How to Throw a Virtual Baby Shower

Even if you have some guests that are not physically able to attend the baby shower, you can still include them in a celebration honoring the soon-to-be parents.

Tip 1: Don't Skip the Decorations

You may not be able to celebrate in the same room, but that doesn't mean you should skimp on decorations, or worse, skip them altogether. It's imperative to make the new parents feel special at this momentous time in their life. Decorations can be as simple as a festive Zoom background. Try Minted for a wide variety of free virtual backgrounds. Or, go all out with sashes, tiaras and streamers that you can buy online from a party supply site like Oriental Trading.

Tip 2: Send Out Invitations

If there are no party invitations, did the shower actually happen? Send out fun, colorful invites to guests — either print or digital — that the new parents can save as keepsakes. It's a cinch to create stylish, custom invitations on a made-to-order site, like Tiny Prints. The company will even mail out the invites for you. Or, go digital by sending out an evite for the special occasion using Paperless Post or Punchbowl.

Tip 3: Let There Be Presents

Every shower needs dedicated time for guests to "ooh" and "aah" as gifts are opened, and yes, it can still be done over a video conference. It just takes a bit more planning as you'll want to ship or drop off gifts for the new parents to open up on the video call. Keep in mind that some items may have delayed shipping times, so pay close attention to arrival dates as you ponder the perfect shower gifts.

Tip 4: Let the Games Begin

You can't have a baby shower without fun and silly games. You won't be able to use toilet paper to measure the mom-to-be's belly (thankfully, since toilet paper is in such high demand these days), but you can play games like The Price is Right. To play this game, the party hostess holds up a baby item, like a baby bottle or a box of diapers, and each guest has to guess the price.

Tip 5: Insist on a Dress Code

These last few months, we've all gotten a little too familiar with our pajamas and yoga pants. There's no better reason than a baby shower to ditch the sweats and get dressed up to celebrate — you know, as you would for an in-person shower. So, get cleaned up, put on make-up and don your favorite outfit. The parents-to-be will feel the love as they see all their besties looking their best, even on a laptop.

Tip 6: Have a Toast

Ahead of the shower, send around festive cocktail and mocktail recipes for all guests to shake up and sip during the virtual celebration. Mix it up with a pastel-perfect Cranberry-Lime Mocktail or a Rose and Mint Champagne Cocktail. Or, keep it simple with a glass of fizzy champagne or sparkling cider. It's an absolute must for everyone to raise their glass to toast the new parents.

Tip 7: Share a Photo Album

Create a fun slideshow using photos and videos of the new parents taken through the years, especially childhood photos. Ask shower guests to submit photos too. On the video call, share your screen with guests and play the slideshow so everyone can watch at the same time. Online services, like Smilebox and Biteable, make it easy to create stunning slideshows with music, transitions and dazzling special effects.

Tip 8: Get Crafty With a Group Activity

It's surprising how many in-person group classes and activities have pivoted to a model that allows them (at least temporarily) to offer group classes via Zoom. Let your creative side shine with a virtual paint-and-sip party with Paint the Town. Guests receive painting supplies and a canvas ahead of time and the art instructor joins the video call. Another fun idea is a 75-minute virtual makeup class with a Blushington makeup artist.

Tip 9: Consider "Stay at Home" Gifts

As you think about gifts, consider practical gifts that allow for maintaining distance, especially with a new baby. A gift card for a grocery delivery service, like Instacart or Shipt, can let the new parents leave the shopping to someone else. Or consider a meal delivery service, like Home Chef or Freshly, that takes the guesswork out of meal planning by delivering recipes and fresh ingredients right to the door.

Tip 10: Record the Shower for the Memories

One of the best things about virtual celebrations is that they are easy to record and re-watch at a later date. A recording can be a special keepsake for the parents-to-be, maybe as part of a future Zoom get-together with besties or to show the baby when they're older. On Zoom, it's as easy as clicking the "record" icon at the bottom of the screen.