History of The Baby Shower
From ThePartyworks.com

The "showering" of a the "Mommy-to-Be" has been popular in many countries for hundreds of years but not in the style we know it today. Gifts were given when after a baby was born -- usually at the baby's religious christening or at the baby's debut (it was very common until the middle of this century that no one was invited to the house until the baby was at least a month old because of the fear of diseases).

In the very late 1800's, Victorian ladies began having teas for mommy but not till after the baby was born because pregnant women did not appear in public. In the early 1900's, the teas transformed into "showers" (based on the "showering" of the bride before her marriage) and umbrellas became symbolic because it was customary for ladies to carry parasols when they attended these afternoon gatherings.

Almost all of the gifts were handmade except the silver that was given to the babies by the grandmothers. In today's world, baby showers are customary and great fun -- especially for a first-time mommy and are referred to as "sprinkles" for mothers having second or more children.