Even the inventor of so-called gender reveals thinks it’s time to move past them. Read more about the problematic nature of throwing gender reveal parties here.
If you spend any time at all on social media, odds are that you’ve heard of gender reveal parties.
From boxes of balloons to gunfire, the trend has been blowing up social media feeds since 2008. That year, one mother cut into a duck-shaped cake to let her family and friends know the gender of her bun-in-the-oven. She posted pictures online, and the rest is history.
But just as quickly as gender reveal parties came into popularity, they’ve been thrown into controversy. In fact, even the mother credited with starting the trend has said that she wishes she had never done so.
Keep reading to learn why you should think twice before hosting your own gender reveal party.
They Can be Very Dangerous
Perhaps the best reason to skip a gender reveal is just how dangerous they have become.
Just this past October, one gender reveal turned deadly. A family in Iowa was using explosives to project pink or blue smoke to announce the gender of their little one. But in the process, they accidentally built a pipe bomb.
When the bomb went off, the shrapnel hit a 56-year-old guest, who was also a mother and grandmother. She died at the scene.
In another reveal in Arizona, a soon-to-be father shot at an exploding target. Instead of getting guests excited about a little girl or boy, the man ended up starting a deadly wildfire that burned more than 45,000 acres.
They Put Financial Strain on Your Guests
Even if it isn’t dangerous, your gender reveal party could be putting an undue financial strain on your guests.
If you are having a baby shower, your friends and loved ones will likely be ready and willing to shower your little one with gifts. Often, loved ones and close friends will also bring a small gift when they meet the baby for the first time. This might be in the hospital or at home.
If you’re also hosting a gender reveal party, you’ll be asking your guests to bring yet another gift. Guests who are low on cash may end up feeling guilty if they don’t bring a gift, which may cause them to spend money they simply don’t have.
Alternatives to a Gender Reveal Party
While gender reveals are an annoying and even dangerous trend, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get excited about letting friends and family know what you’re expecting. But instead of a party, why not opt for a different creative idea?
Host a fun photoshoot revealing the gender, and then send out the images as postcards to family, or even as a social media post. Buy and wrap onesies for the appropriate gender, and videotape the grandparents of the little one opening them.
How you choose to make your reveal also depends on when you find out the gender. How early can you tell the gender of a baby? Depending on the method used, as early as 8 weeks.
If you do so late in your pregnancy, you could also reveal the gender with your choice of decorations at your baby shower for a fun little touch.
Skip the Gender Reveal
Besides being dangerous and financially stressful for guests, many people also worry that gender reveal parties put too much emphasis on outdated gender roles. Whether you agree or not, this is one trend that’s best left in the past.
For more advice on navigating your pregnancy and parenthood, check out our blog.