Long-Distance Baby Showers
Celebrating a new baby from far away.
Here’s the dilemma. A new baby is coming, there just has to be a shower, but the mommy-to-be lives far away from everyone or you’ve been invited and you can’t attend. What now? There are ways to celebrate your baby’s upcoming arrival with all of your friends and family whether you all live in the same town or not. Here are some creative ideas on how to solve the problem.
Send a Shower
If the expecting mommy can’t be there, send a ‘baby shower in a box” so you can have a long distance baby shower. Come up with a cute baby shower theme and get items that relate to the theme. Pack a gift box with shower decorations and a centerpiece for the mommy’s table. Use decorations that can double as gifts, like onesies or a diaper cake. Include an advice book and have everyone write some words of wisdom for the new parents-to-be or a newborn care video to help the new parent’s reduce their stress. Send some baby shower snacks or order in food for her.
Include Distant Loved Ones
If the problem is that mommy can attend but there are several out of town guests who for whatever reason can’t be there, give them a time range to send their gift prior to the shower (to either the guest of honor or the host of the shower). This way their gift can be opened along with the rest.
A way to make the absent mommy or guests feel part of the fun is to video conference, conference call by phone, or create an email chat session so that everyone can participate during the shower. Send out save the date announcements so that everyone knows when to be by the phone or logged online. If conference calling or emailing, have her open up each gift and let everyone who isn’t there know what she received. If possible, have guests who are able set up webcams for that ‘almost like they are there’ feeling during the shower.
Whether in person, on the phone, or email, have everyone tell a funny baby story about themselves or the expecting grandparents can tell baby stories about the soon to be parents. If all else fails, have someone video tape the shower and send copies to long distance guests who couldn’t attend.
