While the classic baby shower is still the standard, modern celebrations have expanded. The main types of baby showers include the baby sprinkle (for a second child), co-ed or Jack and Jill parties, sip and sees (after birth), diaper parties, and even grandma showers. Here is exactly what each means, when to host them, and whether you need to bring a gift.
Classic Baby Shower
The classic baby shower is the traditional, pre-birth celebration most people picture. It is typically thrown for a family’s first baby and focuses heavily on showering the expectant parents with the gear, clothing, and supplies they need to start their nursery. These events are usually daytime affairs, often held on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, featuring light bites, games, and the traditional opening of gifts.
Timing is a critical factor for the classic shower. Most baby showers are held in the early third trimester, around 28–32 weeks of pregnancy, which is roughly 8–10 weeks before the due date. According to platforms like The Bump, Happiest Baby, and Evite, this window is the sweet spot: the pregnant person has a visible bump, generally still has the energy to socialize, and is at a low risk of going into labor at the party. It also leaves plenty of time to purchase whatever was not bought from the registry.
Etiquette around who hosts the classic shower has evolved. Under modern guidelines from the Emily Post Institute, absolutely anyone close to the parents may host—including immediate family members like a mother, sister, or mother-in-law. This overturns the outdated taboo that family shouldn't host for fear of looking like a "gift-grab." Lizzie Post of the Emily Post Institute confirms that "truly anyone can host," as long as there is a legitimate reason to gather.
If you are planning one, a classic shower typically costs between $150 and $600 in the US, according to data from CostHelper and ParentCalc. This ranges from a small DIY gathering of 10–15 guests at home ($150–$300) to a mid-size event of 15–25 guests with a mix of homemade and catered food ($300–$600). Guests attending a classic shower are absolutely expected to bring a gift, and they usually spend $25–$100 depending on their relationship to the parents, per U.S. News and Pottery Barn Kids.
| Type | When | Bring a gift? |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Before birth (28–32 weeks) | Yes |
| Sprinkle | Before birth (2nd+ baby) | Yes, smaller |
| Co-ed | Before birth | Yes |
| Sip & see | After birth | Optional/small |
| Diaper party | Before birth | Yes, diapers |
| Grandma shower | Around birth | Yes, for grandma |
| Adoption | Around placement | Yes |
| Virtual | Anytime | Yes, ship it |
Baby Sprinkle (2nd+ baby)
A baby sprinkle is exactly what it sounds like: a lighter, scaled-back version of a baby shower. According to The Bump, a sprinkle is specifically designed for a family welcoming their second, third, or subsequent child. Because the parents likely already own the major baby gear—like strollers, cribs, and high chairs—from their first child, they do not need a massive "shower" of expensive items. Instead, they just need a "sprinkle" of the necessities.
The vibe of a sprinkle is generally much more relaxed. The guest list is usually smaller, often limited to close friends and immediate family, and the event itself might just be a casual brunch or an afternoon tea rather than a heavily structured party with elaborate games. The focus is on celebrating the new life and giving the parents a chance to socialize before the newborn arrives.
Gifts for a sprinkle look very different from a classic shower. The registry, if there is one at all, will be short. Guests typically bring consumables—diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and bath supplies. If the new baby is a different sex from the first child, or born in a completely different season, guests might bring a few fresh outfits. Group gifts are also popular here; friends might pool their money for one big registry item the parents actually need to replace, like a double stroller.
Co-ed / Jack and Jill Shower
For decades, baby showers were strictly women-only affairs. Today, the co-ed baby shower—also widely known as a "Jack and Jill" shower, a term noted by Wikipedia for inclusive pre-birth parties—is incredibly common. A co-ed shower invites both parents-to-be to be the guests of honor, and the guest list includes friends and family of all genders.
Because the audience is mixed, the atmosphere of a co-ed shower usually shifts away from traditional bridal-style tea parties. These gatherings often look more like standard weekend parties. Think backyard barbecues, taco bars, or evening cocktail parties. The food tends to be heartier—moving away from finger sandwiches and toward full meals or heavy appetizers—and serving alcohol (like a signature cocktail and a cooler of beer) is much more standard, as most of the guests are not pregnant.
If you are hosting a co-ed shower, you will want to adjust the activities. Traditional shower games (like guessing the girth of the bump) often fall flat with a mixed crowd. Instead, hosts lean toward passive activities like signing a guest book, decorating onesies, or setting up a diaper raffle. When it comes to baby shower etiquette, the gift expectations remain exactly the same as a classic shower: guests should bring a gift from the registry.
Sip and See (After Birth)
A sip and see is a post-birth celebration. Instead of gathering before the baby is born, the parents host a casual open house a few weeks or months after the baby has arrived. The name is literal: guests drop by to "sip" on light refreshments and "see" the new baby.
