As soon as you found out you were pregnant, your brain probably fast-forwarded ahead to your dream baby shower. The decorations — picture perfect. The cake — swoon-worthy. And your closest family and friends there, gathered to celebrate your bundle of baby joy. What a party!
But then COVID-19 happened. And now that we’re in the middle of a pandemic, you may be wondering if you can even host a baby shower… or rather a covid baby shower, in the midst of social distancing measures.
Guess what? You still can — with a Zoom virtual baby shower!
A Zoom baby shower is affordable, easy to plan, and can include ALL your loved ones. With a Zoom virtual shower, you can spread the love to the Mama-to-be and her new little one without spreading the Coronavirus!
Want to know how to add a virtual background to your Zoom event? Check out this list of Zoom virtual backgrounds for a baby shower.
And don’t just think of a virtual baby shower as a “back up” plan! A Zoom shower offers a host of benefits in its own right, as we will explain in this article. These types of celebrations have been a trend for a while, for reasons you will soon understand!
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What is a Virtual Baby Shower?
You already know why a baby shower is called a shower, but in this guide we’re going to give you everything you need to know about hosting a virtual baby shower of your own.When you think of a virtual event, you probably think of something that takes place online. And you’re right! Simply put, a virtual baby shower is an online celebration. With more people practicing social distancing, What to Expect says, “Many moms-to-be are now planning virtual baby showers in lieu of in-person gatherings. Yes, that basically means everyone meets up over their computers or smartphones.”
WebBabyShower is a leading, dedicated online baby shower service with a variety of features to meet your needs. In fact, we have been featured and recommended on popular, trusted websites, such as What to Expect, Babylist, and Martha Stewart, among others!
While a virtual baby shower is certainly different in many ways than an in-person shower, they have many advantages. For example, an online shower can take place longer than just a few hours, like a traditional shower does.
Instead, a virtual shower can be an ongoing personal experience that can take place over the span of a few months, if you’d like.
An online baby shower is an event that feels special because every pregnancy is special. What’s more, a virtual shower includes personalized touches, such as dedicated games and matching invites — it’s more like an online party!
But overall, a virtual party simply gives you the freedom to do things your way. It’s representative of the fact that the expectant parent is not bound by the restrictions of the traditional shower! This will be a shower that is unique to them.
WebBabyShower supports inclusive, modern showers and choices. Just check out our list of the best beautiful modern baby shower themes. And you don’t have to ask yourself “do men go to baby showers?”with our full article on etiquette!
Video Chat Services
There are a variety of popular video chat services available online. They all work utilizing the same concept under the hood. It’s called WebRTC, which just means Browser Based Video Chat.
For that reason, your browser does matter, and it needs to be up to date. All the big ones will work fine, like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. And many smaller browsers work, too.
Whichever service you ultimately choose, just remember to ensure your guests have all the information — links, passwords, etc — they will need before your virtual shower begins.
With so many video chat services available, which one should you choose? The answer is easy — the one that best fits your personal needs and preferences.But there are more services out there than you might guess, and if you look beyond Zoom, some have great features for fun events
Why Use Zoom for a Baby Shower?
It’s simple! Almost everyone knows how to use this video service or can quickly learn. Zoom baby showers are the talk of the time with the start — and continuation — of lockdowns and restrictions.
In a recent article, Babylist said Zoom is “probably the simplest and easiest of the video service options.”
You can have a huge baby shower with Zoom, hosting up to 49 people on a chat at one time. However, this isn’t recommended — the bigger the party, the harder it’ll be for you to actually visit with your guests.
Plus, Zoom is free! Anyone can use it, and it allows 100 devices to connect. Or, for a fee, you can add even more — up to 500. (While this is probably way too many people for one baby shower, it’s nice to know what the options are.)
Want to use Zoom for your next baby shower video chat? Check out our FREE Zoom baby shower backgrounds!
How Do You Celebrate a Baby Shower on Zoom?
Having the whole group together on video chat may seem daunting if you haven’t hosted a party on Zoom before. But, fortunately, there are solutions for keeping your event organized.
The best way is for you (the host) to learn the Zoom platform before the actual event.
Try out a couple of video chats with a friend to understand how things work. And encourage attending guests to check it out before the big day so they know how to work their camera, microphone, and so on.
Why You Should Consider More Than One Video Call
You likely want everyone to attend the event properly, with time to talk to the new parents and interact. This can get complicated with too many people when everyone is family, close friends, or work colleagues.
Multiple video calls might feel a bit overwhelming, but it can make things easier and less stressful.
If your guest list is extensive, consider separating them into a few different groups — typically by who knows each other, so they can visit and have a good time as well — and hosting Zoom calls for each.
Have a virtual baby shower party for each group of guests and give everyone the chance to talk and participate!
Host Multiple Zoom Baby Showers
Is it really worth it to host multiple baby showers on Zoom? Yes!
