argumentative apologize: The Sassy Mama Guide to Baby Showers in Hong Kong

Whether you?re expecting a new arrival yourself, or planning a gathering for a soon-to-be-nesting friend, we have the lowdown on all the best venues, gifts and munchies for a knockout baby shower. Here?s the scoop on where to find all sorts of essentials ? plus, check out Nicole?s baby shower guide for some super tips and hints on throwing a brilliant baby bash.

Invitations and Decorations

If you are a creative type, why not head to Sham Shui Po and DIY? You?ll find all the craft items you need to create something unique and can also save a few bucks to put towards the gift list!

If practical isn?t your middle name then Simply Love?s party boutique should be your first stop. They carry themed invitations, plates, bunting and centrepieces, and their store is conveniently located slap bang in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong. Their balloon selection is second to none, and they can also organise photographers upon request.

Causeway Bay?s Matteo Party have supplies for every shindig and their baby shower offerings include invitations, napkins and cute mini prams for party favours.

Find chic invitations, bunting and decorations at Sassy Mama fave, Petit Bazaar. Read about owner Narguess Sousi?s inspiration for her fabulously French kids? store here.

Dotty Bee?s cute-as-a-button Baby Cake is a fresh twist on the diaper cake and their beautiful Baby Clothes Bouquets are easily mistaken for a regular bunch of blooms at first glance. Both come in blue, pink or neutral white and individual ?cupcakes? and ?flower stems? are available if you want to add a few surprises to an existing display.

Balloon Express delivers helium balloon bouquets for any occasion. They have a small range of baby-themed items, or select your own bouquet from a range of stars, hearts and other shapes.

Mother Organic?s eco-friendly diaper cake is made with chlorine-free nappies and is packed with gentle organic toiletries.

Venues

Any expectant mum will know that her life is about to get seriously hectic, so where better to enjoy the calm before the storm than Sense of Touch? Their Sparty (Spa Party!) packages are perfect for groups of 6 or more ladies wanting to unwind, and their Guess the Gender parties are such a fun way to reveal whether then bump is a Billy or a Lily! Location-wise the Lan Kwai Fong rooftop is as glam as it gets, although heavily pregnant spa-goers might find the stairs a bit of a hike! The Repulse Bay spa offers a beautiful outdoor tented pagoda area and plenty of space for lounging and chatting post-pedi.

If your idea of a great baby shower is more munching than massaging, check out the Sassy guide to the best afternoon teas in Hong Kong. There?s a venue in here for everyone.

Still on the afternoon tea tip, head to the Langham in Tsim Sha Tsui for their aptly-named Yummy Mummy Tiffin Tea (Thursdays only). This is the perfect spot for groups of mums as there?s no need to arrange a babysitter while you enjoy the five-star service and delicious spread. Children are welcome and are well catered to with a dedicated play area and a specially designed kids? afternoon tea menu.

Top Deck at Jumbos Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen is a venue with a view, and their tented tables or cabanas make a private party feel that bit more exclusive.

Fancy combining the shower with a shopping spree? The caf? at Baby Central?s Wong Chuk Hang store will have guests ticking items off the registry in double-quick time! The caf? has a good selection of drinks and nibbles, and there?s a large play area too, meaning guests who bring little ones can relax and enjoy the celebration.

Junk trips don?t have to mean day-long booze fests! A gentle junk can be a very civilised way to enjoy your Hong Kong baby shower. We have a full guide to the best boats in town here.

Host at Home

Planning on hosting yourself? If you?re not feeling very Martha Stewart, a caterer is just the ticket for a successful bash.

Shamrock Catering will provide scrumptious nibbles for any occasion and for a VIP shower, their Spoon Premium Catering arm will bring a fine dining experience to you. They provide waiting staff, all equipment needed and can even help with sourcing venues.

Andrea Oschetti?s Cuore?Private Chef is the way forward if your pregnant pal craves an Italian feast! He will create a delicious four-course home-style Italian meal in your kitchen, and as a bonus, offers a cooking class as he goes along if your guests want to pick up some tips.

What?s a party without some sweet treats? Sift are well known all over town for their scrummy cupcakes and having provided desserts for Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney and NARS, you?re munching in good company! They take commissions, so drop them a line to discuss the deets.

