One major difference between a first time and a second time shower is existing children. Since the expecting parents already have a child, it might make things easier for everyone to include children in the celebration. With a little extra planning, the children will have as much fun as the adults will.
If the children are older than toddlers, know each other well and play nicely together, you can let them amuse themselves, as long as the house hosting the shower has enough age appropriate toys for them.
If you will have many younger children that require closer supervision, hire a babysitter to keep them busy and safe.
If you will have older and younger children attending, a pre-teen or teenager in the group can be assigned as babysitter. Offer to pay them just as you would an outside sitter.
Prepare several simple craft projects for the children to make. Ask them to make presents for the baby-to-be to get them in the spirit of the day.
Borrow or rent several age appropriate children's videos to have on hand in case the kids need a little downtime. You can even videotape favorite kid's TV programs to play during the festivities.
Make a few snacks that are child friendly.
If you're including the kids at the shower, then why not include the dads too? It has become much more common to invite men to both bridal and baby showers. You could make the men feel extra welcome by setting up a separate wishing well with gifts for the dad. Items might include blank videotapes, film, a dad's journal, aspirin, a dad-specific parenting book, photo albums, or even goodies to take with him to the hospital. And, if you think some dads might become bored by all the oohs and aahs when it's time to open the little baby things, plan an activity to keep them busy - such as grilling up the next course!
