Throwing a baby shower may seem as easy as hosting an afternoon tea party. Well, not exactly. In planning a baby shower, there are some things that you need to consider which are beyond brewing a pot of tea.

Who is throwing the baby shower party?

Traditionally, any one close to the mother-to-be, except for the immediate relative. Having a relative of the expectant mom throw the shower would seem as if the family is asking for presents.

When to organize the baby shower?

Most people prefer to schedule during the last trimester when the expectant mom’s belly is more prominent. However, it is also acceptable to hold the shower after the baby’s birth. What’s important is to confirm with the family to avoid any conflicts in schedule and make sure that guests are available to attend.

Who are invited?

It is a common practice to invite the expectant mom’s close female friends and relatives. But it has become acceptable to invite male friends and members of the family, who are mostly husbands of the female guests. If you are having a coed baby shower, it’s best to prepare activities that both men and women will enjoy.

What activities should be prepared for the shower?

Serve some food and refreshments, depending on the budget. Aside from socializing with the mom-to-be, guests will have fun with some silly games.

It’s exciting to plan a baby shower. Just use this guideline to make the shower enjoyable for the mom-to-be and the guests.

A diaper cake is a nice baby shower gift for an expectant mom. It’s basically a bunch of diapers and other baby items arranged to look like a tiered cake. It can be used to decorate the nursery while expecting the baby’s arrival. By then, the parents can use the diapers and the other items for the baby’s needs.

Another good thing about baby diaper cakes is that you won’t have to spend much because you can make your own diaper cake.

First, you are going to need about two regular packs of diapers, rubber bands, cardboard and colorful ribbons or bows to decorate the cake. Don’t forget the items you’d hide inside the cake such as pacifiers, washcloths, socks, mittens and baby supplies like shampoo, rash cream, lotions, and baby wash. Use dowels bought from a home improvement store instead of the ones from a craft store – they are cheaper. You will also need cellophane to wrap around the cake and keep it together.

For step by step instructions on how to make a diaper cake for baby shower, refer to the following.

1. Roll up a diaper then wrap a rubber band around it to keep it from unrolling.
2. Add 7 more rolled up diapers to the rubber band, with the first rolled up diaper serving as the center. This will be the top layer.
3. For the middle layer, do the previous steps then add 15 rolled up diapers. Wrap a strong rubber band around them.
4. For the base layer, make a middle layer then add 30 more rolled diapers around it, wrapping it with big rubber bands.
5. Create a circular base by cutting one out from the cardboard, then place the largest layer over it..
6. Remove one or two diapers (preferably near the center) and in their place, insert some baby items. Each layer should have several hidden gifts.
7. Once all the layers are inserted with gifts, stack the layers together using one or two dowels inserted through the base layer. Make sure the dowels are between the diapers.
8. Decorate the cake with ribbons and bows. It’s up to your creativity to make the decorations attractive.
9. Finally, wrap the finished diaper cake with cellophane.

Just one warning: Do not use pins to hold the diapers together or to attach the items to the diapers. Unaware of the pins, the recipient might get accidentally jabbed when disassembling the cake.