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Spa day - Take everyone to the spa, hire a masseuse, get manicures, pedicures, or facials—there’s really nothing more relaxing and rejuvenating for a pregnant woman than getting pampered.

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Have a grown-up tea party - Hosting a tea party is actually a lot easier than most people think, and it’s fun to don your best tea dresses and chat over decorated baked goods.

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Bring in the boys - Most baby showers are ladies only, but inviting the men can be a lot of fun, especially since one lucky guy is also going to become a parent. Plan some partner games and have neutral decorations for a more modern shower.

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A water break before the water breaks - A pool party or a beach trip is the perfect way to lighten the mommy-to-be’s load, plus it’s kid-friendly and she’ll be able to float her way through a very relaxing day.

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Girls' night out - Just because she’s a mom-to-be doesn’t mean she can’t go out on the town! Gather her close friends, put on your little black dresses, and dance like lunatics together.

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Have a BaBy-Q - If the weather is right, don’t waste time indoors. Get the grill fired up, incorporate a bohemian-chic theme, and turn a regular backyard barbecue into a long, slow afternoon of fun.

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Have an arts and crafts session - Let your guests have some fun decorating a basic white onesie or painting baby bottles.

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Do some karaoke - Singing your heart out in a private room with your closest friends is always a good idea. You can grab dinner first, or find a karaoke joint where they serve food.

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Taco/pizza/ice cream sundae bar - Everyone loves food, and having a DIY bar is a great way for people to stay entertained. It can also be a dessert bar for something sweeter.

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Have a movie night - Borrow a projector and get everyone set up with cushions and customizable popcorn toppings, then put on one of your favorite movies and eliminate the stress of organizing games.

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Make it a royal affair - Crown the lady of the shower and celebrate her little prince or princess with royal-themed decor, decadent finger foods, and extravagant (read: ridiculous) hats.

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Have a rustic camping theme - Snack on s’mores and tell funny stories around a campfire, while kids can play in tents and everyone can get a dose of nature and adventure.

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Breakfast baby shower - Whether that means DIY smoothies or omelette bars, moving the baby shower to the morning is a fresh idea that ensures the soon-to-be-mom can go to sleep as early as she likes.

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Make it a competitive tournament - Games like guessing the price of baby items, guessing how big the belly is, or “Guess the poop” (where you melt chocolate into diapers and guess what brand it is) are fun ways to fill the day with excitement. Make sure there are prizes too!

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Majestic garden party - A flower theme is nice, but there’s nothing like actually being in a garden, surrounded by the floral aromas, picnicking on delicious treats. It will be so picturesque, plus everyone can get succulents or flowers as a party favor.

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Mom-osa cocktails - Give the sober mother-to-be a night of cocktails and gossip with a non-alcoholic twist on the mimosa. Other people can drink real mimosas, and she can then enjoy endless entertainment for free.

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Carnival day - Cotton candy machines, bean bag tosses, face-painting, water-balloon throwing and the like are fun and easy ways to set up a day that’s perfect for people of all ages. You can embrace your own inner child before welcoming a new one into the world!

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Pajama party - If the idea of getting dressed up or going out doesn’t appeal to the lady of the day, then go the opposite route and host a dress-down party.

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Have a celebrity-esque all-in-white party - Skip the predictable pink-for-girls and blue-for-boys theme, and take notes from P. Diddy’s star-studded parties. Everyone can come dressed in white, all the decorations can be white, and the pictures will be awesome.

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A trip to the tropics - Most soon-to-be-parents don’t have the spare cash to actually take a trip to the tropics, but you can bring the coconuts, the music, and the island fun to them!

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A photo shoot - Gather a load of props and costumes, supply food and drinks, and get everyone to participate in a photo shoot! It’s a taste of glamour, it provides memories that will last forever, and it can be as wholesome or ridiculous as you want.

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Baby book club - Get everyone to bring their favorite children’s book and dress up as a character from it. It’s kid-friendly, and obviously the mommy-to-be gets first dibs on Mother Goose.

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Nautical adventure - If you can’t host the baby shower on an actual boat, you can get sailor hats, striped decorations, and serve seafood.

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Baby sprinkle - Maybe the pregnant woman doesn’t like big parties, or maybe this is not her first child, but having a very small, intimate event—even just an at-home dinner—will more than suffice. It’s all about spoiling her in whichever way she pleases.

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Go green - There’s no better way to welcome the next generation than by putting in the effort to be more eco-friendly. Skip paper invitations, open a green gift registry (cloth diapers, non-toxic baby soaps and lotions, BPA-free baby bottles, etc.) skip the wrapping, serve organic, natural foods, and consider activities like DIY candles, soaps, or scents.

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Charity baby shower - Make the mommy-to-be feel good about herself while spreading some good karma by adding an element of charity to the shower. You don’t have to spend the day volunteering, but you can play games to raise money, or organize a community baby shower to benefit pregnant women in the area.

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Mommy shower - If you want to make the pregnant woman feel less like she’s sticking out, get everyone to stuff fake bellies, learn how to use diapers, and bring a plate of the food they craved when they were pregnant or food the mommy-to-be is craving.

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Reconsider surprise showers - A really important part of baby showers is helping the parents out with baby supplies, and listening to what the parents actually want/need is important. If they have their registry set up, and if you know the pregnant woman won’t be startled into labor, then you may proceed.

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Get started! -

Don’t wait to have the shower during her third trimester. By organizing it earlier, there’s no risk of her missing it due to early labor, and the parents have enough time to take stock of the gifts and buy whatever else they still need.

See also: Fictional characters that inspired baby names.

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