Finalizing the baby shower guest list and sending out invitations is one of the first things you’re going to need to cross off your baby shower checklist.
So how do you decide who to invite?
And how many people should be on your guest list?
We’re getting into all of that and more in this post.
In this Post:
- Who Should Be Invited to a Baby Shower?
- Making the Guest List
- How many guests should I invite?
- Do the father-to-be and men attend showers?
- Tips for Making your Baby Shower Co-ed
- Should you allow kids to come?
Who should be invited to your baby shower?
Who gets invited to the baby shower depends largely on who you’re comfortable inviting.
The last thing you’ll want is having annoying Aunt Ruth there criticizing your every move at what’s supposed to be one of the most exciting and memorable days of your life.
Some moms, myself included, found it easier to do my guest list myself so that my best friend only had to focus on sending out invitations.
PRO TIP: If it’s a surprise shower, the host should work with someone really close to mom-to-be, like the dad-to-be, to come up with the guest list.
Making the Guest List
Invite people to your shower who are going to make you feel loved and supported, not overwhelmed and stressed out.
Your Baby Shower is your moment, and you don’t have to invite anyone who may ruin that moment for you.
Likely, the first names you’re going to write down are:
Your mom
Hopefully your mom is one of your biggest supporters throughout this whole process.
The fact that she knows you so well will make her an excellent buffer and support person for you. She’ll be able to step in if you or the shower host need any assistance, and can be there for you if you need anything.
Your sisters
Like your mom, your sisters will hopefully be your biggest cheerleaders. They know you well and can support you on your big day.
If you have sisters who’ve had babies before, you can lean on them for advice and help.
Plus, they’ll likely be there to give the host a hand with everything from recording who gave you what gift, to making you a plate of food so you eat in between people coming up to you to rub your belly.
Your best friend
Your friend who’s so close to you, she’s just like a sister. She’s another important member of your support party.
She knows you almost as well as you know yourself, maybe even better.
She can predict what you need before you say a word, and she’ll do her best to make sure you have an amazing time.
A simple glance across the room to her, and she’ll know just what you need, and just what to do about it.
Your close friends
Your friend circle who’s been there to love on you and support you, will definitely make an awesome addition to your party.
You’ll want them there to share such an important milestone in your life.
They’re going to be excited to help you celebrate and your new bundle of joy!
And you can count on them for some hearty laughs and heartfelt hugs.
Your in-laws
Depending on what your relationship is like with your mother-in-law and sister-in-law, you may or may not choose to invite them.
If it’s really important to your hubby that they’re invited, but you don’t have the best relationship with them, you can ask him to speak with them beforehand.
It you’re both okay with them not being invited, and you’d rather them not come, you don’t need to feel obligated to invite them.
After all, the goal here is for you to have an enjoyable, stress-free party.
Everyone Else
After that, who you invite is going to depend largely on how big of a baby shower you’re throwing, the host’s budget, and any space limitations the venue may have.
Traditionally, the host pays for the shower, so you want to make sure you’re taking that into consideration.
If you want to and are able to, other people who you may consider inviting include:
- Aunts
- Cousins
- Co-workers
- Your mom’s friends
How many guests should attend a baby shower?
There’s no hard and fast rule to determine how many guests you should invite to your baby shower.
On average, 20-25 guests seems to be the ballpark for baby showers.
However, you can choose to go with just a handful of your close friends, or have a big party with all your friends and family – totally up to you!
Consider these factors when planning the guest list:
- How big mom-to-be’s family and friends circle is
- Budgetary Requirements
- Space Requirements
PRO TIP: If you’re having a virtual shower, you may want to keep the guest list to under 25. It can be hard for the host to manage more guests than that, especially when aunt Lucy can’t figure out how to mute her mic.
Do the father to be and men attend baby showers?
Traditionally baby showers have been only for women.
However, co-ed baby showers, where both men and women attend, have become increasingly more common.
PRO-TIP: The host should check with the parents to determine if a co-ed shower is good fit for them.
The dad-to-be may not feel comfortable being the guest of honor at a baby shower, or he may jump at the idea.
If dad is game for a co-ed shower, you can open up the guest list to include, brothers, uncles, fathers, and close male friends.
Making your baby shower co-ed?
One thing to consider if you’re having a co-ed shower, is that the dynamics of the party will shift a little.
You’ll want to include more gender neutral activities and games.
You may also want to forgo activities that may make some men squeamish, like sharing labor stories.
Inviting Kids?
Whether or not to invite kids to your baby shower is totally your call.
If you have a lot of kids in your family already, it may be easier for you to invite them.
If you do allow children to come, it may help to have some activities that will keep them entertained throughout the shower.
