Like many families, you want to celebrate your or someone else’s new arrival but how do you throw a party when you need to social distance? Over the past few weeks, states across the country have made adjustments to their coronavirus playbooks. These changes may make it easier for your friends and family to gather.
Still, a virtual baby shower could be your best bet for everyone involved! Here are a few ways to throw a safe and memorable online event.
1. Choose the Right Platform
As you put together a guest list, it’s smart to consider how you want to host the party. You can choose from many video platforms, like Zoom and Skype. Of course, you’ll want to make sure everyone can access your event. If you think your older family members can’t log into a video chat, try a live stream instead. This way, they’ll only need to click a link to see you.
You can also reach out to your loved ones and ask about what they’d prefer. Once you receive everyone’s feedback, it’ll be easier to narrow down your options. It’s essential to remember that some websites have a user capacity, so they won’t work for large groups. After you decide, make sure to conduct a test run on your event’s date!
2. Establish a Party Timeline
Here’s a quick tip to make your baby shower seem more manageable. It can feel a little stressful to host a virtual party especially when you may have guests present who don’t know everyone else. Therefore, it’s essential to establish a timeline for pleasantries and activities. This way, you’ll know when to wrap up the afternoon.
Your timeline can be as short or long as you wish. Some expectant parents don’t have the energy to spend more than 30 minutes at an event. That’s perfectly fine. Make sure to let your guests know about this timeline on the invitations. For instance, you could write “from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.” as a heads up. This way, everyone can set aside the right amount of time to join you.
3. Pick a Memorable Theme
It’s not super easy to create a party atmosphere that translates through a screen, but it’s still possible. The entire event becomes more enjoyable when you run with a specific theme that aligns with your interests. You could also specify by gender if you wish. Either way, a theme can truly elevate your experience.
To implement your theme, you can buy some decorations to set up at a specific location. For example, you could create a backdrop behind your couch so that viewers can see as you broadcast. You could also take another route ask each guest to wear a particular color or style when they attend. If you really want to dive into your theme, make an on-theme onesie your newborn can wear when they arrive.
Be sure to take photos and videos so that you always have a way to remember this day.
4. Open Gifts or Not
Traditionally, expectant parents open their gifts at their baby shower. If you still want to fit this segment into your event, go ahead! It’s up to you whether or not you feel comfortable with this activity. That said, you also don’t need to feel any pressure. It may seem a bit weird to show off baby clothes over a screen, so do what’s best for you. Make sure to incorporate this part into your timeline.
You should also let your guests know there’s no pressure to send a present especially if the baby shower isn’t super planned or formal. You could request that your guests write a few well-wishes for your baby. You can turn these notes into a book they can read later on. This way, everyone can contribute. At this time, it’s best to take a more laid-back approach.
5. Do Activities and Games
Sometimes, people can feel a little uncertain about virtual gatherings. Like you, they may not know what to expect! Be sure to include a few activities and games so that there aren’t too many awkward silences. There are many different ideas to try!
You can have guests use a pen and paper to play baby Pictionary. You could try a simple word game throughout the party where every guest voids the word “baby.” At the end of the event, wrap up the party with a little advice from any parents. If you need more ways to stay occupied, feel free to adapt some popular games so that they work for a virtual environment.
Use These Tips to Create a Memorable Event for Your Little One
You can still have a memorable baby shower for your newborn. Use these tips to make sure you and your guests have the best experience possible!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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