What is the proper etiquette regarding baby shower invitations?

You should invite them because you want to invite them, and want them to share your happiness NOT because you want another free gift. It's not proper to invite a bunch of people out of the expectation of getting another gift. It's kinda tacky, if you ask me.  more

I think an invitation would be ok. But a letter or a baby announcement would be better. You could get copies of your ultrasound pictures and enclose them. A lot of people give gifts after the baby is all ready born. My cousin lives about 300 miles away and was expecting her first, all the family got gifts together then when her dad went to see her when she was in the hospital she got the gifts then.  more

Of course send them invites, heck we are sending them to another country so that some members of the family can feel "included" I would play down the whole gift aspect and if you send them an invite and they DO send a present, make sure they get some small favour from the shower and a chance to see the pictures from the event.  more