HOUSTON – Many events have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, including baby showers, but there is way parents-to be can easily celebrate this joyful moment with friends and family.
Nina Spears, co-founder & CEO with the pregnancy and parenting website Baby Chick, shares great tips on how to have a baby shower, virtually.
While expecting parents can host the baby shower themselves, a friend or family member can still host it for them.
According to Spears, here’s what you need.
BEFORE THE SHOWER:
1. Send out a digital invite
You can use PaperlessPost, Evite or Greenenvelope with a video link for guests to join. Popular options for video include Zoom, Google Hangouts and FaceTime.
“Keep in mind Google hangouts only allows 10 people to join the session, so you may have to keep the guest list small. FaceTime is only available for Apple products and Zoom only allows 40 minutes of free meeting time, but you can pay for more,” said Spears.
2. Decorate the area that will be behind you during your virtual shower
Get balloons, a sign, flowers, a cake or cupcakes or something else to make it festive.
“I recommend picking a spot where you can have a fun backdrop and where your partner or whoever is with you can bring the gifts,” said Spears.
3. Have your guests mail you your baby shower gifts before the event but don’t open the boxes before the event
“Whether they drop it off at your door or mail it to you before your shower, open it when everyone’s logged in,” said Spears.
DAY OF THE SHOWER:
4. Get dressed up and do your hair like you’re going to an in-person event
“This is a big moment. You could still feel celebrated, feel beautiful. You can even record your virtual baby shower and have that video of you chatting with all your loved ones. So, yes! Get up, get showered, do your hair and make up,” said Spears.
5. You can play baby shower games virtually
Games like “Who’s the baby” works in a video environment, while others you can email everyone during the shower, and they can pull up and participate in virtually. These include The Price is Right, Baby Bump or Beer Belly, and Who Knows Mommy.
“There are tons of games, so don’t skip out on the fun,” said Spears.
6. For a sweet activity, have each guest share a memory, a blessing or something positive for the mom-to-be
"Something that we do in blessing way, I also like to do in baby showers. Tell the mother how proud you are, how she’s going to get through this because it can be a scary time right now for moms. To be able to say positive birth stories, tell her how beautiful she is, that’s just going to stay with her for the rest of the pregnancy and childbirth,” said Spears.
7. Open the gifts while everyone is on video
“A huge part of a baby showers is to see what everyone got mom. People love to 'ooo and ahhh’ over the latest baby things. It doesn’t matter if the gift it’s in a box, it doesn’t matter if it’s perfectly wrapped, we understand under these circumstances. But still being able to open and thank that person and have it be an event is wonderful,” she said.
8. Cheers with your guests
Request that everyone has a drink close by so they can cheer to the mama-to-be.
“And make sure that mama has a (non-alcoholic) drink,” said Spears.
To see Spears’s complete interview, watch the video above.