BABY SAFETY SHOWER HOW-TO KIT

Consumer Product Safety Commission

BABY SAFETY SHOWER HOW-TO KIT


Brought to you by
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Gerber Products Company

CPSC Document #207


Question: What's fun and games -- with lots of lifesaving information?

Answer: A baby safety shower!

If you're looking for ways to help parents take better care of their children, consider organizing a baby safety shower.

A baby safety shower is a learning party where all the activities revolve around home safety themes. Parents and caregivers have fun -- and leave with new ideas about keeping their babies safe at home.

Baby safety showers have been organized in all kinds of communities -- for all kinds of audiences. These showers are an especially good way to reach young, low-income, low-literacy, or non-English speaking parents and parents-to-be with important safety information.

You can arrange a baby safety shower for any number of people -- from 20 to 200. At larger baby safety showers, parents can visit a variety of exhibits where volunteers illustrate important home safety information with games, puzzles, songs, prizes, and other activities. At smaller showers, a few volunteers can lead the group in safety games.

Your theme can focus, like the material included here, on child-proofing one's home -- or on additional issues, like nutrition and health.

Baby safety showers are also a good way to create and promote public-private partnerships among many different organizations. By offering, for example, to distribute donated baby products or health information, you can enhance your ties with the local business community and build your relationships with local health and social service organizations. All this creates community goodwill -- and provides your invited parents with welcome information, products, and services.

The materials you'll need to get started are included here. Take special note of the Baby Safety Checklist, in both English and Spanish, which provides 12 important home safety tips that all parents should know.

Use your imagination to create a baby safety shower for your specific situation. The key to success is providing important safety information in a festive and inviting setting. So, roll up your sleeves -- and have fun!


TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: PLANNING AHEAD

1.1Getting Organized
1.2Following a Timetable
1.3Inviting Your Guests
1.4Choosing the Site
1.5Recruiting and Working with Volunteers
1.6Working with Businesses and Organizations
1.7Covering Your Costs
1.8Arranging Publicity


PART 2: DEVELOPING YOUR SHOWER PROGRAM

2.1Shower Theme
2.2Baby Safety Checklist
2.3Game Workshops


PART 3: PUTTING YOUR SHOWER TOGETHER

3.1Equipment and Supplies
3.2Food
3.3Exhibits
3.4Gifts and Prizes
3.5Shower Day Schedule



PART 1: PLANNING AHEAD

1.1 GETTING ORGANIZED

A baby safety shower should be fun for all involved. But it's important to be well-organized.

As your first task, put together a planning committee to help you. The more assistance you get, the easier your job will be. Recruit representatives from groups and organizations who are interested in baby safety issues and can do the job well. Discuss early on:

Suggestions and ideas for all of these topics are included in this guide.

Delegate responsibility for broad categories of shower- related activities (getting sponsors, publicity, food, program, decorations, etc.) to your committee members. Keep in touch with everyone regularly to ensure that everything gets done.

Think about how you can use contributions from many different sources. For example:

Start planning early -- and enjoy yourself!


1.2 FOLLOWING A TIMETABLE

Planning and organization are key to the success of your baby safety shower. This timetable should help you.

16-18 weeks ahead:

14-16 weeks ahead:

12-14 weeks ahead:

10-12 weeks ahead:

  • Print materials (e.g., signs, flyers, posters, invitations, games, checklist)
  • Plan opening ceremony
  • Plan schedule of shower activities
  • Plan publicity
  • Make transportation and parking arrangements
    8-10 weeks ahead:

    • Arrange baby-sitting or child care
    • Recruit greeters, workshop leaders, food preparers, and servers
    • Prepare invitation list
    6-8 weeks ahead:

    • Assign volunteers to shower activities
    • Begin collecting donated items
    4-6 weeks ahead:

    • Confirm food arrangements
    • Finalize activities and workshops
    • Invite shower guests
    • Publicize shower through flyers, posters, and local media

    2-4 weeks ahead:

