Instant download of a free baby shower checklists printable to keep your hosting job easy! Keep yourself on task with this free printable!
Hosting a baby shower for a best friend or family member can seem like a lot of work, but it also can be so much fun!
I’ve hosted quite a few baby showers in the past and I love it! I’m also a fan of to-do lists and checklists so I thought I’d create a simple-to-follow baby shower checklist printable for you to keep you organized and with minimal stress.
If you break action items down and have a time line of when things need to be done, you’ll be able to actually enjoy the planning part and have a good time on the big day. That’s why we are here to help our fellow party planners!
Budget Friendly Baby Shower Tips
Every baby shower is different and really should be tailored to the expectant mother. If you look on social media or Pinterest there are huge gorgeous baby showers that people throw, but please don’t feel stressed because you feel like you need to throw the perfect baby shower.
Most of those baby showers (and even some of the photos I will be showing you from Pixabay and Pexels) have an unlimited budget.
If you are crafty or know a crafty person, it is a good idea to ask them for help!
Making favors, cake toppers, and baby shower decorations is a crafters’ dream!! I speak from experience! I always loved making the decor and figuring out how to make beautiful items with stuff I already had.
For some, this is a nightmare, but for others, making anything for a new baby to be is a dream. So don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Baby Shower Checklist Timeline
So, first, let’s talk a little bit about all the items on the checklist to get you brainstorming!
Six to Seven Weeks Before the Shower
- Pick a Date and Time: Once the date is picked, everything from here on out will revolve around this. You don’t want to get too close to the Mom to Be’s due date. Usually, 6-8 weeks before due dates is ideal. You want to have plenty of time before the baby arrives because you never know! I’ve had to cancel baby showers because a friend went into labor really early. Plus this gives the couple a chance to see what they have and what they still need to purchase before the baby arrives.
- Brainstorm the guest list: You’ll want to sit down with the soon-to-be new Mom and create a guest list. Some women will just want an intimate shower with close friends while others might want all co-workers, neighbors, extended family, husband’s co-workers, etc.
- Remember, women love to throw showers, so it might be best to have multiple showers if there are a bunch of different groups especially if in-laws live far away.
- Decide on a budget: This is super important to start your baby shower planning! A lot of times a few friends or family members will go in together to throw a shower because they can get expensive. You can agree to split it three or four ways depending on how many of you are hosting the shower or you can have each person be responsible for paying for certain things (i.e. all food, all decorations, and baby shower invitations, etc)
- Pick a Venue: Once you have a guest count and budget it’s time to decide on a venue. Some things to take into consideration, will everyone come in person or are you going to offer people to attend a virtual shower if they are out of town? Nowadays virtual baby showers are easier to throw than ever and can definitely save on costs if some guests will just be involved from their own couches!
- If there is a huge guest list, you might want to look into rooms or halls in town to rent for special events. A lot of cities have community centers or places you can rent to use for the day for large events. Or think about using a large room at a local restaurant. If you use their food, you can use the room for the day.
- Having a shower at a house is my personal favorite if you or someone you know is willing to have it at their home. You can start decorating early and make everything just the way you want!
- Choose a theme: Now the fun stuff! Decide on the baby shower theme. This might be as simple as a color – pink, blue, yellow, or green if the gender of the baby is unknown. Or get creative with themes such as baby elephant, honey bee, greenery, teddy bear, donuts, etc. Check out these top baby shower themes from happiestbaby.com.
- Finalize the Guest List and get addresses from the guest of honor.
- Make a list of supplies needed: Now is the time to sit and start brainstorming what you are going to need based on your theme.
- Baby Registry: Make sure the expectant mother has created a baby registry so you can add this information on the baby shower invitations.
- Decide on shower invitations: If you are going to have them printed, get them ordered. You can always use our free editable elephant invitation template to print at home or to send to a local copy store. An easy way to save the expectant mom some time is to also order Thank You notes and address them for her.
One Month Before
You are doing great! You should have the main brainstorming out of the way, so now onto a few more tasks on the baby shower checklist template.
- Send out invitations: I’m still a huge fan of paper invitations for showers, but you can always send out invitations virtually using everyone’s email address or phone number. Make sure to include a phone number or email for guests to RSVP to and the baby registries information.
- Start buying or making decorations: Check out local party stores or support small businesses and check out Etsy to purchase matching decorations. Amazon also has some sets of full baby shower party supplies. Or as I mentioned above, make or have a crafty friend make decorations.
- Create Menu and order catering: If a few people are going together to throw the shower, you can have each person make a few salads, charcuterie boards, and mini bite size desserts, and then purchase party trays of sandwiches or rolls from places like Costco or a local grocery store. Or find a local caterer to use.
- Order cake, custom cookies, or other desserts: Again, you might have someone on the guest list who would love to make a baby shower cake or cookies. If not, order one locally.
- Verify any reservations you have already made.
Two Weeks Before Baby Shower
You should have quite a few things checked off on your planner! Here’s what’s next:
- Prepare baby shower favors: There are so many cute baby shower favor ideas out there. If you have a great theme you are trying to stick to, google ideas or check out Pinterest. These don’t have to be expensive! Again, delegate this task (like these Hershey kiss favors) to a crafty friend, they will be in Heaven!
- Search baby shower activities and games: We have a bunch of baby shower printable games including bingo cards, Jeopardy, and baby shower word scramble for you to use for free! Mark that off your list!
- Plan agenda for shower: Break down the hours and decide when you want to play games, open presents, and have everyone eat.
- Make another list of last minute supplies
- Purchase game and raffle prizes for winners of the games – a great idea to delegate!
- Don’t forget to get a gift for the Mom to Be!
One Week Before
On to the final week! This will be the time to verify and finalize everything.
- Follow up with RSVPs
- Finalize Guest Count
- Verify any reservations and give head count to caterer if necessary. If you are opting for a potluck, make sure to grab our free potluck signup sheet!
- Wrap game prizes
- Order flowers
- Finalize baby shower games and buy supplies for
Two Days Before
The final stretch has arrived!
- Check weather and decide on any contingency plans if needed
- Follow up with helpers: Make sure everything that you’ve delegated is on time or done!
- Buy any last minute items.
- This is a great time to start getting your space set up if you are able to (if it’s at your home). Start setting up tables, chairs, and decorations.
- Wash everything you’ll be needing.
- Make sure games are prepped.
- Create a music playlist: This is another task that you can delegate to teenagers!
Day Before or Day of Shower
Hopefully most everything is set for just pickups and final touches! Get those helpers and start setting up hours before.
- Finish decorating space.
- Pick up flowers.
- Pick up baby shower food and dessert.
- Chill beverages.
- Set up food, desserts, flowers, and gift table.
If you want to break the day of down further, you can grab our free printable check list for any occasion!
Now all that’s left is to have a great time with the guests and guest of honor at the baby shower party!
I hope these ideas help calm your nerves and to give you confidence that You’ve Got This!!
Baby Shower Checklists Printable Download
As with all my free printables, these are for personal use only! Please no selling or redistributing of PDF files or digital downloads. Thank you!
Simply click on the download button below and the PDF file will automatically download. Print out on regular copy paper.
At the top write the baby shower date once it’s decided on. And then fill in the corresponding weeks before the date in each box.
There are a few areas to write important things and notes while you are going through the planning process with the baby shower checklists printable!
If you’d like to save these free checklists for later, simply hover over the image below and PIN It now!
Thanks for stopping by and have a creative day!
