Last updated on July 9th, 2024 at 02:13 pm
A baby shower is such an important milestone along the journey to bringing a new little one into the world! But what do you do when life circumstances make it near impossible to host a traditional shower? Don’t worry! A virtual baby shower is a great alternative without sacrificing any of the fun!
I know it sounds a little unorthodox but hear me out! As someone who had to host a virtual option for my own wedding reception (thank you Covid!) it really can be just wonderful as an in-person baby shower and maybe have a few extra perks!
Let’s chat about all the reasons you should consider a virtual baby shower and get you started on planning one today!
Interested in some other non-traditional baby shower options? Check out The 10 Best Baby Shower Alternatives for Modern Parents.
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Why Should I Host A Virtual Baby Shower?
There are several reasons why a virtual baby shower may be a great fit for you!
- Distance – whether it is related to schooling, jobs, or other circumstances, you may live far away from family and friends at the time of your baby shower. That doesn’t mean you should give up being able to celebrate the arrival of your bundle of joy! A virtual baby shower has the ability to bring together loved ones from all over the world if desired and is a great way to make sure everyone is included!
- Convenience – Going along with distance, a virtual baby shower can be more convenient for everyone involved, especially for guests who may not live in the same area as the expectant parents. With a virtual event, guests can join from anywhere with an internet connection, which means that more people can attend and celebrate.
- Cost-effective – Hosting a virtual baby shower can be more cost-effective than an in-person event. There are no venue rental fees, catering costs, or decorations to buy. This can be especially helpful for expectant parents who are trying to host a baby shower on a budget.
- Flexibility – A virtual baby shower offers more flexibility in terms of scheduling. Guests can join from different time zones, and the event can be held at any time that works best for everyone involved. No need to host your event on a weekend, your baby shower could be late in the evening and it still could be easier for guests to attend. This can be especially helpful for expectant parents who may have a busy schedule or have difficulty finding a time that works for everyone.
- Creative opportunities – Hosting a virtual baby shower allows for more creative opportunities since there are no physical limitations. Expectant parents can choose from a wide range of virtual activities, such as online games, virtual tours of the nursery, or a virtual baby name game.
- Social distancing – while distancing from others is not as common now as it was a few years ago during the height of the pandemic, there still may be reasons in the expectant mother’s life to hold a socially distant event.Whether that is for her health or the health of others in attendance, a virtually baby shower allows for everyone to celebrate together without being physically together.
How to Host A Virtual Baby Shower
Now that we’ve discussed why hosting a virtual baby shower can be a great option, let’s chat about how to get started planning one.
Choose a Platform
Just like hosting any in-person party, your first step will be where to host it. There are several platforms you can choose from all with different features to accommodate your party.
Zoom
If you are expecting 10+ people to participate your best option will probably be Zoom. This video conferencing platforms can accommodate large groups of people a lot better than most.
In post pandemic life, many guests may already have a Zoom account set up or have at least used the program before which can make the process easier. It also is free for the first 40 minutes, but if you decide you would like your shower to be longer or just not be ended abruptly you may have to sign up for a subscription for $15. Considering this is a lot cheaper than renting a separate baby shower venue it may be worth it to you! Just make sure you cancel it after your shower if you don’t want to continue paying the fee. Only the host will have to have an account. Your guests can access the party through the link you provide them for free.
Google Meet
Similar to Zoom, Google Meet allows you to host an event with up to 100 people for up to 60 minutes completely free. Just send your guest the link through their Google Calendar and they can join! If you are trying to keep your costs as low as possible and don’t mind having a time limit on your party, Google Meet would be a great option.
If hosting a video shower isn’t quite for you, you could host your virtual baby shower on a Facebook group. Now you won’t be able to see each of your guests or even meet over video at the same time. This type of virtual baby shower can be run similar to an MLM style party.
If you’ve ever been invited to a Pamper Chef or PaperPie Book type party online, you know what I am talking about. This virtual party is held over the course of an established amount of time (typically a week) and it is set up in a way that guests can interact with each other over social media during the set amount of time.
Usually this involves several threads that everyone can participate in together all centered around the topic of the baby shower. These posts could include different games, photos, or even advice threads for everyone to enjoy.
While even more unorthodox than a video conference, this type of baby shower let’s the party go on all week! It definitely will take some work to keep going, but if done well can be so fun and memorable for everyone involved.
Once you have decided on your platform you will need to send out a link to each person. This can be sent within your actual baby shower invite (especially if you are choosing the Evite option) or announced separately. Just make sure it is clear the date, time, the link to click on, and a password if necessary.
Plan Activities
Baby shower are all about fun games to get your guests laughing, so why couldn’t a virtual baby shower be the same! While you have to get a little creative with what games you plan, there are plenty of options that would work great over video chat! There are plenty of virtual baby shower games you can play, but here are some of my favorites:
- Baby Themed Trivia – have a bunch of trivia questions made up ahead of time for your guests to guess the answers. Bonus if the questions are all about the mom-to-be (or include dad as well)
- Baby Picture Guessing Game – have all of your guests send in a baby picture of themselves ahead of time and take turns guessing who each picture is of online.
- Name That Tune – Create a playlist of songs from the mother-to-be’s early days to take turns guessing.
There are plenty of traditional baby shower activities you can also use virtually, it just might take some creativity. Keep it simple and make it something easy for your guests to hold up to their camera and show on screen.
