Your baby shower is a very special event and so naturally it is only fitting that you should want to formally invite your guests. So, unless a baby shower is going to be a surprise or is being arranged at short notice, then a written invitation is invariably the most appropriate method to use. Where this is not feasible then inviting your guests personally by telephone is an acceptable alternative and e-mailing your invitations ought to be avoided despite the fact that they might seem quick and convenient.

If your finances allow then your baby shower invitations can be custom printed but this is really unnecessary as there are many first class pre-printed invitations available on the Internet or locally. As an very good alternative you can also design and make your own shower invitations if you have enough time and a bit of artistic talent.

As is the case with any invitation to a party your guests will have to have some basic details including the name of the person for whom the baby shower is being given, the full name of the host, the date and time of the baby shower, the location and instructions on how to reply.

Another thing to consider adding is details of any theme for the event or the baby shower gift registry and this can be a little tricky as a lot of people feel this is presumptuous and puts unnecessary pressure on your guests. Of course this is a matter of personal choice, but one answer which normally works is to leave this out of your invitations, request you guests to reply by telephone and then than slip this artfully into the conversion if guests do confirm their attendance. Do not forget though that you must have this information on hand when your guests call and etiquette dictates that you should only give out any baby shower gift registry information if your guest requests it. When your baby shower is to be a formal event then you cannot go wrong if you keep to etiquette but, if your shower is not so formal and involves only close friends then you can probably get away with relaxing the rules a bit.

The timeline for a baby shower is very important and the greater the notice your guests are given the better. Accordingly, you ought to aim to mail your invitations out 4 to 6 weeks ahead of the shower date and this is particularly important if guests from out of town are being invited. If this is not feasible then you ought to certainly aim to send your invitations out at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead of the event. A good period of notice allows your guests time to organize their diaries, reply and go shopping for appropriate gifts.

It is also important that you request your guests to phone you and let you know whether they will be attending. With all the tasks involved in organizing your baby shower the very last thing you want to do is to have to phone around to find out if some of the guest will be coming. Nonetheless, there will invariably be some guests who do not reply and so a week or so prior to the shower date you will need to make time to contact those individuals to ascertain their intentions. Having accurate numbers will help considerably with making the necessary arrangements for your very special day.

Parenting4Dummies.com provides everything you need to complete your baby shower event planner including details of boy baby shower invitations