    • Distribute news releases
    • Finish collecting donated items
    • Reconfirm shower arrangements with partners and sponsors
    • Hold orientation sessions for volunteers

    1 week to 1 day ahead:

    • Check with volunteers to ensure that everything is on track
    • Make final media arrangements
    • Remind invited celebrities, partners, sponsors, public officials about the event
    • Assemble workshop materials and equipment
    • Reconfirm food arrangements
    • Prepare gift bags for shower guests

    Day of the event:

    • Set up
    • Enjoy the event!
    • Clean up
    1 week after:

    • Thank everyone who helped
    • Evaluate the event (what went well, what didn't, what you'd do differently next time)


    1.3 INVITING YOUR GUESTS

    Decide which group you want to reach with safety information. For example, you may want to work with teen mothers, parents-to-be, low-income parents, low-literacy parents, or non-English speaking parents. The shower activities work best if developed around the special needs of one group at a time.

    Work with community organizations who serve this target population. They can help you decide who and how many to invite and plan an appropriate program for this group.

    Determine how many people to invite. For example, you can hold a shower in someone's living room for 20 people or in your local high school gymnasium for 200.

    Make your guests feel special by inviting each one personally -- and encouraging them to RSVP. This will communicate that you really want them at the shower and will help you plan for the number of guests actually attending.



    1.4 CHOOSING THE SITE

    Choose a site for the shower that's familiar and convenient to your invited audience and offers a warm, friendly environment.

    Depending on the size of your shower, the site could be a community center, public library conference room, church social hall, hospital or clinic reception area, school cafeteria, gymnasium, auditorium, or a similar space in a professional office building. Be sure that:

    • The site is available at a convenient time for your invited guests.

    • The space in the facility:

      -- can accommodate your audience for a variety of activities (greeting/reception area, opening session, game workshops, refreshments, and exhibits).
      -- has sufficient lighting and electrical outlets, a kitchen, conveniently-located rest rooms, and telephones.
      -- has building staff to assist you when needed (e.g., to unlock the kitchen or rest rooms or control lighting, heating/air conditioning).

    • You can provide transportation for your guests, if needed. If your guests drive to the shower, be sure the site has free and safe parking. If your guests take public transportation, nearby bus or subway stops should be safe and convenient.

    • The space in the facility can accommodate child care, if needed, during the shower.

    • Any costs can be covered.

    No matter where you hold your shower, keep a list of emergency or medical services telephone numbers handy, just in case you need them.



    1.5 RECRUITING AND WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS

    You'll need plenty of volunteers to prepare for the shower and then help on the day of the event. Start recruiting early.

    Decide how many volunteers you want and what they will do. Volunteers can head committees, solicit sponsors, collect donations, set up equipment, make decorations, greet guests, run game workshops, serve food, clean up, and much more. Plan to line up more people than you need, in case some drop out before the event.

    To help volunteers, be very clear about what they must do. Provide orientation sessions. If needed, schedule a dry run close to the event so all involved feel comfortable about their assignment.

    After the shower, be sure to thank everyone for making the event a success!



    1.6 WORKING WITH BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS

    Baby showers involve games, gifts, and edible goodies. Start early to enlist the help of interested health and safety organizations, local businesses, and volunteers. There are probably many in your community who would be eager to help you.

    Good places to start:

    • Trade groups, local manufacturers, or merchants (e.g., grocery, drug, or department stores): Contact the community relations managers for possible donations of baby-related goods and services, refreshments, prizes, free advertising, etc.

    • Community organizations (e.g., hospitals, auxiliary leagues, chambers of commerce, local print and broadcast media): Contact community relations or public affairs managers about speakers, medical support, or baby-sitting help.

    • Government organizations (e.g., local CPSC office, state and local health departments, local offices servicing the community with federally-sponsored health and safety programs for children): Contact public affairs or public relations offices to alert them and solicit help and support.

    • Local elected officials (e.g., mayor, city or town council members): Invite celebrity guests with an important link to the community you're serving.

    Tips for working with other organizations:

    • Target organizations that have goods or services relevant to the health and safety of babies, young toddlers, or new parents.

