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expectant mother celebrating with friends at baby shower

Should I Have a Baby Sprinkle or Baby Shower? 

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expectant mother celebrating with friends at baby shower

 

Everyone has heard of a Baby Shower, but what about the latest trend called a Baby Sprinkle? Both of these events can be tons of fun and are a great way to celebrate the coming of a new baby. So how do you know when a sprinkle is better than a shower? They do have some differences, so it’s important to consider which party is right for the parents-to-be. In order to do that, you’ll have to learn a little bit more about a Baby Sprinkle versus a Baby Shower! 

What is a Baby Sprinkle?

A Baby Shower is a grand party with themed decorations and food, while Baby Sprinkles should require much less work. A Baby Sprinkle is a relaxed gathering of close friends and family to celebrate a new baby on the way. Essentially, Baby Sprinkles are a casual celebration that lasts between 1-2 hours. A Baby Shower has more guests and presents, and the time frame is usually between 2-3 hours. 

We like to think of a Baby Sprinkle as a low-key Baby Shower often held for couples expecting their second child and who already had a Baby Shower with their first child. However, Baby Sprinkles may also be thrown by first-time parents who would rather have a more laid-back gathering than a full blown Baby Shower. Baby Sprinkles are usually held at a local restaurant or at home, but this may vary depending on budget and guest list. 

Who Should I Invite to a Baby Sprinkle?

Many parents decide to include both close family and friends. However, some expectant parents may want to keep it intimate with just relatives. If you are inclined to also invite everyone you know from work, church, etc. then you should stick to a traditional Baby Shower event.

Ultimately, the party host has the final say on how many people are invited. Still, hosts should remember it can be overwhelming for guests to make a Baby Shower-like commitment for several hours.

What Happens at a Baby Sprinkle? 

There aren’t too many hard rules about what needs to happen at Baby Sprinkles, but most include a Baby Sprinkle cake, music and laughter. Whether you’re planning a Baby Sprinkle for yourself or parents-to-be in your life, be sure to keep it simple. The whole point of Baby Sprinkles is to celebrate without the overwhelming to-do list of a Baby Shower. Some fresh flowers, vases and candles go a long way towards the party ambience.

One thing you can be sure to see is gift opening. However, for Baby Sprinkles parents typically don’t use a registry as the event doesn’t usually call for expensive gifts. By the time a mom is expecting her second child, she likely has all of the “big” things she needs. Baby Sprinkles are an opportunity to upgrade existing baby things – especially if there was a large gap between the last child and new baby.

Some Baby Sprinkle gifts that expectant parents would be happy to receive include:

  • Diapers 
  • Money or Gift Cards
  • Diaper Cream and Wipes
  • Blankets
  • Onesies and Outfits
  • Bedding
  • Books
  • Toys

Although second time parents may choose not to purchase a new crib mattress, Colgate recommends you invest in a new quality mattress cover. Our Eco Cover-Organic Cotton Fitted Crib Mattress Cover is a high-quality fitted crib mattress cover made with certified organic cotton, is the perfect addition to any Colgate crib mattress.

Whether you’re the parents or simply the person organizing on parent’s behalf, it’s important to consider both options. If you like the idea of an extravagant or expensive event to celebrate the first pregnancy, it’s best to opt for a Baby Shower. If you’re drawn to an easy-to-plan, low-key event – or if you’re celebrating the coming of a second baby – then a Baby Sprinkle could be ideal!

How to Throw A Beautiful Virtual Baby Shower

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virtual baby shower

When you are coming up with ideas for your favorite mom-to-be’s baby shower, a global pandemic (and the social distancing that comes with it) may need to be part of your plan. Fortunately, celebrating a mom-to-be doesn’t require in-person interaction – there’s plenty of celebrating that can be done behind a computer or smartphone screen with a virtual baby shower! 

Though there’s a real need for them now, long-distance or virtual baby showers have been around for a while. Typically, they are planned for friends and family who live in other states or countries. Military families who move around a lot often use them to bring their far-flung friends together. With a little bit of planning, you can easily adapt your baby shower plans into a virtual party without missing a beat.  

Here’s your step-by-step guide to throwing a beautiful virtual baby shower.

Create a virtual baby shower “venue”

You can host the event with the mom-to-be’s closest friends and family by inviting them to join the shower remotely, thanks to Facebook Live, IGTV, Zoom or Google Hangouts.

Everyone will probably be tuning in from their living room, but the backdrop behind them doesn’t have to be. If you’ll be using Zoom for the baby shower, you can create a custom background or have guests select a background that suits the theme using a high resolution image. 

Check out this easy guide to adding your own virtual background.

Select a special virtual baby shower theme

Just because you can’t be there in person, it doesn’t mean you should give up the fun little touches that turn a virtual baby shower into an event to remember. Guests can take part in the “decor” by dressing up in the mom-to-be’s favorite color. Another idea is to create a rainbow on-screen by assigning guests to dress a specific color. You can also embrace the casual feel of a virtual baby shower by having guests “show up” in their favorite pajamas. 

For a more involved theme, organize a virtual tea party. Ask guests to brew up their favorite tea and have their favorite mug ready to show. 

Make your invites memorable

Now, you’re ready to fill out the invites. Digital invitations are popular and streamlined, which means the only hard part is choosing which beautiful design to go with (and there are thousands).

Websites like Paperless Post, Evite and Greenvelope have tons of virtual invite options, many of which include cool extras like music, gifs and active links to your registry and event page – not to mention they’re totally paperless, which is a bonus if you’re going green. 

Of course, you can still send physical invites if that’s what you’d prefer, and there’s definitely something special about receiving an invitation in the mail.

Add mama essentials to their baby registry

A baby registry has always been a great way to help parents start this exciting new chapter, but it takes on extra importance during this time of uncertainty. While the mom-to-be likely has her registry filled already with items for the nursery, like the crib mattress, consider starting a secondary registry with comfort items for both parents to show them love during this time of uncertainty. Consider adding essentials like a meal delivery services, gift cards to laundry services and extra cleaning supplies. We also recommend adding comfy loungewear and relaxing bath and body items to the list. 

As for timing your gifts, it all depends on whether or not you’d like the parents to open gifts on screen. Ask what their comfort level is, and plan accordingly. If they do want to open gifts on screen, ask guests to time their purchase at least two weeks before the party to allow for any possible shipping delays. 

Make it social with virtual game ideas

The best part about a virtual baby shower is just how many special moments from a traditional baby shower can still be part of the day, like party games. You can’t play classics like “Guess the candy bar in the diaper; however, here are some other fun virtual baby shower game ideas:

  • Name That Baby Song. The host plays different nursery rhymes or popular baby songs and guests try to guess the name as quickly as they can.
  • Who’s That Baby? Before the call starts, ask guests to email photos of themselves as babies to the host. The host shares them with the group and everyone tries to guess who is who.
  • How Well Do You Know Mom? Use the downloadable template below to quiz guests on how well they know the mom-to-be.

Looking for an interactive alternative to games and coordinating virtual baby shower prizes? Ask the mom-to-be ahead of time if she’d like to give a nursery tour. Or have guests give their input on what she can pack in her hospital “go” bag. 

Send moments to remember

Taking photos of the event is as easy as taking a screenshot. However, you might miss a moment. The solution? Record your party as it unfolds so you can pause and capture the perfect reaction. 

The process will depend on which platform you’re using, but for Zoom, simply click “Settings,” then “Recording,” and turn the “Local Recording” option on. 

You can share virtual baby shower photos via Facebook, or email them to guests after the party with a virtual thank you card.