Having a baby is always an exciting occasion, and it’s usually celebrated with a baby shower. But maybe you’ve had a baby shower already for your first child, or you just want something different.
Alternative celebrations have been gaining popularity in recent years, spurred by social media trends. Here are some of the most popular baby shower alternatives, and what you’ll need to plan one.
Nesting Party
Nesting parties are a more hands-on experience than baby showers. Guests usually come ready to help an expectant mother prepare for the arrival of a new baby—taking care of chores she may not have time for when caring for a new baby, helping put together a nursery or baby furniture, prepping meals and more.
Nesting parties are often held for mothers expecting their second child, as they may have received all of the more expensive things they need for a new baby at their initial baby shower. Nesting parties offer another way for friends and family of the the mom-to-be to
show support.
You might need:
A sign-up list for chores
Cleaning supplies
Plastic containers for meal prep
Postpartum supplies (postpartum pads, diapers, a breast pump, etc.)
Tools for assembling baby furniture
Baby Sprinkle
A baby sprinkle is actually pretty similar to a baby shower but held on a much smaller scale (which is why it’s only a “sprinkle” as opposed to a “shower”). These gatherings are usually more relaxed than a baby shower and focus less on large, expensive items and more on everyday necessities for motherhood.
Because they’re more casual, they require less intensive planning than a baby shower does and are usually easier on the new mother, her family and her friends. For mothers who have already had a full baby shower for their first child, baby sprinkles recapture some of that magic without being as big of an investment.
You might need:
Refreshments
Invitations
Thank-you party favors
Games and other activities
A baby sprinkle registry (Commonly-
requested items include diapers, baby clothes or new versions of items with expiration dates, like car seats.)
Sip and See
Sip and sees are not held in anticipation of a new baby, but rather after one is already born. This allows guests to meet the baby, often for the first time. While this tradition originated in the Southern United States, it’s gained popularity over the past few years as a lower-pressure alternative to baby showers.
Some parents may hold a sip and see in addition to a baby shower, while others may opt for only a sip and see.
Hosts and guests alike should be mindful to wash or sanitize their hands before interacting with the new baby—it’s not personal, it’s just for the baby’s health!
You might need:
Invitations
Hand sanitizer or a hand-washing station
Refreshments and drinks (The “sip” in “sip and see” used to refer to tea, but it can be anything.)
Small gifts (especially if the parents didn’t hold a shower or sprinkle)
Baby-friendly clothing (easily laundered, and not uncomfortable
for the baby to be held against)
