February 24, 2021

With social distancing and limited gathering recommendations as our new norm, many soon-to-be moms are opting to throw virtual baby showers so they can still celebrate the arrival of baby without physically gathering in large groups. Here are some tips for making your virtual baby shower fun and festive.

Pick a Venue (AKA Video Conferencing Platform)

You have options when deciding on a virtual platform to host your baby shower. Some offer different features than others, so you will want to do some research. Here are the big four:

• Zoom
• Google Hangouts
• Skype
• Microsoft Teams

While Zoom may be the most recognizable of the virtual meeting platforms, Google Hangouts, Skype, and Microsoft Teams are also widely used. All are free unless you elect to upgrade to paid versions which offer additional features and functionality. Some platforms have limitations on the number of people who can join, as well as the duration of the call, so perform your due diligence to ensure your “venue” can accommodate your needs.

Bonus: if you choose Zoom, you can customize a background image for everyone to use! Think of it as a fun party decoration. Simply email the photo file or link to your attendees ahead of time in your official virtual baby shower invitation.

To minimize extra stresses for the party host, consider designating a technical support contact should any guests experience difficulties logging in or accessing the event.

Send Invitations

You’ve selected a date and scheduled your venue, and now it’s time to send the invites! You can email an electronic card or mail a printed invitation. No matter your method, be sure to include all the useful information your guests will need, including:

• Date and time for the virtual shower
• Link for the event including passwords or personal identification numbers, if any
• A link to access the custom Zoom background if you create one
• Contact info for your designated technical specialist
• Online baby registry information
• An agenda so participants will know the flow of the party.
• Attire expectations (maybe ask everyone to dress in a color theme, a decade, or even wear their Sunday best!)

BYO Food & Beverage

One of the best parts about attending a traditional baby shower is sharing the awesome food! Of course, with everyone in different locations, you will have to think outside the box. Invite your guests to prepare their own favorite food or snacks to munch on during the party and suggest a beverage of choice to toast the mom-to-be. If you want to go the extra mile, you can have lunch or pastries delivered ahead of time to your partygoers for a nice surprise!

Forgo the Gift Opening

While everyone loves to watch the mom-to-be open her gifts and the oohing and awing that comes along with it, this activity will take up too much time in a virtual setting. You can ask guests to send their gifts ahead of time, and if there is a group gift, maybe reserve time to open that one special item during the shower.

Play Games

What would a baby shower be without games? They are especially important for virtual baby showers to help engage the audience and minimize awkward silences that can happen during an online get-together. While many traditional baby shower games may not translate well virtually, here are some that do.

• The Price is Right. Someone holds up several baby items (bib, bottle, diaper bag, etc.) and guests guess how much each item costs.
• Who’s that Baby? Have your guests send the host a baby photo of themselves ahead of the shower. During the party, someone holds up each photo to the camera, and guests guess who it is.
• Parental Overshare Virtual Baby Shower Game. Share the dramas of parenting based on topics that the hostess pulls out, like most embarrassing moment a child had in public, the funniest memory, the scariest incident, etc.
• Baby Prediction Submission. If you haven’t already shared the gender of the baby, have guests make predictions. Also, guess the date and time the baby will arrive, weight and height, eye and hair color, etc.

There are also virtual game apps that may be available with the meeting platform you choose. Or get creative and come up with your own unique game!

Give out Prizes

With games come prizes! Since the winners cannot immediately take possession of their prizes, an award that can be emailed, like an e-gift card, might be the simplest. If your prizes are tangible, designate a guest to record who won each game and make sure they have the correct mailing address to send each prize.

Record the Party and Capture Photos

A virtual baby shower should not be looked at as an event you had to settle for during the pandemic. It is a beautifully creative way to make and share memories. While traditional photos may be challenging to capture, you can do screen captures to treasure and use the virtual platform’s record features if they are available.

The most important piece of advice is to not sweat the small stuff, like video quality issues, sound glitches, or passcode problems. Instead, enjoy the opportunity to come together and share in the impending arrival of this new bundle of joy.

 

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