Having large groups of people on a video call who don’t know each other and haven’t used Zoom before can be problematic. Here’s some things that can be a challenge with one huge Zoom call:
- Grandparents struggling with technology
- Family members feeling unsure of how to talk with mom-to-be’s co-workers
- Confusion over the microphones and camera
- Issues with connecting devices to Zoom
- People talking over each other and interrupting
- Chaos for the host as they try to play the games
As a recommendation, try to keep the members of each group under 15 people. Yes, hosting multiple Zoom calls takes a little more time, but it will be much less stressful and much more fun for everyone.
Tips on Hosting Multiple Zoom Baby Showers
A calm and relaxed party atmosphere is easy when you follow a few simple tips.
First, if you’re hosting more than one Zoom call in a day, leave 40 to 60 minute gaps between them. That way, people don’t accidentally join in at the end of another group’s call. It also gives the host and mother a break before the next video chat.
Next, remember that you don’t have to do it all in one day. Virtual baby showers can take place over a few months — not just over one day or over a few days.
This alternative allows you to have a lot of personal guest-interaction without overloading your schedule with many video chats.
You can keep the guests updated about the shower throughout mama’s whole pregnancy on your custom WebBabyShower website. And, if you want, you can host a virtual Sip n’ See once the baby arrives.
When you handle the virtual baby shower this way, everyone stays safe and has a chance to socialize at the same time!
Another thing you can’t miss — don’t forget to send out those RSVP invites, especially for a Zoom baby shower. With WebBabyShower, you can send out your invitations online while also keeping track of who has read them, so you know how many guests to expect for the party.
On top of that, when you create your virtual event through WebBabyShower, you get access to a lot more than just invitations. You can add photos, updates for guests, and much more.
Why Do a Single Zoom Baby Shower?
Maybe you read about hosting multiple Zoom baby showers and are saying no way — way too exhausting! If that’s the case, what you need for a single Zoom baby shower is a lot of preparation and planning.
Host Everyone In a One-Event Zoom Baby Shower
Organization is crucial for success when hosting a large Zoom baby shower. Checklists, test runs on Zoom, and backup plans are your friends.
If you’re a parent-to-be, ask a relative or a good friend to be in charge of the Zoom call to handle the technical side of things while you focus on your guests. Create an itinerary for the call that you can follow, and practice using Zoom several times before the day of the event.
Tips on Hosting One Large Zoom Baby Shower
Here are some organizational tips to help take your baby shower from stressful to joyful.
First of all, take turns. Encourage the guests to take turns speaking, as talking over each other can be noisy, and no one will be able to hear anything. Instead, give each guest 30 seconds or so to speak before moving on to the next person.
For gift opening, ask the parents to hold up the gift to be seen on video, say who it is from, and spend a moment talking with that person. Then, move on quickly to the next present. This way, everyone will feel appreciated while you also keep the party moving.
If gift opening during the virtual party doesn’t fit in with your plans, pre-open the presents and display them in view of the camera during the call.
You may also place gifts in the nursery and take a tour. Allow guests to see the nursery decor and presents at the same time. After the party, the parents can contact each guest who sent a present and thank them individually.
How to Solve Zoom Problem
Here are some suggestions for solving common Zoom problems.
First, each family group should be one box on Zoom. Not each guest, but each household, should be grouped together. That way, you don’t have 50 boxes, and instead only have 20 or so.
Zoom also has a breakout room function that lets you divide guests up. This gives attendees a chance to play a trivia game and talk in a smaller group. The host and parents can then jump in and out of the different breakout rooms to interact with guests in a smaller setting.
You might also like to try Zoom’s polling function to play some baby shower games, like guessing when the baby will be born.
Zoom makes it easy to interact online and creates a fun experience.
Virtual Baby Shower Basics
Now that we’ve gone over the basics of a virtual baby shower, it’s time to get into the details!
In this section, we’re going to give you everything you need to know about hosting a virtual baby shower of your own. We’re going over hosting details, activities and events, decorating, and more! Consider this your ultimate guide to getting started.
Who Hosts a Virtual Baby Shower?
Just like an in-person party, when it comes to hosting a Zoom baby shower, you don’t have to go it alone! WebBabyShower’s platform allows co-hosts full access in order to plan a successful baby shower bash.
What if your co-hosts live far apart, or you want to have multiple baby showers? Babylist says that’s okay, adding, “it’s still totally possible to coordinate via text, email or social media since the party is entirely virtual anyway.”
Not sure how to divide the responsibilities? One person can be in charge of sending invitations, while another plans the décor. It’s totally up to you!
More Perks of Going Virtual
A virtual shower offers the obvious benefit of distance and remote access. Not only does it make it easier for everyone to get together, but people can do it without making a far trip.
This also makes it much easier to plan a date that works for everyone — something especially useful for coworkers planning work baby showers, as keeping it virtual enables guests to carry on with their work day.
This spills into the next major benefit, which is convenience. It is simply much easier to plan a virtual party. Everything from the guest list, to the timing, to the party itself, all becomes so much more accessible and easygoing.
