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baby shower invitation wording & etiquette

Planning a baby shower? So exciting! There are many different types of baby showers — including sprinkles, gender reveals, and sip and sees, just to name a few — and in this article, we’ll provide everything you need to know to create the perfect invitation for each one.

Before we get into the baby shower invitation wording ideas and sample designs for each style, there are a few basics you need to know.

  • Start by choosing a baby shower invitation design that reflects the mom-to-be’s style, the type of shower she and her family would like to have, and the theme of the event. Minted’s huge range of baby shower invitations all feature wording that perfectly complement their designs for you to simply tweak with the details of your event.
  • Invitations should be mailed out in the fifth month of pregnancy for a shower that takes place on the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy.

what to include


No matter what theme or style of shower you host, there are certain elements that should be included in baby shower invitation wording, like the mother’s name, baby shower time and date, address of the party, and RSVP info.

Anatomy of a Baby Shower Invitation
  1. Insert Card
    Accompany the invitation with an extra card with wishes for baby book requests, diaper raffle tickets, and more.
  2. Guest of Honor
    Honor the mom-to-be or both parents by listing their name(s) on the invitation.
  3. Registry
    Let guests know where the family is registered to take the guess work out of gifting.
  4. RSVP
    Provide the host’s contact information and a “respond by” date if your planning requires an exact guest list.
1

Guest of Honor

Traditionally, the mother-to-be is the guest of honor at the baby shower. That said, if you’re hosting a couples’ shower, then you should list both parents as the guests of honor. A few ways you can designate the guest of honor in your invitation wording are…

  • “For…”
  • “In honor of…”
  • “Honoring…”
  • “Celebrating…”
  • “[Parent’s name] and [Parent’s Name] are having a baby!”

2

Where and When

This is one of the most straight-forward portions of your invitation wording. It is always best to include the full address of your venue, as well as a start and end time of the event.


3

RSVP Details

There are a few ways the host can handle shower RSVPs, so clarity is key here. It is also wise to include an RSVP deadline for guests so you can plan catering, favors, and seating accordingly.

  • Text or Calling. If you’d like guests to contact you via phone, be sure to include your full name and phone number (including area code). The RSVP wording could look like “RSVP by texting Lily James at 111-222-3333.”
  • Email. Include the host’s full email, or you can create a unique baby-shower email that the host and parents-to-be have access to. If you’re going this route, RSVP wording could look like “RSVP by emailing Lily James at lilyjames@gmail.com.”
  • Mail. If you’d like your guests to mail back their RSVP forms, be sure to include an insert card with a pre-stamped and pre-addressed envelope in their invitation.

4

Dress Code

Baby showers were traditionally a pretty dressy affair (think women in their Sunday best), but these days, they can be much more casual. If you have a specific vision for your guests in mind, be sure to make the dress code clear with wording like “brunch best” or “garden party attire.” If you’re committing to a theme, you could also get guests involved with dress codes like “groovy 70s,” “safari chic,” or “swimsuits encouraged.”


5

Registry or Gift Wording

As you assemble the invitation, be sure to chat with the guests of honor about how they would like to handle their gifts. If they’ll be creating a registry, be sure to include where they are registered on the invitation by using wording like “Mom-to-be is registered at Target.” If they plan to use an online registry like those through Baby List, try to include the exact URL on the invitation — typically you’ll have room on the backside of the card.

That said, not all parents-to-be want a registry! For sprinkles, it is more common for parents to skip a full registry, as they’ll likely already have most of the things they’ll need to welcome their newest addition. If that is the case, you can encourage guests to bring diapers or make a donation in the baby’s name instead of providing registry information.


wording ideas


Need some help wording your baby shower invitations? Follow our handy invitation wording guide below.

What kind of shower are you hosting?

Boy

Baby Shower Invitation Wording for a Boy

Welcoming a little man into the world? Here are a few of our favorite boy baby shower invitation openers:

  • Here comes the Son.
  • A baby boy is on the way!
  • Oh Boy! [Parent Name] and [Parent Name] are having a bundle of joy!
  • Please wear blue for you-know-who!
  • Oh, the places he’ll go! Please join us to celebrate our new adventure.
  • A baby boy is joining the crew!

Girl

Baby Shower Invitation Wording for a Girl

Celebrating the arrival of a sweet baby girl? Get all of your guests excited with these opening lines.

