Lack of Baby Shower Guests

[mamapigeon]

My mom is planning a shower for me and wants a list of guests. The trouble is, I'm not very social and only have 2 friends I regularly communicate with. My only family members in the state are my parents... My DH isn't very social either, but has some family... it looks like the shower has 8 guests... How close would you want to be to someone to receive a shower invite?

I wonder if I should call it something else? The only shower I've been invited to had close to 30 guests...

BTW, this isn't about gifts, my DH and I have basically everything we need other than cloth diapers and we're getting those ourselves.

[Liora]

You could have a Blessingway.  I'm having a "sprinkle" because it is a second (and third) child.  But I don't think it will be smaller than my baby shower with DD because my mom and sister are nuts!

I invite coworkers who have kids.  I wasn't invited to some of theirs but no one acted offended that I invited them.  Since it took us so long to get pregnant it was an event for my parents as much as for me/DH.  There were 80 people there!  I also made mine co-ed and kid friendly (had some great kid games if you are interested) so it was very jovial and boisterous instead of the quaint teas some baby showers are.

You can also, IMO, put in the invite that you want them to celebrate but no gifts please (or no gift necessary) or ask for something specific like for them to write a wish for the baby for you to collect and keep for him/her.  Blessingways are more about a momento like a bead or something that you string together to form a labor necklace and less about gifts for the baby.

[homemademom]

Could you make it a girls night out instead?  All go for dinner?  Or a couple's shower? If everyone brings their partner, you'll have a bigger crowd. That said, I don't think 8 is too small for a shower, but if only a few are able to attend, it might feel weird (like, if you're not very social and it's hard to keep the conversations going).

[mamapigeon]

That sounds really nice. I like the idea of collecting wishes for the baby. It sounds more special than getting a lot of stuff, though I know some people will still want to do that.

[mamapigeon]

Homemademom,

a couples shower might be a better way to go. I know my husband is kind of hurt by the traditional "no guys allowed" shower idea.

I AM a little worried about fewer people showing. I don't want to be the one to try to start conversations, really not a talent of mine.  

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

i don't have many friends either, i do have a big family though. last time with ds i was working and got 2 showers, this time it will be with my cousin who lives out of town so she will probably have like 10-15 extra guests than me, but oh well i much rather just invite the people in my family and the couple friends i have than to invite people i haven't talked to in 4-5 years or those i that i don't know well. I don't think it matters, some people just have a small family or circle of friends, what matters is inviting people that you want to share the experience with, Good luck!

[mamapigeon]

It certainly would be more meaningful with guests that really matter to you. I do think I'll go with my small guest list and make it as special as possible for everyone there. Thank you for pointing that out.

[Buddhamom]

Nothing wrong with a small celebratory (sp?) luncheon wih a few gals!  We did the wishes with beads that the PP talked about. My older two did the invitations and asked everyone to bring a bead and we also had extra for those who couldn't bring one.  My daughters went around with a video camera and a string and people stated their wish for our baby as they placed the bead on the string. Our last daughter was adopted at 3 days old so we did it after she came home and instead of a shower it was a meet the baby party.  It was co-ed with children.

[JFTB1177]

A good friend of mine had her second son last year. A group of her friends threw a "sprinkle" for her and had brunch at a nice restaurant (I was invited but wasn't able to go). I think she said there were 8 or 9 ladies there and that it was perfect!

I only had a shower with my first, and it was coed so there was prob twice as many people there as there would have been had it only been women. I really wanted a coed shower because my dh is my best friend and I felt he shouldn't miss out on the shower, you know?

Don't worry about the number of guests, honestly I would rather have less people (but the people that really mattered) than random people who were just invited to "up" the numbers, you know? Have fun! :)

[Mamatoabunch]

I have had several different kinds of "showers". A MNO, mom's night out w/ dinner, a mama gift shower, w/ nursing jammies, lotion, a meal shower, w/ frozen meals. I have only had a few people at most of them.

[mamapigeon]

Thanks everyone! I had no idea there were so many options out there!  I think I'll go along with what my mom has planned as she's really excited (first grandchild) and try to enjoy it with everyone.

[JFTB1177]

 Hey there! I already replied but came back here to say my mom and sis threw me a surprise "sprinkle" yesterday (this is my 3rd kid)! Only a few people were there- my SIL, sister, mom, friend, another relative, DH (DH's mom, sister and aunt were supposed to come but couldn't). It was PLENTY, we had a good time and no stupid shower games or anything (sorry if I offend anyone but I HATE shower games! lol), just hanging out and eating. Just perfect!