In a baby-shower tradition, what do guests write on cards attached to a wishing tree?

In a baby-shower tradition, guests write wishes for the baby on cards attached to a wishing tree.

A wishing tree is a decorative activity in which guests write hopes, blessings, advice, or encouraging messages for the child and parents. The notes may be tied to branches, placed in a keepsake box, or assembled into a book after the event.

The activity draws on the broader idea of a wish tree, a symbolic tree used in several cultures and settings for written hopes or prayers. At a baby shower, it provides a quieter alternative to competitive games and creates a memento the family can preserve.

The exact format is flexible. Guests may write messages for the child’s future, encouragement for the parents, or practical parenting advice. It should not be confused with a gift registry, which lists items guests may purchase.