Whether you are in your late second trimester, your early to mid-third trimester, or have recently birthed your second child (or third or fourth…), you probably want to have a little party to celebrate your growing family, right? 

We get it, though. This is not your first time, you’re not new parents, and you don’t want to do the whole baby shower thing again. You already have a lot of baby gear, and with an older child (or several) in the house, you don’t have much time to spare to plan a huge party.

If you’re looking for a low-key, minimalist option that still celebrates your new little one and makes you and your family feel special, then it’s time to throw a baby sprinkle! Let’s find out what that means and how you can plan yours today. 

A baby sprinkle is a smaller, less involved baby shower for parents-to-be who are already parents (aka they already have one or more children, and this is not their first rodeo/baby shower). 

Since the expectant parents are not new parents and are (hopefully) already knowledgeable and well-seasoned in the parenting realm, a baby sprinkle is more low-key. 

If you’ve already had a huge baby shower for your firstborn, it is totally valid not to want to have another huge celebration for your second baby (or third, or fourth, or fifth…). A sprinkle shower is a way to still celebrate your upcoming birth, but more casually.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the differences between a baby sprinkle and a baby shower:

A traditional baby shower is a more formal celebration for first-time parents. The celebration usually invites close family and friends as well as more casual friends (a big guest list) and typically lasts three to four hours. You can think of a baby shower as a big party, complete with a theme, decorations, lots of games, food, refreshments, and gift time. 

For gift time, baby shower etiquette usually involves guests bringing presents from a gift registry that the new mom-to-be creates ahead of time. Often, the registry has a lot of gift options because the new parents do not have any baby gear yet. 

In contrast, a baby sprinkle is a casual get-together to celebrate another birth in the family for expecting parents. The celebration is usually smaller, involving only close family and friends, and typically only lasts a couple of hours. 

The focus is more on the mom-to-be as opposed to the new baby, and the gift registry likely only has smaller essential baby gear items, like onesies or diapers, for example. 

Think about your guest list, gift registry, decorations/theme, and itinerary. Let’s jump into each of these considerations below. 

The list is usually smaller, with only close family members and close friends of the parents-to-be in attendance. This means fewer baby sprinkle invitations to send out and a more intimate gathering for a unique bonding experience between the parents-to-be and guests. 

The vibes should be “support,” “informal,” and “casual,” and it is far more common for a baby sprinkle to be co-ed, gender-inclusive, and even to include family members’ or friends’ little ones. 

When it comes to baby sprinkle gifts, the parents-to-be probably already have all the big-ticket items like a baby car seat, stroller, high chair, and other essentials from their firstborn child. 

However, smaller gift essentials, such as baby wipes, diapers, blankets, and onesies, are all wonderful gift ideas to include on the baby registry. Baby clothes are especially practical gifts, especially if the new baby is a different gender than the parents’ first little one. 

Additionally, since a baby sprinkle is more centered around the mama-to-be this time, consider pampering her with some self-care essentials for her postpartum recovery. Hatch’s Nipple Lip + Rescue Balm is a deliciously comforting mix of tropical butters and superfruits that can help calm and soothe chapped, chafed nipps after breastfeeding. This thoughtful gift shows you care about her well-being. 

For a self-care kit that combines several pampering options into one little gift basket, go for the Mama Must-Haves Kit. This kit focuses on hydration, relief, and soothing with three best-selling essential items. 

Since a baby sprinkle is much more low-key than a baby shower, you don’t necessarily have to have a formalized theme. Instead, you can go for a color palette for some light decorations or even a simple theme like “sprinkles,” where you serve cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles and decorate your invitations with sprinkles. 

If you would like to do a theme, a couple of different ones you could go with — tea time, an ice cream sundae party, or brunch. While brunch may be a tad more involved, with the other options, you’ll really only need to serve light refreshments or snacks. 

You might be wondering what to do with your guests once they arrive. The answer is: You don’t really have to do much! This is truly a time for your closest family and friends to gather and share their appreciation and support for you as expecting parents. 

However, sometimes people like to have more on the itinerary to engage well-wishers. You can always include a few games or activities. Try asking guests to write cute notes to hide in diapers for a late-night changing table laugh or hold a competition to see who can change a diaper on a baby doll the fastest.

A baby sprinkle is typically low-key and hopefully totally stress-free! There should be far less planning involved than for a baby shower, and the focus should be on experiencing a wholesome and intimate gathering with your best friends and family members by your side to show their support and encouragement. 

If you need ideas on what to wear, we’ve got you covered with all the factors to consider when picking your sprinkle fit. The perfect dress for you is out there, and so is the perfect baby sprinkle time for you and your guests! Dress up, have a fun time, and build those happy memories that’ll get you through labor, the late-night diaper changes, and everything else that comes with growing your amazing family.

Sources:

The correlation between perceived social support and childbirth experience in pregnant women | ScienceDirect 

Your Baby Shower Etiquette Guide | Parents

11 Awesome Co-Ed Baby Shower Ideas | Parents

42 Fun Baby Shower Games That Everyone Will Love | Today