Baby showers are a joyful way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby, with love, laughter, and plenty of thoughtful gifts. But behind the scenes, there’s a lot that goes into pulling one off. From planning the guest list to sorting the decorations and entertainment, it’s a meaningful event that takes time and care to organise.

Traditionally, baby showers aren’t hosted by the parents themselves, so who does plan (and pay for) the big day? Let’s break it down and share a few modern tips to make the whole process, including gift-giving, much easier.

Who Usually Plans a Baby Shower?

Traditionally, baby showers are planned by a close friend or family memberm not the parents-to-be themselves. The idea is to let the expecting parents relax and enjoy the celebration while someone else handles the planning.

That said, traditions are changing. If you’d love to throw your own baby shower (or feel more comfortable doing so), that’s completely okay. There’s no hard rule — the most important thing is creating a special moment to welcome your little one.

What Does the Host Take Care Of?

To throw a memorable and stress-free baby shower, the organiser (or team of organisers) typically covers the essentials:

• ☑️ Venue

• ☑️ Guest list

• ☑️ Decor

• ☑️ Entertainment

• ☑️ Food

• ☑️ Gift registry

One of the easiest ways to support the parents-to-be is by setting up a baby gift registry. It helps guests avoid doubling up on gifts and ensures everything on the list is something the family genuinely wants or needs.

Moonsift makes this super easy for you. You can create a free, shareable baby shower registry with items from any online store, all in one place.

👉 Start your free baby registry with Moonsift and make gift-giving easy for everyone.

Who Pays for a Baby Shower?

The cost of a baby shower is usually covered by the person (or group) organising it. That might be a close friend, a sibling, a cousin, or a small group who all pitch in.

If you’re hosting on behalf of the parents-to-be, consider their taste and preferences when budgeting, whether it’s a cosy brunch or a full-on themed party. Knowing the size and style of the celebration helps you work out what kind of budget makes sense.

Can You Ask Guests to Chip In?

It’s generally considered poor etiquette to ask guests to contribute towards the cost of the shower. Guests are already expected to bring a gift, so requesting money for the event itself can feel uncomfortable or inappropriate.

Instead, let them focus on finding the perfect gift, and make it easier for everyone by sharing a baby gift registry. With Moonsift, you can create a free, flexible registry that suits any budget and helps avoid duplicates.

Should You Host Your Own Baby Shower?

Traditionally, baby showers are hosted by someone other than the parents, usually to avoid the appearance of “asking for gifts.” But nowadays, things are more flexible. If you’d love to throw your own celebration, go for it.

Maybe your friends are spread out, or you just have a particular vision in mind. Whatever the reason, there’s no rule that says you can’t host your own shower. If you do, just keep things relaxed and focus on what feels meaningful to you, whether that’s a garden lunch, a cosy Zoom call, or something totally unique.

Just one tip: if you’re hosting your own shower, setting up a registry is extra helpful. It gives guests guidance on what you actually want and need without anyone having to ask.

Do You Really Need a Baby Shower Registry?

Short answer: yes, if you want to make gift-giving easier (and less awkward) for everyone involved.

A baby registry takes the guesswork out of gifting. Instead of receiving six muslin swaddles and no bottles, you get exactly what you need, and your guests feel confident they’ve bought something useful and appreciated.

With Moonsift, you can:

• Add items from any online store

• Organise your list by category or priority

• Share one simple link with guests

• Avoid duplicates

• Update your registry any time

Even if you’re not having a traditional shower, a registry is still helpful for friends and family who want to send a gift.