Baby Sprinkle: What It Is And How To Throw One
You’ve heard of a baby shower before, but lately, you’ve been hearing a new term you’re not quite sure about: baby sprinkles.
To better understand this new celebration, picture this:
You’re expecting a new little bundle of joy. Congratulations! Maybe this is your second, third, or fourth child. You’ve had a baby shower for your firstborn, but you’re not quite sure what the formalities are for your second born and beyond.
A baby sprinkle is your answer! Mustela’s baby experts are here to guide you in explaining what a baby sprinkle is and how to throw one.
What Is A Baby Sprinkle?
A baby sprinkle is basically a low-key baby shower. With your firstborn, you had a baby shower with all the bells and whistles. A baby sprinkle, on the other hand, isn’t as involved and doesn’t have all the little extras you would find at a baby shower. It’s simply a time to celebrate the new life you’re about to bring into the world.
Considering the fact that this is a relatively new concept, there are no “official” rules. So, if you’re still unclear about what makes this celebration different from a shower, here’s a closer look.
Differences Between Baby Showers And Baby Sprinkles
Baby Shower
- Usually for first-time parents
- Tends to be formal
- Lots of fun games for attendees and mom-to-be to participate in
- Often elaborate decorations
- Usually has a big guest list
- Often includes a full baby registry to help the first-time mom get all the baby gear she needs for this new chapter
Baby Sprinkle
- For parents who already have a child (or more)
- Tends to be more casual
- More focus on bringing the parents warmth and love than gifts
- Registry often includes smaller items such as onesies, wipes, diapers, etc.
FAQs About Baby Sprinkles
With a baby sprinkle being a little different than a baby shower, there are some specific etiquette rules to follow. General etiquette calls for only the firstborn to be “showered,” but of course you want to celebrate each new bundle of joy! This is where a baby sprinkle comes into the picture.
When Should I Have A Baby Sprinkle?
A baby sprinkle is generally given around the same time as a baby shower. This timeframe is usually 28 to 32 weeks gestation (or 8 to 10 weeks before your due date).
Is This Something I Should Expect?
While many people are starting to embrace the idea of baby sprinkles, this is still a fairly new trend. That means you shouldn’t automatically assume that your best friend or sister will start planning one once you announce your pregnancy.
If you’re hoping to have a sprinkle, there’s nothing wrong with sharing your thoughts with your partner or close friend. And if you find out that nothing has been planned, don’t hesitate to initiate the conversation.
Who Should I Invite?
For a baby sprinkle, you invite only your closest family and friends. Your baby shower probably included neighbors, co-workers, a childhood friend, and distant relatives. But for a baby sprinkle, you will want to narrow the list. This is not a time for “catching up” or reconnecting with old friends.
Since a baby sprinkle is more casual and low-key, you can make it a co-ed and child-friendly gathering. Send an invitation to the older sibling(s) as a way to make them feel included and special.
How Long Does A Baby Sprinkle Last?
The typical time period for a baby sprinkle to last is around two hours. There won’t be all the specific details like there would be at a baby shower. For example, you won’t have as many guests, resulting in a more relaxed atmosphere with only light finger foods.
Maybe you prefer a drop-in style gathering since it’s more casual. Just be sure to let your host know what you prefer.
Who Hosts A Baby Sprinkle?
Generally, a close friend will host a baby sprinkle. A few close friends could also co-host a baby sprinkle together.
Should I Create A Registry For A Baby Sprinkle?
A registry is always helpful for your guests when choosing a gift. Whether this is your second, third, or fourth pregnancy (or beyond), a registry is especially important because it will help your guests know what you already have and what you still need.
Gift Ideas For A Baby Sprinkle
Clothes
Maybe you’ve sifted through all your baby clothes — if there are even any clean onesies left from all the spit up from Baby No. 1, or 2, or 3 — and there’s not that much of a selection in the clothes department. If this is the case, you’ll want to add clothes to your registry.
Diapers
Guests can never go wrong with diapers. This time around, maybe you want to consider trying cloth diapers. You’ll need to specifically add cloth diapers to the registry if that is your preference for your little one.
Baby Products
You’re probably running low in the baby-product department. You need lotion, baby shampoo, baby oil, and wipes...all the things you quickly run out of.
