Moms are divided over a new party trend called ‘grandma showers’
Baby showers are a tradition that most moms-to-be look forward to (because who doesn’t want to celebrate their baby and have other people buy them the gear they need?), but there’s a new party trend that not all moms are into: Grandma showers.
The term is exactly what it sounds like, a party that celebrates the grandma-to-be. The set up is the same as a baby shower, with food, drinks, games, and gifts; however, the mom-to-be doesn’t even have to be present.
What To Expect asked its community to share their experiences, and one mom recalled her mother-in-law throwing a grandma shower before her second baby was born. “I didn’t even live in the same state as her at the time,” she wrote. “They FaceTimed me for maybe 30 minutes out of the whole shower, and she did mail the gifts to me, but I’m pretty sure it was just an excuse to celebrate with her friends.”
The new type of party gained popularity during the pandemic, when it was difficult to attend baby showers in person, and have remained popular in the years since. They can be a fun way for the grandma-to-be to celebrate with her friends, who may not be invited to a traditional baby shower if they’re not close to the mom.
“Throwing a grandma shower might be a good idea to take the pressure away from the daughter-in-law, who will still be celebrated, and doesn’t even need to be there,” Manor of Manners founder Maryanne Parker told What To Expect. “This is an additional opportunity for grandma and her friends to get together and have a beautiful party, share good memories and make future plans.”
There’s another added bonus, too: gifts that can be kept at your mom or mother-in-law’s house and used when they watch the baby. You can also incorporate your own registry and have gifts mailed to you!
Not everyone thinks grandma showers are a good idea. When What To Expect shared a post about the concept on Instagram the comments were very divided.
“I feel like the type of person that would ask for a grandmother shower is trying to make herself the center of attention in this moment and seems so toxic,” one user commented. “I realize every situation is different so may be different for someone else but this is just my immediate reaction.”
Another pointed out that it depends on if the grandma’s friends are throwing it or if she’s asking for one: “If grandma’s friends want to shower her at a cute get together between friends, it’s such a nice gesture. If a grandma is asking for or planning her own shower, eeeeeek!”
Just like any pre-baby celebration, the most important thing to gauge before throwing a grandma shower is making sure the mom-to-be feels comfortable and supported. That should always be top priority.
