I also had a baby late, after many years of trying. And although I had spent so many weekends and so much money for others' showers, very few women had the time to show up to mine. They all had their kids' activities to go to. It made me feel awful, as if I had very few real friends.

I think you should try to look up the phone numbers for these guests, and call to see if you can shake loose a few more "yes's" -- letting them know that this will be a small-scale gathering to make sure that they don't flake and not show.

Then, if you still have only have 3 or 4 people total and if you're willing to spend the money, you could make this a spa day. Who doesn't love a prenatal massage and facial? I like the idea of asking for parenting advice from the people who can't come.

Anonymous wrote:she is 42
most of the people her age are past attending baby showers

Ha...we're both in our 40's and had our first children (twins). We found that our peers were very excited to come. Most of them were past the infant stages themselves and not yet to the grandparents phase yet and loved buying things for infants again (some people love to shop for babies). So, they get their "baby fix" through other people's babies until they're own kids give them grandchildren.

Anonymous wrote:I am 40 and had 3 babies in my 20s. I never had a shower. I'd go, but just b/c you had a baby younger doesn't mean you had a shower and you "owe" anyone. I've been to several. People get busy in their 40s and they may just not be able to go. It might not be personal at all.

You must be friends with 19:40.

Could you turn it into a couples shower? Invite the guys as well? That would bulk up the numbers. Of course, I'm not sure the guys would want to come but if you explained the situation I'm sure some of them would take one for the team so to speak.

I am 40 and had 3 babies in my 20s. I never had a shower. I'd go, but just b/c you had a baby younger doesn't mean you had a shower and you "owe" anyone. I've been to several. People get busy in their 40s and they may just not be able to go. It might not be personal at all.

I'm 40 and my friend just got pregnant at 39. I'm so excited to go to a baby shower again. It's been awhile and she spent years TTC.

I am 43 and would love to have an excuse to visit Buy Buy Baby again for a gift and share in baby excitement. The fact that it has been a while makes it much more exciting than when I was going to them very frequently.

Anonymous wrote:she is 42
most of the people her age are past attending baby showers

I had a baby at 42, and another at 45. And had baby showers for both. And I've attended tons of showers. And "granny types" love baby showers. Young women in their twenties and teenagers, not so much.

When you have a baby in your 40s, get back to us and let us know.