    • Provide the company or organization with an incentive for contributing to your event (e.g., good community public relations; potential new customers).

    • When contacting a company or organization, describe the purpose of the shower and what valuable role this group can play.

    • After an organization makes a commitment, write a letter to it spelling out your understanding of the agreement.

    • Identify a contact person (and a backup individual) who can get you the needed goods or services in the time and quantities you require.

    • Keep in touch with the contact people about how plans for your event are developing or changing.

    • Try to arrange for these groups to deliver their goods to the event site.

    • If an organization is providing an exhibit, get the name and phone number of the person staffing it at the shower.

    • Make arrangements at the shower site to receive and store deliveries for the event.

    • Make arrangements with either staff at the shower site or the organizations providing exhibit booths to have the materials and props removed or thrown away at the conclusion of the event.

    • Following the shower, write or call to thank everyone involved. Let them know how important they were to the shower's success.



    1.7 COVERING YOUR COSTS

    A baby safety shower need not cost a lot, but you'll probably have some expenses. Your partners and sponsors may be able to donate most of the goods and services. Here is a list of possible expenses:

    • Facility (electricity, janitorial services, tables, chairs, etc.)
    • Game and program materials (game workshops, exhibits, etc.)
    • Buying, printing, mailing invitations
    • Transportation for shower guests
    • Food (refreshments or meal)
    • Decorations
    • Prizes
    • Audio-visuals (television and VCR, overhead or slide projector)
    If you can't cover these costs or arrange for donations, you may need to modify the shower activities. For example, you can make your own invitations and hand-deliver them. You can ask volunteers to donate homemade food. You can design your own decorations. Be creative. What's most important is developing a warm and friendly atmosphere where your guests feel comfortable and motivated to learn.



    1.8 ARRANGING PUBLICITY

    Publicizing your shower can have many benefits. It can announce details of your upcoming shower to your target audience.

    It also can alert businesses, local elected officials, media celebrities, and other community leaders to your efforts and attract their support.

    Notify the local media about your event. Follow up with personal calls to the news or community events director.

    It helps if there is a celebrity or unique angle associated with your shower. You may want to invite some well-known V.I.P.'s., like the mayor or a local TV personality. Try enlisting a radio or television show or local newspaper as a sponsor of the shower. These organizations often are interested in supporting community efforts important to their audiences.

    Don't forget the value of flyers posted in grocery stores, drugstores, libraries, bus stops -- any public location where your targeted audience is likely to see it.



    PART TWO: DEVELOPING YOUR SHOWER PROGRAM

    2.1 SHOWER THEME

    Plan to select an overall theme for your baby safety shower. This guide is developed around the theme of keeping your baby safe at home. Integral to this program is the Baby Safety Checklist (see next page), which presents 12 tips for keeping babies safe in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other living areas.

    While this is critical information for every new parent, you may want to include additional health and safety themes. Choosing quality child care, selecting safe toys and nursery equipment, ensuring immunizations and proper nutrition for infants and toddlers -- all of these would work.

    If you invite a small group, focus on one theme. If your group is larger and you have the space, consider broadening the scope. Bring in other partners to work with you. For example, get the health department or local hospital to offer an immunization clinic. Ask a local supermarket to sponsor a nutrition booth -- with appropriate games and prizes.

    Pick your theme early, so you can better plan your program and activities. Coordinate your work with all involved, so that everyone knows what to do to make each activity successful.



