These days, the idea of a traditional baby shower — where the mother-to-be and her female friends and family members gather and exchange gifts — is just not cutting it anymore. More and more, people are looking for baby shower alternatives.
“These gatherings aren’t about the gift table anymore; they’re about showing up, pitching in and truly supporting new parents where it counts,” says Sarah Hollingsworth, founder and CEO at Poppylist, an inclusive baby registry and online resource for parents. “And honestly, it’s about time.”
Looking for some alternatives to baby showers and some out-of-the-box alternative baby shower ideas? Look no further. We’ve gathered some fun, inclusive and parent-approved baby shower alternatives for you to consider.
Key takeaways
- People are looking for baby showers that don’t just involve gift giving and that are more parent-centered and inclusive.
- Non-traditional baby shower ideas include “stock the freezer” events, nesting parties, sip-and-see parties and more.
- Putting together the best baby shower involves identifying the needs of the parents-to-be and bringing in their trusted community.
Why are alternatives to baby showers becoming more popular?
You might be wondering: Why are so many people looking for alternative baby showers ideas these days? One major driver is a desire for more inclusivity and authenticity, says Paul Zalewski, father of two and co-founder of Fathercraft. This includes allowing showers to include parents and people of all genders, as well as more genuine ways to help the parents-to-be, beyond a cookie-cutter baby gift.
“While couples showers let both partners in on the fun, nesting parties or meal prep gatherings tend to focus less on gift registries and more on what makes life easier when the baby finally arrives,” Zalewski says. “It is a community in action where friends and family come together not just to celebrate but to support the couple in a real, tangible way.”
Stephanie Edenburgh, CEO at Bizzie Mommy, agrees with this sentiment. “I feel like traditional baby showers do not always resonate with what modern parents actually need,” she says. Instead, Edenburgh sees a shift toward wanting experiences that are more personal, practical and inclusive.
“From what I can tell, parents-to-be want to feel emotionally supported while having their needs met proactively without the fluff and instead of just watching gifts unwrap themselves for hours,” she describes.
“…nesting parties or meal prep gatherings tend to focus less on gift registries and more on what makes life easier when the baby arrives. It is a community in action where friends and family come together not just to celebrate but to support the couple in a real, tangible way.”
— Paul Zalewski, co-founder, Fathercraft
10 unique and creative baby shower alternatives
1. ‘Stock the freezer’ and unsolicited advice party
When Zalewski and his wife were expecting their second daughter, they organized a baby shower that they dubbed the “Stock the Freezer & Unsolicited Advice Party.”
What it is
The idea for this shower was simple, says Zalewski. “We invited our close friends and family over for an afternoon of meal prepping, story swapping and parenting advice/wisdom,” he says. They set up a few folding tables in the kitchen, created a playlist of their favorite music and set up several stations for prepping freezer meals.
“Our guests were required to come with ingredients or show up ready to chop,” Zalewski explains. “While half the crew was cooking, the other half was sipping wine in the living room, swapping stories about diaper blowouts and sleep training.”
What makes it special
Zalewski says that what made this baby shower unique was that it wasn’t performative. “There was no gift-opening circle or awkward guessing games involving melted candy bars in diapers,” he says. “Everything centered on real talk, real help and real food.”
When his daughter arrived, the frozen meals were a game-changer. Plus, the friendly advice gave him and his partner a good laugh when they needed it most. “The event felt like a whole community rallying around us to celebrate and help us prepare,” he says. “We really enjoyed the experience.”
2. Co-ed family baby shower
Kylie Kinnaman, new mom and senior public relations manager at NCCER, put together a baby shower where anyone important in her and her spouse’s life could attend — not just the mother-to-be’s female friends and family.
What it is
A co-ed baby shower simply means that you can invite anyone you want, regardless of gender. In Kinnaman’s case, she and her husband invited family and friends they were close to, regardless of age or gender. That meant there were both kids and adults in attendance.
