5 Baby Shower Alternatives that Aren’t a Zoom Call
Baby shower ideas for when a video chat isn't your thing.
There are a number of reasons why you might not be able to have a traditional, in-person baby shower. And Zoom parties aren’t for everyone. If you have a large guest list, tech-averse relatives or if you were already feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of being the center of attention, a Zoom might not be the best venue for your shower.
But there’s good news: people have been hosting baby shower alternatives for years (not everyone lives close enough to their loved ones to party in person). So if Facetime or Zoom isn’t up your alley, here are five baby shower ideas that will make you feel loved and supported from a distance.
Our first tip? Start by forwarding this article to the person who was originally going to host your shower and be honest about which ideas resonate with you most. Because what you don’t need is added stress right now (and clear communication about your needs is always the quickest way to having them met).
Baby shower alternatives in this guide:
Baby Video Wish Tree
One of the best parts of a baby shower is getting to hear words of love and encouragement from people you care about most. You can create something close to that feeling with a video wish tree. All you have to do is ask friends and loved ones to send video clips of themselves speaking words of encouragement to the parents-to-be. This could be in the form of advice, reasons why they’ll make great parents or general words of love and support.
If you have a tech-savvy person in your network (find the closest TikTok aficionado), task them with collecting and assembling the videos. A compilation reel is great, but you don’t have to get fancy with it. A Google Drive link with video files will also get the job done. Then when the parents-to-be feel lonely or isolated, they can open up the folder and receive the digital equivalent of a hug.
Drive-Through Baby Shower
You’ve likely seen videos of drive-by birthday parties circulating online since the beginning of the pandemic. Well, just because you’re not a kid doesn’t mean you can’t still have a party. If your guests are mostly local and you live in a suburban area with minimal traffic, schedule a drive-through baby shower (you can even keep your original shower date if yours was already planned).
Encourage guests to decorate their cars or make signs and then drive by at an appointed time while the parents-to-be hang out on their front porch, lawn or stoop. Guests can play music, honk and otherwise celebrate from a safe distance while dropping off gifts. You can find helpful tips on how to throw a drive-through baby shower and see an example of a real-life drive-through shower.
Baby Shower by Mail
Baby showers aren’t just about the party. All those gifts can be really helpful in getting you set up for new parent life. But since supply and shipping timelines are still unpredictable for a lot of companies, many parents are opting to purchase baby gear themselves. One way to help is through a mail-in baby shower.
Instead of celebrating in person, guests can mail gift cards along with heartfelt notes. The gift cards can be used on future baby purchases (and there are always future baby purchases), and the cards can offer supportive words in the weeks leading up to baby’s arrival—almost like a baby shower advent calendar. If your guests aren’t naturally poetic, give them prompts to start their creative juices flowing (the ones in our video wish tree suggestion above are a perfect place to start).
Sip ‘n See or Welcome Party
For a multitude of reasons, pre-baby festivities might simply not be in the cards for you. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be baby-related celebrating in the future. Post-baby celebrations have been around for ages alongside christenings, britot and naming ceremonies, or in the form of sip ‘n sees. So there’s lots of groundwork that’s already been laid for how to make one happen. The simplest advice is to not overthink it (or overburden yourself when you’re already busy with a newborn). The point of a welcome party is to introduce your baby to your loved ones and vice versa. As long as there’s a tiny human in the room, no one will care if you sprang for decorations.
Nothing At All
Maybe you’re not interested in having a shower at all. That’s perfectly fine! There are plenty of ways to prepare for your baby’s arrival without a party, and your loved ones will find ways to celebrate you in their own way.
The most important thing to remember when reimagining your baby shower is why you were having one to begin with. If you need baby supplies ASAP, start from there. If it was about your community rallying around your growing family, let that be your guide. And don’t be afraid to ask for help or for someone else to host. In stressful times, being able to support the ones we love can give a much-needed sense of normalcy.