What the hell is a 'baby shower'?

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:22

I work in an admin block and one of the girls (who I barely know) has invited 75-odd to it. There is a list of things she wants us to bring. I've been invited too but have already given my apologies because I have already planned some house maintenance on the days around that event. If I did attend it though, then I'll only really know a couple of people there out of the 75. Seems like she just invited everyone from the building. It's being held in one of our conference rooms.

P.S. looked 'baby shower' up on Google and it seems to be an event where you give presents to the unborn baby. Surely though you normally give presents after the baby is born? And then only if you know the person really well?

Gilly · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:25

It's present giving for an expectant mother. It's an American thing they've tried bringing over here, like prom and so on.

In the context you've given, IMO, it's legitimised begging for new parents.

nutcase · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:26

It's an American thing which seems to have made its way over here. As you found, it's an event for showering the baby and mum with gifts. Went to one for my nephew before he was born (In the US). Was OK but a bit strange, as not used to such extrovert behaviour.

alx · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:28

The version I've seen here is where the father goes out with his mates for 'a few beers' to celebrate having a child - seems like a much better idea

Gilly · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:29

alx said:
The version I've seen here is where the father goes out with his mates for 'a few beers' to celebrate having a child - seems like a much better idea

That's always been called 'wetting the baby's head' round here. Never heard it called a baby shower.

Derek W · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:30

alx said:
The version I've seen here is where the father goes out with his mates for 'a few beers' to celebrate having a child - seems like a much better idea

That's after the birth as well though the traditional 'head wetting', prelude for the bed wetting no doubt

alx · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:33

Gilly said:
That's always been called 'wetting the baby's head' round here. Never heard it called a baby shower.

I'm probably just getting confused

XeNoN89 · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:37

Pawnless Endgame said:
I work in an admin block and one of the girls (who I barely know) has invited 75-odd to it. There is a list of things she wants us to bring. I've been invited too but have already given my apologies because I have already planned some house maintenance on the days around that event. If I did attend it though, then I'll only really know a couple of people there out of the 75. Seems like she just invited everyone from the building. It's being held in one of our conference rooms.

P.S. looked 'baby shower' up on Google and it seems to be an event where you give presents to the unborn baby. Surely though you normally give presents after the baby is born? And then only if you know the person really well?

Usually it would be just for a bunch of women to play games, have laugh and give presents as far as i know, and usually only close friends. Sounds like this woman at your work has just invited everybody to get lots of presents

bledd · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:38

alx said:
I'm probably just getting confused

Sounds like a good tradition to start though

grumpysculler · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:40

It's when baby decides to take a pee at just the wrong moment while changing its nappy.

Yours sounds a bit like "I'm having a baby, everyone give me loads of pressies"

scrivz69 · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:41

My wife makes nappy cakes for such events and sells quite a few.

Gilly · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:42

scrivz69 said:
My wife makes nappy cakes for such events and sells quite a few.

I hope that's not a literal term

scrivz69 · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:42

Lol no mate.

Admiral Huddy · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:48

I find this all a bit odd. The same goes for having a baby cake smash on their 1st birthday which is another American thing.. Are people just bored?

jon86 · 26 Apr 2016 at 08:58

I think that it might be one of these.

tom_e · 26 Apr 2016 at 09:07

Admiral Huddy said:
I find this all a bit odd. The same goes for having a baby cake smash on their 1st birthday which is another American thing.. Are people just bored?

I've never heard of this but now I have images of dropping a 1yr old into a great big cake.

Steve2000 · 26 Apr 2016 at 09:14

tom_e said:
I have images of dropping a 1yr old into a great big cake.

You might want to delete those images

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Apr 2016 at 09:16

Thanks guys! There are a few guys on the list (it was an email mailing list), but yeah it's mostly wimmin on there. American stuff eh. Same with Halloween then, and proms (ball in the UK) as someone had already said further up this thread.

Ace Modder · 26 Apr 2016 at 09:20

where in stafford is it? Can I gate crash? Stafford is only 1 junction down the M6 for me!

Room full of women all at breeding age, sounds like a winner to me?

Janesy B · 26 Apr 2016 at 09:25

Another piece of useless American culture making commonplace in the UK.