Traditionally, mothers-to-be were showered with gifts before the arrival of their first baby, receiving everything from car seats to cribs.

It was silently expected that those big-ticket items would be passed on to younger siblings, who typically didn’t receive the same barrage of presents.

But modern moms aren’t just getting showered; they’re also getting sprinkled.

Sprinkle showers are all the rave for second-time mamas (and those ladies having a third, fourth or fifth baby). These baby-shower-lite events are designed to help parents with the little necessities of having a little one, such as diapers, wipes, bottles, bibs, baby wash and more.

Though I have three children, I never had a sprinkle. My oldest children are a girl and a boy, so I was blessed with two showers that gave me all the pink and blue a parent would ever need.

Our youngest son, Dimitri, inherited many things from his brother, who is just two years older than him. With several doting grandparents eager to spoil him, he never missed out by not having his own shower.

However, had I known about sprinkles four years ago, I would’ve hoped for one.

I won’t lie: it’s fun to receive gifts. It’s even more fun to build a registry. But it’s even more important to celebrate every child.

Babies are a blessing, and they each deserve their own special welcome.

It’s time to stop worrying about outdated etiquette. With second and third marriages increasing in popularity, and families continuing to grow during a slow economy, one-time showers are a thing of the past.

Modern social graces allow for both sprinkles and showers. It’s all about what your needs are, according to a post about baby shower etiquette on Martha Stewart’s website.

Even if you’re having a second, third or fourth child, you don’t have to have a sprinkle. It can be a shower if you’ve had a lot of space between children, are pregnant with a different sex than your other children or are expecting multiples.

Party themes vary, as some events focus on different items.  For example, if diapers are your greatest need, create an incentive for guests to bring them. Include in an invite, “Bring a pack of diapers, and your name will be entered into a drawing for a great door prize.” Just make sure the door prize is, indeed, great.

It’s silly to worry people will assume you’re soliciting gifts by having yet another shower or sprinkle. If you have to worry about someone thinking differently of you because you’re welcoming a child into the world, then that’s the someone who doesn’t belong at your party.

As Dr. Seuss said, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind.”

You are soliciting gifts, but that’s OK.

You’re having a baby. You’re bringing a new life, a person, into the world. That is always worth celebrating–no matter how many times you do it.

And if you can’t solicit gifts from your closest family and friends, who can you solicit gifts from?

I have this disease in which I frequently realize I should’ve stopped talking 10 minutes sooner, but I just can’t help myself.

It happened again on Thursday, and I promise I was trying to mind my own business.

But an adorable pregnant mom sat down at the table next to me at Panera Bread, interrupting my soup and Google searches with her unnecessary apologies.

Though at separate tables, we were essentially sharing the same bench. I didn’t mind that she bumped into me with a barrage of bags and a tray, but she did.

“I’m so sorry. I’m just at that point where I can’t see my feet and have no depth perception at all,” she said.

I advised her not to worry about it. “I haven’t been pregnant for three years, and I still have no depth perception,” I said.

And, really, as is often the case, her bags could fit inside my bags–which are frequently stuffed with days-old newspapers, documents, agendas and, sometimes, high-heeled shoes.

Small talk moved to shopping pretty quickly, and I couldn’t help but bestow on her the best pregnant purchase I had ever made: The Snoogle.

Made by Leachco Inc., the C-shaped pillow is more an island of comfort than it is bedding. It sells for about $25 on Amazon and in several stores up to about $70.  Regardless of where you get it, this Bobby pillow for adults is worth every penny.

It will support you from head to toe, and can also be wrapped around you in various ways while you’re nursing (or using your laptop, reading, paying bills or reading the five magazines you purchased in the checkout line).

The Snoogle was part of my life long after my babies arrived, often hidden behind numerious decorative pillows on my bed.

Sleep is a novelty once you’re a parent. It should be treated like the religious experience that it is.

Even if three hours is all you have, snuggle with a Snoogle.