Organise a baby shower for a friend or relative this season; against a pale pastel backdrop of blue skies, new buds and pink blossom – what better time of year than springtime to celebrate a new arrival? Invite their close friends or relatives to a pretty tea party and share tips, advice, ideas – and cake – with the new parents.

A baby shower provides a welcome treat for the parents-to-be, whether it’s for their first baby or they are a seasoned pros! They will welcome the treat and a chance to see close friends before the next few months of sleepless nights… Ask a few of their nearest and dearest for a gentle afternoon celebration – or, for something a bit different, a weekend brunch.

In keeping with nature’s palette at this time of year, baby shower themes and colours can be soft and calming, whether it’s to be blue for a boy or pink for a girl. If the baby’s gender is still a surprise, neutrals, green or yellow will make for a very pretty colour party theme too. Send out baby shower invitations in the post or by email, making sure that you have let all the right relatives and close friends know. It is worth consulting with the parents-to-be to ensure you have asked the people they most want to see.

A buffet tea-party spread lends itself nicely to a relaxed baby shower celebration and does the job of feeding everyone as much or as little as they want. Most people love cake – especially those who are eating for two! Dainty finger sandwiches and specially decorated cupcakes on a pretty stand or baby-themed cake pops are a fun option.  If the celebration is at a weekend, fruit Bellinis for guests who are able to drink will help them toast the new arrival. An elderflower spritzer makes an elegant soft-drink option.

Instead of visiting a pricey spa, hold a mini spa session at home for the tired expectant mum and a few friends, with face packs, an array of beauty treatments, virgin cocktails and her favourite film plus decorate the house with baby shower decorations. Rather than buying a present for the new baby, a voucher for a manicure or beauty treatment before or after the birth will be enormously appreciated.

People often worry over baby shower gift ideas, so it maybe an idea to get the parents to draw up a list of a few longed-for essentials so that there’s no doubling up and they have what they most need. Alternatively, all clubbing together to get one important present or a voucher to spend at a favourite baby shop will be a neat solution and mean that the parents-to-be can make their own choices.

Baby showers don’t have to be just for mums! Ask the men in the family too and make a fuss of the dad-to-be. It’s a team effort after all! For a less girly affair, have a lunchtime celebration with friends. You may want to have a few games or you may simply want to catch up, but an idea might be to get hold of baby photos of everyone attending and have them mixed up at each place, so that other guests have a laugh guessing who’s who!

Don’t forget to leave your comments below if you’ve enjoyed our baby shower ideas or have any more ideas to add for our readers – it’s great to share and that’s exactly what happens at a baby shower! Plus share with all your friends via our social sharing buttons below.