Mustela is here with you along this journey to provide you with the best natural products when you’re expecting. The following are great additions to your little one’s nursery when creating your registry:
- Newborn Arrival Gift Set contains five essential, natural skin care products designed for a newborn’s delicate skin.
- Bathtime Essentials Set includes four plant-based products to help keep baby clean
- Belly And Bust: Pregnancy Skincare Set — natural skin care for the changing skin of new and expecting moms.
- Mustela Diaper Wipes are soft and durable.
- Certified Organic Bath and Body Gift Set includes our Certified Organic Cleansing Gel and Certified Organic Hydrating Cream for the best of both worlds — soft, clean skin — in one environmentally friendly package.
Gender-Specific Gifts
Maybe this pregnancy you’re expecting a different gender than your first- or second-born. All the baby items you’ve accumulated are not gender-friendly this time around for your new bundle of joy.
A baby sprinkle is an opportune time to register for items that you would like to be gender-specific.
Is A Baby Sprinkle Tacky?
Absolutely not. With the rules of etiquette constantly changing, you may encounter some who will question your baby sprinkle. To clear the air, explain what a baby sprinkle is on the invitation, or simply explain by word-of-mouth.
Put simply, a baby sprinkle is an occasion to gather with your closest family and friends to celebrate the addition of a new member to your family. Who will want to pass up that opportunity?
Can I Have More Than One Baby Sprinkle?
If you’ve had a baby sprinkle recently and are expecting again, you might wonder whether having another one is proper “etiquette.” So how many baby sprinkles can you actually have?
In order to answer this question, it’s first essential that we highlight the main idea of having a baby sprinkle — it’s to celebrate the life that’s growing inside you. Whether that’s your second, third, fourth, or more, every child’s birth needs to be celebrated.
So that answer to this question is YES, of course, you can!
If you recently had a sprinkle and still have some baby products that your newborn can use, you can simply modify your registry to include essential items (i.e., wipes, diapers, etc.).
How To Throw A Baby Sprinkle
Decide On A Date
As mentioned above, baby sprinkles and showers usually take place at around the same time (about 8 to 10 weeks before the expected big day). This is ideal because it leaves enough time for you to create a registry while also not being too close to your due date.
It’s important to mention that this is just a guideline. You can have your baby sprinkle as early or as late as you prefer.
When you’ve set a date, it’s time to create those invitations and send them out. It’s essential to send them out early (around four weeks in advance) so that your guests can have enough time to plan for the day.
Create The Guest List
Since baby sprinkles are a lot more casual, the guest list tends to be smaller and more intimate. Typical guests would include very close family and friends. Of course, if this is your sprinkle, you can invite whoever you want to be there.
However, the main idea here is to give the expecting mom comfort and company for the day, so keep this in mind when creating a guest list.
While traditional baby showers are for the mom-to-be and her female family and friends, baby sprinkles are a lot more lenient. So, if you’re keen on having a co-ed setting, there is no problem with that.
Send Out Invitations
Even though a baby sprinkle is a more modest gathering than a baby shower, you can still do invitations (or an online invite if you prefer). It’s a good idea to specify somewhere on the invitations that it is a baby sprinkle and not a shower.
By adding the specifics, you clarify for those who are hesitant or unfamiliar with a baby sprinkle. Don’t make it stressful, but still have fun with it! Create a theme for the sprinkle, and create the invitations based upon your theme.
Choose The Decorations
Who doesn’t love cute decorations? Maybe the decorations won’t be as extravagant and detailed as those at a baby shower, but this is still a special time in your life as a mommy-to-be. Make it fun and cute!
Because the idea of baby sprinkles centers around being informal or casual, it can be challenging to find the right theme for the big day. While you don't need to go all-out, this is still a celebration, and creating a fun theme can help add to the day's joy.
The decorations can be as simple as you want. As an idea, it's a baby sprinkle, so you can't go wrong with a sprinkle theme!
If this theme excites you, there are many ways to add sprinkle elements to your decor. You can:
- Have a cupcake or sundae bar with lots of different sprinkles
- Have sprinkles on the rims of your glasses or mason jars
- Dip your lollipops, marshmallows, or any other candy in sprinkles
- Add sprinkles in clear balloons
- Have a cake topped with lots of sprinkles
As you can see from the examples above, the sprinkles theme can be fun and colorful and help you get excited for the big day.
