So we’ve all heard of a baby shower. The exciting party was thrown for a new mom to welcome her to motherhood. Baby shower games might be played, diapers could be raffled, and the new mom looks forward to all the gifts for her baby-to-be.
Guests watch as baby clothing, strollers, high chairs, and cradles are eagerly unwrapped by the new mom. After a few hours of fun, favors are distributed and everyone goes home, looking forward to soon meeting the baby-to-be.
So if all that, in essence, is a baby shower, what is a baby sprinkle? Is it similar or totally different? Keep reading below to find out!
What is a Baby Sprinkle Anyway?
As a baby shower, the main point of a baby sprinkle is to surround a woman’s pregnancy with love, warmth, and gifts to help welcome the new baby. But the biggest difference? At a baby sprinkle, this is not the mom’s first pregnancy. There will still be guests, food, gifts, and favors, but in a more toned-down fashion.
In essence, a baby sprinkle is this mom’s chance to celebrate the arrival of another baby and replenish her baby inventory. Because while she probably still has the crib, stroller, and high chair, every mom can still use diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and onesies.
It’s helpful to consider too- is this baby a different gender from the child/children this mom already has? If so, she may be hoping to get some new gender-appropriate clothing or decor to make this baby feel extra welcome!
Baby Sprinkle Vs Baby Shower
So now that you have a basic understanding of what a baby sprinkle is, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Tit for tat, let’s explore baby sprinkle vs baby shower.
1) The Mom’s Situation
Plain and simple, a baby shower is for a first-time mom. A baby sprinkle is for a second, third, fourth….etc…time mom. Because of this, some guests consider bringing a small gift for the big brother(s) or big sister(s) to be too!
2) Gifts
At a baby shower, it’s customary for the mom to register many expensive items. At a baby sprinkle, unless such items are necessary, guests shouldn’t be held to as high of an expectation. Smaller items like diapers and wipes are completely appropriate and expected presents.
3) Guest List
Because a baby shower requires bigger gifts and is the guest of honor’s first plunge into motherhood, the guest list is quite extensive! Distant relatives, friends of the grandmas-to-be, etc. At a baby sprinkle, the guest list should be scaled down.
Just those who are personally close to this second (or third, or fourth…) time mother should receive an invite. After all, it might be hard to explain the more modern concept of a baby sprinkle to someone else’s Great Aunt Sally.
4) Time Limit
Baby showers can last an entire afternoon. With so many guests and big gifts to get through, this amount of time is warranted. At a baby sprinkle, however, gifts and the guest list are smaller. Two to three hours tops are more than enough time to make the new mom feel loved and keep the guests engaged.
5) Budget
A baby shower can be a bit of a budget blowout. From feeling the need to reserve a room in a restaurant to going all out on decor, often those who are planning a shower end up breaking the bank. The pay off however is in the pricey gifts the new mom gets to enjoy. But for a baby sprinkle: Fewer Guests + Fewer Gifts = Less Money. Hosts should consider throwing a sprinkle in a home or going for an all DIY theme. Read our “What to do if You Have to Plan a Baby Sprinkle” section below if you want some cute, affordable theme ideas!
What to do if You’re Invited to a Baby Sprinkle
Perhaps the reason you hunted down this article is that you’ve recently been invited to a baby sprinkle. Now you can’t help but wonder, what should I gift? What should I wear? What should I expect?
Because the mamma guest of honor at a baby sprinkle already has children, she most likely already has all the big-ticket items like the stroller and the crib. Therefore, more appropriate gifts to give at a baby sprinkle are those little odds and ends that moms can’t get enough of diapers, wipes, new onesies, pacifiers, bibs, etc. You might even consider getting a small gift for the child or children that are already part of the family. Besides, we all know how hard it can be for a little one to start to share mom’s attention when a new baby sibling arrives.
When choosing a gift to give at a baby sprinkle, also keep in mind if this baby is a new gender for the family. Perhaps this mom already has two girls, but this is her first boy.
This could be a big reason why she chose to have a baby sprinkle in the first place. Consider buying more traditionally masculine clothing, bibs, and accessories. This way the mom feels prepared to properly welcome this new gender to her household!
In terms of dress code and expectations, every baby sprinkle is different. Judge by the venue (a home versus a hall) exactly how dressed up you should get. But odds are, for a baby sprinkle, things will be on the more casual side.
And yes, you should still be prepared to play some baby-themed games!
What to do if You Have to Plan a Baby Sprinkle
Suddenly found yourself on the planning committee of a baby sprinkle? Don’t sweat it! Here are our top tips for planning a successful baby sprinkle:
1) Keep it Low Key
Some invitees might be skeptical if this is their first-time baby sprinkle. They may feel as though they have already made a contribution to the baby inventory of this household at the baby shower.
It’s possible that they’re tentative to open their wallets yet again. Therefore, don’t go overboard with so many requirements of guests.
For example, throwing a diaper raffle PLUS asking guests to bring a baby book PLUS providing a registry to shop from is a bit too much for a baby sprinkle.
Guests shouldn’t feel obligated to spend as much as a typical baby shower- especially since the odds are the mom already has the pricey baby items.
2) Keep the Mom’s Situation in Mind
While most baby sprinkles shouldn’t even bother with a registry, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Is the mom facing back-to-back pregnancies, where she might need another car seat and crib?
Or perhaps this second pregnancy of hers is twins! Then the same rule of needing doubles of larger items like high chairs might apply. Use your best judgment call, but at the same time keep in mind, with baby sprinkles, less is always more!
3) Timing is Everything
Since a sprinkle is more low-key, you won’t have to plan for it to last a whole afternoon like a traditional baby shower. Instead, two hours or so should be plenty of time to sprinkle this second+ time mom with small gifts- and love!
Remember also to set a date for the event that makes sense with the mom’s due date. Like a baby shower, a baby sprinkle should be scheduled typically two months before the due date.
This is close enough to the baby’s arrival for things to feel exciting, but not so close to the due date that the mom feels stressed or pressed for time to get all the supplies she needs.
4) Be Prepared to do Some Explaining
Odds are, when you first heard of a baby sprinkle you didn’t know what it is was. Keep in mind many of your guests may be in the same boat.
Feel free to provide a quick explanation of the invitation. You can let guests know that this isn’t a “full-blown” baby shower, but the mom would still like to celebrate this pregnancy and shower this new baby with love all the same.
5) (Some) Baby Shower Etiquette Still Applies
Just like a baby shower, the mom-to-be shouldn’t have to do ANY of the planning. Carrying a baby is enough pressure, so let the momma relax.
Of course, you can ask the mom about a few details, such as if there are any items she wants to register, but beyond a couple of quick questions, it’s really up to the mom’s closest family and/or friends to make this happen!
Additionally, feel free to pick a theme. Some popular ones are all things “sprinkles!” Sprinkle-covered desserts, glittery invitations, balloons filled with “sprinkle” shaped confetti…you get the idea.
Or consider throwing a “baby brunch.” A scaled-down brunch where bite-size hors d’oeuvres and mini-mimosas are served is cute and classy! Our third, and possibly favorite idea, is perfect for the already exhausted mom…consider a mini spa day! Shower the mom with relaxation.
DIY manicures, lotions, and aromatherapy kits will be welcomed by all for activities and favors.