How to Throw a Shower for Chinese Adoption

Celebrate a Chinese adoption with a baby shower.

Adopting a baby may be a significantly different process than going through a pregnancy and birth, but the end result of a new addition to the family remains the same. If expectant parents are adopting a baby, you may wish to plan a shower to celebrate the arrival, also known as a welcome home baby shower. For a Chinese adoption, you can incorporate ethnic decor and foods into the shower theme to highlight the baby's heritage.

Things You'll Need

• Invitations
• Shower decorations
• Chinese foods
• Chopsticks

Instructions

1. Find out when the baby will be arriving to the U.S., and plan the shower accordingly. Ask the parents if they prefer a shower several weeks before the baby comes or if they wish to wait until after the baby arrives.

2. Ask the parents for a guest list, including names, addresses and telephone numbers. Get registry information from the parents also, so you can include the stores and websites in the invitation.

3. Choose invitations that highlight the baby's Chinese heritage. Look for boldly colored invitations in red because red is a Chinese symbol of good fortune and happiness. Choose shower decorations with a nod toward the Chinese culture. Use bold red and gold hanging lanterns from the ceiling and paper dragons on the walls. Chinese decorations are optional, however. If the new parents have a nursery theme, feel free to incorporate this theme into the shower theme in the same way you might for a pregnant expectant mother.

4. Send out the invitations about four weeks before the shower date. Note the Chinese adoption occasion, the date, time and location. Request RSVPs and give your name, telephone number and email address so guests can reply.

5. Plan the menu. Include at least a few Chinese foods, such as egg rolls and fortune cookies. Frost the cake with red frosting. Place chopsticks along with forks on the buffet table.

6. Include shower games in the festivities. Word games such as baby gear scramble, word finds and bingo work well at adoption baby showers. Have guests list as many baby items a new parent needs in one minute -- the person with the most items wins a prize. Many traditional shower games work well for adoption showers also.

Tips & Warnings

• Find out how old the baby will be at the time of the adoption. If you can find out the baby's size, that would also help guests shop for baby gifts. Provide these details to guests in the invitations to enable them to buy accordingly.

References

• Plan the Perfect Baby Shower: Adoption Baby Shower Ideas
• MLJ Adoptions; Ideas to Throw an Adoption Shower; July M. Miller; June 2010
• Pure Insight: Brief Introduction to Chinese Culture: Colors in Traditional Chinese Culture