Make sure you have a successful shower by keeping in mind these helpful ideas.

1. No matter what type of invitation you use, be sure to include pertinent information -- whether it regards a theme, a note of where the mom-to-be has registered, written directions to the shower, if needed, or any special item you want the guests to bring for the mom.

2. A no-surprise baby shower is a safer bet. It gives you a chance to review the guest list with the mother-to-be, and also allows her to register for gifts

3. Make sure the mom-to-be has a comfy chair to sit in, someone to hand her gifts (what pregnant woman wants to be bending down to pick up packages?), her favorite food. Have plenty of help getting the gifts to her car and into her home.

4. By all means have a designated person to take pictures or you could give all the guests disposable cameras and let each take their choice of pictures.

Helpful Shower Ideas

1. A corsage for the mom-to-be made from pacifiers or other small baby items.

2. At the beginning of the shower, start passing around a journal. In it, ask people to write some advice for the new mother. Present this as a gift to her at the end of the shower.

3. While the mom-to-be is opening her gifts, have a designated person write down each gift and who it was from. There are baby books with space for this or just have lined paper handy.

4. A great punch is to put sherbet in punch bowl and let thaw a little. Then add 7-up (or Sprite) a little at a time pouring down the side of the bowl so you don't get too much foam