I need help with a baby shower thing!
July 6, 2011 8:47 AM Subscribe
I need ideas for a baby shower ceremony in which all the guests contribute to something physical that the mother-to-be can take with her into the delivery room.
I'm throwing a baby shower for a friend next month, and we're meeting today to talk about ideas for baby shower activities. One thing she has requested is that all the attendees come together to make something that she can take with her into labor. I'm really behind in preparing for this, so help me out with your ideas!
I'm throwing a baby shower for a friend next month, and we're meeting today to talk about ideas for baby shower activities. One thing she has requested is that all the attendees come together to make something that she can take with her into labor. I'm really behind in preparing for this, so help me out with your ideas!
Pieces of fabric that could be made into some kind of pillow or stuffed animal?
posted by xingcat at 8:50 AM on July 6, 2011
posted by xingcat at 8:50 AM on July 6, 2011
How about permanent/fabric markers and a pillowcase? You don't want to burden her with something large or heavy, and you probably want something washable. And she could either take a pillow or just the case and put it over a hospital pillow.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:51 AM on July 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 8:51 AM on July 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
If someone among you is crafty and willing: Have everyone bring an old t-shirt or other article of clothing that has some meaning (either to their friendship or to their own birth experience). Someone can cut swatches from each and make a blanket of sorts.
posted by mkultra at 9:09 AM on July 6, 2011
posted by mkultra at 9:09 AM on July 6, 2011
how about everyone contributes a bead or a charm that can be strung onto a bracelet or necklace?
posted by juliapangolin at 9:10 AM on July 6, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by juliapangolin at 9:10 AM on July 6, 2011 [5 favorites]
This might be too woo-woo for you, but a friend of mine did this when she was turning 50. She made a giant circle out of branches (we're talking 6 feet or more) and then had her friends bring yarn, ribbons, fabric, whatever to tie together in a long strand and weave back and forth as (what she described as) sort of a dreamcatcher.
I bet you could do this on a much smaller scale, but it could still serve as a point to focus on. She can look at it and think, "Okay, this ribbon came from rabbitrabbit, and this one came from my other friend, and this one came from my sister..."
posted by Madamina at 9:27 AM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
I bet you could do this on a much smaller scale, but it could still serve as a point to focus on. She can look at it and think, "Okay, this ribbon came from rabbitrabbit, and this one came from my other friend, and this one came from my sister..."
posted by Madamina at 9:27 AM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Along the lines of mkultra and the pillowcase ideas, you could make or decorate a sturdy shawl (4-5 feet square) to be used like a rebozo - traditionally used to pull on, wrangle in the hands, or wrap on oneself in various ways during labor, as well as possibly for the child afterwards.
posted by cobaltnine at 9:31 AM on July 6, 2011
posted by cobaltnine at 9:31 AM on July 6, 2011
My friends made me a birthing necklace at my baby shower, and I loved it. I also like the pillowcase idea; if you take your own pillow to the hospital or birth center, you need to do it in a distinctive pillowcase, so that is practical as well as sweet.
posted by KathrynT at 9:44 AM on July 6, 2011
posted by KathrynT at 9:44 AM on July 6, 2011
I like the blanket idea - if you have one person in the group who is skilled at sewing you could bring a large blank piece of white cotton and lots of fabric markers - everyone could decorate it with drawings, well wishes, and notes to welcome the new baby, and then it could be quilted into a small baby blanket later.
posted by one little who at 10:12 AM on July 6, 2011
posted by one little who at 10:12 AM on July 6, 2011
One thing she has requested is that all the attendees come together to make something that she can take with her into labor.
I hope this won't be relevant. If a C-section becomes scheduled, delivery rooms (my experience is from the UK) are strict about what you can bring in with you. I was told in advance - no jewellery. They even put a piece of sterile surgical tape around my wedding ring (very nicely!).
posted by Jody Tresidder at 11:35 AM on July 6, 2011
I hope this won't be relevant. If a C-section becomes scheduled, delivery rooms (my experience is from the UK) are strict about what you can bring in with you. I was told in advance - no jewellery. They even put a piece of sterile surgical tape around my wedding ring (very nicely!).
posted by Jody Tresidder at 11:35 AM on July 6, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by genmonster at 8:50 AM on July 6, 2011 [3 favorites]