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Times are weird right now. People can’t gather and are trying to find new ways to make common activities still seem “normal”. In times like this, it seems that pregnancies and babies being born are having quite an uptick as well. If you know someone that is going to be having a baby soon, it’s important to start prepping and preparing to learn how to host a virtual baby shower.
The good news is that online baby showers are quite popular now as well so this really shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone at all!
Before diving into how to throw an online baby shower, let’s answer a few specific questions that always seem to pop up!
1. What is a virtual baby shower?
It’s really like it sounds. It’s your typical baby shower except everyone is attending via online chat or zoom. This means that more people will be able to attend since all they have to do is log in instead of traveling and rearranging previous plans. While the venue is a non-traditional shower the rest can look and feel festive and joyous, for all to enjoy.
2. Is a virtual baby shower tacky?
This is going to depend solely on opinions. Since we’re living in a time of a health crisis, many people understand that gathering in groups and in-person might not be the best or safest idea. To combat, online baby showers can be a great compromise that still allows the mom-to-be to have a shower while still keeping everyone safe as well.
3. How do you announce a virtual baby shower?
You might as well keep with the whole virtual theme, right? Sending out email invites or text messages is a super fast and simple way to send out baby shower invites. You can also send out a massive email with a Zoom link where those who can attend online can just log in with ease.
Virtual Baby Shower Invitation Wording
Now is your time to have fun and think of cute verbiage and wording for the baby shower invites. You can easily play the rhyming game or think of something off the cuff. Some simple wording ideas could be:
“Even though we’re far apart, let’s still show the love and support from our heart. Join in via Zoom for some digital baby shower fun!”
“Mom is happy and healthy and wanting to stay that way. Due to 2020, we’re celebrating here and baby online!”
See how simple and easy the wording can be? The main thing to keep in mind is that you need to get people to understand that this baby shower invitation isn’t an invite to leave their house but to just log in and join virtually.
How Long is an Online Baby Shower?
Hosting a virtual baby shower is actually going to be a lot shorter in time than if the baby shower was in person. This is because there isn’t food or drinks to consume and people won’t be mingling and chit-chatting around the room. While typically baby showers may last several hours, it’s a pretty safe guess to say that a virtual baby shower is going to last maybe an hour or so.
What Do you Do at a Virtual Baby Shower?
Great question and probably one of the most important ones to ask! Before you figure out how to start organizing and planning, you need to have a good idea of what the baby shower is going to entail.
If it’s solely a way for people to log in and see the gifts, then remember to keep that your focus and move on. But just in case you need a few more tips, here are a few other ideas to keep in mind for hosting an online baby shower.
How to Host a Virtual Baby Shower
If you’re the host and planning the baby shower, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Make the Guest List and Get the Evites Sent Out to Your Digital Baby Shower
The good news about this type of baby shower is that you don’t really have to limit the number of guests. If the mom-to-be wants to invite 100 people, you just have to add in the email address and hit send!
You’re also going to need to send the baby shower invites out in advance so that the gifts can be ordered and delivered. (You might also want to decide where the gifts will be stored until the baby shower celebration so that the mom-to-be doesn’t see them all!)
Communicate The Expectations of Those Attending
Make it very clear the purpose of the baby shower. If there is a baby registry, include it. If there is a want for diapers, include that information.
Since people aren’t going to be traveling or coming to your location for the baby shower, they’re going to want very clear instructions on how to purchase and where to send the items for the baby shower.
This is important! Give them as much information as possible so that you’re not bombarded with a ton of questions.
Give a Timeframe Once Everyone Logs On
On the day of the baby shower, make certain that you thank everyone for attending and give any updates on the upcoming arrival of the baby. Since everyone is logging in for that purpose, it’s a good way to break the ice and to get everyone in the baby mind frame and mood.
Make certain you announce the mom-to-be and let her have time to say a few words. After that, put the focus on her and have her announce who the gifts are from before opening and showing everyone who is watching. (Be certain to have a notebook handy so that you can write down all the gifts for thank you notes to be sent out!)
Once all the gifts are done, that’s really about all you have to worry about. You have the option to have everyone take the time to give words of advice or love to the mom-to-be but that’s up to you if you want to put them on the spot or not.
As you can see, hosting a virtual baby shower takes a little bit of planning but is a fairly easy process to do! Just keep the focus on the mom and baby and everyone is certain to have a fun time, even if it’s not in person!
Keep Your Digital (online) Baby Shower Festive.
Figure out the record option on your Web based baby shower, a recording of the special event is always a great way to look back and enjoy it all over and over again. Memories, right?
Decorate where you’re going to open gifts with balloons or other themed decor, streamers, flowers, even stuffed animals are adorable.
Download a free background for your web baby shower, making it even more festive! Just search ‘free zoom backgrounds. Seriously, even Disney offers free backgrounds!
Instructions for Free Disney Zoom Background:
1. Hover your cursor over the photo you’d like to download and use.
2. Right click the photo and choose “Save Image As”
3. Save the image to a location on your computer, I usually just save in downloads.
4. Photos are already size correctly for installation and use in Zoom.
Ms Manners Tip: Thank You Cards should NEVER be digital. There’s nothing quite like someone taking the time to hand write a brief and heart felt thank you. if your budget allows, consider a small gift card ($1-$3 each) to put in with your thank you. However, not necessary. Personal gift cards like something to your favorite online small business is a great way to spread the love further.
If you’re going for a small social gathering, you totally want to check out these posts, one of them has gone viral twice on Pinterest, so I’m certain you’ll find some great ideas!
Budget Friendly Baby Shower Favors and More Budget Friendly Baby Shower Favors.
Baby Shower Party Ideas.
We loved doing our Digital Secret Santa this year, we’re all learning so much more about all the great ways tech can keep us all connected. Think of virtual celebrations as a way to expand upon inclusiveness.
I’m pretty sure you’ll love these too!
