Baby
Baby shower: how to plan it step by step and where the registry fits
In short
A baby shower is held between weeks 28 and 34 of pregnancy, is usually organised by someone close to the parents-to-be and lasts two or three hours. Ten to twenty guests, simple food and one person in charge of noting the gifts are enough. If there is a baby registry, the link goes at the end of the invitation as something optional.
Full guide: Baby registry
| Key fact | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| When | Between weeks 28 and 34 |
| Who organises | A sister, a friend or the grandparents |
| Guests | 10 to 20 people |
| Length | Two or three hours, in the afternoon |
| Invitations | Three or four weeks before |
| The registry | A link at the end of the invitation |
What it is and what it is for
A baby shower is a gathering held before the birth to support the parents-to-be and give them the gifts they are going to need. The custom comes from English-speaking countries and is increasingly common in Spain. Its usefulness is practical: it concentrates into one afternoon the visits and gifts that would otherwise arrive in dribs and drabs, when the parents already have the baby in their arms and little time for anyone.
When to hold it
Between the seventh and eighth month. Earlier, the pregnancy is not far along and gifts sit in storage too long. Later, the mother-to-be may be tired and the birth could come early. A Saturday or Sunday afternoon is the slot that asks least of guests. Avoid long weekends and holidays, when many people travel.
Who organises it
It is usually organised by a sister, a friend or the grandparents, with the parents' agreement. It is not unusual for the parents themselves to take part in the planning, especially when they want something simple. What matters is having one person in charge, who collects the replies and whom guests can ask. If it is shared between three, nobody knows who is ordering the cake.
Who is invited
The guest list is for the parents-to-be to decide: close family and close friends, between ten and twenty people. With more, it becomes an event that tires the person who should be tired least. Mixed showers, with partners invited and the father present, are increasingly common. Ask the mother-to-be what she prefers before sending anything.
Where to hold it
At the home of whoever is organising or of a relative, as long as there is room to sit. Not at the parents' home, so they do not have to clean beforehand or tidy up afterwards. If you hold it in a venue or a café, book a quiet space with comfortable chairs and a toilet nearby.
Think about access: a woman who is eight months pregnant should not have to climb three floors without a lift.
The invitation
- Date, start time and end time.
- The exact address and how to get there.
- Who to reply to and by when.
- If it is a surprise, stated clearly.
- The link to the baby registry, at the end and as something optional.
Send it three or four weeks ahead. An individual message works better than a group chat, where replies get lost among other comments.
The registry on the invitation
Anyone coming to a baby shower assumes they will bring a gift, so they appreciate knowing what is needed. Put the link at the end, with a sentence that takes the pressure off: “If you would like to bring something, we have a list at this link.” The registry should have gifts at every price and be up to date the week of the party. There are more wording examples in how to share your baby registry.
Food and drink
Simple, and easy to eat standing up: cold bites, cut fruit, something sweet and a cake if people fancy it. No need for a menu. Keep the guest of honour in mind: offer appealing alcohol-free drinks, not just water, and ask beforehand whether there is anything she cannot or does not want to eat. Cater for an afternoon tea, not a dinner.
What happens during the party
There is no need for a programme. What works best is one or two calm activities that get people talking without forcing anyone to join in.
- A book or cards where each guest writes a piece of advice or a wish.
- A sweepstake on the birth date and weight.
- Photos of the parents as babies, to guess who is who.
- A group photo before anyone leaves.
Opening the gifts or not
It is optional and depends on the mother-to-be. Some people enjoy opening them in front of everyone; others feel uncomfortable being the centre of attention for half an hour. If they are opened, do it around the middle of the party and without hurry. If not, thank people as they arrive and open them later at home. In no case are gifts compared or their price mentioned.
Who notes the gifts
Appoint one person, not the guest of honour, to note who gave what. It looks like a minor detail and it is what makes the thank-you notes possible. A note on a phone with two columns will do. Have the same person collect the gift receipts and leave each one with its item.
Budget
A party at home for fifteen people costs little if the food is simple. Usually whoever organises covers the cost or shares it with two or three close people. Guests are not asked for money for the party. If you want to cut costs, ask each close relative to bring a dish: it is practical and nobody minds.
If it is a surprise
Whoever organises it should check three things with the mother-to-be's partner before booking anything: a date with no medical appointment or trip planned, the list of people she would like to see and whether a baby registry already exists. Without that third check, guests buy blind and duplicate gifts appear. It also helps to state an end time so it does not drag on.
Decoration and atmosphere: just enough
There is no need to transform the house. Some flowers, a nice tablecloth and a well-laid table are enough. What really matters is comfort: an armchair with good back support for the guest of honour, somewhere for everyone to sit, a pleasant temperature and music low enough to talk over.
If you want a keepsake, set up a corner with good light for photos. Spend on the food before the balloons.