“My husband and I wanted to have a fun summer party vibe — we rented a tent on a lawn at a nice restaurant with hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and a large buffet,” she says. “The whole event was three hours over lunchtime on a Saturday on a beautifully warm New England day.”
There was also an area for lawn games, as well as a playground for kids. Gifts were sent to the couple directly so gift opening wasn’t part of the day’s events.
What makes it special
You don’t have to rent a space or cater your event as elaborately as Kinnaman did if that doesn’t work for you. The idea is to open the event up to more loved ones than you would if you were having a traditional baby shower.
“It was a time to gather, mingle and celebrate a new babe to be born,” Kinnaman shares. “Feedback from our guests was exceptionally positive and we still hear compliments about the quality of the food.”
3. Bookstore baby shower
Michelle Nott, a children’s book author and freelance editor, shares her alternative baby shower idea: a shower that takes place in your local children’s bookstore. “Booksellers are experts in the best board books and picture books for the growing family, whether they are welcoming their first or fifth child,” she says.
What it is
If you have a local bookstore, you can contact them and ask if you can use their space for a small gathering. Most booksellers will welcome the business.
“Refreshments could include story-themed cakes and cookies in the shapes of a teddy bear character from ‘Teddy, Let’s Go!’, fruits from ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ or the vehicles from “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site’, for example,” Nott suggests. “They could also represent characters from the parents’ favorite children’s books from their own childhood.”
You can also have each guest recommend or read from their own favorite children’s book. You can even turn this into a game, Nott says, having the new parents try to guess what book it is.
What makes it special
Bookstore baby showers are family-friendly and the setting can provide a vibrant and inviting atmosphere, Nott says. “A book-themed baby shower in a local bookstore would also immediately build a beautiful and varied library for the awaited child, welcoming them into a world of imagination and adventure in the safety of loving lap.”
“Practical support is the most underrated — and often most appreciated — gift of all.”
— Sarah Hollingsworth, founder and CEO, Poppylist
4. Postpartum gift shower
Many parents find that they have more than enough burp cloths and baby socks after a baby shower. But what a lot of parents really need aren’t the type of things you are typically gifted at a baby shower. This is where Hollingsworth’s smart idea comes in. Instead of material gifts, give the gift of help. In fact, you can make that be the theme of your baby shower.
What it is
“Encourage people to chip in for things like postpartum meal delivery, house cleaning, lactation support or a night nanny,” she says. You can add this option to your baby registry and/or your baby shower invitation.
What makes it special
Most people underestimate how much help and support they will need after their baby arrives. “Practical support is the most underrated — and often most appreciated — gift of all,” says Hollingsworth.
5. Nesting party
Edenburgh had a nesting party when she was pregnant with her third child and she describes it as a wonderful experience.
What it is
Nesting is the act of preparing your home for your upcoming baby. Often, this is done by the parents-to-be on their own. But when you have a nesting party, your whole community participates in this rite-of-passage.
“I invited my closest friends over and instead of the usual games, we organized baby clothes, set up the nursery and even prepped a few meals to go in the freezer,” Edenburgh shares.
What makes it special
Edenburgh found her nesting party a warm and fuzzy experience. “I will always remember how emotionally supported I felt, and frankly, will still cry about it years later,” she says. “Everyone who came to my shower came prepared to help, and that alone was remarkable.”
6. Blessingway
Looking for a more spiritual spin on baby showers? A Blessingway is one way to do this.
What it is
A Blessingway is a traditional Native American ceremony for expectant parents, usually birthing parents. If you want to model your baby shower after a Blessingway, you might include elements like inviting the birthing parent’s closest friends and having them gather in a circle around the parent-to-be. Wisdom can be shared this way, candles can be burned and soft music can be played.
Some people choose to include rituals like doing a cast of the birthing parent’s belly, or having each participant paint with henna on the birthing parent’s belly.
What makes it special
Blessingways are a parent-centered way to celebrate the birthing parent and to treat their upcoming birth as a rite of passage. You can make the Blessingway your own, including whatever elements feel right to you.
