Baby Shower Guest....Kids or No Kids?

I guess I find it to be kinda contradictory to be celebrating the coming arrival of a baby, but then to say that kids can't come. In my family kids have always been included in baby showers, and I can't imagine any venue more appropriate for them to be invited.

At the same time, I do agree with Karen that by making it a couples' shower, the hubby can't stay home with the kids without making his wife go solo.

I say NO. Unless it's specified on the invitation, it's actually kind of rude for people to ask. Baby showers are not traditional places for kids -they're an opportunity to focus on the mother to be and help her prepare. The idea of all of those people and then a ton of kids running around sounds great for a family reunion or a party or Christmas or something, but not a baby shower.

Every shower I've been to (as opposed to any other party) has been child-free. Primarily for the reason that a shower is x number of adults sitting around opening presents and passing them around. UBER boring for kids.

If you are going to have kids... setting up a room with a TV, movies, snacks etc will cut down on the tantrums.

Showers aren't like weddings where kids only have to sit for 15-30 minutes tops and then there's dancing, etc. Showers are typically 2 hours + of sitting and oooohing, ahing. Imagine a kid's birthday party. While the birthday child is opening presents you've got the rest of the kid's attention for MAYBE 15 minutes... and most want to "help". Then they scatter because they're jumping out of their skin. Transpose that to 2+ hours. And presents that are (by and large) boring or toys they're not allowed to play with. Disaster in the making.

I think you should allow kids to attend. It's a baby shower not a wedding shower. If your daughter was included on the invite as a hostess, I would say that implies children will be attending. Also, I would think it rude to require other parents to find sitters if your child will be there.

I have teens, and truthfully the little ones are such a distraction for the guest of honor because nobody pays attention to her when their kiddos are running amuck. It's only 2 hours, get babysitters!

I would point out that since you are having a couples shower, you have removed the husband as a sitter for some of the people. With 40 couples, that could be a lot of kids. I might have a teenager on hand with some some toys and videos and snacks in another room, just in case. I wouldn't necessarily state that the kids were invited, but I would be prepared for the likelihood that some kids will be there.

If it were a traditional (first-baby, women-only) shower, I'd say you wouldn't be out of line to not have kids there. But by including your daughter on the invitation, and inviting couples, you've opened yourself up to having entire families. I just don't see any way around it. In my extended family, we always have a shower for new babies, and EVERYONE of any age is invited. It's a lot more fun with the kids there, in my opinion! Also, as others have pointed out, if you expect the husbands to come but not the kids, you're putting the guests in the position of having to find a sitter, which could make your shower a very expensive afternoon out for them (if they even have a sitter - a lot of people don't).

I would say with your daughter as a hostess, it will be hard to not include other kids without offending people.

No-the point of the couples shower is for it to be more of a "party" than a shower. Kids would ruin the vibe.

Tradionally, kids are not part of the shower - but you can do whatever you want. Couples shower? Be sure to have a cooler of beer on the back porch when it comes time to open gifts. Good luck with that!

babies and little ones always makes the showers fun. I think they should be there. Its hard for moms to get sitters and rearrange their schedules if you dont include the kiddos. Its only a couple hours...kids or no kids you will still have to clean up.

If you do...do you have a game room or somewhere they can all gather? Might be worth paying a sitter for a few hours too.

Your sister in law messed up by putting your daughter on the invite! lol
I am having my shower in a couple of weeks as well and have told my son's godmother that i would prefer no children to be there. I am surrounded by children all the time. I want this to be a time to celbrate ME and the coming baby! Babies (little ones, not crawling!) are okay, but toddlers need constant attention and older ones (3 and older) are going to want their parents or other people's attention.
I don't know how to tell people not to bring their kids though. So, my son's godmother and I decided that if anyone asks about bringing kids that we will just say, "Well, L.'s boys will not be here and my son will be hanging out with my husband. I can not gaurantee that there will be anything for children to do, but if you need to bring them you can." That way the person knows we are not planning for kids, but if you have to bring them you can!
Also, for the people that said it's only a couple of hours...rowdy kids make a couple of hours feel like a lifetime! I have some of my friends already tell me that they have found babysitters and how excited they are to just have some ladies time.
Good Luck, have fun!
L.

I would see no problem with it. Just have an area set up were they can play or watch a movie if they are too young to enjoy the shower games.

I say no kids personally but your Hostess should have discussed that with you first. Some do bring your own baby but it's time to celebrate YOUR baby.

I've always grown up and gone with the rule that only children under 1 (and in mom's arms) are welcome at baby showers.

I can't imagine what she was thinking...but little girls love babies and all the stuff that goes with them. If it wasn't a couple shower I would understand but it seems two different types of showers are going on.

Personal preference (no) and courtesy (yes) aside, children carry many diseases that are harmful to pregnant women. Many OB offices, like mine, never allow children in the office for this reason; as these illnesses can cause a pregnant woman to miscarry. So, will there be pregnant women there? If yes, I recommend no. If not, then although I prefer not to have children in my own home, I am always admonished by friends and family that a "Baby Shower" should be rolling with children as a sign of family and celebration. Ugh, Good Luck! :-)

I had a WEDDING and stated on the invitations that Complimentary Childcare Will Be Provided For All Children under age 8. The ushers said many moms complained, but almost everyone complied. Years later, people still say "Can you believe she would not allow any kids at her wedding?"

I don't regret it as we had no disturbances or scenes like many weddings, but it offended people which I do regret. I can't imagine people hiring a sitter for a shower.

i would say no. only your family/kids should be included.....sounds like it will be pretty full with the adults. HOW FUN though.....have a great time, congrads to you.

I agree with most responses and can only add: many couples nowdays don't have babysitters they can trust or call on. So many abuses have happened. While they may want to be free, they may not be able to. If you don't have lots of grown nieces coming to help out, hire some sitters from getting names from good childcare places and the YMCA - highly recommended ones.