This format is brilliant for parents who want to introduce their newborn to their extended circle without having to host dozens of individual visitors over a grueling two-month period. It is usually structured as a drop-in event over a three- or four-hour window. Guests come, have a drink, wash their hands, admire the baby, and leave. It is entirely focused on meeting the child rather than showering the parents with gear.
Hosting a celebration after the birth actually aligns perfectly with many baby shower traditions around the world. For example, Ashkenazi Jewish custom features a strong cultural reluctance to celebrate or buy baby items before the birth, rooted in ayin hara (the "evil eye"), according to ReformJudaism.org. Similarly, the Chinese Manyue ("full month") is celebrated roughly a month after birth, and cultures in India, Vietnam, and Bulgaria also emphasize post-birth celebrations or avoid pre-birth gifts entirely.
Diaper Party / Dadchelor Party
While co-ed showers include everyone, the diaper party and the "dadchelor" party are specifically male-focused celebrations geared toward the father-to-be. Though sometimes used interchangeably, they have slightly different vibes.
A diaper party is essentially a casual hangout for the dad-to-be and his friends. According to The Bump, the defining feature of a diaper party is the "entry fee": every guest is expected to bring a box or pack of diapers. This is a highly practical way for the father's friends to contribute to the baby's arrival without having to navigate a traditional baby registry. The event is usually low-key, featuring pizza, sports, and beer, and is often held concurrently with the mother's traditional baby shower.
A "dadchelor" party (a portmanteau of dad and bachelor) leans more toward a "last hurrah" before fatherhood begins. It might involve a weekend trip, a golf outing, or a night out at a favorite bar. While gifts are not strictly required for a dadchelor party, friends will usually cover the cost of the father-to-be's food and drinks for the day.
Grandma (Grandbaby) Shower
One of the newest types of baby showers is the grandma shower, also known as a grandbaby shower. According to AARP, this is a rapidly rising trend that celebrates a woman becoming a grandmother, often hosted by her own circle of friends rather than the expectant parents' friends.
The logic behind a grandma shower is highly practical. Today’s grandparents are often heavily involved in childcare, meaning they need their own set of baby gear at their house. Instead of hauling a car seat, a pack-and-play, and a high chair back and forth, the grandmother's friends throw a shower to help outfit her home.
Gifts at a grandma shower fall into two categories. The first is practical gear for her house: bibs, toys, a travel crib, or safety gates. The second category focuses on the grandmother herself, with pampering items like spa gift cards, a nice robe, or a framed ultrasound photo. It is a sweet, supportive way for a community of older adults to celebrate a major life transition.
Adoption Shower
An adoption shower celebrates a family welcoming a child through the adoption process. While the core purpose—supporting the parents and celebrating the child—is the same as a classic shower, the logistics require careful sensitivity and flexibility.
The timeline of an adoption can be wildly unpredictable. Because of this, adoption showers are often held either very close to the placement date or shortly after the child has officially arrived in the home. Hosting the shower after the child is placed ensures the celebration happens at a secure, joyful time for the family.
When deciding how much to spend on a baby shower gift for an adoption, follow the standard etiquette of $50–$100 for close friends and $20–$50 for coworkers. However, pay close attention to the age of the child. If the family is adopting an older infant or a toddler, newborn gear is useless. Stick strictly to the registry, which the parents will have tailored to the child's specific age, clothing size, and developmental needs.
Virtual Baby Shower
Born out of necessity for long-distance families, the virtual baby shower has become a permanent fixture. Hosted on platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, a virtual shower allows friends and family from all over the world to log on and celebrate the parents-to-be for an hour or two.
Virtual showers require tight hosting to prevent awkward silences. The host usually prepares digital games (like a trivia slideshow or "Price is Right" using baby items) and acts as the emcee. The biggest difference is the gift logistics. Guests must purchase their gifts well in advance and ship them directly to the parents' home. During the call, the parents will open the boxes on camera, holding up the items for the grid of guests to see.
Whether the shower is virtual or in-person, the etiquette for thank-you notes remains strict. The Bump notes that hosts and parents should aim to send thank-you notes within 2–3 weeks of the shower, though up to three months is generally considered acceptable. Do not skip this step just because the event was online.
Gender Reveal vs Baby Shower
Finally, it is important to clarify the difference between a gender reveal and a baby shower, as they are entirely different events. A gender reveal is a party hosted specifically to announce the biological sex of the baby to friends, family, and sometimes even the parents themselves. It is a single-moment event centered around cutting a cake, popping a balloon, or setting off a smoke cannon.
A baby shower, on the other hand, is focused on showering the parents with the supplies and advice they need to raise the child. You do not bring a registry gift to a standalone gender reveal. If the parents decide to combine the two events into one party, then standard baby shower gift etiquette applies.
No matter which format you choose, organizing the guest list, registry, and timeline can get overwhelming. To keep everything on track, use our free Baby Shower Planner to manage the details so you can focus on celebrating the growing family.