Baby Shower Invitation Ideas for the Perfect Baby Shower Invitation

baby shower invitation Formal or informal? Store bought or custom made? Poem or no poem?

Baby Shower Invitations can make you feel a bit overwhelmed. But don't worry, here are are some great baby shower invitation ideas, tips and suggestions that will make this process a little less painful.

Keep in mind that there are many ways to invite your guests to your baby shower. And since the invitation is the first thing your guests receive for the baby shower, it tends to set the general tone of your shower and gives the guests an idea of what to expect. For instance, if you're having a formal sit-down dinner at a fancy restaurant, you shouldn't hand-write your invitations on craft paper.

Here are some Baby Shower Invitation Ideas:

TRADITIONAL
Baby Shower Invitation Ideas

Buy the invitations at the store or online, fill in the blanks and mail them - this is probably the most popular invitation idea
Order professional invitations online or from a party or stationary store
Create custom-generated cards at a greeting card store - some major chains have computers where you can create your own cards
Create your own computer-generated invitations - there is software you can use, or you can make up your own invitation with Word, clip art, and blank or pre-printed paper (bought from from Wal Mart, office supply stores, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc.)
Send a postcard - buy preprinted cards or make your own with a computer and blank postcards or heavy card stock paper cut afterwards into postcard sizes
Invite your guests in person
Call the guests on the phone
Send E-cards
Send Email

CREATIVE
Baby Shower Invitation Ideas

Get creative and make baby diapers with construction paper. Cut out a triangle, write the information on the inside, fold into a tri-fold diaper, and fasten with a safety pin or diaper pin if the card and envelope are big enough.
Hand deliver invitations wrapped up and placed inside a baby bottle
Deliver invitations placed in empty, clean baby food jars.
Tie invitations to a rattle or baby toy
Make baby sock roses with an invitation attached
Make your own candy wrapper invitations
Write information on an inflated balloon, deflate, and deliver. Recipient must inflate the balloon to read the invitation.
Create a puzzle. On your computer, create an invitation with a photo or baby graphic. Print it on heavy card stock, cut it out in a puzzle pattern, and mail.
Mail a photograph of the pregnant Mom-to-Be with the invitation details written on the back
Write the invitation on a plastic baby item, such as a rubber duck or rattle
Deliver the written invitation inside a disposable diaper
Write the invitation on a piece of baby clothing, such as a bib, diaper or t-shirt
Create the invitation on your computer, print it on "iron-on" printer paper (found at craft and office supply stores or at avery.com) and iron it on a piece of baby clothing, such as a t-shirt
Make an edible invitation. Tie animal crackers or toddler cookies inside some tulle and attach a invitation rolled up like a scroll.

If you have any baby shower invitation ideas of your own, please email me and share them online.

Baby Shower Invitation Basics

Who Should Be Invited?

If this is not a surprise shower, ask the Mom-To-Be to make a guest list for you. Guests usually include friends, co-workers, and relatives on both sides of the family.

If this is a surprise shower, you'll have to be a little more creative in planning the guest list, like asking the Mom-to-Be's mother, husband, or co-worker to help you.

What Information is Printed on Invitations?

The words "Baby Shower" or a poem or phrase to make sure the guests know what they're getting invited to. If it is a surprise shower, make sure you say so on the invitation: "Shhhh, it's a Surprise Baby Shower!"
Name of Guest of Honor - you may need to include the Mom-to-Be's maiden name and/or the name of the Father-to-Be (I once received an invitation and had no idea who the guest of honor was. I called the RSVP phone number, asked a lot of questions, and finally found out that the Mom-to-Be was the girlfriend of a neighbor's son.)
Where - include address and directions & map if appropriate
When - Date & Time (this gets left out a lot, believe it or not)
Theme, if appropriate
RSVP phone number or email address
Name of Hostess or hostesses
Online or store registry information

How Do You Handle RSVP's?

RSVP's allow you to track the number of guests who plan on attending. This is important for figuring your space constraints and food/catering budget. Make a list of the guests and mark off who is coming or not based on their replies. If you have not heard from someone a week after the invitations were mailed, you can call them to make sure the invitation has reached them and to ask them if they plan on attending.

When Do You Mail the Invitations?

There are no hard rules about when the baby shower is to take place, but typically a baby shower occurs one month before the baby is due or a month or two after the baby is born. Mail your invitations 3-4 weeks before the shower date to give the mail time to arrive and to give guests time to answer the RSVP.