More Moms Opting For Post-Birth Baby Showers
BOSTON (CBS) - It's a growing trend for new moms. A lot of women are tossing aside the traditional baby shower and waiting until after the baby is born to show the new family member off to friends and family.
The online pregnancy community TheBump.com conducted a recent survey and found several reasons women are waiting.
One is a difficult pregnancy. "Perhaps the mom just doesn't feel great during her pregnancy and would opt to wait until the baby is born when everyone is feeling good," explained Editor Alison Bernstein.
WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben reports.
Another reason could be superstition or religion. "In many cultures, there's a belief that you shouldn't flaunt a pregnancy before the baby actually comes," she said. "Among Jewish people and some other European nations, you would wait to have the shower until after the baby is born."
The third reason is to make the baby the center of attention, instead of the mom. "You get the chance to show off the baby to everyone at the same time," Bernstein said.
Parents who opt for a post-birth shower obviously need to make sure they have all the basics ahead of time. No putting a crib, car seat or other essentials on your registry list. On the upside, friends and family can give gender-specific or personalized gifts.
Another thing to take into account is the baby's health. Pediatricians worry about exposing a new baby to too many people, too soon. Most doctors suggest holding off until the baby is at least a few weeks old.
Online resources on post-birth baby showers:
