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10-29-2012 at 4:08 PM
March2013F...
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Co Ed shower/diaper party

My mom is hosting my baby shower. We are expecting between 50 and 60 people. Instead of doing the normal baby shower games, we are trying to think of things people can participate in and not require everyone's attention.

One thing we are thinking of is including on the invite that we are having a door prize and raffle tickets. To get a raffle ticket, you have to bring a pack of diapers. What does everyone think? It is optional. We are listing the prizes. A movie experience for 2, and a Starbucks gift package. 
 
10-29-2012 at 4:14 PM
MandJS
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I personally HATE raffles and raffle prizes at showers. Guests are already expected to bring one gift. Having them bring a second just to "participate" in a game seems greedy, IMO. If you want to do a raffle, just give everyone a raffle ticket when they arrive. Don't make them pay for it. It's a shower, not a fundraiser. 

ETA: And I would NOT list prizes on the invitation. Again. This is a baby shower - not a fundraiser. If you want to have prizes, then great. But don't try to "entice" people to participate (especially since it costs them more money!) to get a prize. 

AngelSmitty: This reminds me of something my college Human Sexuality professor used to say in class. "Sex is between the legs. Gender is between the ears."
 
10-29-2012 at 4:16 PM
holly1416
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No, no diaper raffle... ever!
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10-29-2012 at 4:17 PM
EastCoastB...
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I agree w the pp. I don't know why "including" people means making them spend more .
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10-29-2012 at 4:23 PM
SunshineMu...
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I find it completely trashy to have any type of raffle at a shower.  Why not just put out a collection jar and call it a day?
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10-29-2012 at 4:25 PM
discobelle
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People are already bringing a shower gift.  Don't suggest they bring extras on top of that.  It's crass.

 
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10-29-2012 at 4:34 PM
joshandpan...
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I know you have a lot of people going... but I am doing activities rather than games, and one of them is designing a onesie for the baby...

Im bringing white onesies and sharpies and the guests will decorate them. 
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10-29-2012 at 4:40 PM
MandJS
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joshandpanda:

I know you have a lot of people going... but I am doing activities rather than games, and one of them is designing a onesie for the baby...

Im bringing white onesies and sharpies and the guests will decorate them. 

My SIL did that at her shower, only her hostesses used puffy paint. I think it's cute. I know not everyone's artistic skills are all that great, but babies spit up. A lot. And I always put a onesie under a shirt/pants with S, anyway. Smile 

AngelSmitty: This reminds me of something my college Human Sexuality professor used to say in class. "Sex is between the legs. Gender is between the ears."
 
10-29-2012 at 4:47 PM
Bliss+Berr...
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Oh no.
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10-29-2012 at 5:01 PM
lulamagoo
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MandJS:

I personally HATE raffles and raffle prizes at showers. Guests are already expected to bring one gift. Having them bring a second just to "participate" in a game seems greedy, IMO. If you want to do a raffle, just give everyone a raffle ticket when they arrive. Don't make them pay for it. It's a shower, not a fundraiser. 

ETA: And I would NOT list prizes on the invitation. Again. This is a baby shower - not a fundraiser. If you want to have prizes, then great. But don't try to "entice" people to participate (especially since it costs them more money!) to get a prize. 

 

This.

Please don't. 
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10-29-2012 at 5:05 PM
Cellis
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I agree with the others, I wouldn't have a raffle that requires people to bring extra items. My hostess told me she got some scratch off tickets to hand out and the winners get a little gift like a candle or something like that. I really liked that idea and it doesn't require the guests to "pay" to participate. 
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10-29-2012 at 5:06 PM
MelRC117
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Totally agree with the fundraiser comment. Really a raffle as a way for people to "participate". Give me an effing break.
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10-29-2012 at 5:22 PM
Aleja0918
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MandJS:

I personally HATE raffles and raffle prizes at showers. Guests are already expected to bring one gift. Having them bring a second just to "participate" in a game seems greedy, IMO. If you want to do a raffle, just give everyone a raffle ticket when they arrive. Don't make them pay for it. It's a shower, not a fundraiser. 

ETA: And I would NOT list prizes on the invitation. Again. This is a baby shower - not a fundraiser. If you want to have prizes, then great. But don't try to "entice" people to participate (especially since it costs them more money!) to get a prize. 

All of this. Especially the part about it not being a fundraiser. 

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10-29-2012 at 5:30 PM
Cranang
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Raffles are for fundraising events.  Do you want your shower to be a fundraiser?  Or do you require a fundraiser?

And a giant eyeroll as a "way to participate."  They're already spending money on you to participate.  Don't ask for more on top of it.  sheesh.
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10-29-2012 at 5:43 PM
FemShep
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I would seriously side-eye a baby shower invitation that included a raffle and prize information. It's bad enough that you treat certain guests who bring you extra gifts preferentially. But including it on an invitation really does smack of fundraiser. 

People participate at a shower by socializing. You don't need activities-just great people, food, drink, and gracious hosts.  Gracious hosts don't ask for extra presents. 
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10-29-2012 at 5:49 PM
AimeeL85
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I agree with all of the previous comments.  Also, you said you're thinking of doing that instead of games, but it's not like this is going to keep people occupied.  How long does it take to pick a name out of a hat and give them their prize?
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10-29-2012 at 6:11 PM
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Not a fan of asking every guest to bring a pack of diapers...

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10-29-2012 at 6:39 PM
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I'm just giggling at a "movie experience" for 2.
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10-29-2012 at 7:27 PM
MelRC117
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GoMaltby18:
I'm just giggling at a "movie experience" for 2.

LOL 
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10-29-2012 at 7:48 PM
March2013F...
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I know one game is a Price is Right game, where people guess prices of common baby items. 

I appreciate the feedback. I am shocked at the overwhelming negative feedback, as I really liked the idea, but nonetheless I posted to get the feedback before anything was decided or printed.

Thanks, everyone! 
 
10-29-2012 at 7:57 PM
brooke&rya...
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I didn't even read through the responses, but I'm sure a lot of people are with me saying that it is typically seen as pretty tacky.

If you truly want to do a raffle to include more guests this is what my hostesses came up with:

Anyone could write a bit of parenting advice for DH and I on an index card (with their name) which was placed in a large fishbowl. (There was some sort of little sign with a cute saying which I truly can't remember)

While we were opening gifts I would randomly get to pull out a piece of advice and read it aloud. Most of them were hilarious! Then one of my hosts would silently bring them a prize.

I personally loved this because it was a great filler during gift opening and no one was expected to bring anything extra.

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10-29-2012 at 10:49 PM
rhubarb123
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MandJS:

I personally HATE raffles and raffle prizes at showers. Guests are already expected to bring one gift. Having them bring a second just to "participate" in a game seems greedy, IMO. If you want to do a raffle, just give everyone a raffle ticket when they arrive. Don't make them pay for it. It's a shower, not a fundraiser. 

ETA: And I would NOT list prizes on the invitation. Again. This is a baby shower - not a fundraiser. If you want to have prizes, then great. But don't try to "entice" people to participate (especially since it costs them more money!) to get a prize. 

This. 

OP...for ideas:  pass around (or have sitting on a table) a container (baby bottle, sippy, etc) filled with M&M's and ask people to put their name and the number they think is in the container on a slip of paper.  They win a prize.  This can be done during gift opening time.  I like the random drawing of the "advice cards" too! 
 
10-29-2012 at 11:07 PM
BakerMommy
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If you're looking for a way to get a lot of people involved, you might play Bingo during the gift opening. People fill in their cards with baby items [you could provide a bank of options, and with so many guests you may need to be pretty specific, like a "Mommy's Little ____" onesie, etc.], then mark them off as you open gifts. That way people have something to do while you open gifts, yet can opt out easily if games aren't their thing.
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10-29-2012 at 11:23 PM
MelleTX
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I think the best way to get people involved is to walk around and visit with them personally, thank them for coming, introduce them to people they might not have met yet and just generally spend time with your guests. No games are necessary to accomplish this. 

If you dont have time to personally visit with each guest, at least in small groups, then you should consider cutting back the guest list a bit.

I had 4 showers (yikes, I know) and didn't play a game at a single one of them. All 4 latest 2-4 hours each and were perfect. I visited with everyone. We laughed and shared funny stories about how we all met, life with kids, pregnancy, etc. We had good food. I opened presents. We at cake and visited some more and then everyone started heading home. A good time was had by all.  
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10-30-2012 at 5:09 AM
bloomraise...
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I admit, my coplanner and I did a diaper raffle at my SILs baby shower. I had been to very few, and had never planned one before, so when I read about the idea online, I thought it made sense. They're a needed item, but not a nice gift. We said diapers or wipes, so it would be inexpensive.
And, we served mimosas. And, some of us ended up sitting on the carpeted living room stairs. Horrah!!
;/
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10-30-2012 at 8:16 AM
MelRC117
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bloomraiser:
I admit, my coplanner and I did a diaper raffle at my SILs baby shower. I had been to very few, and had never planned one before, so when I read about the idea online, I thought it made sense. They're a needed item, but not a nice gift. We said diapers or wipes, so it would be inexpensive. And, we served mimosas. And, some of us ended up sitting on the carpeted living room stairs. Horrah!! ;/

So apparently any needed baby items are not nice gifts.

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10-30-2012 at 8:51 AM
Cellis
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bloomraiser:
I admit, my coplanner and I did a diaper raffle at my SILs baby shower. I had been to very few, and had never planned one before, so when I read about the idea online, I thought it made sense. They're a needed item, but not a nice gift. We said diapers or wipes, so it would be inexpensive.

Maybe I'm just poor, but I think diapers are expensive! 

 
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10-30-2012 at 11:19 AM
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bloomraiser:
I admit, my coplanner and I did a diaper raffle at my SILs baby shower. I had been to very few, and had never planned one before, so when I read about the idea online, I thought it made sense. They're a needed item, but not a nice gift. We said diapers or wipes, so it would be inexpensive.
And, we served mimosas. And, some of us ended up sitting on the carpeted living room stairs. Horrah!!
;/

Um, good for you? You sound like an azz.
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10-30-2012 at 11:46 AM
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MelleTX:

I think the best way to get people involved is to walk around and visit with them personally, thank them for coming, introduce them to people they might not have met yet and just generally spend time with your guests. No games are necessary to accomplish this. 

If you dont have time to personally visit with each guest, at least in small groups, then you should consider cutting back the guest list a bit.

I had 4 showers (yikes, I know) and didn't play a game at a single one of them. All 4 latest 2-4 hours each and were perfect. I visited with everyone. We laughed and shared funny stories about how we all met, life with kids, pregnancy, etc. We had good food. I opened presents. We at cake and visited some more and then everyone started heading home. A good time was had by all.  

I heart MelleTX! What she said, that's my advice. 

I won't comment on the diaper raffle thing, because it has been covered and a half. This one is a touchy subject here.

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11-02-2012 at 7:24 PM
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If I saw a diaper raffle/card instead of a gift/ wishing well on an invite, I'd do one of the following:

a) only bring a diaper/wishing well item/ book as a gift

b) spend the amount I felt comfortable spending on a gift that I wanted to choose and skip the diaper raffle/ book instead of a card/ wishing well gift, etc... 
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