  • Sugar, spice, and everything nice! Help us welcome our new baby girl into the world.
  • It’s a girl! Join us in celebrating our little princess.
  • Baby girl is on the way!
  • Who runs the world? Girls!
  • Mama’s mini me is almost here!

Twins & Multiples

Twins/Multiples Baby Shower Invitation Wording

Have two (or three) on the way? Celebrate an abundance of joy and a quickly-growing family with these opening lines.

  • This couple is about to see double.
  • Oh Babies!
  • Two little cuties are on the way.
  • They’re going to need more diapers — it’s triplets!
  • Join us in celebrating our two peas in a pod!

Couples/Co-Ed

Couple/Co-Ed Baby Shower Invitation Wording

Hosting a celebration honoring both parents is becoming more and more common — after all, it takes two to tango! If this is the route you’re going, be sure to include both names on the invitation and make it clear that there will be a co-ed guest list. Make the language throughout the invitation inclusive and highlight that the party is intended to prepare both parents for a new baby. Also, consider using "celebration" as opposed to "shower," and pick an invitation design that will appeal to a co-ed guest list. Finally, if you’re addressing invitations to couples or families, be sure the envelope includes the names of everyone who will be invited to make your co-ed intentions clear!

Here are a few examples of co-ed and couples shower opening lines:

  • Don’t call it a shower, call it a pre-parenthood party!
  • Join us for a backyard baby-Q
  • [Parent’s Name] and [Parent’s Name] are starting a new adventure!
  • A baby is brewing! Help us celebrate.
  • Come one, come all! We’re expecting!
  • It takes a village. Join us in celebrating the new parents!

Gender Reveal

Gender Reveal Party Invitation Wording

A gender reveal celebration is a special moment that many parents-to-be want to share with friends and family. To pull it off, have your sonographer write the baby’s gender on a notecard and seal the envelope before giving it to you. Then, you can hand it off to your host for them to help arrange a pink or blue surprise (think cakes with pink or blue frosting inside and balloons filled with pink or blue confetti), or you can simply gather your loved ones around as you open it.

These events tend to be larger in scale and more casual than a traditional baby shower. Etiquette requires including the word “shower” somewhere in your baby shower invite wording if guests should bring gifts for the expectant parents. Themes for a gender reveal can vary, but it’s a fun idea to ask guests to dress in either pink or blue to indicate their guess.

Here are a few fun ways to word your invitation:

  • Join us for the big reveal.
  • 10 fingers and toes — but boy or girl, nobody knows!
  • What will baby [last name] be?
  • Boy or girl? Join us for a shower celebrating [guests of honor].
  • Twinkle, twinkle little star. How we wonder what you are!

Sprinkle

Baby Sprinkle Invitation Wording

After their first child, some families prefer a "sprinkle" instead of a full-blown baby shower because diapers may be all they need! Baby shower invitation wording for this kind of event usually indicates a more informal gathering and highlights a few items they may need “sprinkled” in to bolster their baby supply rather than a full registry. This gathering will be more about support and celebration and less about presents!

The etiquette for a baby shower for a second child is looser than for traditional events, allowing guests and parents to relax and enjoy the day. Invite close family and friends, including couples — unless Mom wants to opt for a ladies’ only outing.

  • Babies are so much fun, we’ve decided to have another one! Join us at our baby sprinkle.
  • Oops, we did it again!
  • Help us sprinkle [Parents Names] with love for their newest little one!
  • Another sweet baby is on the way. Please join us for a baby sprinkle!
  • Twinkle, twinkle little sprinkle
  • And baby makes four (or five, or six)

Adoption Shower

Adoption Party Invitation Wording

When celebrating an adoption, the timing of the event will vary depending on the nature of the adoption and the wishes of the parents-to-be. The family may prefer to have the shower before the baby arrives to be prepared to welcome them, or they may wait until after the baby is welcomed home and settled.

Adoption baby shower etiquette is all about the comfort of this new little family. Be sure to discuss with the guests of honor ahead of time if they’re comfortable using any form of “adoptive baby” in their invitation wording. You can also consider mentioning the country of origin the child has arrived from by using wording like, “Please join us in welcoming baby Kai who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo to be in Mama Britney’s arms.” It is also a nice idea to share the child’s exact age and size so guests have an idea of what types of clothing and toys to give.

