Mothers are hosting 'baby sprinkles' for their children
It means buying more baby presents
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Your support makes all the difference.For many, it's an American trend too far. Mentioning 'baby showers,' with the implicit obligation for guests to turn up bearing gifts, generally sends places like Mumsnet into a frenzy of fury.
But if you thought that an event held entirely to celebrate your ability to procreate was obnoxious, there's a growing trend from across the Atlantic for 'baby sprinkles' - and it's even worse.
Because while baby showers were typically held to celebrate the impending arrival of a mum-to-be's first child, baby sprinkles can be held for every child after that, too.
Already the new trend has sparked controversy - with many women questioning just how many times they are expected to celebrate a friend or family member.
And as gifts are typically expected at sprinkles, the reported £560 a woman will spend over a lifetime on baby shower gifts, according to a 2013 survey, will only increase.
Style bible Vogue recently pondered the question of baby sprinkles, asking whether they are 'tacky.' However, while they may be annoying, some argue there are a few perfectly valid reasons to throw a “baby shower lite.”
According to etiquette expert Emily Post, who spoke to Vogue, one acceptable reason for a mum-to-be to have a baby sprinkle would be out of necessity. As baby showers are meant to gift parents will things they will need, baby sprinkles can be useful if the first baby has not yet grown out of their high chair, crib, or stroller.
But when the new baby would be perfectly capable of using hand-me-downs, baby sprinkles can be seen as greedy.
Another acceptable reason for mums to agree to baby sprinkles is gender. If the new baby is a different gender, it is generally seemed as more appropriate to request gifts, as the colour of clothes and toys needed for the new baby will be different.
Parenting.com suggests baby sprinkle etiquette varies, but that presents that are a necessity for new parents, such as diapers or wipes, are always a good way to celebrate the new baby of a second or third time mum.
The parenting website also points out that a baby sprinkle can be a great way to get older children involved and excited about their new sibling.
However, most agree that if you must host a baby sprinkle, keep the guest list small. Extremely small. Because although babies are always a reason to celebrate - baby gifts are expensive.
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