Send Out Invititations
Send out invitations to your guests like your normally would but make it clear that it will be a virtual baby shower. You can either add the link to the invitation (send your invites or text or email) or you can give instructions for the link to be sent at a further date.
Because of the virtual nature of the event, it can be helpful to check in with each guest to make sure a link was received and that they understand how to use it. You could also use RSVP as a way to check on the status of each guest.
To add some more fun to your part, you can set a theme and send your guests some extra instructions for the event. This could include:
- Wear a specific color or item of clothing
- A drink or food recipe for them to make
- Any supplies for games they may need
You can make this shower extra fun and special by involving your guests ahead of the main event!
Choose a Host or Emcee
If you are throwing your own shower, or hosting for someone else you will want to make sure that someone oversees keeping the event running smoothly. I can’t tell you how many times I have been on a video call and the sound quality is terrible or you can hear noise in the background from someone who forgot to mute themselves.
Your emcee should be tech savvy and able to handle all those playback issues to help keep interactions flowing with all your guests. You are more than welcome to perform this role as the mother-to-be or ask someone else to step in so you can just enjoy everyone’s company.
Read Next: How to Host a Diaper Raffle at a Baby Shower
Decorate
Just because you aren’t meeting with your guests in person does not mean you cannot decorate! Set up your filming space with lots of balloons, streamers, or any other decorations you like to give it a fun, party atmosphere.
Find a cute background or balloon arch that you can set up or go somewhere to set up your video call that has an interesting background.
Also make sure the mom-to-be is fitted with the perfect sash to celebrate the event. The possibilities are endless! You could also send decorations to your guests beforehand, such as a baby shower backdrop or party hats.
Food and Drink
While you can’t physically share food and drink with your guests, you can still create a shared experience. Consider sending out a recipe or ingredients for a mocktail or appetizer that everyone can make and enjoy together during the shower.
For your party activity you could also have a virtual baking session, where everyone bakes and decorates cookies or cupcakes. Anything that includes sharing your time together as a group will make your virtual baby shower all the more fun.
Gifts
Now what is a baby shower without gifts? Even if it is a virtual baby shower, gifts are still a large part of the festivities. The virtual nature of the party makes this a bit trickier, but you can still open presents over the video call and express your gratitude to each guest.
To make it easier for those attending, create a baby registry online and include the link on your invitation. That way gifts could be sent ahead of time and opened on the call in front of your party crew.
Did you know that Amazon can send gifts already wrapped to the mom-to-be? Don’t forget to send thank-you cards after the event to show your appreciation!
Photos
Typically, photos and digital memories are a big part of remembering your party. Just because you are hosting a virtual baby shower doesn’t mean you have to miss out on that part!
You could instruct a guest to be in charge of capturing screenshots throughout the even, or ask everyone to take a selfie or two of the people they are with in person to send into the event. You could also create a virtual guestbook, where guests can leave messages and well wishes for the baby.
See planning a virtual baby shower is a lot easier than it sounds! Yes, you have to be a little creative to make it run, but it is so worth it!
Other Considerations for Hosting a Virtual Baby Shower
There are few other things you will need to keep in mind when hosting your virtual baby shower.
- Older Guests – Some guests (stereotypically older ones such as grandparents) may have difficulties using social media and accessing the link for the shower. Make sure to walk them through it ahead of time or have someone assigned to help them the day of.
- Large Guest List – Hosting a virtual baby shower can make it difficult to interact with each guest individually. Ideally a zoom meeting, or however you choose to do it, should be kept to a smaller group (maybe 10-15 people). This way everyone feels included in the festivities. If you plan on inviting more people to the shower you can host more than one session! This is the beauty of celebrating virtually, you can easily have several video calls to meet with everyone.
- Group Celebrating – Considering inviting your guests to get together with others close by them to participate in your baby shower. This is a great option for families and friends that live spread out all over the country to meet up and feel more included in the event.
Download Your Checklist Here!
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Hosting a virtual baby shower may be different from the traditional in-person event, but it can still be just as memorable and enjoyable. With a little planning and creativity, you can create a virtual experience that brings loved ones together to celebrate the upcoming arrival of your bundle of joy.
Check out more great baby shower related content:
- How to Ask for Books Instead of Cards at a Baby Shower
- How to Host a Diaper Raffle at a Baby Shower
- How to Throw a Virtual Baby Shower
- Best Locations to Host a Baby Shower
- Baby Shower Thank You Cards: How to Write the Perfect Card
- The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
- 33 Best Baby Shower Game Prize Ideas (That Aren’t Gift Cards)
- The 10 Best Baby Shower Alternatives for Modern Parents
- How to Host an Amazing Freezer Meal Baby Shower
If you are pregnant, check out these blog posts to help you prepare for your baby:
- Top 10 Things Your Labor Nurse Wants You To Know
- Preparing for Pregnancy: 7 First Trimester Must-Haves You Can’t Do Without
- 7 Tips for the First 7 Days of Breastfeeding
- Navigating Pumping at Work: Top 11 Tips for a New Mom’s Success
- Everything You Need to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
- The Ultimate Third Trimester Checklist
- Baby Medicine Cabinet Essentials
- How to Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
- Postpartum Must-Haves for a Vaginal Delivery
