The Ultimate Guide to Nesting Parties: Everything You and Your Guests Need to Know

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “it takes a village,” you’ll understand the spirit behind a nesting party. A nesting party is the modern-day twist on a traditional baby shower. Rather than gathering your friends and family to celebrate, a selected few roll up their sleeves to help expectant parents ready the nest. Think meal prepping for the first couple of weeks post-partum, putting together a new crib, or folding tiny onesies – all with support, fun, laughter, and love.

Why are nesting parties trending now? Because they’re practical. While baby showers are perfect for celebrating a little newcomer (and receiving gifts!), nesting parties focus on giving time, support and care. In this one-stop guide to nesting parties, we’ve got you covered on everything you need to know:

• • What a nesting party is
• • How it differs from a baby shower
• • Fun ideas and themes
• • A full nesting party checklist
• • Gift registry tips
• • And the best gifts to bring if you’re attending

What Is A Nesting Party?

A nesting party is all about helping expectant parents prepare their home for a new arrival. The term ‘nesting’ comes from the process of nesting before giving birth – cleaning, organizing, and every other kind of preparation required for the baby’s arrival. Instead of doing this alone, expecting parents invite their closest friends and family to lend a hand, while having fun together!

At a nesting party, guests might tackle tasks like assembling baby furniture, cooking and stocking freezer meals, decorating the nursery, or simply making sure the house is clutter free and ready. Unlike a baby shower, where the spotlight is on celebration and gift-giving, the practicality of a nesting party aims to create a supportive, hands-on environment that takes real stress off the parents.

It’s not about replacing a baby shower – in fact, some expecting parents throw both. Nesting parties are more intimate and task-focused, while baby showers are more oriented toward fun and games.

Nesting Party Vs. Baby Shower: What’s The Difference?

If you want to throw one party in preparation for your new arrival, the question might be, ‘Which will suit me more?’ This is really going to depend on how much support you need prior to the birth of your new family member.

“First-time parents are still more likely to choose a baby shower, but by the second baby, I'd say 90% of my clients opt for a nesting party instead.” says Samantha Xu, a professional Newborn Photographer from Little One Photo.

“Parents who [are] expecting their second child are realizing they don't need fancy gifts, but instead practical help like meals, childcare, and household support.” Xu says.

Let’s break down the key differences between a nesting party and a baby shower:

Nesting Party Themes

Don’t forget to have fun! Pair the function of a nesting party with a theme of your choice. Here’s some nesting party theme ideas to get you thinking:

• ‘Welcome Home’: meal prepping, nursery furniture setup, decluttering, decorating etc.
• ‘Potluck & Prep’: guests bring a dish to share and pack leftovers away for meal prep.
• ‘Nesting & Movies’: host a movie night after the nest has been prepped.

Tip: You don’t need to limit yourself to one theme! Depending on how much help you need and the duration of your nesting party, you can section your event into different sections to according to the activity.

Note: Remember that nesting parties are for support, not as a leisurely get-together. Xu says the most common mistake when hosting nesting parties is “treating it like a traditional party with games or drinks” when it “should be about real support, not entertainment.” So, throw both if you can! That way, you’ll celebrate your baby’s arrival and ready the nest with loved ones.

The Ultimate Nesting Party Checklist

While nesting parties are commonly planned by a close friend or family member of the expecting parents, many parents will organize hosting their nesting parties themselves. Regardless of who’s organizing the nesting party, it’s essential to know the most important pieces of the plan:

Planning Your Nesting Party

Have a think about where you need help the most. Is it cleaning up your house and the nursery, meal prepping, organizing your baby items, or do you just not know where to start? Ideally, the guests at your nesting party are the people closest to you – people who you can trust to sort out your belongings, give you advice and support, and overall lend a helping hand in readying your home for your newborn.

Once you’ve created a list of things you need help with the most, think about:

• • Creating gift registry (to avoid gift double-ups)
• • What you’ll include on your invite
• • When you’ll set aside time for food, tasks, breaks, and celebrations

This will be your starting point before planning the agenda of your nesting party.