Baby showers are a great time to not only come together and give gifts to the new mother-to-be, but they are also a nice way for friends and family to come together and put on a celebration as well. One of the most common questions on many people’s minds is when exactly is the right time to throw a shower? Here’s a look.

For many years, tradition has always been that you should hold a baby shower a few weeks before the birth of the new baby. Anywhere from a month to two weeks ahead of mom’s due date has always been the accepted time. Today though, this isn’t always the case.

Over the past several years it has become increasingly more common for showers to be held after the new baby is born. There are many good reasons for this that makes sense when you stop to think about it.

When a shower is held before the newborn arrives it can be more difficult to buy gifts. They need to be neutral if you do not know whether it is going to be a boy or girl, making it a bit tougher to get that perfect gift.

With baby showers being held after the birth, you can be sure that all gifts will be exactly for the sex of the child. This can really help out any new mother.

Another reason for holding a shower until later is that the last month of pregnancy can be difficult even in the best of circumstances. You’re tired, sore, and in some cases, not able to enjoy the games and activities of a shower. This is especially true for those on bed rest only or having other health issues. This can easily defeat the main point of having a shower.

Ultimately, this is a personal decision, but be sure to talk it over with the new mother-to-be before setting anything up. That way everyone can enjoy themselves much better.