When planning a baby shower for a friend of family member it is always important to plan ahead. One thing to think about ahead of time the center piece for the table or tables.

Traditionally baby shower centerpieces are flow arrangements. These are things that you can easily do on your own and save a little money or if you are pressed for time simply pay a florist to do the work for you. It really depends on your budget versus amount of free time. It is very simple to really spruce a flower arrangement up for a baby shower by including some fun baby items. For example place small teddy bears around the bottom of the arrangement. You can also add letter blocks, safety pins for cloth diapers, rattles or other small baby toys. These add a light and fun touch to the traditional flower arrangement and make the baby shower center pieces really stand out.

Another option that is becoming very popular is diaper cakes. These can either be real baby shower cakes decorated with diapers and baby items on them or they can be cakes actually made out of diapers (But you don't eat these cakes). Diaper cakes are often wrapped in cellophane and have a very decorative bow and fun. These can make a very striking centerpiece for a baby shower and an easy conversation piece.

Another fun and festive option is balloons. Balloons a very easy, one can just go to their local party store and have a bunch of balloons made into an arrangement. Plus balloons are very festive and they always say party. To add a little more of the bay shower touch to balloons you can easily die baby rattles to the bottom of the balloons as a weight to keep them on the table.

A very non-traditional idea might be to take an empty fishbowl and decorate it paint pens, beads or other fun objects that can be found at your local craft store. Then add some water and candles and you have a very unique baby shower centerpiece. Another non-traditional idea that I have personally used was a small collection of toy fire trucks and police cars with balloons tied to them. This of course was a baby shower for a new baby boy.

Some important tips to remember when thinking about a baby shower centerpiece are:

1. Leave yourself enough time to completely the project in a relaxed manner

2. Plan to have problems with materials etc and then if you don't you will finish ahead of schedule.

3. Enlist the help of other friends. They often have fun decorating for a baby shower.

4. Plan your theme first and then work outwards based on the theme.

5. Most of all is be creative. There is no one-way to do this and it is important to be creative, have fun and do the work with love.

If you follow the above suggestions and brainstorm some of your own ideas the bay shower centerpiece is sure to be a huge success. Again it is important to take the time to be creative and really enjoy the project. These will show in the final results and everyone will see the love and effort that were put into the baby shower.