It seems like only yesterday you were welcoming your beautiful baby boy into the world, but the subsequent months have flown by in the blink of an eye. Although you can hardly believe it, the time has come for your little guy’s first formal event. It doesn’t matter if this shindig is a wedding, birthday party or family gathering; there are a number of preparations you’ll need to make beforehand. To ensure that this event goes off without a hitch, tend to the following tasks before RSVP-ing.
Dress for the Occasion
You’d be hard-pressed to find parents who don’t enjoy dressing their babies up, and formal events are the perfect excuse to dress your baby boy to the nines. Much to the delight of style-savvy parents, a number of prominent fashion designers now create formal clothing for newborns and toddlers. Parents on the hunt for stylish bowties and suspenders for babies are sure to love everything Little Mr. has to offer.
Have a Fully-Stocked Baby Bag
Many parents don’t take their tots anywhere without a fully-stocked baby bag, and formal events are far from an exception to this rule. Depending on the nature of this event, a fussy baby stands to put a huge damper on the day. For example, if you’re taking your little one to a wedding or any other event at which silence is golden, make sure to have an abundance of pacifiers, teething rings and toys to keep him entertained. Even though you keep a steady supply of diapers on hand at all times, bring even more if this is slated to be an all-day event. As any seasoned parent can confirm, few things are worse than being unable to change a dirty diaper.
Inform the Host Well in Advance
Although certain hosts practically expect new parents to bring their babies to events, others aren’t quiet as accommodating. In order to prevent any frayed nerves or misunderstandings, inform the host that you’ll be bringing your child before accepting the invitation. If he or she doesn’t seem particularly amenable to the idea, arrange to have a sitter or politely decline the invite.
A baby’s first formal event can be equal parts fun and stress-inducing for parents and children alike. As is the case with many other things in life, preparation is the key to success. When prepping for your baby boy’s first formal event, remember to dress him for the occasion, pack your baby bag to capacity and give the host an advance heads-up.