https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:34:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2928028 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 22:18:41 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2928028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilfarmer: I totally get that! Is there a way you could still…call it a shower? Or “sprinkle” I’ve heard too. Or even just call it a cookout? Even if you tell people (who WANT to get you things) just something very small. Like a pack of diapers. Or a board book for baby. Or more sentimental - a letter for the baby to read someday. Idk, trying to think outside the box for people to still feel like they’re contributing in some way if they want to! I get the sentiment behind your thought. Sounds like you found a special way to work around it for your wedding! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2928004 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:48:30 +0000 Lahela017 2928004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'd opt for some type of backyard cookout too. Whoever does the inviting could say no gifts, or gifts of diapers and wipes only or something like that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2928002 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:42:04 +0000 Lilfarmer 2928002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@togetherthroughlife: DH and I don’t like the idea of people buying stuff for us. We just want to celebrate with people without the expectation of gifts. We didn’t have a bridal shower and didn’t register for wedding gifts. When folks asked, we told them we’d prefer they just come celebrate. For the folks closer to us, that really want to give a gift for the wedding, we asked for them to do something special for the wedding (our aunt gave the blessing, which was really special, his mom helped me get ready, which is one of my most cherished memories of the day, etc.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2927990 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:03:16 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see that the games are a turn off for you (me too!) but besides games what don’t you like about a shower? I think a thoughtful shower can/should be tweaked in form and function to honor what the mom prefers! Do you not like opening gifts in front of others? I don’t! So for my baby shower I told my mom and sisters that I wasn’t going to open gifts there. There was a gift table near the back and then we just packed everything up and opened in private at home that night. That’s just one example, of course, but I think your idea of a shower can hopefully shift to be something YOU enjoy! I like the cookout idea after baby comes too, though. Maybe do both?! Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2927987 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 16:58:51 +0000 Lilfarmer 2927987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bakingdoodle: lol the shower games are part of what makes me not want a traditional shower. </p> <p>I’m hoping that by late summer/early fall, the risk of a mostly outdoor event will be lower, but we’ll definitely have to assess when we get there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2927986 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 09:13:22 +0000 bakingdoodle 2927986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally like the idea of the cookout for a greet and meet baby. Would you really want to play those games at a more traditional baby shower? (diaper a stuffed animal... guess the weight of the baby, guess the due date).I think you would prefer the company of the people you love... and then have extra food. That would stress me either way to have this kind of big events now.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2927984 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 18:04:01 +0000 Lilfarmer 2927984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: I think they’d like to something more traditional. I love the brunch idea, but there aren’t really great options for that where we live (kind of rural!).</p> <p>I suggested a cookout after the baby arrived and to just ask everyone to bring a dish and come meet the baby (and then we’d have cookout leftovers to munch on for a few days!) but they didn’t really like that idea as much. We’re super close to our extended family, so we love the idea of having everyone out to meet the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2927974 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 04:00:16 +0000 karenbme 2927974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a baby brunch for a coworker that was really just a bunch of us going to a nice brunch. Because it was a work thing it was small enough that we were all at one (large) table, and felt more like a nice get together than a shower per se. Could you suggest a meal out for 10 or so close family and friends? Or do they want something bigger? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/alternatives-to-baby-showers#post-2927963 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:23:06 +0000 Lilfarmer 2927963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my third baby, but my older LOs will be 7 and 10 when baby arrives, so my MIL and SIL really want to throw a shower. I’m not big on showers (didn’t have a bridal shower, didn’t do showers with the first two, etc.), but I know it comes from a place of love.</p> <p>Have you attended any alternative baby showers (sip n see? something else?) that you really liked? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925372 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 12:47:53 +0000 Clementine12 2925372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: love this for the visual! I want to take great photos for them.</p> <p>@MyBelle: I think I'll make cupcakes with a hidden pocket of colored frosting no matter what!</p> <p>@Fawn: that sounds delicious!!!</p> <p>@bees_knees: this sounds hilarious and would make a great keepsake video!</p> <p>@LadyDi: and bonus, you get to eat delicious cake! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925354 Tue, 02 Nov 2021 20:25:46 +0000 LadyDi 2925354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: I would never do that but I love it, it's hilarious.</p> <p>We got a little bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. There was a rattle in the middle hidden under a bow in the middle of the cake, so all we had to do was lift up the bow (actually our then toddler lifted it up). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925353 Tue, 02 Nov 2021 17:33:47 +0000 bees_knees 2925353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is NOT low pressure, but I saw a video one time of a couple taking turns picking from a dozen eggs. 6 were pink and 6 were blue. They would pick one and smash it on their head. All were hard boiled except one pink one—so when the egg exploded (on their head) they knew it was a girl 😂😂😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925352 Tue, 02 Nov 2021 16:21:43 +0000 Fawn 2925352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the nurse tell me the gender on the phone with the NIPT results as I was already certain it was a girl.