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Oh, baby! Whether you're organizing a baby shower on behalf of the parent(s)-to-be or throwing a celebration for you and your little one on the way, you know you're about to host THE party of the year. But when exactly should you throw this extra special event? Our guide is here to help answer all your questions about when to have a baby shower so you can get back to the fun parts, like choosing the baby shower invitations and planning baby shower activities and games!
When should you have a baby shower: choosing the right time for the expectant parent(s)
Planning a baby shower is an exciting milestone for both the parent(s)-to-be and their loved ones helping to plan this sweet party! It's a celebration of the impending arrival of their bundle of joy and an opportunity to gather with loved ones and receive support and blessings.
When it comes to deciding when it’s the best time for a baby shower, remember—there's no one perfect answer that suits every situation! If you're hosting a baby shower for the expectant parent(s), consult with them beforehand to ensure that the time you choose makes the most sense for them and aligns with their wishes. There are a few factors to consider when deciding on the best timing for a baby shower or baby sprinkle.
Traditionally, baby showers are held during the third trimester of pregnancy, usually between the 32nd and 36th week (or 4–6 weeks before the due date). This shower timing allows the expectant parents to discover and share the sex of their baby (unless they're waiting until the birth to be surprised) to possibly guide shower decor and gift registry selections. It also allows for some time to make any necessary preparations for the arrival of the baby after the shower, such as organizing gifts and setting up the nursery.
However, keep in mind that every pregnancy and journey to parenthood is unique, and there may be specific circumstances to consider when choosing the date for the baby shower. For instance, if the expectant mother is experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or has a medical condition that requires closer monitoring, it may be more appropriate to have the baby shower earlier in the third trimester, around the 28th to 30th week. This way, the guest of honor can still enjoy the celebration without any added stress or discomfort that may arise later in the pregnancy.
Some parents simply prefer to have the baby shower earlier in the second trimester, around the 20th to 24th week. This timing allows for more flexibility in terms of planning and offers the host more time to organize everything. It also gives the expectant parents plenty of time to unpack their baby shower gifts and send out baby shower thank you cards without feeling overwhelmed and in a rush before the baby arrives. Having the baby shower earlier in the pregnancy can also help alleviate any concerns about potential complications or the need for bed rest later on.
Another good baby shower etiquette point to consider when deciding on the timing of the baby shower is the availability of close family and friends. It's essential to choose a date and time that works for the people who are the most important to the expectant parents. Reach out to these loved ones in advance to check their availability and ensure they can attend the baby shower. Baby showers are all about bringing loved ones together to celebrate the upcoming arrival of the baby and parent(s)-to-be, so make sure your VIP guest list can make it!
If you're planning an outdoor baby shower, choose a date during a season with favorable weather conditions, like spring or fall. You want everyone (especially anyone who is pregnant) to be comfortable, so if you decide to host during the summer or winter, consider hosting the shower indoors or providing ways for people to warm up/cool off as needed. Hosting a shower during certain seasons, such as summer and winter holidays, may also affect the availability of your guests, so keep this in mind while you're planning.
Additionally, it's important to note that some cultures have their own unique baby shower timelines and traditions, and some celebrate the baby after it's arrived. Communication between the hosts and parent(s)-to-be (or their close friends and family if you're throwing a surprise shower) is essential when planning a beautiful and memorable baby shower.
Choosing which type of baby shower or baby celebration to have
While trying to decide when to have a baby shower, don’t forget to consider all of the different types of baby showers out there! Oftentimes, the type of shower that` best suits you and your family will help to determine when you celebrate it.
Some of the most popular types of baby showers to plan:
Traditional baby shower: Generally hosted by a close family member or friend in honor of the mother-to-be.
Baby sprinkle: Parents expecting their second or third baby often choose this toned-down version of a full shower when they don’t need or want a huge celebration.
Couple’s shower: Similar to a traditional shower, except both parents are present and honored and co-ed guests are invited.
Adoption shower: This celebration honors the adoption of a child (and their proud parents) and can be held before or after the child arrives at their new home.
Rainbow Baby shower: This baby shower honors the parent(s)-to-be and their “Rainbow Baby,” a baby expected after the loss of a pregnancy. It’s not uncommon for expectant parents to celebrate this after their baby is born to alleviate the stress of attention.
Virtual baby shower: If you have family members or friends who can’t be with you in person to celebrate, consider throwing a virtual baby shower so no matter where they are, they can be a part of this special occasion.
Gender reveal: A celebration where the parent(s)-to-be reveal the baby’s sex to their family and friends (and often even to themselves!). This can be held in addition to a baby shower.
Sip and see: A casual party held after the baby is born in which the family and friends of the parents come over to “sip” some refreshments and “see” the new baby. This, too, can be held in addition to a baby shower.
Whichever type of celebration you choose, holding a baby shower on the weekend is generally the norm. The best time to throw a baby shower can vary, but most baby showers take place in the early afternoon and last from 2–4 hours, though brunch time baby showers are also a popular option! Of course, if you’re hosting a baby shower for a colleague at work, one held around lunchtime during the workweek is the way to go!
Baby shower invitations you’ll go goo-goo-ga-gah for
Ready to throw a baby shower for yourself or a loved one? Evite has you covered with hundreds of beautiful digital baby shower invitations for every theme, including woodland animals, rainbows, celestial and florals, so you can find the perfect pairing for your party. You can add up to 3 registries on our invitations, enjoy free RSVP tracking, and even personalize your design by adding an envelope, liner, stamp, stickers and background. Some invitation designs to consider:
A delicate, classic blue ribbon border is modernized with a unique text layout to create a fresh-yet-elegant invitation.
A sweet bunny and fox are held aloft in the night sky by moon and star balloons. Subtle animation, glorious twilight hues and a simple line of text offer a polished, playful vibe.
Shimmering, moving gold foil stars dance along a string for a minimalist celestial design perfect for the newest little star.
A profusion of lush citrus and so-real-you-can-almost-smell-them orange blossoms decorate this summery shower invitation.
Delicate Florals in Green Invitation
A very trendy ivory arch is surrounded by a spray of pretty wildflowers against a pale green background. It’s an Evite favorite!
Watercolor Forest Friends Invitation
Woodland animals is one of the most popular baby shower themes, and this charming flora and fauna scene is just one of the many woodland designs we offer.
Check out all of our new baby shower invitations and baby sprinkle invitations.
Looking for more information about throwing a baby shower?
Our baby shower invites guide, baby shower thank you card wording guide and baby shower party guide are here to help!
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What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from SignUpGenius?
Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than SignUpGenius:
- 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
- Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
- No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
- Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
- Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
- User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
- Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.
Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!
What is a signup sheet?
Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.
Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer!
Long story short, signup sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.
How do I create a signup sheet?
Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:
- Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
- Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
- Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
- After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
- Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
- After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
- Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!
What information should be included on a signup sheet?
When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:
- A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
- When and where the event is taking place.
- The organizer’s name and phone number.
- Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete.
When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!
Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!
What are the benefits of using a signup sheet template?
Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:
- A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
- Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
- No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
- The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
- Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
- An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
- Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.
With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.
