When I went to plan party to celebrate my second baby, I found myself completely confused by the differences between a baby shower vs baby sprinkle. I did a lot of research and learned quickly that just about everything is different! Luckily you now don’t have to do the research cause I’ve done it all for you!
This post is all about the differences I discovered between a baby shower vs baby sprinkle and how to handle everything from the guest list to the decorations!
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Baby Shower vs. Baby Sprinkle
What is the difference between a baby shower vs. baby sprinkle?
Just like a sprinkle of rain is far less intense than a rain shower, the same applies to baby sprinkles. A baby shower is generally thrown for the first child and involves more people, more food, more gifts, and likely a bigger venue. A baby sprinkle on the other hand is much smaller in all aspects and is generally considered more appropriate for any subsequent children in the family. Let’s talk about what that looks like for each aspect of baby showers vs. baby sprinkle.
The guest List | baby shower vs baby sprinkle
When it comes to any party, the first order of business is to put together the guest list. While the guest list for a baby shower usually is much larger, the guest list for a baby sprinkle is often limited to immediate family and only the closest friends.
While it is much smaller and informal, it can still be fun to send out formal invitations in the mail to all your guests. I personally planned a BabyQ for my second baby and decided to make my own invitations. If you decide on a BabyQ as well, feel free to print off these invitations below to use for your party too!
If you choose to use these invitations, I recommend printing off a small RSVP card that tells people the time, date, and place to RSVP. I also highly recommend using a hole punch to place holes on either side of the jar “opening” and tying a blue or pink ribbon around the top to let people know what gender you will be having. You can also use a red ribbon if you don’t plan on finding out gender.
Registry & Gifts | baby shower vs baby sprinkle
While first time parents usually have a relatively large registry for their baby shower, second time parents often already have most of what they need. That being said, registries for a baby sprinkle are usually extremely small or non-existent. Maybe you want your guests to go in and get you a nice double stroller? One big gift or simple things like diapers, wipes, and baby clothes are typical gifts for a baby sprinkle.
Whatever your expectation, make sure to indicate it on the invitation to make sure that guests aren’t confused when it comes to the gift giving.
Venue & Decorations | baby shower vs baby sprinkle
Baby showers often occur at someone’s home but can also sometimes be held at hotels, country clubs, or restaurants. For a baby sprinkle, a more small and intimate setting like someone’s home is usually best, especially since the guest list is generally smaller.
Just like everything else so far, decorations for a baby sprinkle are often a little more subdued and low key, However, that doesn’t mean you can’t choose an adorable theme for your baby sprinkle still. It’s just that the throwback baby pictures of mom and dad and the insane amount of decorations aren’t usually typical for baby sprinkles.
GAMES | baby shower vs baby sprinkle
Awkward games are a given when it comes to baby showers. But when it comes to baby sprinkles, it’s not uncommon to have no games or only a game or two. A common game for a baby sprinkle is a diaper raffle, where guests get one raffle entry for every pack of diapers that they bring (you can give more raffle entries for larger boxes of diapers too). Near the end of the party, pull raffle tickets to see who the winners will be. Since diapers are the main need for second time parents, a diaper raffle can be a great way to address both the gifts and the games all at once. And your diaper raffle prize can add to your theme and decorations too!
Food | baby shower vs baby sprinkle
While there is often quite a spread of food at baby showers, a baby sprinkle can be whatever you’d like it to be. Some people will choose to only have a few appetizers and refreshments, while others may do a very low key meal. Since we chose to host a BaByQ, we planned hamburgers, hot dogs, mac n’ cheese, lemonade, and yummy homemade desserts for a low key meal with our good friends! How much you do is totally up to you!
Favors | baby shower vs baby sprinkle
With baby sprinkles being a whole lot less formal, favors are generally not necessary at baby sprinkles. You can still choose to do a small favor if you would like to, but most guests will not expect a favor from a baby sprinkle.
Baby Sprinkle Ideas to Get You Started
Host a Baby-Q
As you have probably picked up on throughout this post, I personally love the BaByQ idea! It’s a great way to have a low key baby sprinkle and this theme also makes the men feel more comfortable if you choose to invite couples.
Food Ideas
- Grill cupcakes (see above)
- Hamburgers
- Hotdogs
- Mac n’ cheese
- Chips
- Lemonade
- Sweet tea
- Potato salad
- Fruit salad
- Veggie tray
- Corn on the cob
- Watermelon
Decoration Ideas
- 3 Onesies with letter B-B-Q
- Red buffalo plaid
- Red & white balloons
- Burlap table runners
- Sunflowers
- Hay bails as tables or decor (if you really want to get into the theme)
Embrace the Sprinkle
The most obvious baby sprinkle theme is well…sprinkles. There are all kinds of ways you can decorate adorably with sprinkles!
Food Ideas
- Sprinkled donuts
- Funfetti Cake with sprinkles
- Cookies with sprinkles
- Sprinkled cake pops
- Chocolate pretzels with sprinkles
- White chocolate sprinkled popcorn
- Chocolate dipped Oreos with sprinkles
- Chocolate covered strawberries w/ sprinkles
Decoration Ideas
- Votive candles with sprinkles inside
- Confetti filled balloons
- Larger jars filled with Mike N’ Ikes
- Rainboots with flowers inside
- Flower vases with sprinkles inside
Create an Ice Cream Bar
Going off the sprinkle idea, an ice cream bar (with sprinkles of course) is a super casual way to get everyone together to celebrate the new little one.
Food Ideas
- Ice cream
- Sprinkles
- Fudge sauce
- Chopped Reeses’ cups
- Brownie pieces
- Chopped chocolate chip cookies
- Peanuts
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Pretzels
- Pecans
- M&Ms
- Chopped up Oreos
- Chocolate chips
Decoration Ideas
- Ice cream cone wreath (see above picture for inspiration!)
- Waffle cones filled with Hershey Kisses or other fun colored candy
- Ice cream cone pinata
- Silverware in waffle cones
Beauty & the Baby
This is an absolutely adorable theme for a baby shower or a baby sprinkle and it’s actually incredibly simple. Decorate with blue, yellow, and roses and your guests will easily understand your theme.
Food Ideas
- Rose cupcakes
- Chocolate covered pretzels with white chocolate in yellow, blue, & red
- Mimosas with a raspberry on the rim (looks like a rose)
- Strawberry roses
Decoration Ideas
- Roses (fake or real)
- Be our guest banner
- Red, yellow, and blue balloons
- Candlesticks
- A wine glass turned upside down with a rose underneath and a candle on top (see above, although I’d recommend red roses)
Over the Rainbow
A rainbow baby is a baby that is born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or an infant death in the family. These miracle rainbow babies make a rainbow theme extra special for a mama who has experienced loss in the past.
Food Ideas
- Rainbow fruit kabobs
- Rainbow pancakes or waffles
- Rainbow rice Krispy treats (with fruity pebbles)
- Rainbow popcorn
- Unicorn fruit dip
- Rainbow veggie tray
- Rainbow layered Jello squares
- Cupcakes with a rainbow sour belt as the rainbow
Decoration Ideas
- Balloon arch rainbow
- Confetti balloons
- Use different colored cupcakes to form a rainbow on a table
- Rainbow streamers with white balloons on the end
- Use pool noodles to make a DIY rainbow and hide ends with white balloons
- Skittles in cute jars or containers
This post was all about the major and minor differences between a baby shower vs baby sprinkle, as well as guiding you through choosing the perfect theme for your party! Now it’s time to go sprinkle that new little one with some love before they arrive!
