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Baby shower planning checklist

A week-by-week baby shower timeline, with the InviteBird features that help at each step — from the diaper raffle to the day the baby arrives.

Last reviewed 3 min read

On this page8 sections
  1. 3 to 4 weeks before
  2. 2 weeks before
  3. 1 week before
  4. A few days before
  5. On the day
  6. After the shower
  7. When the baby arrives
  8. Related articles

A baby shower is a celebration of anticipation, and a little planning ahead makes the day feel effortless. Here's a timeline from about a month out to after the baby arrives, with the InviteBird features that help at each step. Treat the dates as general guidance and adjust them to suit the parents-to-be.

3 to 4 weeks before

Settle the date, the guest list, and the venue with the guest or guests of honor, then get invitations out early.

  • Open Baby Shower Essentials and fill in the first card — the parent's name or both names, and whether you're expecting, adopting or welcoming a baby through surrogacy. Every game reads it.
  • Choose your games before you send: guests play them as they reply. Open the suite before you send and Baby predictions, Who knows the parents best, the Diaper raffle, Gift bingo and Advice for the parents start switched on; switch off any you don't want. See Baby shower games.
  • On the Diaper raffle, pick the sizes you'd like — guests see them as they pledge their packs.
  • Design and send your invitation in InviteBird — it's free to design, and you pay only at send, sized to the guests you expect.
  • Set an RSVP deadline a week or so before so you can finalize catering and favors.

2 weeks before

  • Send each parent their private link for Who knows the parents best, so their answers are in by the shower.
  • Add Books for baby if you'd like guests to bring a favorite book instead of (or along with) a card.
  • Want letters the baby will read one day? Switch on Letters to the baby — they open on the baby's 18th birthday.

1 week before

  • Follow up with anyone who hasn't replied — a reminder, or host-to-guest messaging.
  • If you're serving food, collect dinner picks with Menus and plan Seating.
  • Add your raffle prizes, and try a practice spin — it doesn't count.

A few days before

  • Set up the Event Day kiosk on a tablet or a laptop by the TV, so gift bingo and the draw have a big screen.
  • Pick up decorations, favors, and anything else the day needs.

On the day

  • Greet arrivals with the check-in kiosk, and gather everyone's pictures on the photo wall (guests upload free).
  • Play Gift bingo during the gift opening, reveal Who knows the parents best, show how the room guessed on the baby predictions, and draw the Diaper raffle.
  • Then soak up the celebration.

After the shower

  • Send the matching thank-you card the next morning.
  • Download the Advice for the parents keepsake, and share the photo album — it holds up to 100 photos and stays hosted for a full year.

When the baby arrives

  • Open Baby predictions and record The baby's here with the real stats. Every card is scored, the closest guessers are emailed, and the letters to the baby move to count from the real birthday.

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