A new take on the traditional baby shower is trending, and lots of expecting parents are jumping on the bandwagon. Nesting parties are rising in popularity as a more intentional and helpful way to celebrate a new baby than the typical baby shower.
In fact, Pinterest has shown a 205 percent increase in the number of searches for nesting parties early this year, indicating that it will be a big trend in 2025. The trend is also exploding on TikTok, with lots of people sharing videos of their own nesting parties.
What is a nesting party?
While traditional baby showers tend to focus on activities and games to entertain the guests, along with lots of gifts for the expecting family, a nesting party is a smaller gathering intended to prepare the home and the family for welcoming a new baby.
Instead of lots of baby items, attendees might instead bring frozen meals—and instead of baby-themed games and activities, nesting party guests engage in helpful tasks like baby-proofing, meal preparation, cleaning, and baby furniture assembly to ensure a smooth transition when baby comes home.
Nesting parties can help create a supportive network of reliable helpers the growing family can call upon during the postpartum period. As perinatal mental health physician Jill Zechowy explained to Parents, “Support is essential for reducing the risk of postpartum depression. [Nesting parties] remind parents that they aren’t alone—and that it’s OK to ask for help.”
How to throw a nesting party
Choose a trusted friend or family member to act as host, ideally someone who is already an experienced parent or caregiver. This person will coordinate with the expecting family to choose the most helpful tasks, gather any necessary tools or supplies, and provide refreshments, background music, and/or an ice breaker activity. Choose a date to host the party about a month ahead of your due date.
Work with the host to choose a small guest list—typically no more than 15 people. You’ll want a mix of close friends, family, and experienced parents. You can even reach out to local parenting social media groups to see if any experienced parents in your community might pitch in. The host will plan the agenda of the party, typically starting with some mingling or quick ice breakers accompanied by light refreshments as guests arrive.
Once everyone has arrived, it’s time to dole out tasks. Here are some ideas for nesting party activities to try—
- Baby-proof the home
- Set up the diaper station and diaper bag
- Assemble baby furniture
- Set up comfortable nursing stations around the home, each with a place to put drinks and snacks, a nursing pillow, burping cloths, a blanket, a phone charger, and a foot rest
- Prepare freezer-friendly meals in individual portions
- Create a meal calendar or set up a Meal Train
- Have experienced parents on the guest list give baby gear demonstrations and tutorials
- Sterilize and organize baby bottles and other feeding supplies
- Sort and fold baby clothes
- Install car seats
If guests bring gifts, they should stick to practical things like diapers, baby wipes, and useful baby gear rather than baby clothes and toys. Of course, if there’s a traditional baby shower activity that the expecting family doesn’t want to miss out on, it’s totally OK to include it in the festivities. You might have guests write down parenting wisdom or affirmations, or decorate a onesie to remember the special day.
