Baby Shower for 3Rd Baby - Akward

When I had my oldest daughter most of my then-husband's family was out of state. They threw me a baby shower in WA while I was in CA :) They video taped it and brought all the gifts unwrapped. One at a time they got in front of the camera and showed off what they got (mostly clothes because it was all gonna be shipped!) Then the "party" part was them wrapping and chatting. It was fun to see the video while opening the gifts :)

If you can only get a few people to attend, but know of close friends that would like to participate, how about a 'gift card' tree - like a money tree but people can contiubute gift cards and display them in a cute centerpiece.

Send gifts to the Mom asking her not to open. Plan a conference call (there are a multitude of free conference lines) and let her open the gifts with everyone on the phone. If you can do a webcast, that would be great but a conference call for about an hour would include everyone and they could hear the excitement over the gifts.

M.

We just did a mail shower. We sent her cards with either cash, gift certificates to babies-r-us. Or what ever we wanted to send her. She was so happy!!! We had about 20 of us just send things. Its sure helped her a lot!

Hi T.,

I had a friend who absolutely did not want to be the center of attention, so we decided to do a baby shower by mail for her. We all decided to mail her gift on a certain day so that she'd receive it generally at the same time. She loved it. Back at that time, there weren't any cake-by-mail type businesses, but since there are today, you might consider also sending her a cake or a cookie bouquet to make it feel more festive.

I don't know if your cousin would appreciate this type of shower, but it's an idea. There are so many creative moms on this site, you're sure to get some great ideas.

Good luck,
L.

Yes!! We just did a baby shower wrapping in Virginia for a friend in Hawaii last week. It was TONS of fun!

Mom-to-be made a registry of the things. Then a bunch of us got together. I decorated the house. We had a baby shower cake, goodies, etc. We all brought our gifts UNWRAPPED. We took pics of each person holding up their gifts. We all oohed and ahhed. Then we wrapped them all up. Bought a box and shipped it via the post office. Shipping cost about $30 where as UPS wanted $120! You could even have someone videotape it. Then I posted the pics and some strategic pics of the gifts on my facebook page so that the mom-to-be could see them.

Also, there is a group called Soldier's Angels - Operation Top Knot that I am part of. We send gifts to expecting military families. Here is the URL on the info: http://www.soldiersangels.org/top-knot.html

M.

I think you should first just have a small shower with whatever family and friends she has that can come. But you could still then send out invitations to everyone who lives far way just so they know they are welcome to travel and come if they would like. I'm sure most won't come but from getting the invite they will probably send a gift or a gift card to show their love and that they are happy for her and her new baby.

My MIL did a virtual shower for me (I think it cost her $50 to register for it online). It was open for about a six weeks, we put a gift registry up on it and gifts were sent to our house as time went on. People left cute little comments for us and we put pictures of my belly and updates on the end of the pregnancy etc. When our son was born we posted that info as well and the shower closed a few weeks later. It was a godsend because our family lived very far away and we were greatly in need of baby items. It was fun for me too since it was like my birthday every other day since I always had something baby related to open from UPS or the post office.
It's a very nice thing for you to do. Good Luck.

If you did Babies R Us gift cards, she can go get what she needs. Then she wouldn't feel on the spot to register. But there are always great deals on stroller system and things like that...you could just surprise her w/. There is also diapers.com This was a great gift as well I received. Costco size diapers and wipes a big necessity. Good Luck!

Have them register for anything they DO need at a local Target or Walmart or Babys R Us. After all, even the bouncy chair wears thin after a couple of babies!

Then contact ALL the relatives for a shower- even the ones that can't come. Since the couple would not ask for any kind of help for themselves, you, the person doing the shower, can do it FOR them. Just let people know when you're having the shower and that while the couple has a lot of the things they will need, GIFT CARDS WOULD BE APPRECIATED, YOU'RE SURE!

This is totally polite and acceptable now. After all, everyone needs diapers, etc. when they have a new baby and anyone who HAS had a baby knows that! it might not be as glamorous as some gifts, but the real point is to celebrate a new life coming into your family and to help out the new mama as much as you can.

