Online Baby Shower Etiquette
An online Baby Shower is a great way to host your Baby Shower if your friends and family are far away, or if you are unable to gather in person together.
In recent weeks there has been a big increase in online Baby Showers, and many women are enjoying their virtual Baby Showers online.
Who should throw an online baby shower?
According to tradition, it is unusual for the parents-to-be to throw or host a baby shower themselves. This is because the main purpose of a baby shower is for your relatives, friends, and coworkers to “shower” you with gifts.
However, with an online Baby Shower, it is perfectly fine for the Mama to be to organize and host the party if she wants to. Of course, if she is lucky enough to have a kind friend or relative offer to organize it for her, then that is perfect too!
How do you set up an online Baby Shower?
Of course, an online Baby Shower needs an online place to meet!
As long as you have an internet connection and phone or computer, then you are good to go!
We have found one of the best platforms to host your online Baby Shower is Facebook. Facebook is great for events and you can set up a date and time for your showers and invite friends all via Facebook.
Then, you can “host’ the shower via video messaging in Facebook Messenger where you can have up to 50 participants.
For the first 6 participants, the app will stream everyone’s camera feed to one another in a grid-like view. After 6, Messenger will display only the dominant speaker’s feed.
To get started, you’ll need the latest version of Messenger. All you have to do is create a new group conversation with all of your guests. Then tap on the video icon on the upper right of the screen to enter the video chat and everyone in the group will be notified. Each person can join when they are ready with just one tap. For an extra reminder, you can also directly ring just a few people or the whole group.
What do you do at an virtual baby shower?
A baby shower should be a fun and exciting party and there’s no reason why your online Baby Shower can’t be the just that!
It can be a really nice touch to ask Guests to attend the shower with a glass of bubbly (or their preferred tipple). Some hosts have even sent an individual cupcake to their guest’s homes which they can eat together during the party.
It’s also lovely to encourage Guests to dress up for the event! Even though it’s not a face to face party, you can still put on your best dress!
Can you play Baby Shower Games at an online Baby Shower?
Absolutely! With a little preparation, you can enjoy all of the traditional Baby Shower games that you would expect at a Baby Shower!
Baby Bingo is a great game to play while you open your Gifts. Make sure on your Gift registry you add a note for guests to please send gifts direct to your house. Then you can open your gifts in front of your Guests and
they can play Baby Bingo at the same time. Check out our How to Play Baby Bingo post here.
Download your free Baby Bingo Cards here to email to your Guests before your Shower.
Other great online Baby Shower games include Who Knows Mommy Best and Find the Guest. These can easily be adapted to play at a video messaging Baby Shower.
You can download your Free Baby Shower Game cards here.
What is the right time to have an online baby shower?
Although there is no “right time” to have a Baby Shower, they tend to be typically held when the mom-to-be is about 25 to 35 weeks pregnant. This way, the pregnancy is well along and the mama-to-be is still energetic!
Arranging the party weeks before the due date also gives a bit of time for her to exchange any duplicate gifts. Then she can have time to get completely ready before the little one arrives.
How long should an online baby shower last?
Online Baby Shower etiquette stipulates that the party should last between one and a half to two hours.
Who do you invite to a virtual baby shower?
The great thing about online baby showers is that the guest of honor gets to invite whoever she wants.
Girlfriends, work colleagues, relatives… it’s totally up to you! Opt for an all-female party or go co-ed! It’s your choice! And the best thing about an online baby shower is that you can invite your friends from all over the world!
Can online baby showers be held for second and third-time moms?
Online baby showers can certainly be held for second and third-time moms and are often called Baby Sprinkles.
It makes sense to hold a second or third-time baby shower especially if there is a big age gap between the children or if the second baby is of a different gender. Besides, if your family, friends, or co-workers want to throw you another baby shower, who are you to stop them?
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it; everything you need to know about online baby shower etiquette. If you are planning to surprise a special friend with one, or if you have been looking forward to your own virtual baby shower, this should provide the perfect starting point.
Generally, almost anything goes when it comes to an online baby shower. As long as you keep in mind that the guest of honor is queen and anything she says goes, you shouldn’t have a problem
throwing an amazing virtual baby shower!