Baby Shower Hostess Duties

Someone special in your life is expecting a baby. In your excitement, you decided to throw her a baby shower. How thoughtful! If you've never thrown a baby shower before, you may not know what is expected of a good hostess. Following is a list of duties commonly performed by the baby shower hostess. Keep in mind that, unless the shower is a surprise, the Mom-to-be should be consulted on all matters.

Before the Shower
· Decide on a date and time for the shower.
· Compile the guest list (remembering to get input from the expectant mother).
· Send invitations and receive RSVPs.
· Choose a theme, if there will be one.
· Decide which games will be played.
· Make food and drink selections.

During the Shower
· Greet guests as they arrive.
· Introduce guests to each other.
· Coordinate activities, such as running the games, telling guests when to eat, etc.
· Help the mother-to-be with gifts.
· Assign someone to make a list of names and gifts given for the mom-to-be to send thank you cards to.
· Assign someone to bring each gift to the expectant mother to open (or have each guest present the mom-to-be with her gift).
· Hand out favors to the guests before they leave.

After the Shower
· Make arrangements to get the gifts to the mom-to-be's home.
· Clean up the venue where the shower was hosted.
· Give the list of guests and gifts given to the expectant mother for sending thank you cards.