Booming baby shower

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT

NOT AT ALL DULL

Not too long ago, I found myself in the land of baby showers . Lately, quite a few friends have been announcing that they have a sweet little baby in their belly. That needs to be celebrated, I think. Now, according to official terms, a baby shower is part of that, and I find the term baby shower to sound incredibly silly. But well, then you have the wrong person in me. I have really delved into the world of baby showers and discovered that it is anything but boring and dusty and can actually become one of the coolest parties of the year. Without of champagne. Yes, it is possible.

1. Friend group

Let me start by saying that I do understand that mothers, aunts, and grandmothers play a very important role in the family and are of course incredibly proud of the baby. But maybe you can keep it to your friends to keep things a bit looser and lighter and to avoid a tea party. I don't want to disapprove of anything, no fuss, but compare it to a bachelor party. That's also a lot looser without aunts and mothers-in-law who tend to be a bit conservative, right? At a baby shower, the sex stories can be thrown on the table (yes, where else does that baby come from?) and you don't want to send your mother-in-law outside with flapping red ears.

2. Activities

Of course, you have the somewhat ‘standard’ activities of changing diapers, measuring bellies, making belly casts, and writing wishes, but you can also come up with something a bit more original. Bring a bit of creativity, because then you really surprise the mommy-to-be. For example, go print onesies, pimp baby sneakers, or make 'how-you'll-look-later' drawings to add a bit of fun and some jokes. I also want to point out that I certainly don't disapprove (because I was definitely the fastest at changing diapers during the last baby shower, was very close with measuring the belly, and I also found the baby photos of the friends fantastic to see), but you can definitely take a step further for your friend.

3. Color

Also come up with something surprising in the decoration of the event. Normally, a girl is of course represented by pink and a boy by blue, but it can also really become a glittering whole with a touch of gold, or just a black & white party because that fits so well on your Instagram account. Just as fun, but a bit more original.

4. Mommy first

Often, the whole day is spent talking about the baby, and I understand that this is all super important, but there are also friends without children AND friends who come for the mom. Shine a light on them too. Baby candy gets enough attention at birth, so now the mother can get a bit of attention. A little manicure, a little pedicure, then at least you will be well-groomed for the delivery. And that way, it stays fun for everyone.

5. Different time, different location.

The standard story is of course Sunday at two o'clock. An extremely logical time, because that's when the mommy-to-be is relaxed and doesn't have to hang her enormously swollen feet in the air because it's all a bit too much. Still, the surprise is a bit less great, because you can bet that a little mommy-to-be can feel a baby shower coming. Choose a different time. Thursday evening at 7 o'clock, for example. Or Saturday cocktail time. Then a glass of non-alcoholic champagne suddenly doesn't sound so bad anymore.

Photography: Olivier Thijssen