A nesting party is an extremely helpful way to support an expecting friend in lieu of a traditional baby shower. Often times, parents who are pregnant with their second or beyond prefer help over gifts they may already have from their first child.
Below is a list of how you can start to plan a nesting party for your family or friend:
Double check with the expecting mom this is what they want to do in lieu of a baby shower, make sure this is something they want, not just something you think would be best
Ask the expecting family what their top 3 priorities are as a result of a nesting party. Examples could be
Focused on a certain area or room of the house, like the garage, nursery, kitchen, etc.
Overall deep clean of the home
Purge and organize the kitchen or siblings’ toys and clothes
Meal prep freezer meals for the family
Pick a date that suits the entire expecting family. If there are older siblings in the house, perhaps a partner or other caregiver can take them out for the day so adults can focus on the nesting party
Make an organized list of things to do. If you can, we suggest sending the list in advance so guests know what to expect or can sign up for a specific task. This helps so that guests aren’t coming in blind and unprepared.
Gather all of the needed supplies; no need to buy new, ask guests to bring their own (i.e. roll of paper towels, sponges, gloves, etc.). Note: If the expecting parents prefer a specific type of cleaning product, be sure that is available at the nesting party.
This is still a party, have fun with it!
Play fun music
Have snacks/food prepared
Make sure the pregnant mama is comfortable and relaxed