    2.2 BABY SAFETY CHECKLIST

    Bedroom:

    ____ Put your baby to sleep on her back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath her.

    ____ Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.

    ____ Never place your baby's crib or furniture near window blind or curtain cords.

    Bathroom:

    ____ Keep medicines and cleaning products in containers with safety caps and locked away from children.

    ____ Always check bath water temperature with your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in to bathe.

    ____ Never, ever, leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water.

    Kitchen:

    ____ Don't leave your baby alone in a highchair; always use all safety straps.

    ____ Use your stove's back burners and keep pot handles turned to the back of the stove.

    ____ Lock household cleaning products, knives, matches, and plastic bags away from children.

    Living areas:

    ____ Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas; change the batteries each year.

    ____ Use safety gates to block stairways and safety plugs to cover electrical outlets.

    ____ Keep all small objects, including tiny toys and balloons, away from young children.

    + + + + +
    The Reasons Behind the
    Baby Safety Checklist


    In the bedroom:

    Put your baby to sleep on her back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath her. Follow this advice to reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To prevent suffocation, never put babies to sleep on adult beds.

    Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware. This will prevent babies suffocating or strangling by becoming trapped between broken crib parts.

    Never place your baby's crib or furniture near window blind or curtain cords. This will prevent babies from strangling on the loop of the cord. To prevent falls, keep children away from windows.

    In the bathroom:

    Keep medicines and cleaning products in containers with safety caps and locked away from children. This will prevent children from being poisoned.

    Always check bath water temperature with your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in to bathe. This will prevent burns to a baby's delicate skin.

    Never, ever, leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water. This will prevent children from drowning. In addition, keep children away from all standing water, including water in toilets, 5-gallon buckets, and pools.

    In the kitchen:

    Don't leave your baby alone in a highchair; always use all safety straps. This will prevent injuries and deaths from the baby climbing out, falling, or sliding under the tray. Be sure to use safety straps in strollers and baby swings.

    Use your stove's back burners and keep pot handles turned to the back of the stove. This will prevent deaths and injuries from burns. In addition, keep children away from tablecloths, so they can't pull down hot foods or liquids on themselves.

    Lock household cleaning products, knives, matches, and plastic bags away from children. This will prevent poisonings, bleeding injuries, burns, and suffocation.

    In other living areas:

    Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas; change the batteries each year. This will prevent deaths and injuries from fires.

    Use safety gates to block stairways and safety plugs to cover electrical outlets. This will prevent injuries from falls and electric shocks.

    Keep all small objects, including tiny toys and balloons, away from young children. This will prevent choking and possible death.



    2.3 GAME WORKSHOPS

    Games and other fun activities are an effective way to teach and reinforce safety and health messages. The games included here focus on the theme: keeping your baby safe at home.

    These games are based on the safety messages found in the Baby Safety Checklist. There is one suggested game for each area of the home: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other living areas.

    Below is a brief description of each game.

    Adapt these games to your needs or develop new ones. Be sure you have more than enough materials for every participant to play each game.

    • For the bedroom: Can You Answer This? The game leader asks each team questions. The team that answers the most questions correctly wins the round.

    • For the bathroom: Wheel of Safety. Each team calls out letters that spell a safety message. The team that first guesses the safety message wins.

    • For the kitchen: Picture Safety. One person on each team draws an image based on the Baby Safety Checklist.

    • The team that first identifies the image and tells why it's important wins the round.

    • For other living areas: Safety Bingo. Each guest marks an answer to each question asked on her bingo card. The winner is the first to mark three answers in a row and call out bingo!"

    + + + + + + + + +
    BEDROOM SAFETY GAME: "Can You Answer This?"
    Game Tips:

    • Before playing this game, review the relevant bedroom Baby Safety Checklist tips with shower participants.

    • Decide whether your guests can peek at the Checklist for the answers during the game.

    • After each game, review the Checklist again.

    Materials Needed: Flip chart, markers, two bells.

    Game Rules:

    Participants are split into two teams. The moderator asks everyone on Team A for three answers to each game question. For each correct answer, Team A gets one point. If Team A is stumped, Team B gets a chance to answer. The moderator then asks Team B one game question -- and so on.

    When the four game questions are answered, the moderator simultaneously asks each team a bonus round question. The team that first rings the bell and answers the question correctly wins.

    Game Questions (1 point for each correct answer):

    Q: What are the three possible sleep positions for your baby in a crib that are safe?

    A: (1) back (safe) (2) side (less safe) (3) stomach (unsafe)

    Q: Can you name three things that describe an unsafe crib?

