The traditional baby shower is usually a sit-down brunch, lunch or dinner. The invitations are often written and sent out approximately six weeks before the event, and the party is held in someone's home or at a restaurant. In this case, the mom-to-be may be presented with gifts to open at the dinner table.

See also our Baby Shower Q & A - The Tradition of the Baby Shower

The buffet is one of the easier showers to throw and merely involves setting up a long table that serves as a food station for the guests. Guests are free to serve themselves and nibble throughout the games, gossip and celebrations.

The potluck is one of the most inexpensive ways to throw a baby shower, although it does involve a bit of communication and coordination to prevent two guests from bringing the same dish.

Traditionally each guest is assigned a dish to bring to the party which is then laid out on a buffet so guests can serve themselves. Alternatively, you may assign a category of food rather than a specific item. A potluck dinner can also be served the same way as any formal dinner.

In this instance, the mom-to-be has no idea that she is about to be treated by her friends and family, and all of the planning is done in utmost secrecy. Usually this involves questioning close friends and relatives to see what themes the mom-to-be would find attractive as well as her gift needs.

It is advisable to choose a day that suits the mom-to-be's schedule - when she is unlikely to be busy or tired, and also a day when she is likely to be well-dressed. Also consider the time of day the best suits her. If she is not a morning person, by all means, please only consider an afternoon shower or later.

Usually one person is designated to "trick" the mother into thinking she is attending a completely different type of social function. You might consider staging it to be something where she gets dressed at least to the level where she would if she knew about the party. Sometimes the husband is the best partner-in-crime and can provide distractions for the mother while her friends stage the baby shower.

This kind of event is usually held in someone's home or a bar and requires that the guests dress quite stylishly. This usually takes place in early evening.

It is the kind of shower that is often suitable for career-oriented mothers who consider their many business associates and contacts to be close friends. Men also feel comfortable being invited to this type of shower because it is not as intimate as other party formats.

The best kind of office shower is also a surprise shower. Planning this is as easy as sending out an office memo or email that invites colleagues to celebrate a co-worker's pregnancy leave.

These kinds of events are often quite casual and celebrated in a common area like a staff room or lunch area. This kind of shower can be catered either by the company or by a group of individuals who pool money into a pizza or sushi fund.

The Jack and Jill Shower simply means that members of both sexes are invited to celebrate the birth of the baby. In this case, the hostess consults with the partner of the mom-to-be to make sure their mutual male friends are on the guest list.

This kind of shower is well suited to mothers who have a lot of married friends or gay friends. As men do not often know what to buy an expectant mom, it is helpful in this case to direct them to a gift registry. This is also a great shower to have if it is a close-knit family where the male members wish to be involved in this special celebration.

In this case, the shower also serves as an introduction to a new member of the family. Invitations are often sent out along with a photo of the child. Find out what kinds of items the new parents need since the child may or may not be an infant.

See Also our Baby Shower Q & A page

Sometimes the mom-to-be suffers from a condition that lands her in the hospital or has her off her feet for a while at home. In this kind of situation, one may still wish to throw her a mini-shower or a "sprinkle", where guests arrive over the course of two hours, bearing gifts and best wishes.

In this case it is understood there is no food or only simple snack food and that the purpose of the shower is to lift the mom's spirits with a series of short visits from good friends over the course of an afternoon.