You know what a baby shower is, but, have you heard of a baby sprinkle? If someone is having a second or third child, a baby sprinkle may be the ideal way to celebrate and be “sprinkled” with love and gifts from family and friends. Find out what a baby sprinkle is and how to plan one.

If you’ve never heard of the term, you may be wondering what exactly a baby sprinkle is and how it differs from a baby shower. A baby sprinkle is a party for parents who are expecting their second or third child and so might already have most of the bigger baby gear items. Therefore, instead of being showered with a wide range of gifts, they may receive smaller essentials and necessities, like diapers, instead.

A baby sprinkle is a lovely way to celebrate a parent who’s having another baby, and to provide her with some extra items that she’ll need beyond what she already has at home.

A baby sprinkle is often a more casual event than a full-blown baby shower. Most often baby sprinkles are smaller gatherings of tight-knit friends and family rather than the larger groups found at a typical baby shower.

Besides a baby sprinkle, other options for celebrating and welcoming a new baby are a diaper party and a dadchelor party, both of which are events for the dad-to-be and his buddies. Instead of a variety of baby shower presents, the guests normally bring diapers as gifts.

Throwing a baby sprinkle or diaper party will take some planning, but on a smaller scale than if you were hosting a traditional baby shower. You'll be consulting the parents to figure out who to invite and to find out if there will be any type of gift registry. Other tasks include sending out invitations, planning decorations, deciding on food and drinks, and possibly coming up with some game ideas.
You may even decide that the simplest solution for the event would be to have a virtual baby sprinkle, especially if guests aren’t able to attend in person. Virtual baby showers have been happening for years, so why not try a virtual baby sprinkle?

Anyone can organize and host a baby sprinkle. Oftentimes a family member or close friend will offer to host this event, or would be happy to say yes if asked to do this.

Since a baby sprinkle is a casual affair, you don’t have to go over the top unless you want to. Decorations can be homemade, for example. Food doesn’t have to be elaborate or catered. You could have a brunch or a backyard barbecue, or you could even order pizzas. Keep the focus on friends and family gathering to celebrate the parents and the new arrival.

Although a traditional baby shower may have 20 or more guests and include a wider circle of family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, a baby sprinkle might have just 10 guests. As a parent, when you’re working with your host to decide who to invite to your baby sprinkle or diaper party, focus on your closest friends and family

Since the baby sprinkle is all about the coming of a second or third child, it’s a sweet idea to involve the older children, too, as long as the parents agree that this would be appropriate.

Invitations could include the children's names alongside the names of the parents-to-be. An older sibling could attend wearing a T-shirt that reads “New Big Sis” or “New Big Bro.” It’s also thoughtful to include a gift for the older child.

Of course, it’s also totally OK to make the sprinkle an adults-only affair, letting the parents have some special time with friends and family before the new baby arrives.

As the parent, feel free to set up a registry for your baby at a physical store or an online retailer for your baby sprinkle. Even though you may not need a mountain of baby gear, you could register for practical extras to supplement what you already have.
As the host of the event, you typically wouldn't include the registry information in the invitations, as this is not customary for baby sprinkles. Invitees may ask you or the parents if there's a registry and then you can provide them with the information.

Whether you’re the parent-to-be registering for specific gifts for your baby sprinkle, or an invitee who needs some ideas for what to give, think of these items:

• Baby clothes, especially if the new child is a different gender from the last
• A pampering session for the parent-to-be at a salon or spa
• A gift certificate to a meal delivery service for the parents
• Small baby items like bibs, pacifiers, teethers, and other necessities for a newborn
• Supplies like baby wash, baby lotion, and diaper rash cream
• Diapers and wipes—read on for a great way of making sure these are covered!

One thing is for sure: New babies will need lots of diapers. What’s more, friends and family who want to show support often have a specific amount in mind that they’d like to contribute, but they may be reluctant to give cash or can’t find a gift in the registry that suits their budget.

That’s why registering for diapers by setting up a Pampers Diaper Stash is such a good idea for both baby sprinkles and diaper parties.

The perfect way for loved ones to say, “We’ve got you,” Diaper Stash is the online diaper-gifting platform that encourages family and friends to contribute to a diaper fund, even after the baby is born.

Here’s how Pampers Diaper Stash works:

Since the baby sprinkle won’t be a full-blown baby shower, keep the invitation wording simple and straightforward

Just include things like the date, time, and place. It’s also a great idea to add a link to your Diaper Stash page and online registry if you have one.

Don’t forget to ask whether any guests have food allergies or intolerances so you can take that into account when planning the menu.

