What Is a Baby Sprinkle, and Are They Really Necessary? (2024)

There's nothing that could possibly match the excitement, challenges, and whirlwind of joy around having your first baby ... until you're expecting your second.

While it's customary to have a baby shower for your first pregnancy to be gifted all of the parenting products you need to get your home ready for your little one, having a shower for your second child (also known as a baby sprinkle) might not seem necessary. You might be wondering, "What is a baby sprinkle, and are they really a thing?"

In short: It is completely up to you whether you'd like to have a baby sprinkle. However, it may be worth having one so that you can bring your loved ones together, replenish your supply of diapers and baby wipes, and register for the cool baby gadgets that you wish you'd gotten the first time around.

"A baby sprinkle is reserved for your second or subsequent pregnancies, where the gender is usually the same as the first, and you do not need a lot of baby items because you feel pretty prepared after having your first child," says Amy Motroni, founder of the blog Genius Mom Hacks. If the gender of the second child is different from the first, Motroni says that you might consider holding another full-scale baby shower, so you can register for lots of different items.

"A shower is much more formal, and the sprinkle tends to be more casual," says Kristin Revere, certified birth and postpartum doula at Gold Coast Doulas, adding that there tend to be fewer people invited to a baby sprinkle than a shower.

Whether you're expecting your second child shortly after you've had your first or there's been a larger gap between them, it's a good idea to make a registry for a baby sprinkle. A registry gives your guests a guideline of which items are most useful to you and your growing household.

"Family and friends like to know exactly what they should buy the mom-to-be," says Motroni. "Many moms have favorite items or brands, so a baby registry is very helpful."

But if you already have all of the things that an expecting parent could possibly want, you could think outside the (gift) box, too.

"It is wonderful to consider registering for services like sleep consultants, postpartum doulas, or meal delivery services," says Revere.

If you've been invited to a baby sprinkle and you've already bought something from the registry, you still shouldn't show up empty-handed.

"While the gift doesn't have to be large, it is polite and good etiquette to attend a baby sprinkle with a gift," Motroni says. "Family and friends can all go in together and give a group gift, but showing up with at least a card is best."

The gift can be an affordable, basic baby item, too. "It could be something as small as a box of diapers or a swaddle," says Revere, who recommends a price point of $20 for a sprinkle gift.

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