It has been a long tradition to welcome a new baby into the family and the world in a special manner. In the Ghanaian setting, it is termed the naming or outdooring ceremony to initiate the baby into the world.
Traditionally, naming ceremonies are performed at dawn and mostly family members offer gifts to their new member. Over time this purely customary birth rite has been turned into elaborate events by sections of the population.
In recent times, there is a growing trend of friends or family members throwing a party for the yet-to-be-born baby.
Referred to as “Baby Shower” it is a western culture that has been adopted to celebrate the coming of a child by presenting gifts to the mum-to-be.
Usually mums-to-be or parents do not throw their own baby shower, it is mostly arranged by a grandmother, sister, cousin, friend, or a colleague for the would-be mum. It is an all women affair where gifts in many forms, including baby stuffs are presented to the mum-to-be.
Sharing in the joy of a mother
According to Mrs Georgina Amevade, a Business Development Manager of Philips Avent, organisers of the Baby of the Year Competition, the essence of baby shower is to share in the joy of the would-be mum.
“It’s a perfect time to share experiences on motherhood so she can pick a few lessons. She could also learn how to use some of the gifts presented to her if she is not familiar with them.
The moment helps alleviate the mum’s fears on delivery and she saves on cost of shopping for the baby”, she said.
Although baby shower is relatively new, she said the celebrations and rituals associated with baby shower eventually contributed to the re-integration of a new identity in the community for both the mother and the child.
Baby shower taking over outdooring?
Due to the similarities in traditional outdooring and the baby shower, there are concerns that it could gradually take over the traditional outdooring.
In response to those concerns, Mrs Amevade said the two were different ceremonies which could not replace each other.
“They are two different ceremonies as they serve different purposes; the purpose of outdooring is to name the baby and the baby shower is to celebrate the pending birth of a baby,” she stated.
She said the difference between the two was that a baby was named at an outdooring and not at a baby shower.
Also a baby shower is attended by only close relations and friends, whereas an outdooring is attended by anyone.
“Both males and females attend outdoorings but a baby shower is an all women affair. And also an outdooring is organised by the parents of the baby but a baby shower is organised by someone else other than the baby’s parents”, she explained.
According to her, like an outdooring ceremony where there is merrymaking and presentation of gifts, a baby shower is also a form of merrymaking where gifts are presented.
Organising a baby shower When asked the appropriate time to organise the baby shower, she said it could be organised any time before birth.
However, she said it was more appreciated when organised during the later stages in pregnancy with the mum-to-be flaunting a big belly.
In celebrations such as these, venues are very important and according to Mrs Amevade, showers could be held anywhere but not the expectant mum’s home, especially if it’s a surprise.
In addition, she said it was also important to take into consideration the decoration and it could be themed if you know the sex of the baby to be born, if not it could be neutral.
A baby shower, she said, must be fun, therefore fun games must be arranged - with prizes to be won depending on the budget, adding that there must also be a cake; this could be in the shape of anything from baby products to baby bums.
She advised organisers of baby showers to buy quality and durable gifts that would be very useful to the mother and baby, gifts that could be used for the next baby.
Meanwhile, the organiser can share a shopping list with invited guests to choose from.
This list will contain all the products an expectant mother needs to have before her baby arrives.
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