Here are a few more adoption party invitation wording ideas:

  • Join us for a little party to celebrate a lot of love.
  • We’ve adopted love. Join us to meet our baby!
  • Welcome home forever.
  • It was worth the wait.
  • We found our missing piece!

Sip and See

Sip and See Invitation Wording

Sip and See is commonly a more low-key party held after the baby̦’s birth to introduce him or her to friends and family members. Sip and Sees are also a great way to celebrate your little one if you were unable to have an in-person baby shower while you were expecting.

Like an open house, guests can come and go, enjoy a beverage, and meet the new baby in a casual setting. If you have a large family and a big friend group, you may decide to have a couple smaller “welcome baby” parties instead of one large one. That is perfectly acceptable!

For this type of event, include in your baby shower invitation wording details about how the new parents would like to handle guests touching or holding their infant. This can offer guidance on hand-washing, mask-wearing, and other concerns.

Invite anyone linked to the happy little family for this easy-going, unstructured shower with opening lines like…

  • Ice, Ice, Baby! Join us for our Sip and See.
  • I’m even cuter in person.
  • Join us for cuddles and cake.
  • The drinks are cold, the diapers are dry, and we’re waiting for you to come by!
  • Toast the newest addition to the family at our Sip and See!


etiquette FAQ


Now that you have plenty of creative ideas for how to word your invitation, it's time to make sure you’ve got all of your etiquette bases covered. These are the most important things to know.

Who hosts the baby shower?

Traditionally, showers are hosted by a close female friend of the guest of honor. In more recent years, it has become acceptable for family members to host. If you’d like to host the baby shower for your loved one, be sure to reach out to them early to ask if they would be comfortable with you taking charge!

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Where to host the baby shower?

Showers are often held at the host’s home. A hotel banquet hall or a favorite restaurant of the parents-to-be are also good venue choices, especially if you’re hosting a co-ed party, which can have a larger guest list. Other unique venue options include:

  • A tea room for ladies only
  • A local brewery or winery for couples
  • A playground or park for family events
  • A botanical garden

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Whom to invite?

A traditional baby shower guest list includes her mom, sister(s), aunts, and female friends and colleagues. That said, definitely check in with the parents-to-be before finalizing the guest list to see if they’d like a co-ed shower and to make sure they are comfortable with everyone included.

If you go the co-ed route, extend the guest list to the close family and friends of both parents. Be sure to also discuss if you’ll allow plus ones, and make whatever the parents decide crystal clear on your invitation wording!

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How to address your baby shower invites?

When addressing baby shower invitations the main consideration should be making sure that the recipient of the invitation is as clear as possible. For example, if you’re hosting a traditional baby shower, be sure to address the invitation specifically to the female members of a household. On the flip side, if you’re hosting a coed shower, it is a good idea to use inclusive language on your addresses like “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” or “The Smith Family.”

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When to send?

Ideally you’ll want to send your invitation at least 6 weeks before the shower date. Keep in mind that sending the invitation as early as possible is always a good idea if your shower is close to a major holiday or if many guests will need to travel to attend.

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What else does the host need to know?

As you plan the shower, you’ll want to discuss with the parents-to-be regarding details like…

  • Location. This is especially important if the parents-to-be live in a different city or state from their family and other guests. If they’re open to traveling for the shower, be sure to host it early enough to make sure mom and baby stay safe while on the road. For showers where everyone will be local, be sure to confirm the venue with the guests of honor before you book anything.
  • Timing. Baby showers are typically hosted in month six or seven of pregnancy, as any earlier runs the risk of something going wrong and any later could be impacted by an early birth. Keep this in mind as a general rule as you nail down dates with your guests of honor.
  • Gifts. Be sure to give your guests of honor plenty of time to build their registry if they are opting for one. If they’d like to keep gifts to a minimum, consider asking guests to simply bring diapers of various sizes or their favorite children’s book to help build the little one’s library.
  • Theme Preference. Once you decide what type of shower you’ll be hosting, it is time to pick a theme! Brainstorm with the parents-to-be to choose a theme — Safari, Woodland, Elephant, Twinkle-Twinkle, and Boho are particularly popular at the moment. Then, use that theme to guide your choice of invitation and day-of decor. If you know the gender of the baby, you could also have fun with a unique baby boy or baby girl shower theme.

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