Of course, a virtual party can’t totally replicate the experience of having everyone together (we’ve got printable planner templates for both in-person and virtual events), but if it sounds like something you are into, then read on to get the full details on how to plan this event.
You’re Invited!
Of course, you’ll want to personally invite each guest. Keep in mind, we offer matching invitations you can send virtually — the perfect eco-friendly choice.
Or, if you prefer, we also have printable invites. They’re FREE, so print as many as you’d like!
Not sure what to say in your invitations? No worries! We have you covered with wording ideas for a variety of shower scenarios, like welcoming one baby or twins, plus much more!
A major advantage of online invitations is that your guests can simply respond via email with their RSVP. If you’ve ever had to coordinate a guest list, you know that this benefit alone almost makes the process worth it.
When it comes to designing and wording the invitation, the key is to be direct and specific. This is especially important given that many guests will assume a baby shower is an in-person event.
Rocky Mountain Bliss notes the importance of including special instructions guests may need to know before the party, like needed items for games or where to send the gifts. “If you are using a conferencing link, include it on the invitation so it’s easy for folks to find the day of the party.”
How Do You Decorate a Zoom Baby Shower?
For an in-person shower, you’d likely decorate an entire venue. With an online shower, you only need to decorate the space that will be seen on-camera. This equals BIG savings!
Zoom also offers a variety of virtual backgrounds, so you can really personalize your shower. Want a Babylist pro tip? “You don’t even need in-person decor thanks to Zoom’s virtual backgrounds! Just put a virtual background up on your account and let your guests think you did all the hard work.”
WebBabyShower also has a guide for adding a virtual background!
Schedule of Events
While you certainly don’t have to adhere to a baby shower celebration schedule, What to Expect points out that “you may find it helpful to have a general schedule to keep the event running smoothly.”
Need examples? Check out our Virtual Baby Shower Etiquette Guide for ideas and tips!
What About Games?
Can you actually play baby shower games at a Zoom virtual baby shower? The answer is yes, you can! In fact, WebBabyShower has tons of fun game ideas already planned for you, from quiz-style guessing games to trivia and our very own Birthday Bets game.
What’s more, you and your guests can easily play these baby shower games via Zoom.
How about game prizes? Yep, you can have those, too! For an easy prize, consider giving e-gift cards. If you opt to forgo prizes, remember guests also enjoy bragging rights!
And remember, a virtual baby shower game can be a fun option, but if your guests are happy with simply hanging out and having some great conversation, then that’s totally fine as well!
Games are there to keep everyone entertained and engaged, but if that isn’t a problem with your group of friends, then you can plan whichever activities you want.
The Right Way to Open Gifts at a Zoom Baby Shower
When it comes to opening gifts at your virtual shower, you have options!
- Your family and friends can open the gift for you in their homes, and then hold it up for all to see. (If you’re already shy about opening gifts in front of an audience, this takes some of the focus off of you.)
- You may also choose to have guests mail the gifts to your home for you to open on-camera the day of your shower.
- Opt for a mix of both gift opening ideas! Perhaps some shower guests sent gifts to your home, while others didn’t get them delivered to you in time. If that happens, you can open some gifts on-camera, while your loved ones open some gifts in their homes, too!
A virtual shower tends to be less gift-focused than an in-person shower.
WebBabyShower allows your virtual shower space — including photos and videos — to stay live for up to 6 months (or one year for an extra $50), so you have plenty of time to do a gift opening video with absolutely zero stress about timing it.
Another idea? You can introduce the baby to your loved ones with a virtual Sip n’ See, plus let attendees see gifts in action if you want! Babylist suggests this “so you can post photos of belated gifts or, once baby arrives, show them off in that bodysuit your aunt sent for all your guests to see!”
After the gifts have all been opened and the baby shower book messages have been written and read, don’t forget to send an email, video, or hand-written note. We offer some free printable cards to help with this.
Not sure what to say? We also have some ideas to help you get started here!
WebBabyShower’s Virtual Baby Shower Checklist
Here’s our checklist to make planning your virtual baby shower on Zoom even easier:
- Download and Install Zoom
- Set up an account
- Set a shower date
- Choose a host, or co-host, if needed
- Pick a theme
- Invitations — will you send them virtually, or mail your invites?
- Decide on decorations for your on-camera space. And don’t forget Zoom’s virtual backgrounds!
- Pick out the games you’d most like to play — plus game prizes if you’d like to have them!
- Gifts — will guests open them, or the Mom-to-be? Or a mix of both?
- Post-baby shower — Remember to send Thank Yous to all your guests!
That’s a Wrap!
We hope these tips were as helpful as our baby shower etiquette guide! Don’t let restrictions and social distancing put a damper on your shower.
Here at WebBabyShower, as always, we are committed to helping you have the baby shower of your dreams — complete with invitations, decorations, games, gifts, and fun with family and friends.
A virtual shower is a great party, and we’re celebrating you AND your new little one! Congrats, Mama!
