There are so many things expecting parents are sadly missing out on during these tough times - one of them being a baby shower. The celebration of their pregnancy and new life. An occasion to gather with loved ones and share the excitement. For many couples and families, this is a very important time full of joy, laughter, excitement and love.
Unfortunately the UK lockdown ruined any plans for family and friend gatherings and celebrations for the foreseeable future - but do not be sad, you don't have to miss out on this special time in your life.
In this day and age we have technologies that can help you enjoy the celebration you deserve and sharing the joy and excitement with your nearest and dearest - a virtual baby shower is a great way to do this. Here are a few tips how to throw a successful virtual baby shower - for your pregnant daughter/sister/friend or if you are the one expecting, why not throw one for yourself! It's a great way to make memories and get even more excited and ready for welcoming your new baby into your family.
Tip 1. Choose the right platform for you
There are plenty of options out there that you can use for your virtual baby shower. Choosing the right one will depend on how many people you want to invite and the duration of your shower, as some platforms have a limit in their free packages. The most popular options are:
Google Hangouts - this platform is free for everyone who has a google account and it can hold up to 10 people.
Skype - this well known platform is free and it allows up to 50 people to join one conversation.
Zoom - Zoom is also a free platform and it allows up to 100 participants, however be aware that the free version only allows 40 minutes conference per room.
Facetime - FaceTime is free for anybody who owns iOS device and it can hold up to 32 conversations.
Tip 2. Make a guest list and choose convenient time to suit all
It may be a good idea to organise a list of all guests and see what their schedules are like - some families may be key workers or homeschooling, and so they may not be available all the time. Ask around and work out what day and time would be most convenient for all of your friends and family.
Tip 3. Choose a theme & decorations
You may want to choose a theme for your baby shower. Even though you cannot decorate a venue, it doesn't have to stop you from having a baby shower of your dreams. You can decorate the house with some balloons, banners, flowers and even send out some guest favours.
If you are organising a baby shower for somebody else, it may be a fantastic surprise to have some balloons and decoration delivered to the parents doors. Local small businesses such as In Our Hands Events or Bicester Party Shop are offering contactless deliveries of balloons and decorations, as well as some larger retailers - for example Moonpig, Funkypigeon or Balloonmonkey.
Some local florists also operate and offer great contactless delivery services - for example Signature Flowers Bucks and Oxon - a beautiful bouquet of freshly cut flowers for the expectant parents will definitely be a beautiful surprise gift for their baby shower!
Small keepsake presents such as beautiful handmade heart decorations or resin name sign with fresh flowers (if you know the baby's name) from Sarita's Treasures can also make a lovely gift for expectant parents.
Or send expecting parents delicious and beautiful baby shower cake from Cakes By Em - incredibly talented young cake maker from Bicester.
Tip 4. Design & Send invites
Once you have decided which platform you will host your baby shower on, have a date and have put together a guest list, you can start designing and sending invites. You can use applications such as Canva or Photoshop to design your own, purchase pre-designed invites on Etsy, or you can join my Lockdown Babies facebook group where you can download some pre-designed Baby Shower Invitations made by me (you can find the invites in the file folder in the group).
Tip 5. Keep it lighthearted & fun
I can only imagine how sad this time can be, not being able to hug your loved ones, but throwing a virtual baby shower is also a great opportunity to bring some cheer into everyone's lives especially during these tough times. Play some baby related games, have your guests dig out baby photos of themselves and have fun looking at them, play trivia quizzes, JackBox games, charades; and most importantly - have fun. Don't forget to take lots of photographs and screenshots of the special event for keepsakes and truly enjoy every second of your time with your loved ones, celebrating your pregnancy and life.
Tip 5. Gifts
There are fantastic baby registry services online such as Amazon, MyRegistry and ThingsToGetMe where couples can create a Wishlist of items they need/want and guests can choose which items they purchase for the couple. Gift e-vouchers for baby items, baby massages or a baby or family photoshoot are also a great way to gift to the expectant parents without being in physical contact as they usually have a long expiry date and the couple can use them after the lockdown is lifted and when it is safe to do so.
If you are planning your own baby shower and would like to give some unique small gifts to your guests as a thank you for part-taking in your special virtual baby shower, check out websites like Etsy or other individual sellers such as Sarita's Treasures who offer small personalised keyrings with pretty flowers and sparkles. Another unique small gift are pretty bath bombs by Taronamo Treasures, these bath bombs smell divine and they will help your guests enjoy some pampering.
What do you think about hosing a virtual lockdown baby shower? Have you had one or are you planning one? I would love to hear your stories! Join my Lockdown Babies Oxfordshire facebook support group and share tips and ideas with fellow parents to be.