When To Send Out Baby Shower Invites

A baby shower is a party that is thrown to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a new baby.

Before finalizing the details of a cake and decorations, you should organize the invitations so those who you would like to attend know where and when it is going to be held.

You must make sure that your invites are sent out in plenty of time so that your guests can rule the date out for any future plans.

This may lead you to question when the best time is to send out your baby shower invites. Find all the answers you need in my article below.

Let’s get started

When Is A Baby Shower Held?

A baby shower is typically held 6 to 8 weeks before the baby is due to arrive.

This timing means that you are well into the latter stages of pregnancy, but the birth isn’t quite imminent so you needn’t worry about an unexpected arrival or the feeling of discomfort.

Of course, this can differ between pregnancies but the sixth or seventh month provides a good guideline.

When Is The Best Time To Send Out The Invites?

Generally, it is recommended that you send out the invitations four to six weeks before the baby shower is scheduled to take place.

You may be trusting a friend or family member with the task of planning your baby shower, so you will need to make sure that they stick within this timeframe so that all of your guests are notified well in advance.

This also allows guests who live a distance away from where the baby shower is being held to plan their journey and accommodation if necessary.

Avoid sending out the invitations too early because there is a risk that your guests may forget.

If you are in charge of planning the baby shower for the mom-to-be, make sure that the day you choose to hold the celebration does not conflict with any upcoming doctor’s appointments or scans.

What Type Of Invites Are You Sending?

The type of invites that you choose will influence when you need to send them. If you are going to be sending physical invitations you will need to account for the time that the mail service will take to deliver them. This will likely take a week.

Some people may prefer to send a digital invitation from an online provider as this saves the hassle of having to visit a post office.

They are also likely to be delivered within a fairly short time frame because you will typically be provided with a range of delivery options.

Additional Factors To Consider

Sending the invitations out a few weeks before the baby shower will give your guests plenty of time to get a gift.

It is recommended that you put together a baby registry prior to sending the invitations so that guests can start browsing through the list of items that you would like.

The gender of the baby can be found out at the 20-week mark, therefore if the gender is known you’ll be able to specify desired gifts for either a boy or a girl.

It is worth sending a save the date invitation before the actual invitation if you know the date but the venue and finer details such as the time are not yet confirmed.

This will allow your guests to plan their time accordingly and record the date in their calendars.

Details should include the date that it is going to be held, a theme (if there is one), and information relating to the gift registry.

Who Should Send Out The Baby Shower Invitations?

As we have touched upon, a friend or family member will typically be allocated the task of planning the baby shower.

The mom-to-be, also known as the ‘guest of honor’ should create a list of all of the guests that they would like to attend.

This list should then be given to the planner, who can take the next steps in sending out the invitations.

Whilst the guest of honor may wish to contribute some ideas and give their input regarding the theme etc, the main task of planning the baby shower should not be left to them.

Baby Shower Etiquette

There is a certain etiquette that you should adhere to when it comes to planning a baby shower and sending invitations.

First, you must make sure that you send the invitations out within the correct time frame.

This should not be too early and it also should not be too late. Furthermore, you should also ensure that the invitation lists a return address that guests can send their RSVP to.

Along with an address, you should also provide a contact number so that your guests can get in touch with you if they have any queries relating to the day.

When it comes to creating the perfect baby shower invitations you must think about the design. The wording must be appropriate for the occasion.

For example, you may choose to add an inspiring quote. Not only does the invitation need to include the relevant information about the date, time and venue, etc, it should also state whether or not the party is going to be a surprise.

You don’t want guests to discuss it with the mom-to-be if they are oblivious as to what is going on. Moreover, you should also give careful consideration to the colors that are going to be used and how they relate to the theme.

Final Thoughts

Baby shower invitations should be sent 4 to 6 weeks before the baby shower date as this gives guests plenty of time to plan.

Once the invitations are sent, you can shift your focus onto sorting out the decorations and thinking about the games that you are going to play and the entertainment.

Having an understanding of the number of people that you are expecting will allow you to offer a generous spread.

If desired, remember to include details of the baby registry so guests know what to search for.