Summer is in full swing, and so are all the parties – bridal showers, weddings, graduation parties, maybe even salah and hijab parties for our growing young Muslims. Speaking of parties, my family and I threw my sister a baby shower last weekend, and I knew I had to add it to my list of party planning posts.

Planning her baby shower was more than just a party for me. I am the eldest amongst my siblings, with two sisters and a younger brother. As the first to get married and have children, my siblings have enjoyed their roles as aunties and uncle. Now, with my sister expecting her first child, I finally get to enjoy the role of aunty for the first time.

When it came time to think about the theme of the baby shower, my sisters and I knew we wanted to jump on the “We can bearly wait” bandwagon. We already had the perfect oversized teddy bear from when my daughter was born in my parent’s storage, and the combination of neutrals and browns went flawlessly with my sister’s apartment setup.

Figuring out a theme is crucial to give you direction on where you want to go with the party, and knowing a theme will help figure out the decor you want and where you want the baby shower to be. These lists of the best baby boy shower themes for 2022 and best baby girl shower themes are sure to have a theme that will catch your eye. Some of my favorite themes include: Little Cutie Baby Shower, Let The Adventure Begin, Sweet As Can BEE and Little Pumpkin Baby Shower.

I’ve also been loving balloon garland kits for all of my party needs. They are affordable and accessible through Amazon, your local party supply store, Target, Walmart, or you can make them yourself! I also added babies’ breath in the flower vases for a whimsical floral touch.

We knew the baby shower was going to be a small intimate gathering with family and close friends. For this reason, my sister’s apartment was the perfect location. This also made it easier to set up the day before and for the mom-to-be to get ready in the comfort of her own home. When it comes to theme, decor and location, considering the preferences of the mother-to-be and what she can manage in her condition are the key tips to keep in mind.

We opted for a midday baby shower, so keeping the food and dessert light and simple made it easy to plan what we wanted to serve. Grazing boards have been a huge trend for some time now and for good reason. They are the perfect snacking station for any type of party and can be tailored to your liking.

We kept things simple with a selection of cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts and chocolate-covered blueberries. I also made tiramisu cups, which I thought would be a cute addition to the colors and theme. My talented mom, Chef Mama G, made a delicious olive oil cake filled with fresh raspberry and cherry compote. For a little something savory, we went for chicken musakhan rolls and a side salad.

As for drinks, we served this delicious fruit punch in a dispenser alongside water. Instead of favors, we opted for themed sugar cookies that were honestly too pretty to eat!

If you’re not sure where to begin in terms of what types of foods you should serve, or how to display them, here are a few tips to help you with your party planning.

What’s a party without some games? Take it up a notch and have simple prizes prepared for the winners! We snagged travel-sized lotions and hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works and wrapped them in cute gift bags.

Picking the perfect name for one’s baby takes a lot of thought, and sometimes the parents run out of ideas! We had a jar for guests to suggest names for the baby to help out the parents-to-be. And if you know me, you know that I love giving and receiving books for my children. Start your little one’s library off by providing a cute book for guests to write messages that, Insha’Allah, your bundle of joy will look back on and cherish.

*Lists, questions and free printables can be found with a quick google search and on Pinterest.

As a first time mom, the amount of baby “essentials” and endless options out there is overwhelming. I remember my first visit to Buy Buy Baby – my husband and I left overwhelmed and empty handed and opted to go get ice cream instead. There is just so much stuff to sift through, so many brands and options for each item, and so many reviews to read in order to make the right decision.

From my experience, asking friends and family who have had kids is the best way to go, as well as reading product reviews.

I helped my sister by narrowing down the most necessary items that I personally used and advised her to stay away from the fancy tools and gadgets or unnecessary items that end up on a shelf or drawer taking up space. I also advised her to add everything she wants to add, regardless of the price point.

For me the registry acts like a checklist of items I want where I can keep track of what I’ve been gifted and what else I need to purchase on my own. Most baby stores will also give you a discount or coupons to use if you purchase things off your own registry. So don’t shy away from adding those pricey items, such as a baby monitor, stroller and car seat. Those items also make great group gifts that your guests may want to pitch into.

Baby gear can be pricey, so it’s also a great idea to have items with varying price points to give guests the flexibility of purchasing items depending on their budget. Things like pacifiers, clothing, baby and bath toys, storage caddies and baskets are must haves that don’t come with hefty price tags.

Together with her friends who also have kids, I think we came up with a great list of items for my sister’s guests to choose from that will benefit her baby and her. I also recommended for her to have two registries, one on Amazon and one from our local buybuy Baby. This allows guests more options to choose from in terms of types of products but also better shipping for those who have Amazon Prime, as well as better prices on items depending on the category.

Having an Amazon option is also good for guests who can’t make it but still want to send a gift. Below is a condensed list of some essentials I think would be great to add to your next baby shower registry.

Alhamdulillah, my sister’s baby shower was simple, sweet and wonderful. We got to shower her with love and lots of du’a for a safe delivery and righteous offspring. If you or someone you know is expecting a baby soon, I hope this post provides some useful and creative tips for throwing them the perfect baby shower!

To all of the mother’s to be, may Allah (S) ease the rest of your pregnancy, grant you an easy delivery, quick recovery and healthy baby. Ameen.