfort for the mother. Send out texts, emails, or personal invitations with traditional cards for people on the guest list. Do it in advance so that they do not miss the day.

2. Choose an Easily Accessible Venue or Go Virtual

Select the venue as early as possible. Make sure the venue is comfortable for the expecting mothers. Check for proper ventilation and the nearest hospital from the venue in case you have to rush for labor directly from your baby shower (2). The venue should be close to your home and easily accessible for the guests to come. Avoid having it at home, as it would be quite stressful to clean up after the party. However, if help is available, it suits the mother-to-be to be at ease in her own home.

After the pandemic of COVID-19, the concept of virtual functions has also become popular. If you want to skip the mess, your guest list is long, or your guests are from different parts of the country, go for a virtual baby shower. You can order meals to be delivered to the addresses of the respective guests and let them bless the mother online.

3. Keep the Decorations Simple But Unique

You can opt for traditional decorations like flowers and lights. Prefer the choice of the would-be mother in the decoration, as the happiness of the mother is the most important thing during pregnancy (3). Nowadays, a variety of decorations are available for baby showers, like baby-shaped balloons, mom-to-be written on a sash or a crown, etc. You can decorate the place with blue and pink flowers and balloons to suggest that you are equally excited for a boy or girl.

To learn some exclusive baby shower decorating ideas, click here.

4. Prefer The Choice of The Mom-To-Be On the Menu

Usually, baby showers in India are arranged during the day. So while deciding the menu for lunch, make sure that the favorite items of the would-be mother are there. Also, make sure that the items are tasty but easily digestible to avoid gastrointestinal issues during pregnancy on that auspicious day (4). Include fresh fruit juices in the menu so that the mom-to-be can hydrate from time to time. If you are planning for an early evening function, opt for finger foods and arrange snacks and beverages.

5. Plan Exciting Games For the Day

To entertain the guests as well as the upcoming mother, you can arrange many games. This will add up to a fun factor. You can plan for fun games such as the diaper challenge, guess the due date, guess what the lady craves, etc. Keeping the lady entertained is necessary during pregnancy to ease unnecessary stress (5). You can select a person to be in charge of the games. Baby shower printable games are nice to try out.

There are numerous baby shower game ideas that you can find online to make that special day memorable. To find out some top baby shower games click here.

6. Choose Plants as Return Gifts

Giving a return gift to guests is optional. If you have the budget and the desire to include it, you can give one to your guests or keep prizes for winners of the games played. Gifting plants as a return gift is probably the best way to rejuvenate nature while remembering you.

7. Don’t Forget the Cakes

Cakes are now an integral part of baby showers. Order a baby shower theme cake with a special massage for the mom-to-be. You can customize your baby shower cake and get it delivered to your doorstep.

8. Don’t Forget To Capture The Moments

Take pictures and videos of the special moments. Because these are the moments you will cherish for life. You can open the picture album later on to the upcoming baby to show how you celebrated their baby shower. How exciting is that!

9. Budget

Draw a budget depending on the number of people who will attend the shower, inclusive of food, decorations, and return gifts (if plan to give any). Split the costs accordingly. To learn how to plan a baby shower on a budget, click here.

An Indian baby shower is not just a family function. It is a way to show gratitude to the upcoming mother for bringing a new life to the earth. Hence, it should be full of blessings and positivity. So plan this special day to be picture-perfect by applying these little impactful tips.

FAQ’s

1. When Should I Start Planning My Baby Shower?

The sixth or seventh month of pregnancy is a great time to have a baby shower since it is an ideal spot between the sickness of the first trimester and the weariness of the third. However, in some Indian families, there is a ritual of throwing baby showers in the 9th month. If it is so in your case, make sure you do it right after you cross the 8th month to avoid any clash with your due date.

2. Who Is Supposed To Plan A Baby Shower?

There may be regional variations in the rites associated with Godh Bharai. The parents of the expectant woman or her in-laws traditionally host the event.

3. Who Should Not Host A Baby Shower?

Neither the mother nor the father of the infant should take responsibility for planning the baby shower. Only the grandparents of the upcoming baby or in their absence, any elderly person in the family, can host a baby shower according to Indian traditions.

Reference

Fatigue and sleep quality in different trimesters of pregnancy – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8663733/]
Effects of Residential Indoor Air Quality and Household Ventilation on Preterm Birth and Term Low Birth Weight in Los Angeles County, California – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3643965/]
Happiness and associated factors amongst pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates: The Mutaba’ah Study – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9876351/]
Gastrointestinal Diseases in Pregnancy: Nausea, Vomiting, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Constipation, and Diarrhea – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27261898/]
Social Interaction Needs and Entertainment Approaches to Pregnancy Well-Being in mHealth Technology Design for Low-Income Transmigrant Women: Qualitative Codesign Study – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5924367/]

Planning an Indian Baby Shower