Plan The Food
Deciding what type of food to serve can be stressful with any gathering. But with a baby sprinkle, keep it sweet and simple. That should be the main theme for any baby sprinkle: sweet and simple.
It doesn’t need to be a full meal. Just have some finger foods, mini cakes or cupcakes, chips and dip, baby carrots — something along the lines of a light snack.
Don’t Forget About Older Siblings
The arrival of a new baby is an exciting time. However, this can also be anxiety-provoking for older siblings.
Will they still get attention from mommy and daddy? Will their new sibling like them? How much crying and diaper changing will there actually be?
These are just some questions older kids may ask themselves. To help ease some of their tension, you can involve them in the sprinkle by giving them a small but important role.
For example, they can help with the decorations, the invites, or even participate in some of the games.
Games
One of the main highlights of a baby shower is the games. But this time around, you can cut out guessing which type of chocolate is in the diaper and which baby food you’re tasting while blindfolded...unless you don’t want to. Honestly, it’s totally up to you!
If you’re interested in adding some fun to the day with lots of games, here is a fun baby sprinkle game that everyone can enjoy:
Baby Relay Competition
If you’re interested in a game that helps you move around, then baby relay might be it. This is a fun way to get everyone involved, and a little competition helps to increase the stakes!
To start, you (or the game’s master) will need to split the guests into teams of four, and there are four unique stages in the relay. The rules are very simple: Each team member completes their portion of the relay once the previous member is done.
The first leg of the race is called Make it to the bathroom! Guests will need to blow up and tie a balloon, place it under their shirts, and then position a clementine (or any other available fruit) between their legs.
The goal is to walk with the fruit between your legs and place it into a basket. If you drop the fruit, you will return to the start position and give it another try.
This is to mimic a pregnant woman running to the bathroom, and the sight of the movements often results in lots of much-needed laughter.
The second leg of the race is called Prepare baby for bedtime. The task here is to change a baby doll and swaddle them as quickly as you can. Once this player is done, they can then tag the third teammate for the next leg.
The third leg is called Bottle chug. Just as the name suggests, the players here will need to chug a baby bottle filled with water.
Lastly, you have Diaper toss. For this portion of the relay, a member will need to toss rolled-up diapers into a laundry basket that’s positioned some distance away. You can decide how many they need to land. And for added fun, the basket can be placed behind them!
The first team to successfully complete all legs of the competition are the winners!
Create A Book
Perhaps instead of games, have a sentimental activity. Guests can create a book full of encouragement or words of wisdom. Sharing a funny mom story would be a great addition to the book.
When you read the book later, it would be a stress reliever for you, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
Activities For Children
If you’re going to have little ones at your shower, it’s a good idea to set up a table with activities for them. Designate a section at the party just for them so they feel included. One example of an activity they can do is decorate onesies with fabric paint and a stamp pad.
Send Thank You Notes
Baby showers and sprinkles are a fantastic time to see how much love, care, and support you have around you. Everyone made time out of their busy schedules to be there for you and your unborn baby.
Once the day has passed, it’s always a great idea to show your gratitude by sending thank you cards.
Here are thank you note etiquette tips to keep in mind:
- Send your thank you notes two to three weeks after the sprinkle. This gives you enough time to plan and send them out before your little one arrives.
- If your baby makes an early arrival, there’s no need to stress. Your guests will be more than happy to wait for a thank you card. This can allow you to include your cute little one’s photo as well!
- Personalize the note. Your guests will feel appreciated when they realize that the card is written from the heart. A simple way to personalize the card is by mentioning the gift they gave.
Make It A Mom Celebration
Maybe you don’t need any essentials for your new little one. In that case, the baby sprinkle can be a celebration just for you! Your guests can pamper you during the party with a day out, a pedicure, or time to yourself. Just make sure your host specifies this type of celebration on the invitations.
Pregnancy can be stressful, especially if this isn’t your first rodeo and you have a little one — or little ones — already running around at home.
A baby sprinkle is just the solution for you, the mom-to-be. It’s a chance to unwind, socialize, and enjoy yourself and your time with family and friends. With this low-key, more casual gathering, you can kick your feet up and relax while you wait for your new baby to arrive.