7. Shower them with words
It’s a common practice to write special notes to the baby at a baby shower, but Hollingsworth shares a unique twist on this idea: organizing special notes and messages to mark different stages of the baby’s life.
What it is
“Set up a station where guests can write letters to the baby or notes of encouragement for the parents,” Hollingsworth suggests. And what’s the twist? “Schedule the parent to open them during baby milestones first night home, first tooth, first tantrum — you get it.”
What makes it special
Parents tend to get a lot of love and attention before their baby arrives and in the first few weeks postpartum. But as the months tick on, some of that can dry up. That’s why the idea of saving notes of encouragement tied to these baby milestones is such a great idea. It means that the wisdom and support of your family and friends will truly endure.
8. Build-baby’s-first-library shower
While a bookstore baby shower takes place in a bookstore and can include all types of gifts and celebrations, a library-building baby shower is all about making personalized books the core gift. Reading to your child creates enduring memories, which is why a baby shower centering around book gifting can be a unique and enriching experience.
What it is
For this type of shower, Hollingsworth suggests asking guests to bring their favorite children’s book to the gathering. Instead of giving you a traditional card, have guests handwrite a note that they leave inside the book. This can be a note written to your child, so that when you open up the book for the first time, you see these special words from your loved one.
What makes it special
Having a book selected by a treasured person in your life can make the book all the more meaningful, but the addition of personalized notes is an even more special touch. “Over time, those handwritten messages become treasured keepsakes — and the baby ends up with a book collection that’s way more meaningful than just picking a bundle off Amazon,” Hollingsworth says.
9. Sip-and-see party
If you’re looking for some postnatal alternatives to baby showers (i.e., showers that center on the postpartum experience), consider a sip-and-see party. “Personally, I have witnessed wonderful ‘sip and see’ celebrations [in the] weeks following birth, where new parents showcase their baby to family and friends in a cozy atmosphere,” Edenburgh describes.
What it is
Sip-and-see parties are lowkey opportunities for you to introduce your new baby to friends and family. How you structure it is really up to you. There’s often an emphasis on light refreshments (rather than a whole meal) to lessen the burden of hosting after you’ve had your baby.
What makes it special
There is so much emphasis on support before your baby arrives, but less so during the haze and stress of the postpartum period. A sip-and-see party changes this. “This shift in focus is much less about treats and add-on items, and more about the ability to build supportive friendships and preserve moments,” says Edenburgh. “That’s the profound form of care I think new parents require.”
“Some of the most memorable and meaningful gatherings I have been part of had no real structure — it was just real friends enjoying real food while being helpful in the best ways they imagined.”
— Paul Zalewski
10. Postpartum party
Another postpartum baby shower idea is a postpartum party. It’s similar to a baby shower, but you do it after you’ve already had the baby.
What it is
You can make a postpartum party anything you want it to be, but the idea is to gather your loved ones together all in one place to shower you and your new arrival with love — and also important necessities. You can send you a list of wants and needs (like a baby registry) or have your guests bring the items that they think you likely need (bonus points if this is based on their own postpartum experiences!).
What makes it special
This is another opportunity to have the focus shift on celebrating and supporting your family after your baby is earthside. It’s also a way to ensure that you get any important items that you may have only realized were necessary once your baby was here.
Some final baby shower tips from the experts
Whatever type of baby shower you end up throwing, Zalewski says you should focus on making the shower match the sensibilities and needs of the parents-to-be, rather than some preconceived notion of what a baby shower “should” be.
“Take time to understand what they truly want and need,” he advises. “Some people love being the center of attention, while others would rather leave the attention to their guests.” Above all, center the event around support for the parents and celebration of the new life they are bringing into this world.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of creating a low pressure baby shower. After all, pregnancy and preparing for a new baby can be stressful enough. Think of the shower as a time for the parents-to-be to get a break and feel surrounded by the strength of their chosen community. “Some of the most memorable and meaningful gatherings I have been part of had no real structure — it was just real friends enjoying real food while being helpful in the best ways they imagined,” Zalewski adds.
