It’s baby shower season!
This is a super exciting time. It’s a time for moms, soon-to-be-moms, and friends to gather together and get excited about this new life that’s about to enter the world.
While baby showers are exciting for the moms involved (and especially the grand-moms!), sometimes the men involved can feel a bit left out of the baby shower, even though they are really excited about the baby coming along.
Men are an important part of the family unit
Here are some thoughts to help encourage dads to be involved in the baby shower!
Invite him too!
It’s important that you invite your partner to the shower.
It’s an exciting time for him too. He can get involved with something he actually enjoys doing, and if you think about it, that’s one way to get a lot of things you need for the baby at really good prices.
Get Him a Special Gift
Moms get lots of gifts for her and the baby, but what about him and the baby? To help him feel included, why not get him involved in the gifts?
Talk to him about it beforehand. For example, if he’s not really into baby stuff, why not ask for advice about what will work well with his lifestyle?
Or consider gifts that are specifically for him and the baby, such as these Daddy and Me shirts from Spunky Stork.
Shop With Him for Baby Supplies
You also have the opportunity to tell him what you want to get.
There’s something exciting about telling your partner or fiancé that you want a certain outfit or piece of equipment for the baby’s room (or nursery!) and then actually finding it out there in the wild. It’s like a treasure hunt!
You can go shopping not only for big supplies. The first months of your baby and all of the shopping stuff can be much more fun when done together. You can buy baby clothes, mattresses, a baby weaning bowl, blankets, or even diapers together for the first time. Not only is this fun, but you both will know what is good for your baby and you will know which one you need for other times.
All those stores with all those clothes and accessories, it’s like finding some treasure chest on some beach!
Plan A Baby Shower for Him and His Friends
There is a tradition of the men going to the pub for a drink in England, colloquially known as wetting the baby’s head. This is a great way to get your man and new dad involved in the baby’s arrival!
It’s also a great way to get them to show up. What better way is there to invite guys from his life who love hanging out with him and drinking!
Get Him Involved in Planning
Some men like to be involved in the planning, getting ideas, planning the party food, ensuring the barbecue is lit, and the beers are cold, so make sure he’s included in the planning.
If you’re having a baby shower at home, why not ask the men in your life if they’d like to help you organize it as a joint effort?
This can even be as easy as planning for this to happen on Facebook. This way, everyone really knows about the baby shower, and everyone can participate in some way, even if they can’t make it.
Sharing is Caring
What if he doesn’t really want to come to the baby shower, but you’re still looking for some way to include him? Why not involve him in the new arrival planning?
Send him links to some baby gifts that you found on the internet or ask him questions about what he thinks might be nice for you. Help make sure he’s included!
Planning for impending parenthood is a big step in any relationship, and you should make sure your partner is included in the planning.
Not only will he feel like he has a part to play for this magical event, but you’ll feel like you both are part of this new life together.
Why He Needs to Be Included
It’s important that dads are included in the birth of their children. This has been shown to help with bonding. It’s also shown to reduce post-natal depression in mothers if fathers are included.
It’s also a great way to make sure both parents are ready for this major life change. The more involved the partner is in the baby’s arrival, the better they will feel.
It’s a great way to bring a family closer together. The more you can involve your partner in everything leading up to the arrival of the baby, the more chance you have of sharing the burden of your worries with your partner and having him help you out.
This will help ensure that both of you can take the baby home from the hospital feeling confident now your new life as parents is about to begin.
