Every expectant couple knows that everyone is full of advice; advice on the best products to buy, the must haves and the must dos. Total strangers will offer hints on getting a baby to sleep like a baby and they may even offer their Aunt's homemade baby food recipes.

One of the biggest decisions most parents will make will be the selection of the baby's name. Picking a name is often a long process, involving list making and often hours of writing and rewriting the possible names out long hand, just to get a feel for how they will look, when the little one becomes president or is famous some day.

For some couples the process is fairly straight forward. They make a short list each and then work through the names until they settle on the perfect name. Other couples fall back onto cultural traditions or formulate their lists using family names. Some couples reserve the final decision until after the actual birth, waiting to see if the baby looks like a certain name. Others throw in the towel and wing it, selecting the name at the birth on the fly, following their gut and taking the name that sounds the best in those moments just after meeting their precious little one.

Regardless of the selection process employed to arrive at the name, there are dozens of website and even more books available to make the list generation a snap. For some people being part of a trend is appealing, for others they are drawn to more unique names. Fortunately many of the lists as well as the US Census bureau actually track names and their popularity annually. This will make joining a trend or avoiding one very easy.

Regardless of the method or the name, selecting a name is a life time decision and is likely one of the most important choices new parents will make. It is highly personal and very much about what the new parents want.

So often at baby showers, the mom to be is presented with not only items from her registry but with loads and loads of super cute baby clothing. All of which is 0-3 months. For the new mom to be, it can be overwhelming, how much clothing one should have and then the return process is the last things a and very pregnant woman wants to do and even less so should she wait until after the birth, when she is an overwhelmed mother of an infant.

While the 0-3 months clothing is so tiny and therefore super cute, consider selecting a seasonally appropriate outfit in a larger size. With many retailers, especially on line ones, having enough back stock, finding something for up coming fall in the winter is generally a snap and sometimes even on sale.

Babies grow by leaps and bounds and one day 0-3 months might be roomy and the next day the baby will be busting out at the seams and totally uncomfortable. Having some items in the next size up, would smooth the size transitions and allow the busy mom to shop at her leisure and not because her little one risks going naked.

New moms also may not have the time and energy to research things like buntings and car seat covers and the like. This is where an experienced "newer mom" can lend a hand and purchase the best sleeping sac or best car seat friendly bunting.

Either way going a size up or purchasing the more rare and often overlooked clothing choice is a great way to really help a new mom and still get the super cute baby clothing fix.

It seems that many baby showers are going co-ed. Once a women only event, modern showers often include the dad -to-be. While it is still fun the make the dad-to -be participate in the same whacky party games, some showers are taking on more constructive and empowering themes.

How about a paint the nursery and decorate it shower; more of a working weekend with friends, but what a great and memorable experience. Having close friends or relatives help get the nursery fully functional, is a great gift and will make lasting memories. With everyone's busy schedule this is the gift of time and a great bonding event. As with any project, turning the guest bedroom, spare junk room or home office into the perfect nest for the new addition is always more fun and done in no time with friends lending a hand.

Another idea is to arrange for a weekend away - maybe at a spa or resort. Much like a destination wedding, it is a destination shower. One last indulgence before the baby arrives. It is a great way to pamper the expectant couple and have a great time. Keeping with a shower theme, organizing a baby item scavenger hunt or other expedition would be fun and a great way to get the gifts and keep everyone entertained at the same time. A destination shower need not be out of town. Consider booking rooms at a near by luxury hotel and keep the party close to home - but still create the destination feeling. Hotels with a luxury spa, five-star restaurant or indoor water park are perfect for the at home destination shower.

It often seems like in large families; more than one woman is pregnant. A family shower, is always a great way to celebrate the pending additions to the clan and have a family reunion at the same time. Making sure there are events and have activities for everyone is the key to making it a smashing success. This type of event is especially useful and appropriate for families who are scattered all over the country and finding gathering together for multiple events especially challenging.

Consider designing the games and events to involve everyone. Maybe the men verse the women in a diapering contest. The break up by age groups for the baby food taste test. A pin the diaper on the baby is always a crowd pleaser.

A baby shower is about celebrating a new life and is really a right of passage. Including as many people as possible is always a good thing.