Planning a baby shower can feel like a full-time job. Time sneaks up quickly, and suddenly you’re juggling invitations, food, decorations, and countless little details. As a Baby Planner, I’ve seen firsthand how much smoother baby showers go when there’s a clear plan in place. Staying organized helps reduce stress and allows everyone to enjoy the celebration more.

Whether you’re planning a baby shower for yourself, a friend, or a family member, having a clear baby shower checklist helps everything run smoothly. This week-by-week guide covers invitations, food, games, decor, and setup so you can stay on track and host a memorable event without last-minute stress.

From choosing a date and creating a guest list to setting up on the big day, here’s everything you need to plan a successful baby shower from start to finish.

How Far in Advance Should You Start Planning a Baby Shower?

Most baby showers are planned six to eight weeks before the event, which provides enough time to choose a date, send invitations, coordinate food, and gather decorations. Starting early also gives guests plenty of notice and helps avoid last-minute stress.

If you’re planning a larger shower or booking a popular venue, consider beginning even earlier to secure your preferred date and vendors.

The Ultimate Week-by-Week Baby Shower Checklist

This baby shower planning checklist breaks the process into manageable steps, helping you stay organized from the first invitation to the final cleanup. Use this timeline as a guide to stay organized and keep important details from slipping through the cracks.

7 Weeks Before the Baby Shower

This is when the foundation of your baby shower planning begins, including setting the date, budget, and guest list.

• Determine who the host(s) will be.
• Set a date and time.
• Set a budget.
• Choose a location for the shower.
  • Decide whose home the party will be held in, or reserve a restaurant or party room.
• Prepare a guest list (with the mother-to-be) that includes full names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers (if available).
  • Determine how many people can fit in the room or home.
• Decide whether the event will be catered (and, if so, which company/restaurant) or whether you or someone else will help prepare the food for the baby shower, and determine who will be responsible for what.
• Ask the mother-to-be if she has a particular baby shower theme or color scheme in mind for the event.

Related: Popular Baby Shower Themes for Every Style

6 Weeks Before the Baby Shower: Send Invitations

With all of the big details in place, it’s time to focus on invitations and baby registry info.

• Order baby shower invitations and prepare invitations for mailing.
• If the expecting mama has registered somewhere for her baby registry items, ensure her registry information is included in the invitation.

Related: The Cutest Baby Shower Invitations

5–4 Weeks Before the Baby Shower: Plan Food, Games, and Decorations

Now’s the moment to dive into the fun stuff: food, favors, decorations, and games.

• Mail the invitations.
• Plan the menu.
  • If catering, keep the budget in mind.
  • If cooking, assign who will be making what.
  • Check if any guests have food allergies—make sure there are options available for them.
  • Order the baby shower cake.
• Check tables, tableware, and chairs to ensure you have enough of each. If there isn’t enough, look up your local rental options.
• Decide what kind of decorations and/or flowers you’ll have.
• Make a list of any props or baby shower party favors you may need.
• Think about the baby shower games you’d like to play and the prizes for the winners.
• Assign a photographer or hire a professional photographer.
• Order any entertainment (such as a band) or additional surprises.

Related: Baby Shower Food Ideas Guests Will Love

3 Weeks Before the Baby Shower: Order Flowers, Decor, and Favors

With the big decisions already made, this is a great time to handle smaller details and prepare for the final weeks before the shower.

• Write out place cards, if desired.
• Order balloons and flowers if they are planned decorations.
  • Will you have a flower crown, corsage, or something special for the mother-to-be to wear for the shower?
  • Order table centerpieces.
• Order the props, prizes, or party favors that you’ll need.
• Wrap all favors and gifts.
• Have a plan in place for how the mother-to-be will get to the shower. Is someone picking her up? Is she driving herself?

Related: 50 Baby Shower Favor Ideas

2 Weeks Before the Baby Shower: Prep Food, Supplies, and Confirm the Venue

This is the week to confirm reservations, review supplies, and make sure every detail is coming together as planned.