If children are invited
Decide from the start whether the party is with or without children and say so in the invitation. If they are coming, set up a corner with paper, crayons and a game, and ask an adult to keep an eye on them in turns. Small children make the party livelier, but also noisier and shorter.
If the mother-to-be already has a child, give them a role: handing out the cake or passing the gifts makes them feel part of the day.
If she does not want a party
Some people do not enjoy being the centre of attention, and forcing a celebration is the worst gift. There are quieter alternatives: tea with four people, a family lunch where the gifts are handed over, or simply sharing the registry and letting everyone send theirs to the house. Ask before you organise anything. The aim is to support her, not to tick off a format.
The joint gift
One option that simplifies things a great deal is for all the guests to club together for one or two big gifts from the registry instead of each bringing one. Whoever organises collects the contributions, buys the gift and brings it to the party with a card signed by everyone.
The parents receive what they need most and the guests spend less. It has to be proposed in the invitation, with a deadline for joining in.
Guests who live far away
For family who cannot travel, a fifteen-minute video call during the party is enough. Let them know the time in advance. And send them the registry link all the same: with it they can have a gift delivered to the parents' home without moving.
Planning timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Six weeks before | Agree the date and guest list with the parents |
| Four weeks before | Send the invitations with the registry link |
| Two weeks before | Close the replies and order the food |
| One week before | Check the registry is up to date |
| On the day | Appoint whoever notes the gifts |
| The following week | Sort the gifts and review what is missing |
After the party
Keep gift receipts with each item in case a size needs changing. Mark what you received on the registry and see which essentials are still missing: there are weeks left to buy them yourselves. Wash the clothes before putting them away and sort them by size. Thank-you notes can wait until the birth and go out with the first photo.
Common mistakes
- Holding it too late, with the mother-to-be already exhausted.
- Inviting too many people.
- Not setting an end time.
- Forgetting to ask about the registry and ending up with duplicate gifts.
- Organising games that force people to take part when they do not want to.
The registry before the party
If there is no baby registry yet, make it before the invitations go out. The baby registry guide has a sheet by category and a timeline based on the due date. And to decide what is urgent and what is not, see what you need before the birth.
Frequently asked questions about the baby shower
Which month is a baby shower held?
Between the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy, from week 28 to week 34.
Who organises a baby shower?
Normally someone close to the parents, such as a sister, a friend or the grandparents.
How many people are invited?
Between ten and twenty: close family and close friends.
Do the gifts have to be opened during the party?
It is optional. It depends on what the mother-to-be prefers.
How do you mention the baby registry on the invitation?
With one line at the end that includes the link and makes clear it is optional.
What is a baby shower?
A gathering before the birth to support the parents-to-be and give them the gifts they will need. It concentrates visits and presents into one afternoon.
Which day and time is best for a baby shower?
A Saturday or Sunday afternoon, avoiding long weekends and holidays when many people travel.
How long does a baby shower last?
Two or three hours. It is worth stating the end time on the invitation.
Where should a baby shower be held?
At the organiser's or a relative's home, not at the parents-to-be's, so that they do not have to clean or clear up.
How far ahead should invitations go out?
Three or four weeks before, preferably by individual message rather than in a group.
What should a baby shower invitation include?
Date, start and end time, address, who to reply to and by when, whether it is a surprise and, at the end, the baby registry link.
What food is served at a baby shower?
Simple food that can be eaten standing: cold bites, cut fruit, something sweet and appealing non-alcoholic drinks.
What activities work at a baby shower?
One or two quiet ones: cards with advice or wishes, a sweepstake on the birth date and weight, or photos of the parents as babies.
Who notes down the gifts at a baby shower?
One person named for the job, not the guest of honour. They also keep each gift receipt with its item.
Who pays for the baby shower?
The organiser, sometimes with two or three people close to the family. Guests are not asked for money; relatives can be asked to bring a dish.
What should be checked before planning a surprise shower?
With the mother-to-be's partner: a date with no medical appointment or trip, who she would like to see and whether a baby registry already exists.
Can men and children come to a baby shower?
Yes. Mixed showers are increasingly common. If children are coming, say so on the invitation and set up a corner for them.
What if the mother-to-be does not want a shower?
Respect it. There are quieter alternatives: tea with four people, a family lunch or simply sharing the registry.
Can guests give a joint gift?
Yes. The organiser collects contributions and buys one or two big gifts from the registry. It has to be proposed on the invitation with a deadline.
What should be done after the baby shower?
Keep the gift receipts, mark what was received on the registry, check which essentials are still missing, and wash and sort the clothes by size.
Sources and date checked
- Terms published by Amazon.es for the baby registry, checked in October 2026
The practical advice, examples and calculators are the work of Global Store Afiliados. Facts last checked: 10 October 2026. How we check the facts: editorial methodology.
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