    A: (1) missing hardware (2) not sturdy (3) loose hardware
    Also correct: mattress that doesn't fit snugly; corner posts; decorative cutouts in head or foot boards; crib slat spacing that is too wide

    Q: Can you name three examples of soft bedding?
    A: (1) pillows (2) soft, fluffy comforters (3) quilts Also correct: sheepskin

    Q: Can you name three things you should never place near a window with blind or curtain cords?
    A: (1) crib (2) playpen (3) highchair. Also correct: other children's furniture

    Bonus Round Questions (2 points for each correct answer):

    Q: Can you name three small objects that are choking hazards for children under three years of age?
    A: Accept answers like: buttons, balloons, marbles, foods like grapes, peanuts, hard candy, cut-up hot dogs

    Q: What are three safety concerns to look for in and on your child's toy box or toy chest?
    A: Accept answers like: toys with sharp edges or points; toys that are too small; toys with detachable small parts;

    hinged lid toy boxes without safety lid supports

    Q: What are three common hazards found on children's clothing?
    A: Accept answers like: loose buttons, drawstrings, loose snaps, small decorations that detach

    + + + + +
    BATHROOM SAFETY GAME: "Wheel of Safety"

    Game Tips:

    • Before playing this game, review the relevant bathroom Baby Safety Checklist tips with shower participants.

    • Decide whether your guests can peek at the Checklist for the answers during the game.

    • After each game, review the Checklist again.

    Materials Needed: Flip chart, marking pens, two bells.

    Game Rules:

    OPTION 1: FLIP CHART


    Participants are split into two teams. On the flip chart, draw the number of blank lines (similar to the game of hangman) corresponding to the number of letters and spaces in the safety phrase. Each team takes a turn to call out a letter in the safety phrase. Correct letters are written in the appropriate blank(s). When one team thinks it knows the phrase, it rings the bell and calls out the phrase. The team correctly guessing the most safety phrases wins.

    OPTION 2: WHEEL


    The game can be played with a homemade wheel with game points around the edge from 1-9. Team A guesses a letter for the safety phrase. If Team A guesses correctly, the moderator writes the letter in the appropriate blank, spins the wheel, and awards Team A the points on the wheel. Then, Team B guesses a letter -- and so on. The first team to ring the bell and guess the correct safety phrase wins 10 points. The team with the most points wins.

    Safety Phrases:

    • Keep baby safe
    • Use child-safety caps
    • Keep medicines locked up
    • Babies and water don't mix
    • Never leave children alone in water
    • Check bath water with wrist or elbow
    + + + + +

    KITCHEN SAFETY GAME: "Picture Safety"

    Game Tips:

    • Before playing this game, review the relevant kitchen Baby Safety Checklist tips with shower participants.

    • Decide whether your guests can peek at the Checklist for the answers during the game.

    • After each game, review the Checklist again.

    Materials Needed: Two flip charts on easels, markers, 3" x 5" cards (for safety clues).

    Game Rules:

    Participants are split into two teams. The teams sit or stand facing each other. The flip charts are positioned back to back between the teams. The moderator selects a safety clue card and shows it to one person from each team. When the moderator says "go", these two people draw a picture of the safety clue on their team's flip chart. The first team to guess the picture wins 5 points. The team can win 5 more points if it correctly describes how the clue is safety-related. The team with the most points wins.

    Safety Clue Cards:Safety or Hazard Issue
    Cabinet Safety LatchPrevents children from getting into cabinets where harmful household products are kept.
    Dish DetergentsCan be harmful if children swallow them.
    Highchair with Safety StrapsPrevents children from climbing or falling out and getting injured.
    Pot and Pans on StovesCan burn children if they can reach handles and spill hot liquid or food on themselves
    KnivesCan injure children if they can reach them and cut themselves
    Plastic Trash BagsCan cause children to suffocate if the bag gets over their noses and mouths.
    MatchesCan burn and start fires.


