Certain circumstances may be forcing you to learn how to host a virtual baby shower.
With health & travel restrictions, it’s harder to get together in person.
Or maybe you have guests who want to join the baby shower fun but can’t come in person.
Why Choose a Virtual Baby Shower?
There are many reasons to have a virtual baby shower:
- Circumstances changed with the baby and bed rest is mandatory
- Family members are too far away for a shower
- A random pandemic puts everyone in quarantine (currently happening)
- Time is flying by too quickly to fit one in before the baby comes
- It’s easier to plan and less pricey
- You want to have another baby shower for the same baby
There are countless reasons you might need to throw a baby shower or maybe you just want to try something new.
Either way, virtual baby showers are being embraced more & more every day.
Virtual baby showers can be a blast.
And they’re actually easier than they might seem.
Here are a few tips to get you started.
How to Host a Virtual Baby Shower
Virtual baby showers are much easier than an in-person shower.
They can take a lot of stress off the host or mother-to-be.
The Virtual Baby Shower Process
The basic and overall process for how to host a virtual baby shower is basically the same as an in-person shower, there’s just less work to do.
Here are the basic steps you’ll need to take to host the party.
From these steps, you can add in your personalized to-do list based on your plans and needs.
- Find a hosting service such as Facebook, WebBabyShower, Skype, etc.
- Make the invite list
- Set the date
- Send out invitations
- Figure out virtual baby shower games and the outline of the event
- Host the party
- Send out thank you’s
We’ll go more into detail on the hosting options below.
Virtual Baby Shower Hosting Options
Perhaps the most popular platform for baby showers is Facebook.
It has everything a host needs in order to tackle an online get together, with minimal effort.
All you need to do is create an event, set the date/time, type in the details of the event in the description, and send the invites.
The only catch is that the people invited have to be on Facebook.
You have the option of video for the event and people will get updates and reminders as the event gets closer.
WebBabyShower
There are services such as WebBabyShower that (for a fee) have a personalized virtual baby shower platform.
You can choose cute designs, have photo albums, they have built in virtual baby shower games, cute invites, thank you’s – pretty much everything you need.
It’s around $80 which may sound high, but this is much less expensive than what you’d pay to host an in-person baby shower.
Skype
There is also the option of Skype, which is a basic video platform.
As long as someone has an internet connection, they can download Skype and logon to your group video and you can conduct the shower this way.
You can invite up to 50 guests with Skype.
Zoom
Zoom is another popular option, because it’s simple & easy.
It’s free for everyone to use & allows up to 100 participants.
They don’t have to download an app – everything can be accessed on Zoom – but downloading the app comes with extra features.
However, with the free version you only get 40 minutes of meeting time per call.
You can get around this by starting a new call when the first one ends, but this is very disruptive.
If you’re going to have a baby shower for longer than 40 minutes (which you probably are), you can upgrade to one month of paid Zoom access to remove the 40-minute restriction.
And bonus – with the paid Zoom version you can record the call & download the video file afterward to keep it.
It’s a great memory & special gift.
Invitations & Thank You’s
Many of the services you can use for a virtual baby shower are going to have an invite option, some prettier than others.
However, if you prefer to send out a physical copy of invitations and thank you’s, that’s still an option as well.
There are also random websites that are specifically for sending invitations through email or online.
A quick Google will give you more options in this category than you’ll ever need.
Building the Outline of the Event
When learning how to host a baby shower, it can be confusing on where to start when it comes to coming up with the event itself.
Virtual baby shower games are always a great way to supplement a basic party.
There are only a few routes you can go with a baby shower online however, the games are what can make it unique.
Other additions you can include in the party are:
- A live video of the couple talking to everyone, opening presents, etc.
- Spread the party out beyond a day and have games, prizes, etc. over a period of time
- Have a group video where everyone can interact and talk to each other at the same time
- Don’t forget the virtual baby shower games
If you’re just learning how to host a virtual baby shower, you’ll quickly find that there’s nothing to it.
A little bit of planning goes a long way and it can be more convenient, cheaper, and a more unique way to tackle a baby shower.