What type of party is a baby sprinkle, traditionally held for parents expecting a later child?

A baby sprinkle is traditionally a smaller baby shower held for parents expecting a later child.

The term suggests a lighter version of a full shower. Parents may already own major equipment such as a crib, stroller, or changing table, so guests commonly bring practical essentials, clothing, diapers, or small gifts rather than furnishing an entire nursery.

A sprinkle may also recognize that the new baby has different needs from an older sibling, including a different season of birth or a different size of clothing. Some families use the event mainly as a social gathering and request no gifts.

Usage is not completely standardized. In some communities, “sprinkle” can mean any modest celebration for a subsequent baby, while in others it is simply a smaller shower. It remains a modern social custom rather than an ancient rite.