    + + + + +

    OTHER LIVING AREAS SAFETY GAME: "Safety Bingo"


    Game Tips:

    • Before playing this game, review the relevant Baby Safety Checklist tips with shower participants.

    • Let your guests peek at the Checklist for the answers during the game.

    • After each game, review the Checklist again.

    Materials Needed: bingo game cards and several "chips" or buttons for each participant.

    Game Rules: This game is similar to bingo. Each participant is given a game card with pictures in each box. The moderator reads a safety clue aloud, and each participant marks the appropriate picture. The winners are those who first correctly mark all the boxes on their card in a row across, down, or diagonally and call out "bingo." This game can be played many times, with the questions read in different order.

    Safety Clues

    Q: One of these should be on every level of the home for protection.
    A: Smoke detector.

    Q: One of these will prevent children from falling down stairs.
    A: Safety gate.

    Q: Stops children from poking fingers and inserting objects into electrical outlets.
    A: Safety plugs.

    Q: This child's game poses a choking hazard to young children.
    A: Small toy ball and jacks set.

    Q: If burst or uninflated, these can be a choking hazard to young children.
    A: Balloons.

    Q: These may look like candy to small children. Keep in container with safety cap.
    A: Medicine pills in bottles with safety caps.

    Q: This is the best position for babies to sleep.
    A: On their back.

    Q: Stops children from opening cabinet or cupboard doors where cleaning products or medicines are stored.
    A: Cabinet lock.

    Q: In a smoke detector, change this every year.
    A: Battery.



    PART 3: PUTTING YOUR SHOWER TOGETHER

    3.1 EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

    Plan far ahead for all the materials, equipment, and supplies you'll use at the shower. Your own list of needed materials will reflect the specific activities planned for your shower. Here are some suggestions:

    • Reception area: welcome signs, tables, chairs, name tags, markers, and information packets/bags for guests.

    • Opening session: chairs and podium for VIP guests, microphones, and colored posters illustrating shower themes.

    • Game workshops/exhibits: tables, chairs, table coverings, signs and posters for exhibit booths, tabletop displays with props and literature, lighting, decorations, TV monitor/VCR, colored markers, and game materials.



    3.2 FOOD

    No party is complete without food! Whether you serve snacks or a full luncheon, make it a festive and sociable part of the shower. What you serve depends on the time of day, your resources, and the generosity of your sponsors. Here are some basics.

    • Table/food center: Be sure you have ample food preparation and serving space and a place to seat your guests. You also may need a refrigerator for storage; a coffee maker or a stove for hot goods; plastic trash bags/cans for clean-up; tables, tablecloths, napkins, plates, cups, utensils, trays, serving dishes, utensils, and ice.

    • Healthy snacks: Fruit and juice reinforce good nutrition messages.

    • Box or bag lunches: Get a local supermarket to contribute food such as sandwiches, drinks, and fruit.

    • Decorations: Baby-related centerpieces enliven any party.



      3.3 EXHIBITS

      If your shower includes exhibits displaying health and safety information or baby-related products and services, be sure your facility can accommodate this. Provide each exhibitor with this list:

      • Set-up and take-down times.
      • Space dimensions.
      • Table dimensions allowable (whether provided by facility or by exhibitor).
      • Dimensions of backdrop allowable (whether provided by site or by exhibitor) and if items can be hung from it.
      • The number of items (literature, samples, etc.) they should plan to offer based on the number of guests expected.


      3.4 GIFTS AND PRIZES

      Everyone loves receiving gifts, and your shower guests are no exception.

      Supermarkets, drug stores, baby stores, or specialty shops are great places to ask for contributions of gifts and prizes. Remember that your invited guests are potential customers -- and merchants are always looking for ways to establish a good reputation in the community.

      Try to get some donated items related to baby safety, such as cabinet locks or electric socket plugs. Include also products every parent can use: baby bath items, disposable diapers, baby food, toys, and baby clothing. Moms, for example, also may welcome special treats for themselves -- like a makeover or gift certificates from local stores.