</p> <p>I wanted to do something fun to tell our family though so I bought pink sprinkles and put them in oreos then I dipped the oreos in melted chocolate and topped them with some white crystal sprinkles. They were so yummy and it was a simple, cute way to tell our family we were expecting a girl. My parents, sister and nieces all bit into their oreos at the same time and saw the pink sprinkles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925350 Tue, 02 Nov 2021 09:24:35 +0000 MyBelle 2925350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you want to go the food route, I have friends who were having twins and they had two small cakes made and when they cut into them each one was pink or blue. The frosting was just thick enough to hide the color of each cake, and it was fun for them to cut into them and pull out a slice and reveal the color. It was very low key and doubled as a treat for the guests to eat. :)</p> <p>ETA: They gave an envelope with the gender of each baby to the bakery and didn't know what they were having until they cut into the cakes, so it was a surprise for everyone there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925341 Mon, 01 Nov 2021 21:07:58 +0000 ChitownRo 2925341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just did balloons in a large box (but tied down to a weight so they didn’t get released to the environment). It was easy and had a nice visual. </p> [attach=2666/21/r1x9xa.338x600.38B757FC-08F2-4FA4-A285-29EA234FB827.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gender-reveal-ideas#post-2925340 Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:49:07 +0000 Clementine12 2925340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I will be planning a gender reveal for my future niece/nephew! Just in front of family, wanting to not make a mess (no confetti or balloons released to the environment) and not put pressure on the couple (so no hitting a ball, etc).</p> <p>What would you do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/virtual-baby-shower-2#post-2920699 Wed, 11 Nov 2020 08:56:50 +0000 josina 2920699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If she hasn't shared the name, guesses on the baby's name would be fun. I loved reading those too for my kiddos and seeing who was close. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/virtual-baby-shower-2#post-2920689 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:11:48 +0000 PinkElephant 2920689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you ask people to share a baby photo of themselves? Or submit them to you, post one a day, and let others guess? Winner gets a prize in a few weeks when they are all posted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/virtual-baby-shower-2#post-2920581 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 19:15:18 +0000 Bmaja 2920581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: good idea. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/virtual-baby-shower-2#post-2920579 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 18:23:59 +0000 mfa_lady 2920579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe make a prize for some of the guessing game-type threads to up the participation? Like an amazon gift card or something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/virtual-baby-shower-2#post-2920577 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 17:40:53 +0000 Bmaja 2920577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So in this time of Covid... my SIL didn’t want an in person baby shower or a zoom meet up... so my other SIL created a FB page. It has been pretty inactive so far... but the idea was good... wish her well, daily even. I tried posting today to make “bets” on the delivery date, length, weight. And ask everyone for their “wishes” for baby or parents.</p> <p> Does anyone have other suggestions on what to ask? Not everyone in the group is a mother... and I hate to overwhelm her with advice... thanks for any ideas!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/throwing-a-virtual-baby-shower#post-2912838 Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:26:22 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2912838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Orange Lily: I love your idea for flowers for the mom to be. That’s such a sweet idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/throwing-a-virtual-baby-shower#post-2912832 Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:37:57 +0000 Orange Lily 2912832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were supposed to go to a baby shower this weekend for a dear friend; my daughter was her flower girl at the wedding. I am so bummed for her that it isn't happening! It's not a full-on replacement, but I'm having DD make a card and send it to arrive basically on the same day that the shower would have been so our friend gets something tangible on the day. And following with some gifts.</p> <p>Similar to @mrsjbeeg, I've been sending flowers to friends through local floral shops as a bit of cheer and to support the local businesses. Maybe the mama would like some flowers delivered? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/throwing-a-virtual-baby-shower#post-2912829 Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:27:48 +0000 MrsJBeeG 2912829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re you planning on having food? If so, wondering if you could have something delivered to the virtual attendeees (assuming it doesn’t cost more than what you were planning on food if you were hosting it at a location) maybe like edible arraignments or a bakery doing delivery so that everyone could enjoy some real baby shower themed goodies safely. Might be a bridge too far but it’s something that I thought could be unique, fun and help a business even in this crazy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/throwing-a-virtual-baby-shower#post-2912812 Wed, 25 Mar 2020 10:21:07 +0000 crazydoglady 2912812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/throwing-a-virtual-baby-shower#post-2912807 Wed, 25 Mar 2020 09:39:08 +0000 Becky 2912807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could definitely have all the presents shipped to her house, and then she could open them there on Zoom. </p> <p>For my SIL’s a few years ago I used an online Jeopardy platform to do a baby trivia Jeopardy game (we displayed it on a big TV during the shower). It was really fun. I kind of pulled together questions I liked from examples I found on the internet. You could do this via Zoom, and teams could communicate via text or something to come up with their answers (or it could be a free for all!). </p> <p>Maybe people could decorate whatever is behind them in the theme of the baby shower. Or you could give them a bunch of different themes? You can also set backgrounds on Zoom—I haven’t tried this but I have a supervisor who does and it’s fun to see what he chooses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/throwing-a-virtual-baby-shower#post-2912793 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:10:11 +0000 crazydoglady 2912793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm supposed to be throwing a baby sprinkle in 3 weeks, and it's pretty clear that's not going to happen. The mom-to-be said she would rather have a virtual shower vs a postponed one. Any suggestions of what to do? I still want it to be special. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cake-at-a-brunch-baby-shower#post-2908673 Mon, 20 Jan 2020 09:46:28 +0000 graceandjoy 2908673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't expect anything, but also wouldn't think it's weird if there's cake! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cake-at-a-brunch-baby-shower#post-2908617 Sat, 18 Jan 2020 23:51:20 +0000 crazydoglady 2908617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! We are going to do cupcakes so people can take them home.:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cake-at-a-brunch-baby-shower#post-2908615 Sat, 18 Jan 2020 23:01:09 +0000 JCCovi 2908615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I were throwing it I would definitely serve cake, but as a guest I’d be fine with doughnuts. </p>