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Having a baby in the middle of a pandemic is nothing anyone could have ever planned for, but the reality is that many new parents will be navigating pregnancy and childbirth in very different ways. As we practice social distancing and limit our time around others, celebrating the arrival of a new baby has also changed.
Some couples have solved this challenge by having what has come to be known as a drive-by baby shower. If you're wondering about how to safely pull together a special event to celebrate a pregnant mom during these uncertain times, a drive-by baby shower might be the perfect solution. The following food and party favor ideas will help you create what will undoubtedly be a memorable event for years to come.
What is a drive-by baby shower?
This socially distant event comes complete with food, favors, and fun; all the things you’d expect from a baby shower, and allows the mom-to-be to greet guests safely from a distance (in their driveway or their front porch) as a parade of cars drive by, stop to drop off a gift, grab some food and a party favor, and move right along. To host a drive-by baby shower, invest in a fun and colorful yard sign announcing your party, set up a tent and table for your drive-by baby shower food and party favors, add in some balloons, and you’re good to go. (Make sure all attendees know that in addition to social distancing, mask wearing is required.)
“People are not letting their loved ones miss out on these life events. They’re just getting creative,” event planner Seri Kertzner told Insider magazine about the ingenuity of her clients. “You’re forced into a whole new way of doing things, but I’m finding so many innovative things are happening.”
Anthony Castillo organized a fun surprise drive-by baby shower video for his wife, Ariana. “This is how we do baby showers, baby!” the dad-to-be is heard joyfully yelling in the background.
Ariana was completely surprised, overwhelmed, and grateful to her family for making her shower special. “Today has been such a good day. I am so happy. I was really disappointed and upset that I had to cancel my baby shower,” she explained to her viewers.
Note: If you are considering having guests leave their cars or gather at the shower location, keep in mind that the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that pregnant women may have an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and advises they limit their interactions with other people outside their household as much as possible.
Drive-by baby shower food ideas
If you’re planning a drive-by baby shower, grab-and-go food ideas are going to be your best bet. You’ll want to include items on the display table that are portable and easy to eat while in the car, because chances are they’re going to dig right in on the way back home. Snacks that work best are portable finger foods in individual containers. Here are some easy drive-by baby shower food ideas:
- Individual mason jar cheesecakes. Keep the lid on and attach a spoon.
- Custom cookies. Besides being tasty, cookies are easy to wrap in cellophane bags and hand out safely. You can follow this tutorial to make face mask–themed cookies. Sweet!
- Individual seven-layer dip. Layered plastic cup with an attached bag of tortilla chips.
- A portable cheeseboard. Place breadsticks and various cheeses and nuts in a paper cone.
- Fresh fruit in a waffle cone. Fill a crunchy cone with berries and hand out in a clear party favor bag tied with a ribbon to keep it clean.
- Antipasto ingredients on skewers. Use wooden skewers to serve up a variety of olives, peppers, cheese, and salami, and wrap in plastic.
- Mini shrimp ceviche cups or shrimp cocktail cups. Serve in small cups or plastic condiment containers and include a spoon.
- Cupcakes. Layer two cupcakes in a cup with a lid and attach a fork.
Although the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the risk of getting COVID-19 from food or food packaging is very low, they still encourage taking precautions when handling or serving food. Make sure to wash hands thoroughly before handing out your treats, and have guests take them from a tray or table to minimize contact.
Drive-by baby shower party favors
A baby shower just wouldn’t be the same without party favors, and a drive-by baby shower is no different. Because these are such strange times, consider baby shower favors that are both useful and timely. Incorporate items like baby shower–themed mini hand sanitizers with personalized labels. Similarly, the baby shower party planner could put a timely spin on the gender reveal party and offer face masks in either pink or blue.
Planning for a baby’s arrival should be one of the most exciting events in a woman’s life. While nothing about a global pandemic is normal, creating a sense of normalcy is key. Embracing the joyful things in life, like a new baby’s arrival, whether with a drive-by baby shower or another other means, is always a great idea.
