Baby Shower Planning Tips

Wrap-Up

Opening the presents is the easy part. Helping the honoree pack them back up—and doing it quickly and efficiently—is more challenging.

Group them: Arrange the gifts in labeled shopping bags or boxes according to type (baby clothes in one, toys in another; linens in one, kitchenware in another). When the honoree arrives home, she’ll have an easier time unpacking all the loot.

Carry them: When a shopping bag is stuffed with presents, it can be difficult to grasp both handles at once. Make it easier to carry the bag by fashioning a sturdy handle out of packing tape. Cut a 16-inch strip of tape and fold it in half lengthwise, adhesive sides in, so that it is still 16 inches long but half as wide (and not sticky to the touch). Thread the strip through the bag’s handles. Tie the ends of the strip above the handle and seal them together with more tape. This loop is your new handle.

Ship them: If the guest of honor lives in another town, have a supply of shipping boxes and labels on hand so the gifts can be sent directly from your house to hers. That way, she won’t get stuck with excess-baggage fees on her flight—or a car too full of boxes to fit the people she’s traveling with.

Stuff them: Don’t have an economy-size carton of packing peanuts stashed in your garage? Then use the discarded wrapping and tissue paper from the opened presents to cushion fragile items before the guest of honor lugs them home. (Even if the breakables are nestled safely in individual boxes, stuff extra padding between boxes to safeguard against jostling.)