Anyone skip having a baby shower?

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. I am much more partial to the coed shower/BBQ idea/casual get together. But would it be weird for us to host at our own home? We are moving soon and I was wanting to do some sort of housewarming party. Maybe kill two birds with one stone?

[Anonymous]

I was asked and declined. I had a lot of similarities to you -- lots of friends out of town, not really my thing. Plus I had just moved to a smaller town and suddenly we had tons of extra money due to low COL costs. So I felt awkward having tons of presents bought for me by people who actually had more use for that money than me.

Don't regret it 3+ years and 2 kids later. Still happy (well, willing) to go to baby showers for others, though.

[Anonymous]

Not weird at all to combine the two, IMO. You might let the friends who have offered be the "hosts" in the sense of sending invitations if you want to include them, and having it at your house will help lessen your worry of too heavy of a financial burden fall on them. Plus having a combo party will help if you want to avoid the traditional baby shower let's play some inane games/watch me open presents rigmarole.

[Anonymous]

If noone has offered to host the shower, you absolutely do NOT have to host one yourself. That said, I like the idea of combining teh house warming/baby shower. I think the shower is often too much about celebrating the mom, but should be about celebrating the baby. So I think it is nice to have them, but NOT if they cause you stress. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Coed showers are odd. Even when guys say they are ok with them, they really aren't. They are just being supportive of you. Don't make them do it.

It is ok not to have a shower! Are you ok with not getting a massive present haul? People will still give you things but not in the same huge amount. I didn't want a shower for the same types of reasons you said so I didn't have one. I also didn't register or expect or want gifts from people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coed showers are odd. Even when guys say they are ok with them, they really aren't. They are just being supportive of you. Don't make them do it.

It is ok not to have a shower! Are you ok with not getting a massive present haul? People will still give you things but not in the same huge amount. I didn't want a shower for the same types of reasons you said so I didn't have one. I also didn't register or expect or want gifts from people.

I like coed showers a lot. Especially because the gifts normally aren't opened. I hate the gift opening part of showers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coed showers are odd. Even when guys say they are ok with them, they really aren't. They are just being supportive of you. Don't make them do it.

It is ok not to have a shower! Are you ok with not getting a massive present haul? People will still give you things but not in the same huge amount. I didn't want a shower for the same types of reasons you said so I didn't have one. I also didn't register or expect or want gifts from people.

Sorry, I don't agree with this. It's only odd if you make people sniff diapers during stupid games and force them to watch you open gifts. Plenty of our Guy friends are dads or just really like kids. And most are coupled up and we socialize with them as couples, not just the women. A co-ed shower with beer is just an excuse to get together and celebrate the new parents. If you aren't overplaying the whole "baby" aspect of things it is basically just like any other party--have food, music, and relax. Sure, some people (like the women) will bring gifts and other won't--like the single guys who showed up to your wedding and never got you anything. But no need to gender segregate in this day and age if your friends are a mixed group. I think a co-ed shower is a great idea. Follow it up with a sip and see after baby is born so people can come meet the baby and brunch.