Having a baby shower is a dream of every mom-to-be. I know because I was an expecting mom 3 times.

However, before you jump into having one, it's important you understand a few things that you must do before a baby shower.

Planning is a Must

Planning a baby shower can quickly become overwhelming. If this is your first pregnancy, the more guests the new baby will attract. Not only do you have to deal with planning the menu, but you have to go out and buy enough food to accommodate the guests and then cook it as well.

This is one of the reasons I highly suggest getting help from a professional personal shopper and event planner. A professional can lift the burden of searching for baby items and menu preparation from mom-to-be, family and guests.

Choose a Venue

One option in venue choice is the expecting mom and dad's favorite restaurant or hangout. Another favorite of mine is local baby shops and boutiques. Often times, these places are glad to host their customers' baby shower. They get free advertising and another happy shopper at the same time.

If all else fells, make it simpler by having the baby shower at a friend's or family member's home.

Decide on Your Theme

Choosing a theme is not groundbreaking or new. You can get inspiration for your baby shower theme from many things. There's the normal pink for a girl and blue if the baby is a boy. You can also choose plaids and other patterns in pale or pastel colors. Browsing through children and home decorating magazines is a great way to come up with ideas. Don't forget character themes. There are so many to consider-Disney characters, animals, and toys.

Register for Gifts

I wrote about baby's first gifts in last year's holiday gift guide. Have a lot of keepsakes on your list of baby shower gifts because babies grow so fast and their features change with each day.

Register at The Gourmet Gift Boutique for baby gift baskets. This is your chance to have more than one item bought per person. You get several items for the new baby all bundled up in a keepsake container. And the best part about it is the container can be for you or the baby.

So if you are a mom-to-be and thinking about a baby shower, hopefully this has helped you out. Keep in mind that this is not a full list- just the basics of the must do's before that special day.

Tags: baby basket baby gift baskets baby shower new baby gifts

Labels: baby basket, baby gift baskets, baby shower, new baby gifts