Here are some ideas for sending out baby sprinkle invitations:

• Create a Facebook event invite (make sure to set it to private)
• Send invites using an online invitation site.
• Send out a group email or chat message.
• Include a link to your Diaper Stash page.

You can still have a theme and some basic decorations for a baby sprinkle, even though it is typically a small and simple gathering. Feel free to choose a theme as you would for a baby shower, like jungle animals, woodlands, superheroes, elephant, etc.

One popular theme for baby sprinkles is a rain motif with clouds and water droplets to emphasize the “sprinkle” element.
Here are some decoration ideas you could use if you go with a rain theme for your baby sprinkle:

• If you’re having the party outside in warm weather, you can set up some sprinklers, which not only fits into the theme, but will also encourage guests to cool off
• Dust cupcakes, cookies, donuts, or the feature cake with sprinkles
• Add an umbrella-shaped cut-out or a cocktail umbrella as a topper for cupcakes
• Fill clear balloons with confetti before blowing them up to make them look like “sprinkle” balloons
• Create a backdrop behind the food table with cut-outs of clouds and raindrops
• If the party is indoors, hang lightweight paper parasols from the ceiling or hang streamers decorated with raindrop paper cut-outs.

The food offerings at a baby sprinkle or diaper party are typically quick-and-easy items, like snacks, appetizers, and finger foods, especially if it’s just a small gathering for brunch or afternoon tea. Or, you could host a backyard barbecue and grill burgers. Don’t forget beer for the dadchelor party!

Desserts can be homemade cookies or cupcakes, or a homemade cake. You could also order the food or pick up some cupcakes from a bakery.

Another option is to hold a baby sprinkle potluck, and ask guests to bring a favorite dish. Just make sure to check in with everyone to find out who’s bringing what, so you don’t end up with five of the same dish.

Here are some simple food and drink ideas for a baby sprinkle:

• Cheese and crackers
• Raw veggies and spreads
• Cold cuts
• Baked dips, like a spinach or onion dip served with sliced and toasted bread
• Snacks like pretzels and chips
• Bowls of nuts, olives, or trail mix
• Cupcakes
• Donuts
• Brownies
• Mocktails and/or cocktails
• Punch, lemonade, or sangria.

Don’t forget to ask guests in advance if anyone has a specific food allergy or intolerance, so you can include their needs as you plan the menu.

Baby sprinkles and diaper parties typically don’t last as long as traditional baby showers. At the most you may spend a couple of hours with friends and family eating and catching up. But if you’d like to include baby shower games, go for it.
Here are some game ideas for a baby sprinkle:

• Have guests fill out “the best piece of parenting advice I ever got/heard” cards and read them aloud
• Play charades focused on baby themes, which can include children’s books, TV series, or films
• Play a picture game in which one person starts drawing a baby item, and everyone else has to guess what it is
• Have guests change diapers blindfolded on plush teddy bears to see who can do it the fastest
• Play a memory list game in which one by one each guest says a baby item, and the next guest has to repeat what the previous person said, and then add her own item to the list.

Handing out party favors isn’t a requirement at the baby sprinkle, but it’s a nice touch.
Here are some party favor ideas for a baby sprinkle:

• Individual cellophane bags filled with homemade cookies and tied with an elegant ribbon
• Mini home spa kit of bath salts or oils and a loofah
• Nail care and nail polish set
• A gift card for a local cafe priced between $5 and $10
• A small pot of flowers or herbs to symbolize the growth of a new life.

Here is a sample checklist you and the expectant parents might consider using when planning the baby sprinkle:

Pick a time and date

Finalize the guest list

Register for gifts and/or create a Pampers Diaper Stash

Choose a theme

Create and send the invites

Set up a timeline for the event

Plan and purchase decorations and party supplies

Decide on whether you’ll play games and buy any supplies you’ll need for them

Buy favors and game prizes

Prepare or order snacks, finger foods, desserts, and drinks.

If you know a parent who is having their second or third child, and you’d like to have a small gathering of friends and family to celebrate, a baby sprinkle is a lovely idea and something they will remember forever.

Because the expectant parents most likely own the bigger baby gear items, gifts for a baby sprinkle or a diaper party can focus on those practical everyday items that a newborn will need, like diapers

The good news is that planning a baby sprinkle or diaper party is much easier than organizing a baby shower: the guest list will likely be smaller, and you don’t have to go all out with fancy decorations, elaborate games, and loads of food and drinks. Plan for something casual, personal, and low-key and focus on creating a special time for the growing family.