March 03, 2021
Here's how to do it safely and with style.
These days, moms-to-be have even more to worry about than usual. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there are tons of added concerns, not the least of which — what do I do about my baby shower? Public health experts are currently warning against large social gatherings, but that doesn't mean you can't still celebrate the new arrival. When my best friend told me she was pregnant, I told her not to worry — she would still have a wonderful, fun-filled baby shower with all of her family and friends. Here's how we did it:
The Set Up
The first thing I did to start the planning process was to enlist the help of my friend's mom and sisters. For large events, it's good to put together a team so that you can delegate various tasks. In order to keep everyone as safe as possible, we decided on an all-virtual shower via group video chat. We consulted with the mom-to-be about her guest list and preferred date, then we sent out the invitations. We used Paperless Post, as it's user-friendly and has a wide variety of adorable baby shower-themed options. Once guests RSVP'd, they received a Zoom link for the event. Google Hangouts is another good option for your virtual gathering.
The Registry
Traditionally, a baby shower is all about “showering" the mom-to-be with gifts, so a baby registry is a efficient way for her to share exactly what she needs. Whether you want to go with a one-stop-shopping site like Amazon or pick a more specialized site like BabyList, which allows for moms to also register for favors like dropping off dinner or walking the dog, is your call. Make sure to check beforehand if your guest of honor plans to open gifts during or after the event.
Baby Games
No baby shower is complete without a few silly, customary mom-centric games. Luckily, many of the classics lend themselves quite well to the virtual format. You can even offer virtual prizes, like Sephora e-gift cards.
“Name That Baby Song" is always a big hit — play kid-oriented tunes and have your guests guess the title of each song. Another fun idea — have each attendee send a baby photo of themselves before the event begins. Share you screen on Zoom, display the photos and have everyone guess which guest corresponds to each photo.
Another crowd pleaser — "Celebrity Baby Names."Simply match the unique baby name to its celebrity parent. Or my personal favorite, "Baby Predictions." Each guest guesses the baby's birth weight, height, eye-color, hair-color, etc. You can keep it simple and send questions via email or go all-out and buy a downloadable template.
Decorations
Just because you're not seeing everyone in person doesn't mean you can't decorate. Consider sending the guest of honor baby-themed garlands, confetti, a tiara and/or a “Mom-to-be" sash so she can make her space nice and festive. Or if simplicity is your thing, What to Expect offer a whole list of downloadable Zoom backgrounds specifically designed for baby showers.
The Food
When each guest is in a different location, catering can prove complicated. But you can still make everyone feel like they're all sharing some festive snacks together. First off, you can ship the mom-to-be a gourmet gift basket so that, at the very least, she can snack away while everyone catches up and enjoys the games.
Another option — invite each guest to prepare their own treats ahead of time. You can even send out recipes, so everyone can munch on the same thing at the same time. Or you can follow our lead and find a local bakery or specialty food shop that's willing to ship individual care packages to each attendee. Pick a theme, like afternoon tea with scones or cupcakes or cheeses and savory snacks.
The Guest Book
Finally, don't forget the guest book. You can create one yourself on Google drive and share it with your guests, or start with What To Expect's easy-to-use template. Virtual or not, this event will still be epic, and you'll want to give your mama-to-be a way to remember her special day.
