Celebrating the upcoming arrival of a little one with family and friends is one of the things expectant moms look forward to most! Unfortunately, sometimes not all of the party guests can be physically present for a baby shower. However, we live in an age with some awesome technology that allows those moms to still have a special celebration with the ones they love most...even if it is from a distance! Scroll down to learn how to throw an awesome Virtual Baby Shower that will make moms-to-be feel super special and surrounded with love. You could also use these same ideas to throw a virtual bridal shower, virtual birthday party or other celebration!
Luckily, we now have social platforms that let us stay connected with our favorite people when we can't be with them in person. Facebook, Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts are making it possible for us to still "see" and interact with others, and they're actually perfect for hosting a virtual baby shower! For our shower we chose to set up a private Facebook Group, then broadcast the shower via Facebook Live. We chose this route for a few reasons: 1.) The majority of our friends have Facebook profiles, so they know how to use it 2.) No one needs to download/navigate a new app and 3.) Facebook saves the recording in the group so people who can't join live can still watch and comment later!
Begin by setting up a Facebook Group and setting it to "Private." This ensures that only the people that you invite to the shower can see the group, and it also ensures that the group stays secure. Give the group a name (ex: Madison's Virtual Baby Shower) and upload a cover photo. We've designed a sweet, gender neutral Baby Shower Cover Photo that you are more than welcome to download and use, if you'd like. Next, type out a message explaining that you'll be celebrating virtually in the group via Facebook Live. Ask guests to save the date for your event, and let them know that more details will come soon. Once your announcement is posted, invite your guests to join the Facebook Group.
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Once the date and time of your Virtual Baby Shower have been set, it's time to send out a digital invitation. What we discovered when planning our shower was that many people, especially grandparents and close family, wanted a physical invitation as a keepsake. By sending a digital invite, guests can print one off at home to keep. We've created a free, editable Baby Shower Invitation that you can personalize with your own details, then upload to your group. The invite will outline the date and time of the event, registry info, where to send gifts, etc. Additional details like how to log in to watch the shower or type comments during the live stream can be shared in the Facebook post under the photo.
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Just because the celebration is virtual doesn't mean it can't still look like a celebration! All you need to do is choose a few items that can be used to jazz up the "on camera" space behind the mom-to-be, then have them shipped directly to her. For our shower, we hung a Shiplap Backdrop to the wall to set the scene. We then added "BABY" balloons (available in blue or pink) and a Vintage Collection Pennant Banner behind her to complete the look. We also sent a Mom-to-Be Gold Foil Badge that the mama could wear during the shower so she still felt special. Browse a huge array of decor items to find something just right for your expectant mama here.
Even though special friends and family members can't attend a virtual baby shower, we came up with an idea that would emotionally connect the mom-to-be with some of the people that mean the most to her. Prior to the shower, have a few of the expectant mama's closest friends and/or family record a short video message for her. During the shower, have them text her the messages. She can show them on the computer screen as she watches them, and the guests will be able to watch along with her. Fair warning...this is pretty special. Have the tissues ready!
Shower games can still be played virtually and make guests feel like they're a part of the action! Here are a few ideas: 1.) Fill a Short Jar with Gumballs or Baby Shower Candy. Have the guests guess how many candies are in the jar by typing in their guesses. The closest guesser wins! 2.) The "Mom vs. Dad" game in this Advice for Parents Baby Shower Game gets guests guessing about Mom and Dad and generates some fun conversation! Mom announces her answers and the guest with the most matching answers wins! 3.) Arrange various baby items on a tray and show the guests for 15 seconds. Guests have a minute to write down as many items as they can remember, and the guest that remembers the most wins! Here are 6 additional Free Printable Baby Shower Games.
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Showering the mom-to-be with gifts for the baby is one of the main purposes of a baby shower. With the COVID-19 situation, the safest way to get gifts to the mom-to-be right now is to have them shipped directly to her. Most companies will allow you to add a personalized message on the packing slip, which is a nice, personal touch. Local guests can also wrap gifts and drop them off on the mom's doorstep to safely avoid any contact. The mama can then open some or all of the gifts on camera during the event. There will be some guests who would love to see her open certain gifts, so it's great to have that opportunity.
When the shower is over, the mom-to-be is going to want to thank everyone for the gifts that they generously gave. Since we want to keep her safe and sound at home instead of sending her out shopping for thank you notes, we've designed some Free Printable Thank You Notes that she can download and print for free...all from the comfort of her home. They are post-card style, so she can write on them, add an address and stamp, then toss them in the mailbox for pick-up...no envelopes required! If she'd prefer to use an envelope, the notes fit perfectly inside A7 envelopes that can be purchased online.
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