Though life feels different right now, there are some things that don’t change. Mamas are still having babies and every baby (and mama) deserves to be celebrated.
You can save the in-person hugs and congratulations for a post-quarantine sip & see, and still bless the mama-to-be with a memorable virtual shower.
1. INVITE
Invite guests via a Facebook event or an evite. This will be your hub to get all information to your guests. You can share what to bring, recipes, documents to print at home, etc. Opt for a virtual invite over mailing out invites so that you can be in communication with all the guests and send more information to them if needed.
2. VENUE
My favorite multi-user virtual hangout spots are Zoom and Google Hangout. For Google Hangout, users will need to have a Google Account. It’s easy to make accounts for either, then share the link for your private hangout on your event page or evite.
3. PREP/WHAT TO BRING
Before the party, have guests email you if they have purchased diapers for the mama-to-be. For each pack of diapers or wipes add one slip of paper to a bowl for the diaper raffle.
When inviting guests, send them a list of a few things to bring. Most should have these on hand. Have each guest bring string/twine/ribbon, a ruler, a pen, paper, and a print-out of the Well Wishes document(link below).
4. ATTIRE
Simple: Put away the pajamas for an afternoon and get gussied up. Yes, you’ll still be at home, but it will feel more like a celebration if you’re looking cute.
All out: Pick a theme for guests to dress up as. Disney characters, tropical vacation, high school prom, 80’s party… there are so many great options. Have fun with it!
5. FOOD
Simple: Have guests bring their own snacks and beverage of choice.
All out: BYOC (bring your own cake) / cake decorating contest – Have guests make their own cake and decorate it. Best decorated cake wins a prize! (If guests don’t have a box of cake mix on hand, try this Classic Cake recipe from King Arthur Flour or this super simple Vanilla Cake recipe.)
Or, have guests make scones for a high tea. Bring your own scones and a cup of tea (or coffee) – bonus points if you have a pretty teacup. This scone recipe is my favorite and it’s simple enough that even the most novice of bakers can do it, but feels fancy enough for high tea.
6. GIFTS
Babylist.com is a great place to register. The mama-to-be can link items that she loves from anywhere on the internet, sync registries from other places like Target, Pottery Barn, Amazon, and Etsy, and ask for things like babysitting and homecooked meals. Guests can order gifts to be sent straight to the mama’s house or reserve them to buy at another time (just don’t forget!).
Want to send a home-cooked meal, but need to stay home? Send an UberEats, GrubHub or Doordash gift card.
7. GAMES
It wouldn’t be a real baby shower without games! Here are a few games that you can play virtually.
- Embarrassing baby/childhood memory ice breaker. Get to know guests by having each of them share an embarrassing baby or childhood memory. If anyone in the group is a mom, they could also share an embarrassing moment as a mother.
- Diaper Raffle. As mentioned above, put names of all guests who have sent diapers or wipes into a bowl and pick a winner. You can mail a giftcard or (or email a virtual gift card) to the winner. TIP: Don’t forget to ask mama what kinds of diapers and wipes she prefers!
- Measure mama’s belly. Have all guests use a string to guess how big mama’s baby, then use the ruler to measure. Compare to mama’s measurement. Whoever guesses the closest wins! (Note: Not all mamas will be comfortable with this game, so ask her first and be sensitive to her wishes.)
- The Baby Name Game. There are two name games you can play.
First, is a race to see who can write down baby names from A-Z. Whoever gets a name for all the letters of the alphabet first is the winner.
Second, get a timer and set it for one minute. Have guests write as many baby names as they can think of. When the timer goes off, have everyone read off their list of names. Cross off all the names that others have on their lists. Whoever has the most names left after everyone has read their list is the winner. - Wishes for Baby. This is a great game from Pampers. Everyone will answer questions about the baby’s future and then the group decides who has the best answers. Once all questions are answered, you can share them with the group and each person will vote on which ones they think are best, or you can skip the voting and just share what you’ve written. Answers can be funny or sentimental. Guests can print out the game before the party or you can read the questions to them. When sharing answers, have someone designated to typing them up so mama can remember what everyone wrote.
8. DON’T FORGET THE CARD
My girls love looking at all the treasures in their baby boxes, including well wishes from those in attendance at their showers. If you don’t have a card on hand, make a card or write a letters to share encouragement and love to the mama-to-be.
I’m Hannah — a Seattle native and a mom to three spirited daughters. I love a good oat milk latte from Caffe Ladro, learning to skateboard with my 6-year-old, and exploring new parks with my best friend and partner, Matt. I’ve walked through hard seasons of divorce, single-parenting, and mental illness (in my kids and myself), but in the last couple years I’ve been redefining what it means for me to be a mom in my 30’s and how to find joy right here. (Hello, skateboard lessons and adult art class!) I didn’t expect much of anything about my life as it is now, but I’m learning to savor each moment. There is so much joy to be found here.
