Recently, you may have seen an increase in “nesting parties” in your social media feeds. These new celebrations are quickly going viral—and for good reason: They help celebrate expectant parents through acts of service. So instead of gathering with friends and family to decompress about things, you and your loved ones get together to prepare your home and complete some important pre-baby projects.
Thinking this might be the right route for you or the pregnant person in your life? Keep reading to learn more about what exactly goes into a nesting party, why they’re becoming so popular and what to know before throwing one.
Nesting is the desire to “prepare the nest” at the end of pregnancy, and this often involves checking off tasks on your prep list (painting the nursery, assembling baby gear, installing chairs in the car, etc.). Traditionally, this is work that you and your partner do on your own time. But nesting parties offer a way for loved ones to reach out and help.
Typically, a nesting party is a small gathering of close family and friends to celebrate the parents-to-be and help them prepare for the baby’s arrival, says Renee Patrone Rhinehart, party planner and founder of Party Host Helpers. “It’s a great way to help mothers prepare for their upcoming newborn,” she said. What’s more, it reduces a lot of pre- and post-baby workload and sets you (or parents-to-be!) up for success.
Nesting parties are emerging as a new trend, and the reason is simple: Modern moms and dads face an imbalance as they juggle parenting, careers and life, and defining a support system when early is critical. “Now more than ever, mothers need to be celebrated and nurtured,” Rhinehart said. “It’s the perfect way to get a little extra help so that new moms—or even veteran moms—have less stress.” Furthermore, nesting parties are a sweet way to mark this milestone and spend quality time with loved ones.
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But what exactly should you do at a nesting party? As the name suggests, these events usually include typical nesting activities, such as:
How Are Nesting Parties Different From Baby Showers?
Both nesting parties and baby showers are gatherings that celebrate the mother-to-be. However, a baby shower is usually a more formal and social event that involves a theme, games, food, and party favors—not to mention gifts to help you start your parenting journey.
While a nesting party can have those things as well, it usually focuses more on helping expectant parents prepare for the baby’s arrival through careful preparation and meaningful service. Another difference? While baby showers involve gift giving, nesting parties involve arranging and putting away those gifts.
That said, it is entirely possible to combine the two types of celebrations. Of course, if you’re really hoping to get some things done at your nesting party, you’ll want to keep the invite list short and sweet. “Pick a select group to come over after the shower to help put away gifts and do any additional things you want to do to get ready for your newborn,” suggests Rhinehart. While favors aren’t required for a nesting party, Rhinehart recommends sending thank-you notes.
Tips for Throwing a Nesting Party
Wondering how to throw a successful nesting party? For starters, although a close friend or relative can host it, it’s best to have nesting parties soon after arriving at the parents’ house. “It makes it easier to get things done,” Rhinehart said. But, as is often the case when there’s a lot to do, it also involves careful planning and boundary setting. If you have to redo the tasks after the guests leave, it defeats the purpose and causes more stress. Below, some tips for making the nesting party as seamless and successful as possible:
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Curate the guest list: As mentioned, it’s best to keep nesting parties small to limit the number of cooks in the kitchen. Only invite close friends and family that you feel comfortable with and trust. “I personally invited six of my high school friends who are all moms, understand the stressors of being a mom and are happy to help,” Rhinehart said.
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Prepare a to-do list first: A prepared list helps keep the party organized and efficient. To make sure all the tasks are done, keep this list of things that can be accomplished within the party’s time limit. Write explicit instructions for how you want tasks to be done, add expert reflection and thinking Josephine Atluri. This eliminates the potential stress of redoing tasks later.
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Delegate: While you can ask guests if they have preferences, don’t be afraid to assign tasks to keep things moving. Delegation depends on the types of tasks on your list; you might consider breaking up larger items into a couple or a group of people. While you’re in assigning mode, give them a soft deadline to keep them on track, suggests Rhinehart.
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Lean on individual strengths: If you have any friends who are master organizers, ask them for their tips on how to organize the nursery or pack a diaper bag. Or, if you have a relative who is impeccable at making baby items, ask them to teach you their tricks. “The more excited someone is for a given task, the more likely they are to do it [try to] execute it to the best of their ability,” Atluri said.
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Have all the supplies you’ll need: Keep supplies like scissors, tools, and baby detergent handy, as well as anything else your guests might need to complete their tasks. If you have someone make meals to freeze after the hospital, stock the fridge and pantry with the necessary ingredients before the party.
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Enjoy the process: Yes, the purpose of a nesting party is to accomplish a lot of prep work, but it’s also a moment to celebrate this stage of your pregnancy journey. Consider having low-lift appetizers, dinner, dessert or drinks for the group, play fun music and spend time catching up while you work. “It’s a really special and cherished time, and while your friends will come to help and support you, they should also enjoy the party,” Rhinehart said. To be sure you Have fun too, try to let go of control, adds Atluri. It’s hard to do when there’s so much to do, but trust your guests and let them support you as best they can.
Nesting parties are a rising trend that highlights the kind of care and consideration parents-to-be and new parents often lack. That said, you don’t have to party to get support. If you are currently expecting, don’t be afraid to ask friends and family members for help. And if you love someone who is currently pregnant, reach out and see if there are ways you can help.
Renee Patrone Rhinehart is a party planner with over 15 years of experience. He is also the founder of Renee’s eventsan event planning company launched in 2007, and Party Host Helpers, launched in 2013. While Party Host Helpers started as a small business in Philadelphia, it now operates in over 30 cities across the country, including New York City, West Palm Beach and Los Angeles. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from Eastern University.
Josephine Atluri is an expert in meditation and mindfulness, as well as a fertility and parenting coach. She has been a mother for seven years and created her family through in vitro fertilization, international adoption and surrogacy. He uses this personal experience to inform his work. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Atluri is also the host of the podcast “Responding to Life: Communicating Health, Fertility and Parenting,” as well as the author of Mindfulness Journal for Parents: Prompts and Skills for Staying Calm, Present, and Connected and 5-Minute Pregnancy Mindfulness: Simple Practices to Be Calm, Present, and Connected.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Viral Post Highlights Why A Nesting Party Is The Celebration Parents Need
10 Nesting To-Dos for Soon-to-Be Moms
Your Go-To Guide on How to Host a Baby Sprinkle
