Baby Showers

I agree morethan 2, Americans, the ones I have met lovely, however some of their worst excesses float over the pond. It started I think with the school prom, where many parents feel obliged to spend a lot of money, particularly on daughters. Babyshowers, I guess it's a generational thing, it doesn't appeal to me it sounds grabby and a bit vulgar, but I imagine it has it's fans. On a similar note I turned down a hen get together with an acquaintance not a close friend, a mature woman getting married 2nd time around, because she would be the only person in the party I knew and I didn't particularly want to spend well over £50 for an afternoon I didn't fancy.

The playmat sounds lovely and if it is finished I would take it along. I'm not a fan of these baby showers, I've never been to one and luckily my daughter didn't have one as she doesn't like them either but has been to a few. It does just seem an excuse to go totally over the top.

Greenfinch, my DD didn't have one either. I think it's another of those flashy American ideas where people try to outdo each other!

I do not like them and think it is just another way of begging for materialistic and expensive gifts.I am really grateful that DD and DiL did not have them for any of our five grandchildren and I haven't heard of any of my friends'children having one.Is it a middle class thing?

I think the playmat will be appropriate. I'm not sure but I think your expected to bring a small gift. I hate all these American ideas. (I don't hate Americans, mostly their wonderful) I just find it difficult to understand the protocols.