Hooray! You’re pregnant! Congratulations! Being pregnant is such an exciting and fun time. There are so many opportunities to celebrate every little milestone. I know that there is a lot of uncertainty as well, especially during this time of quarantine and worry. It can take the “fun” out of some of the aspects of being pregnant. I definitely don’t want you to miss out on one of the best things about being pregnant……your baby shower. So, I’m going to tell you all about a “Virtual Baby Shower” and how to host one!
Registry
Go ahead and make your registry. This can be a lot of fun. Get comfy, pull out the computer, and start clicking away. There are several online resources to help you with this, but I suggest Amazon. Amazon is really easy to use, most people are familiar with it, and they have a great return policy. Plus you earn rewards when people purchase off your registry. I have a post here, discussing a cost effective and no-nonsense registry if you’re on a budget.
Get your friends involved
Even though they may not be able to be there in person, let those special people host for you. Have your sister send out invites via mail or email. Have your best friend order a tiny cake and have it sent to you (or you could pick up) on the day of. Let your mom ship you decorations she made/purchased. Let these people feel involved and shower you with their love. They may not get to do it in a traditional way, but they still want to be a part of your baby’s journey.
Have gifts shipped to your house
It’s important people understand to ship gifts to your house up until about 4-5 days before the shower. Then you’ll have everything ready to go. Also, make sure that they include a “gift message” or receipt so that you know who has shipped it to you. Set up a corner of your living room or a place in the nursery to keep all the gifts together. And make sure that everything is clearly labeled with who its from (more on this in a minute).
Create a private Facebook group
You’ll want to create a private Facebook group and make sure everyone is invited. This is a great task for one of your hosts. I would suggest doing this as soon as the invites go out, about 3-4 weeks before the shower. This way, she can communicate with all the guests, update them, and you can make sure everyone understands the concept. They will also need to be near their phone or computer on the day of, so make sure your host communicates this to them as well.
Set up your Shower
Get a comfy chair, set up a few decorations, make sure there’s good lighting and set the gifts up near where you’ll sit. Your husband can help with this. Make sure that you do this a few hours before your shower goes live so that you’re prepared and have everything you need. I suggest placing a small table near you with a bottle of water, a pen and paper, and an empty garbage bag. This way you can take notes during the shower, and have an easy way to throw away trash during your shower.
GO LIVE!
Time to party! The time for your shower has arrived! Have your husband go live in your FB group and video you the entire time. You can start opening cards and gifts, talk about the cute and adorable items you get, and thank your guests while you’re live! Have your husband read comments from people and make sure you talk back with them. It’s like they’re right there with you. (OK, we know its not, but try to make the best of the situation).
I hope this gave you a really good idea of how to host a virtual baby shower and that you got inspired to do one. I think it’s a fun way to keep everyone involved and allows you to still feel special during this exciting time of your life. I have included some great items at the bottom of this article that save my sanity (and a few I just LOVED) during the first months with a newborn.
Most importantly, I hope you are finding ways to completely enjoy and love your pregnancy journey and not feel alone during this time. It is such a special period of your life and you should treasure every moment and every milestone.
Much Love,
Lindsey