Second Baby, New Baby-The Remedy Is The Sip N’ See
Baby showers should be a cut and dry situation: your friend is pregnant, you throw her a shower, invite all her friends to celebrate the upcoming arrival, she gets lots of gifts that she will need for her new bundle of joy, you play a few games, eat some cake, everyone is happy.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work like that. There are always issues like:
This is actually your friend’s second child and having a shower for a second child is frowned upon, viewed as greedy for gifts, and considered tacky. (No idea who wrote that rule, but most women are aware of it.)
This is actually your friend’s second child and the upcoming arrival is the same sex as the first child, so a baby shower is an etiquette no-no.
Your friend is weird about receiving gifts, makes all kinds of excuses as to why she doesn’t want a shower, and doesn’t want to be showered like the pregnant queen she is, forcing you to throw the shower after the baby is born (not naming names, but you can read her blog here).
The new mom has a hectic schedule and can’t coordinate a time to have the shower until after the baby has arrived.
The new mom is actually adopting a baby or having the baby via surrogate and doesn’t feel comfortable having a baby shower before the baby is here.
Your friend just doesn’t want a baby shower. (Note: they always secretly do)
The baby comes early and before the scheduled shower.
The reasons are countless, but the bottom line is regardless of the when and how the baby is getting here, or what birth order they fall in, a new baby is a time to celebrate!!!
All of the above scenarios are quickly remedied with the sip n’ see, and the best part is that everyone gets to meet the baby at this party! The idea behind the sip n’ see is that it’s not a baby shower; it’s a party celebrating the baby’s arrival. This party can be thrown any time after the baby is born and regardless if the baby is number one, two, or three for the parents. It’s usually a floating party where guests can mingle with the parents, ooh and ah over the new baby, have a few drinks (punch, wine, whatever-you must sip) eat h’orderves, and give a gift if they like.
I loved the sip n’ see my best friend in Greensboro threw me when Sayle was three months old (we couldn’t coordinate schedules to have a shower in Greensboro before Sayle arrived). My extended family and friends who weren’t able to attend my showers had the opportunity to meet Sayle. My husband and his friends were able to join in the celebration too because it was a party and not a girly shower. The guys were surprisingly really into passing around little Sayle, discussing what it was like to be a dad, and hearing all my husband’s new dad woes. It was really very endearing.
Besides the sip n’ see, I’ve also been to diaper showers, where the only gifts given are diapers of various sizes. This shower can be given for all babies, but I’ve seen it mostly for second or third babies. I also have participated in mail showers, where people mail the new mom gifts rather than having a shower or party (which blogger Alexis called a Baby Sprinkle). I thought that was a really neat idea as well.
Like I said, I don’t know who wrote the rules for baby showers, but these rules have certainly stressed a lot of women out and made for uncomfortable situations. I recommend the sip n’ see for all baby party occasions!
What are your thoughts on a baby shower for the second child? What other types of baby showers/parties have you participated in?
[...] By the way, this was the greatest cake ever made and I ate about half of it, no joke! Chocolate and I were on a break during my pregnancy, but now are happily back on and enjoying lots of time together. Read here to hear from one of the master minds behind my sip n see and the ins and outs of having on… [...]