Fathers should be included in baby showers, too. After all, having a baby and parenting are two-person jobs. The mother shouldn’t be expected to do it all on her own, yet the mother-centric culture of parenting often alienates fathers. Perhaps these reasons are behind the rise in co-ed baby showers and diaper parties. According to a piece in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, diaper parties are great opportunities for fathers-to-be to get ready for parenthood.

In concept, a diaper party and baby shower are essentially the same type of event. At both, a group of family members and friends join a parent-to-be for a few hours and bring gifts; the group spends the afternoon playing some games and eating. A diaper party differs in that, aside from all guests being men, diapers are the only gifts given and traditional baby shower games are eschewed in favor of more grown-up activities, such as poker or a barbecue.

Parents will spend $70 a month for diapers, on average, and a diaper party is great for amassing a starting supply. Nevertheless, the event signifies to the father-to-be that he’s being included as a parent, and prepares him for fatherhood.

Diaper parties haven’t been around long enough for a strict code of etiquette to develop. Because these events are so casual, a guest can show up with a basic pack of diapers. If you want to dress up your gift and still be practical, however, consider a diaper cake. High-quality diaper cakes have 80 to 150 diapers and are designed with baby products on the outside. Although attractive in appearance, a diaper cake is practical for new parents, providing them with a large starting supply of diapers (these will be added to the rest of all of the guests) and a few necessary baby products.

Are you planning a baby shower for a friend? And, are you struggling to come up with a unique concept for the party? A few articles regarding baby showers were published over the past week. One focuses on diaper cakes, a practical centerpiece for showers, and another presents a nearly-unheard-of concept: a gift-less baby shower.

The former, published in Parent Dish, presents diaper cakes as a practical and colorful gift. The article gives some tips on choosing diaper cakes, including considering the mother’s tastes, such as her favorite colors and sports team. On the practical side, the cakes also give new parents a starting supply of diapers, and, in this case, a larger cake starts new parents off with a bigger supply.

Nevertheless, the current economic climate shows that, perhaps, traditional baby showers simply aren’t feasible. An article in the Green Bay Press Gazette presents another idea for such events: gift-less baby showers. In these instances, parents aren’t obligated to bring baby gifts, but, ultimately, the decision should be up to the mother.

The article discusses the concerns of a mother having her second child. She would like a shower for the gathering atmosphere but, rather, doesn’t want the presents because she has several baby products already. Instead, the author presents a few ideas. A luncheon is one, but more specifically geared toward a new baby is an “advice” party about parenting, a book shower, hand-me-down parties, and a literal “birth day” party after the baby is born. In many of these instances, gifts are optional.

Nevertheless, this article brings up a common issue concerning baby showers: will the parents already have enough or will they have this specific item? Although parents expecting their first child will need more, ask the expecting parents what they already have and, in general, stick with smaller and necessary items.