When to have a baby shower

The traditional sweet spot for a baby shower is between weeks 28 and 34 of pregnancy. This timing is late enough that the pregnancy feels well-established and you've had your anatomy scan, but early enough that you have time to receive, exchange, and organize gifts before the baby arrives — and before travel or sitting for extended periods becomes too uncomfortable. Weekends work well to maximize guest attendance.

If you're having the baby shower thrown by someone else, share your registry link and preferences early to give the host time to plan. Second-baby showers (sometimes called 'sprinkles') tend to be smaller and more focused on what you actually need rather than the basics you already own.