Mom and baby have always gotten all the attention when it comes to Showers. But finally the days are here where Daddy is beginning to get his due turn ~ the deserved Daddy Bath is becoming increasingly popular. Here's a quick guide to both throwing a Daddy Bath and the gifts to give that he'll really need.
Often the Daddy Bath coincides with the Mommy/Baby Shower. While Mommy waddles home from an estrogen-rich fiesta with the car loaded down with cute onesies and darling towels, Daddy gets a ride home from the Designated Driver, giddy from a testosterone rampage, arms filled with Poppi-oriented accruements. Hosting a Daddy Bath doesn't have to be an ordeal, thankfully guys don't generally ogle over rattle garlands around the doors and dawdle over finger sandwiches and a good cup of punch. A fridge filled with beer or other drink of your choice and some messy fattening foods will be just fine. Some other things to consider for hosting this grand event:
The Bath: Some Entertainment Ideas
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Invitations:
Cut out 6/12 pack or a case of cardboard beer carriers into postcard size, tell the basics (who, when, where, phone number) on the brown side and on the printed side, stick some duct tape on and write the address and slap a stamp on it. However, the preferred method is to merely make some phone calls and maybe an email or two.
- Get lots of Man food and Man drinks, fire up the Barby or even have an actual fire - guys love a good bonfire and just think of the symbolism!
- Buy a piggy bank, have guests put in some extra change and hand over to the potential Father and explain that this is savings for diapers, braces, broken arms, a prom dress, a car, a trip to the Capital with his seventh grade class or even college. It's at least a start and everyone can say they contributed to his little one's future.
- There's always the candy bar melted in the microwave in the diaper - have the Daddy guess, what did baby eat?
- Have Daddy hold a huge bag of open flour and eat a cold meal with his opposing writing hand, play hair or speed metal at some crazy decibel (a chainsaw is 100 decibels, a helicopter is 105, a baby's cry is the whopping 115, just under the firecracker at 120) and jab him in the ribs every so often -don't spill the flour Daddy!
- Play Baby Jeopardy - it's a great way to realize how much Daddy didn't know - when to start feeding solids, how to treat a heinous diaper rash, how to overcome a late night screaming spell, what to do when caught at the park with a poopy diaper and no wipes.
- Oil up a bowling ball, or some other heavy awkward object, again play some hair or speed metal at a crazy decibel and have Daddy attempt to wash the thing all the while you try and give him harried instructions on what to do next on top of the music.
- Write several hormone driven comments on paper, hand them out to the guests. Poppi listens to the comment and tries to respond with comforting, understanding sentences in a calming voice. For example “I feel gigantic and worthless”, a proper response would be "Honey, you look fantastic to me and every day I love you more." Remember, Practice makes perfect! For additional practice, play the hair metal again and resume the game while he holds the open bag of flour.
The Gifts: Some Clever Gift Ideas for the Daddy
For the Daddy Bath, wrapping presents isn't necessary, just hide everything behind the couch or in the guest room till time to break them out.
- Buy a simple toy pick-up truck (with no small choking-hazard parts, preferably wooden) fill the truck bed with medical supplies: Dye-free Infant Gas drops (surprising helpful and expensive -about $10.00), Dye-free Infant Tylenol or Motrin, maybe even some adult pain killers like Bayer Aspirin. Extend the gift with pacifiers, condoms, earplugs, Hyland's teething tablets (teething happens before you know it) a gift card to your local grocery store or even Lowes for those home projects sure to arise. Even if it's a girl, there will be a handy toy to pull out for those visiting nephews.
- Go in with another buddy and spring for the car seat (be sure and check the registry firstT) or car seat bucket for the other car. Put a 12 pack of beer, root beer or Red Bull and sit it in the seat.
- Buy "The Happiest Baby on the Block"
DVD.
it will cure the deer in the headlights look around 3:00 AM when the baby is screaming and his wife is crying. Give Daddy the power to rise up and take control of the situation!
- Buy the book Be Prepared -A Practical Handbook for New Dads
It's thick with great advice, clever writing and a great way to cheer up everyone by reading aloud. This could also be a part of entertainment segment of the party, the text and pictures are a sure hit.
- Buy a huge box of diapers (get size 1-2 -yes this is an actual size- since babies grow so quickly) and a massive box of wipes (alcohol and fragrance-free for that tender bum), there is always room for more diapers and wipes.
- For the Eco-Warrior - go in with a buddy and get the Mac Daddy battery charger. This is the one that charges just about everything, but primarily D cells and double A cells. Baby swings and other heavy duty equipment generally run on D cells, lighter weight items and cameras run on double A cells, buy a few rechargeables with the charger as well.
- A sound machine that has white noise and ocean sounds. These things are awesome and drown out behind the door scenes as well as mimic the rush of blood in the womb they heard 24/7. For babies, silence isn't really golden, it's weird. Try to find one that plugs in to avoid that battery issue.
- Find a black, unfeminine diaper bag or even a backpack. Inside put any of the above mentioned items. Also, a CD filled with heavy reggae music, the strong beat acts like a sedative; it's that womb thing again.
- Use a 6 pack carrier as a "gift bag". Leave two beers (like Guinness, great for breast milk production), put in a baby bottle, get a good one (there are seemingly thousands, try an 8 oz Dr. Browns), in another holder- roll up a girlie magazine, some sesame oil for massaging momma late night after the Guinness and the magazine, and in the last one put a shirt that says "Number One Dad" or something to that effect . That's 6 great gifts and no wrapping!
What Daddys Don't need
Daddy's do not need a night out to an exclusive gentleman's Club, unless you want to be the guy friend never allowed over again, blankets, bibs, baby clothes for 0-3 months, or stuffed animals ~ that will all be taken care of at the shower and aunts. If it's something really cute, don't get it, someone else probably will and Daddy's aren't so focused on the cute, they want/need survival items and coping mechanisms.
So go get those friends together for the Daddy Bath! It's quite easy and thrilling to watch him savior those fleeting moments of "before" because soon his life will be one long "after". Poor Daddy needn't be left out of the celebratory gift giving ~ empower Daddy with the very gifts he'll really need!
