1) If you will be planning the shower, be sure to get some information from the parents to be. For instance, you may want to know if they're expecting a boy or girl, where they've registered, and whether you want to coordinate the theme of the party with the theme of their nursery.

2) Planning the party should begin about 6 weeks before the due date of the mother. If the parents want a baby party after the birth, having the shower around 6 weeks is ideal. (By this time, the mom to be will be finished recovering from the delivery of the baby).
In the event of having a surprise party, you can enlist the help from the dad to be, or other family members close to the mom.

3) Create a budget. Make a guest list, food list, cost of location, party favors, and game prizes. Have a dollar amount that you will not want to go over.

4) Guest List. Is this all women, or couples? Knowing the answer to this question will enable you to be able to get a clear idea of who the guests should be and how to address the invitations. Be sure to get the names, address, phone number and email addresses for each invitee.

5) Invitations. There are a wide range of ways to invite your guests. You can call by phone, email, or send out a traditional printed invitation. A great online site for email invitations can be found at Evite. Simply browse their designs and click on Baby Showers. This site also has a budget estimator, to give you a rough estimate on the cost of the party.

6) Type of shower, and theme of the party is probably the best part of planning the party. This is where you can be really creative! Will your party be a cookout, buffet, or finger foods? Will the theme of the shower mimic the theme of the nursery? This is also the part of the planning that can blow your budget out of the water, if you're not careful. There are several ways to keep the costs down, by planning accordingly.

7) FOOD! It's probably one of the most important aspects of the party! This is also part of the shower that can get out of hand! If money is tight, there are options, like finger foods or a BBQ to keep costs down. You can also make your own cake! The Party Works has several cake pans and ideas for the perfect baby shower cake! You can also try Recipes.com for great food ideas! If cooking isn't your style, check out local catering services to create the perfect menu for your baby shower!

8) The location is important and can also break your budget. If money is an issue, you can host the party in your home or the mom-to-be's home. Other places you can host a shower- restaurants, parks, recreational centers, hotel meeting rooms, or even a church. Be sure that the location you choose can accommodate the party. Be sure to have a final head count before finalizing the location.

9) Date! Usually the baby shower is held 4-6 weeks before the baby, sometimes even after the baby is born. Figuring out which kind you want to have will enable you to narrow down a date that will benefit the guest of honor. Most showers are held on the weekend, but some are held during the week. Make sure the time and date can accommodate the guests as well.

10) Baby Shower Games are a great way to break the ice and get things started. Be sure to have some prizes on hand for the winners. Some prizes can include candles, lotions, soaps, or tea tins.