Moms have had to go through during this pandemic in different circumstances than they probably ever imagined. Navigating virtual learning, working from home and taking care of their families and themselves have been draining. Pregnancy and the hormonal shift, combined with navigating it alone has taken a mental toll on some mamas. Thanks to the wonders of technology, it is possible to maintain close contact with loved ones without being physically close to each other. Since creativity is infinite, moms and their friends have managed to find new ways to celebrate their future baby’s arrival. Here are some ideas on how to host a fun and memorable virtual baby shower.
Initial Planning for Your Virtual Baby Shower
Pick a platform
Even before the pandemic, virtual baby showers were a “thing”. This made it possible to bring together family members scattered throughout the country and the world who could not attend the event in person. Unfortunately these virtual parties have become the main way to celebrate a baby shower in a world with COVID-19. Thankfully, we live in a hyper-connected world, with dozens of platforms to organize the celebration. Decide whether you will host your baby shower on Zoom, Google Hangouts, or Facebook Messenger Rooms. Skype has also begun introducing group calls, so that’s another option.
Send electronic invitations
This is an inexpensive way to formally invite to an event; in this case, a video call with a meeting date and time. Invitations can be made in apps like Canva, where you can put phrases for fun baby shower invitations to get your guests excited. Sites like Punchbowl, are also dedicated to sending electronic invitations.
Propose a fun theme
Another of the typical baby shower ideas is to propose themes. Wigs, masks, costumes, hats, and even a particular color can be used, always keeping the mother’s personal tastes in focus. This theme should cover the participants’ clothing and the decoration of the physical space, and the background music. For fun, you can reward the most produced.
Agree on a common menu
You can propose a menu of the same foods and beverages for everyone, in order to generate a feeling of unification, as if it were really the same physical place. As with the theme, you can compare the different foods and reward those whose preparation is the most elaborate.
Switch Some Traditional Activities to Fit the Virtual Theme
Advice to the future mother
Have guests write down some helpful or funny tips for the expectant mother and send them by mail or email to the event organizer. Remove the sender’s name and send them to the mother in list form. During the virtual baby shower, you can play a game to guess who wrote what advice.
- Make virtual games
Games are one of the best parts of baby showers. Guests can still play many of the games from a traditional shower. Some ideas that would work well in the virtual setting include:
- Having a gender reveal within the virtual baby shower.
- Guess the diameter of the belly.
- Attendees can submit photos of when they were babies, so the rest can guess who it is.
- You can also play the alphabet of names, by which names must be mentioned with each of the letters, from A to Z. This serves as a creative way to propose names if there are still no ideas.
Don’t forget the prizes! =)
What to do About Gifts
Send gifts in advance
The organizers of the event have the mission of asking the guests to send their gifts in advance so that, at the time of the celebration, the future mother has them with her and can open them in a timely manner during the video call. To make it more entertaining, it can be proposed that the gifts be sent without a sender so that the mother has to guess who made each gift.
Gifts with Mom in mind
You can organize a box with gifts exclusively for the enjoyment of the mother. Many businesses offer a variety of boxes to pamper the mother (and also the father). You can also customize your own gift box. You can include relaxing items for postpartum, delicious teas, a bottle for water, and beauty items in this selection. The possibilities are endless, and new parents will appreciate the pampering.
Bonus Idea for a Safe, Socially Distanced Baby Shower
Baby Shower Picnic
With a smaller guest list, you can have a social distancing picnic. Have guests carry their own food as well as chairs. The entertainer can organize a shared dessert that is separately packaged. Decorate the place with streamers as well as balloons and follow social distancing guidelines for seating. This is a nice way to share joy in the future mother’s presence and take advantage of the warm weather.
While the pandemic has changed many things, the desire to celebrate new life hasn’t. Stay. safe, stay smart and welcome new life in a fun and unique way.
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