Should I Have a Baby Shower for my Second Child?

When a woman is expecting a baby for the first time, it’s a pretty big deal; a big shower, sometimes even two(home and work) is thrown, and the expectant mother is quite literally showered with gifts in an effort to help her get prepared for her impending arrival. But what if it’s not her first baby?

Just because the baby is not the first, it doesn’t mean it should be the short end of the stick. Baby showers aren’t just for the mama-to-be; we just love getting together to celebrate a new baby on the way! You don’t have to throw a huge baby shower, but a sprinkle should be considered.

What is a sprinkle?

A sprinkle is basically the baby shower for a second child; it’s a much smaller-scale baby shower. There are fewer people, smaller gifts, and they tend to be a little less eventful than a regular baby shower, focusing more on time spent with the people you are closest to and socializing.

The point in a sprinkle is to provide mom with anything else she will need for her second child, as she should have most of what she needs from her first child.

Okay, it’s for the guests, too! So, a sprinkle typically has good snacks and drinks, some music, and a theme, but not as drastically decorated as a full blown baby shower.

When should you throw a sprinkle?

Sometimes there is a regular baby shower for a second child, if the second child is of a different gender from the first, or if they are far apart in age. As time advances, so do baby toys and baby gear; older toys and gear may have been recalled by now, and safety requirements for a lot of things have changed and improved. So, if it has been a while since the first baby, it’s best to throw a regular baby shower for second child.

If the kids are just a couple of years apart, and mom has much of what she needs, then there is no need to buy her and the upcoming baby new everything. The only exception to this might be if she is having a different gender and does not have much gender-neutral items from her first. Even in this scenario, a sprinkle would probably still do the job. If she needs any bigger items, she can always create a mini registry for the guests to go by.

Baby registry

When you are having a second or even a third child, it’s harder to shop for presents because your guests aren’t sure exactly what you need or what you already have. Go register for the things you will actually need. Don’t feel like you shouldn’t make a registry just because it isn’t your first. Keep in mind, the smaller you keep the registry, the more likely it is that you will get everything on it.

Whenever you are pregnant, you always hear that question “what does the baby need?” or “do you need anything?” In this situation, a registry is very helpful, because once “baby brain” kicks in full-force, it might just be hard for you to think of anything! If nothing else, it will serve as a good reference for you if you still need something for your impending bundle of joy!