For some post-dinner relaxation, Sher at Touch Hong Kong?will rock up to your apartment and bring the spa to your party. She offers both regular and also?prenatal massage and provides her own massage table.

Searching for unique party favours? Papabubble ?create hard rock candy and lollipops with all-natural fruity flavours and package them up in retro jars that can be personalised.. A very cute memento of a special day.

Gift and Registries

The most important part of any baby shower! While some mamas-to-be may have a good idea of what they need for the imminent arrival, others are happier to be surprised with a thoughtful gift. If you need some inspiration, our extensive Sassy Mama Shopping Guide in our Directory will steer you towards the cutest baby boutiques in town.

Gift Registries

Tiny Footprints have presents covered whatever the preference. With beautiful bedding like this funky throw, furniture and innovative new products like the very practical Sleepyhead, any prospective parent would be thrilled to unwrap something from here. Need some help choosing? Tiny Footprints staff can create a hamper upon request, and they also offer a gift registry service. Check out the details of their VIP Club, entitling members to a generous 8% off future purchases.

Over at Baby Central, we?re spoiled for choice when it comes to practical newborn gifts. The Penny Scallan range of nappy bags and change wallets are both pretty and capacious enough for all the baby kit a new mum totes around, whilst their ingenious nursing cover and pram shade gives breastfeeding mums a bit of extra confidence when out and about. Feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choice? We think this gorgeous Signature Frame by Pearhead is the perfect baby shower memento. Set up a new registry or search a friend?s wishlist via their website.

Hong Kong baby stalwart Bumps to Babes offer a registry serve that can be set up in-store, vouchers for hard to buy for expectant mums and adorable gift baskets. They also stock one of Hong Kong?s best ranges of prams, travel systems and pushchairs ? good for a group of friends wanting to club together for a big ticket item (or a gift from one very extravagant auntie!) We think the limited edition Missoni Bugaboo Bee would make a perfect present for a fashionista mama (we can dream, right?) and to go with it, check out our review of the Snoozeshade, a Hong Kong hot weather must-have.

Can?t decide where to register your gift list? You don?t have to! Double Happiness is a seriously helpful tool that allows you to hold a single registry with over 70 stores and brand names at once, including Bumps to Babes, Mothercare, Combi, Baby Central and Grobag, to name but a few. Combine purchases from as many stores as you like, pay on or offline in a variety of currencies. Perfect for overseas friends and family.

Just a Few of our Favourite Gift Ideas

If green living is a priority, Mother Organic is a one-stop shop for all things eco-friendly. Their gift sets comprise the softest organic cotton bodysuits and bibs, along with super-gentle, all-natural and preservative-free baby toiletries.

The fabulous Pacific Petals have the most beautiful floral gift baskets for new mums. Their Deluxe baskets contain a delicate floral arrangement along with a Papinelle sleeping bag and super-cute baby boxers or bloomers from The Powder Room.

Speaking of The Powder Room, their Incy Wincy Powder Room has a full range of clothes, cuddlies and sleep accessories, along with utterly adorable tutus by Tutu Du Monde for fairy princesses aged 1 up. A great ?thinking ahead? gift!

Matilda Rose Boutique has more of the aforementioned tutus, beautiful hair accessories suitable for newborns up and even a few gifts suitable for boys too! We love these personalised name cushions. Check out our interview with Matilda Rose founder, Lucinda here.

UK luxe cashmere brand Bonnie Baby is now in Hong Kong ? hooray! We love this covetable foxy jacket so much that we want it in mama-size. Check out their new flagship store in the Peninsula Arcade.

Bloom and Grow stock some of the best loved international baby brands, including Grobag, ErgoBaby carriers and Skip Hop changing bags. Order online, or check their stockists? page for Hong Kong based retailers including Bumps to Babes.

If mama-to-be is a bit of a rock chick and not so fond of pastels or bunnies Nippaz with Attitude is made for her. Their Hip Hop, Rock, Punk and 80?s themed gift baskets will tick all the hipster boxes. Delivering from the UK to Hong Kong in double-quick time, we love the quirky babygrows (your correspondent?s son gets plenty of compliments in his ?Mama Aint Raisin? No Fool? shirt!) and CDs of classic punk tunes or gangster rap reworked as the sweetest lullabies. Genius.