• Reconfirm your reservation if you are hosting the shower at a restaurant or party space.
• If the party is at your home, decide which serving dishes, utensils, table linens, and napkins you’ll use.
  • Clean or iron table linens if necessary.
  • Reconfirm rental supplies (if needed).
• If catering: Reconfirm your order with the caterer.
• If cooking food, prepare a shopping list for the food and beverages you need.
• Reconfirm the entertainment, or create a baby shower playlist to create a fun and inviting atmosphere.

Related: 25 Best Baby Shower Songs for the Perfect Playlist

1 Week Before the Baby Shower: Final Headcount and Prep Favors

This week is for tying up loose ends and making sure everything is ready to go.

• Phone anyone who hasn’t called to RSVP and get a final headcount.
• Prepare dishes that can be frozen in advance for the event.
• Reconfirm with guests who’ve been asked to bring food or special items.
• Put together or reconfirm party favors.

2 Days Before the Baby Shower: Shop, Prep Food, and Decorate

Most of the planning is behind you. Focus on preparing food, gathering supplies, and setting up decorations so everything is ready for the celebration.

• Shop for perishables, ice, and other remaining supplies.
• Prepare food that can be made in advance.
• If the event is at your home:
  • Put decorations in place
  • Set the table(s) and arrange seating
• Have a comfortable chair, complete with a pillow or seat cushion, selected for the mom-to-be to use during the shower.

1 Day Before the Baby Shower: Finish Cooking, Clean Up, and Set the Stage

With the shower almost here, focus on final preparations so everything is ready when guests arrive.

• Finish preparing food.
• If you’re not cooking, pick up the cake and prepared food, or check in with the caterer.
• Pick up flowers or make sure they are delivered.
• If hosting in your home, vacuum and clean the guest bathroom.
• Set up extra chairs for guests.
• Designate a space for storing baby shower gifts.

Related: 36 Unique Baby Shower Gift Ideas Parents Will Actually Use

The Morning of the Baby Shower: Setup and Last-Minute Details

You’ve made it! Now, do a final run-through so you can enjoy the celebration stress-free.

• If you’re using balloons as decor, pick them up. If you pick them up earlier, they could deflate.
• Have all hosts gather at the party site an hour or two before to help set up.
• Chill some refreshments so they’re ready for the party.
• Set out food, except items that need to stay warm or cold.

During the Baby Shower: Hosting and Enjoying the Celebration

Relax, have fun, and soak it all in. This is what you’ve been planning for.

• Introduce the guests to each other.
• Mingle.
• Eat.
• Take pictures.
• Play baby shower games.
• Open gifts.
  • Designate someone to record who gave which gift.
  • Designate someone to help with giving the gifts to the mother-to-be so she can open them (bending down is now more difficult for her).
  • Designate someone to collect all wrapping paper for trash.
  • Designate someone to repackage all the gifts for the expecting mom to take home.
• Make sure that she is eating, comfortable, and happy.

After the Baby Shower: Cleanup, Thank-Yous, and Favors

Wrap things up, show your appreciation, and help the mom-to-be head home with love and gifts.

• Collect all the gifts and place them in the mother-to-be’s car or ride.
• Give the mother-to-be a flower arrangement to take home, or have the other hosts create additional arrangements.
• Make sure that all guests leave with their party favors and coats.
• Clean up plates and cups after guests finish.
• Gather rented linens, tables, and chairs together if you need to pick them up or drop them off.

Instead of trying to remember every detail on your own, use this baby shower checklist as your planning guide from start to finish. Breaking tasks into smaller steps can make the process feel much more manageable and help you enjoy the celebration along the way.

Whether you’re hosting a baby shower for a close friend, family member, or yourself, thoughtful planning helps create a memorable day for everyone involved. And if you’d like a version you can save or print, be sure to download the checklist below.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a Baby Shower

Printable Baby Shower Checklist

Want a copy for yourself? Download our free printable baby shower checklist below to stay on track and make planning easier from day one!