How to Throw a Virtual Baby Shower

As social distancing could be set for quite a while longer and more and more of my clients due dates are coming up, I got to thinking about how disappointing it must be not to enjoy in the celebrations of a new life coming into the world with our closest friends and family members. So I got to thinking how one could be organised virtually…

TIP: Much of the preparation is actually the same, the key is prep and planning! Leave more time to organise everything too.

Step 1: Send virtual baby shower invitations out

Whether you want to invite guests through social media or a platform such as Zoom  or Skype, mum-to-be may be very grateful for a physical invite in the post! What a lovely surprise that would be. If you are going to use a social platform that needs passwords etc do not forget to include them in the information on the invite!

TIP: once you have chosen which platform, do a test run!

Step 2: Get Dad-to-be on the case!

Make contact with Dad-to-be, let him know that people may want to be sending mum-to-be some gifts and get him to intercept them and make a big pile ready for the party. If you are not local, Dad-to-be could also recommend a local bakery for a cake or add one into the food shop delivery, along with a nice bottle of sparkling elderflower! Alternatively, you may wish to all chip in a get a collection of mum-to-be’s favourite foods, some handy snacks to pop into her labour bag, as well as a few baby essentials and order a food delivery at the start of the shower! Also encourage guests to have similar food on stand by their end too, I.e. if your ordering afternoon tea items asks guests to have a plate of the same type items!

TIP: Share a recipe for a baby shower mocktail that guests can make and sip together during the shower!

Step 3: Pick a theme

This maybe a little harder to facilitate, however there can still be plenty of fun touches to be made. Ask guests and Dad-to-be to put up balloons and streamers in the shot of the camera. Expecting a boy, ask guests to all wear blue! Or not sure on gender, split it 50/50 half in pink and half in blue! If you are feeling brave ask everyone to dress up at a baby!

Step 4: Plan activities

Now how well do you know your mum-to-be? some love the big gift reveal and others hate it. If you are going to do it, you can think about whether to get guests to send items to dad (maybe worth getting some appropriate wrapping paper delivered and asking him nicely to wrap them for you) or guests can keep them and unwrap them and talk a little about why they have bought that item.

My personal favourite, baby shower games, there are so many that can easily be adapted to online playing. How about a game of Baby alphabet? On the invite be sure to ask all guests to bring a pad a pen to the party! Then get ready, guests have to think of a boy/girl/both names beginning with each letter of the alphabet. First one to finish wins. Then get everyone to take a photo of their answers and send to mum-to-be for baby name options! Another fun one “The price is right”. This one involves taking turns guessing how much different types of baby items costs.

Make a best wishes and advice book, ask guests to send their words of wisdom to you in advance, along with a photo of them and the mum-to-be and make a photobook up for her to either show her or send over to dad-to-be for presenting on the day. Definite tear jerker that one.

Step 5: baby shower favours

Definitively not obligatory but bonus points if you do, send some party favours out to each of your guests as a token of your appreciation for their virtual attendance!