For the people who cannot come, you could arrange a 'virtual' shower using computers and a webcam. Or ask people to record messages for the new family and to post them on YouTube, which is free and easy to do. A nice thing to point out to people is that if they record a little message and either email it or put it on YouTube, the new daddy can see it overseas no matter where he is stationed. That way he gets to feel like part of the shower is for him too.

Or just say " We really wish you could be here, but if you can't please send the mama a card with YOUR best baby advice and support" Most people will send a gift card as well.

Babies are a happy event- but they take a lot of work and money. Your family and friends know this and they most likely know that the new mama won't want to feel like she is a burden on anyone- so they will want to help out without making her feel that way as well!

You're a nice cousin to put so much thought into this! Good luck and congratulations!

I love all the creative moms out there! Great ideas. I'm going to throw in an idea from my "practical" side. It seems money is tight for all of us these days, so perhaps a theme of "Hand-Me-Downs-Welcome" for friends and family who still have good, useable baby items around, but would otherwise feel 'awkard' sending a 'used item' for a baby shower. I wouldn't suggest this for a first child, but since it's their third, it might work?

Love that you want to do this for your cousin's family. I'm not too sure how a virtual shower would work,....do the families have computers and can skype in at different times? or if family can make a video, email it to you, and you can burn onto a CD, and watch it if it's only a few of you on the actual day? also, is your cousin's wife friends with the parents of some of their older kids friends? perhaps they would like to participate/contribute too.....I also highly recommend, as many previous posters have, about contributing towards a gift card or having presents shipped to them in Texas. That way they can get what they need in Texas and not have to pack everything up.

Hello, I think that a virtual baby shower is a great idea. When my niece was pregnant, we were having a shower for my daughter. We asked that the family bring a gift for my niece (she lives in another state). It worked out well. Then we just sent the packages to her. It would be a nice surprise for your cousin. When you have so many years between children, it is common to not have any baby items left. You could also ask that each person send a message designed to help the cousin with the move and new baby.
K. K.

I think that is a great idea!!! HAve fun!!

Why not? Especially for a military family who doesn't make much money!

Assuming that you know everyone very well and all agree to doing this, I'd say that you can send an e-mail with a "gift due by" date. Then ship gifts. And if you all have video technology, great. Of, you can all conference call. Or even IM as she is opening gifts. Or, she can open gifts and send a long e-mail with photos describing each gift and who it's from.

I think that anything you can do to help, especailly in her stressful situation, is wonderful. Good for you for being so supportive.

I think its a fabulous idea! I would still have a little gathering/baby shower for those who can come and those who would like to make the drive. Invite everyone you normally would have and be sure to detail where she is registered. They can always send gift cards and a nice card to the hostess to be presented the day of the shower. This will also put a little pressure on people to get their gifts in to the hostess before the shower. Another nice gesture is to call your out of town guest and offer to donate to a gift card pool. This would allow them to offer an amount they would feel comfortable with and present the mom to be a nice amount on a gift card.

If I were a friend of the family I wouldn't mind at all if I were sent a note from you announcing the upcoming birth and informing me where the mom was registered, etc. even if there was no real shower. I like the idea of saying used items are welcomed.
Also, once we put together a scrapbook by having everyone do a page (tell them some specs) and those who want can mail you a page for you to include in a baby book (maybe people have family pictures, a message for the baby, etc) it just might make the mom and baby feel more special to have something thoughtful and inclusive of everyone.

It sounds like a great idea, and will likely be well received. Have fun!

Hi, T.!
I like to explore family events so here's something I came across:

http://www.mamabebe.com/longdistance.html

Hope it helps!

J. S.

In my third trimester, I developed severe preeclampsia and got put on bed rest. So I had to adjust my hopes for a big baby shower for a small one at home. When my doctor had me do a 24-hour urine test, he said that, depending on the results, he might induce me as soon as that weekend -- which he did. As soon as I got the 24-hour test directions, I emailed family and friends that I'd have to have a virtual baby shower because the baby might be there as soon as that Friday -- which he was. When I sent that email, I didn't even have one onesie. My church mom was supposed to hold a party for me even though the baby was already there, but that didn't happen. The first of those gifts didn't arrive for at least a week, which ended up being fine, since my baby had to be in the NICU for two weeks.

Point is -- you do what you have to do. If they're family and real friends, they will send things via the online baby registries. That's what they're there for!