From the article: Should guests bring a baby to the baby shower?
A baby shower is a celebration of a specific baby and mother. But what if you were invited to a baby shower for someone and were planning to bring your baby and then were told your baby wasn't invited? Would you still go to the baby shower? Would you take your baby any way? Would you send a gift and regrets? Has this happened to you before? Share Your Thoughts
Ehh...
- At our gender reveal party, I had asked my Mom and my sister-in-law to leave their kids at home, simply because we didn't have the room or entertainment for them (the kids are 12, 8, 6, and three 4-yr olds!) I was fine with my SIL bringing her newborn though. My husbands grandma brought his cousins 6 and 1.5 year old. While we were showing the ultrasound DVD, the 1.5 year old ran into the other room and pulled our christmas tree down, breaking about 10 of our favorite ornaments, including my "Babies First Christmas" ornament that I've had for 25 years. The six-year old spilled red punch onto the white comforter in my bedroom. Their mom didn't even show up for the party. I was beyond frustrated. I was hosting the party, and didn't really have the time (or energy) to chase someone else's kids around.
- —Guest Taylor
Sometimes you just suck it up
- This happened to me for a family member's shower. She specifically asked me and another sister-in-law to leave our newborns at home because she wanted the focus to be on her baby. As irritated as I was, I left my little one at home. Sometimes you do silly things for people because you love them. It was her party, and I can easily chalk it up to her not having had a baby, and move on. But I wouldn't purposely go against her wishes trying to teach her a lesson on a special day for her. Had I not been able to leave my baby, I think sending my kind regrets would have been totally fine. But if you are a new mom-to-be, don't do this to your guests. There is enough love for all the babies out there! And if it happens to you, just suck it up and forgive and forget. Worse things have happened, and your baby won't be offended.
- —Guest Kate
Babies...maybe
- I think that the shower should be about the new mom or mom to be, and if after the birth-about the new baby. However I dont think someone else bringing their baby is such a huge deal.. but it is a different story if we are talking about older children. Older children often think that every situation is about them. Older children have no place at a baby shower.
- —Guest Jordan
I would not go
- I think that people need to lighten up about bringing babies and kids to showers I've brought my 4 year old to a baby shower and she loved it. You're about to be a mom so why are kids banned from a baby shower - the purpose is to have friends congratulate you and give you a gift for the new bundle of joy. So why is it an adult only occasion???? I would love babies at my baby shower there so cute and some moms might not be comfy leaving there baby with anyone yet and their husbands may be working so they can't leave baby with him. People should be considerate of other people even when the function is for themselves.
- —Guest nichole
It happened to me!
- I brought my baby anyway. But I put her in a sling and wore her close. As I was leaving I made a point of saying to the hostess, "Thanks, baby and I had fun!" No one even knew she had come with me...
- —Guest Hadley
Absolutely not!
- My sister tried this with me. She was due 6 weeks after I was and asked me to leave my baby at home. I flat out said no. I did offer to try to figure out what was bothering her so I could try to make it work, but she wouldn't even tell me what she was worried about. So I stayed home with my baby. After her baby was born, something similar happened to her, a wedding, and she apologized to me and said she was glad I stood my ground for my baby.
- —Gmom37