      Have enough gifts so everyone can take home something. A "goody bag" filled with product samples, discount coupons, gift certificates -- and safety literature -- will delight all your guests.

      Save your best and biggest prizes for a raffle or door prize. Finish off your shower with an exciting finale!


      3.5 SHOWER DAY SCHEDULE

      Whether you plan a two-hour or an all-day event, develop a realistic schedule for the day. Make arrangements ahead of time with the building management to reserve the room, tables, chairs, partitions, kitchen, and other facilities or equipment at the site. Allow sufficient time before and after the shower for setup and cleanup.

      Room Setup (1-1/2 hours)

      Make sure volunteers help set up the room. Consider traffic flow around room entrances, game workshops, exhibits, food tables, and child-are area. Room arrangements may include:

      • Registration table. Have chairs for volunteers helping with registration. Have paper and pens for signing in and name tags. Keep "goody" bags of prizes, products, and other materials here.

      • Refreshment table. Use simple table decorations that reflect the shower theme.

      • Game workshops. Make sure there are enough chairs, tables, and materials for each game area.

      • Exhibit booths. Arrange enough floor space for each booth.

      • Signs. If needed, post signs to designate game workshops, exhibits, and rest room locations.

      • Audio-visual equipment. If used, make sure all equipment works before the day of the shower. Provide extension cords and duct tape. Tape loose cords to the floor to prevent tripping.

      Registration and Welcoming Activities (1/2 hour)

      Register each guest, hand out name tags, and provide materials about the day's event. Consider including refreshments and entertainment as ice breakers.

      Opening Remarks (15 minutes)

      The primary organizer welcomes the guests, sets the theme, and reviews the overall shower program. Consider asking a parent to relate a human interest story based on the importance of child safety in the home.

      Game Workshops (1 hour)

      At the start of the shower, each guest is assigned to a game workshop focusing on one topic or room area. Throughout the hour, guests rotate to each of the other game workshops. Or, if your group is not too large, you might hold one session where all the games are played.

      Closing Remarks (15 minutes)

      The primary organizer summarizes the game workshop messages, encourages guests to use the products and materials given out, and thanks all the sponsors and organizations who contributed to the event.

      Other Options

      Meal (1/2 - 1 hour)

      If time and resources permit, serve a meal, like lunch. This allows time for further exchange of information with your guests.

      Exhibits (1/2 - 1 hour)

      Schedule time for guests to visit exhibits for additional health and safety information. This can be done during the lunch hour or after the program's closing remarks.

      Finally

      Cleanup (1 hour)

      After the guests leave, clean up! Make arrangements with the building management for janitorial services or tell your volunteers ahead of time what they need to do before leaving the facility. A simple checklist might include such duties as packing up unused workshop materials, sweeping the room, cleaning kitchen facilities, and removing trash. Be sure to leave the facility in clean condition.

      Brought to you by
      U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
      Gerber Products Company



      Baby Safety Shower Ordering Information

      To order up to 100 copies each of the CPSC materials included in this how-to kit, send a postcard or letter to CPSC at any of the addresses shown below. Please order each publication by its title and item number. Allow at least three weeks for delivery.

      Publications 
      
Publication Title                            Item Number

"Tips for Your Baby's Safety" (English)           200
"Tips for Your Baby's Safety" (Spanish)           200S
"Protect Your Child"                              241
"The Super Sitter"                                243
"Think Toy Safety Coloring Book"                  283


      Mailing Addresses:

      Publication Request

      Office of Information and Public Affairs
      U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
      Washington, DC 20207

      U.S. CPSC Eastern Regional Center
      201 Varick Street, Room 903
      New York, NY 10014-4811
      Tele. (212) 620-4120
      Fax: (212) 620-5388

      U.S. CPSC Central Regional Center
      230 South Dearborn Street, Room 2944
      Chicago, IL 60604-1601
      (312) 353-8260

      U.S. CPSC Western Regional Center
      1301 Clay Street, Suite 610 N
      Oakland, CA 94612
      Tele. (510) 637-4050
      Fax: (510) 637-4060