Baby showers are known to be given to the first child as a welcome to the new member of the family. But when there’s a second baby on its way, questions begin to linger in people’s minds, such as, “Is it rude to have a second baby shower?”
Whether or not it’s rude to have a second baby shower may seem like a black and white question, but in reality, it’s a gray one. Read on to know the answer to this question.
Short Answer
It’s not exactly rude. If the second baby comes right after the first one and is of the same gender, people may see it greedy. This is because the parents already have the first child’s gifts. However, if there’s a long time between the birth of the first and second child, or if the second one has a different gender, a baby shower is completely valid.
With that said, once people know you’re throwing a second baby shower, they’re going to have a lot of opinions. And here comes the importance of learning about some baby shower etiquettes, which helps put your mind at ease. So let’s have a look at some of them.
Is It Inappropriate to Host a Second Baby Shower?
Although a second baby shower is a great way to congratulate parents on parenthood and welcome their new arrival, some people see it inappropriate. Let’s see why and the possibility of having one without being “rude.”
Why Do People Think It’s Rude to Throw a Second Baby Shower?
A percentage of the crowd might question whether the parents are throwing this party to fish for more gifts. Think about it; all infant necessities are already in the parent’s possession, especially when the second baby comes right after the first one.
Even if the pack-and-play has a few teeth marks and the high chair isn’t brand new, these goods are still suitable for the new baby brother or sister.
What Justifies a Second Baby Shower?
In specific situations, you need to have a second baby shower. For instance, it can be an opportunity to get ready for a new gender. Let’s pretend the mother has everything she needs for her first child, a boy. If the second baby is a girl, all the blue outfits with trucks and aircraft on them will be redundant.
In addition, if the second baby comes after a long time since the first birth, some people see that the mother deserves to celebrate her pregnancy. Hence, the second party is valid.
Can I Have a Second Baby Shower Anyway?
You definitely can! It’s important to mention that etiquette is always changing, and our culture isn’t the same as it was decades ago. So even if the parents decide to have a second baby shower right after the first child of the same gender, they can do it.
However, there are some etiquettes to make it clear that you don’t want “gifts” from the attendees. For example, in the invitations, you can clearly state that this is just a celebration to welcome the new baby into the family and that people don’t have to get any gifts.
This way, attendees won’t feel that they need to show up with expensive gifts. Instead, they may grab a few new onesies or some diapers as a nice gesture.
Does the Second Shower Qualify as a Baby Shower?
In fact, because second baby showers are repeated showers for the second baby, they’re called baby sprinkles. So while a baby shower honors a mother’s first child, a baby sprinkle honors all of the mother’s subsequent children.
Is There a Difference Between a Baby Shower and a Sprinkle?
Baby sprinkles are smaller than the first baby shower. As we’ve mentioned, many parents expecting their second child already have a lot of the stuff they’ll need. So instead of a typical shower, the gifts are generally disposables that are specific to new baby care. Some sprinkles may not even have gifts.
Who Organizes the Second Baby Shower?
Usually, a close relative, friend, or coworker may offer to organize the second baby showers, and not the parents themselves.
New Ideas for Unique Second Baby Showers
It’s a tight line to walk between having a baby shower for the first baby and a baby sprinkle for the second baby. This is because you need to make the attendees feel like it’s more about celebrating the baby and the mother than it’s about grabbing presents. So using new modern themes would solve the equation.
- Mom-Time. Shifting the emphasis away from the infant and toward the mother might be beneficial. Instead of bringing a present for the baby, each visitor can bring a gift for the mother. This way, the focus will be on the mother, and the gifts are more likely to be inexpensive. Consider the difference between a bottle of bubble bath and a baby car seat.
- Books. Every guest is asked to bring a book for the new baby’s library. Even if you end up with duplicates, keep in mind that many books end up as chew toys.
- Dinner Party. Each visitor brings a dish, and a dinner party is held to celebrate the occasion of the new baby joining the family.
- Blessings. A circle of women gathers to wish the soon-to-be mother well on her path to motherhood for the second time. Guests may be invited to bring a candle, a bead, or something tiny to make a present for the mother at the ceremony, although gifts are rarely given.
Conclusion
Rude or not, many people have softened their stance on the subject, claiming that every infant deserves a celebration. As a result, more and more mothers are throwing second baby showers for their infants.
What really matters is that they’re delighted to welcome a new member to the family.
Though some people throw showers that may seem out of the ordinary, this might be the key to bridging the divide and making everyone feel at ease when invited to a second party.