Mommyish Poll: Are Baby Showers Appropriate After Your First Pregnancy?

Just in case you don’t read celebrity gossip, let me share that Tori Spelling is pregnant with her third child. According to Us Magazine, the starlet recently had a baby shower to welcome her newest little one. Now maybe I’m behind the times, but is it normal to have a baby shower after your first pregnancy? I had always believed that showers were strictly a first-time occasion, but lately, I feel like they are becoming more frequent.

I’m not asking because I want to shame those who had additional showers. I’m asking because I would like to throw one for a close friend of mine who is pregnant with her second child. My friend had her first daughter almost six years ago. By now, the safety regulations alone would necessitate that she buy a whole new barrage of pack-n-plays, bouncy seats and bottles. Because I know that I’m not the only one who loves and cares for this family, I’m pretty sure that a close group of us would like to get together and help out our friends as they prepare for their family’s newest addition. So yea, I’m thinking about throwing them a shower. I mean, Tori is doing it for her third!

Our other option seems to be a “Welcome Baby” party after the little one is born. Apparently, these have become a popular way to honor the new second-time mom without breaking the rules surrounding baby showers and when they are appropriate. While I can appreciate anything that works so hard to circumvent tradition and still accomplish its goals, this still means that families need to buy the bulk of the new baby gear themsevles. Then their friends can contribute clothes and toys, which in reality, is the best part about baby shopping anyways.

Or maybe I’m just a softy who loves giving presents? That’s actually true, I really enjoy buying gifts for people. But not everyone has the time or resources to attend a baby shower everytime a close friend gets knocked-up again. I tend to have a very small, tight-knit group of female friends. If I had dozens of ladies wanting me to come to second and third baby showers, I might see things a little differently.

So dear readers, I need your help in deciding how I feel about additional baby showers. Take the survey and then let me know in the comments if you have any personal experience that make you for or against second and third showers.

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