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Getting ready for the big day when your new little bundle of joy will arrive but not sure how you can have a safe baby shower during a pandemic? You aren’t alone. Moms-to-be (and their besties) are finding creative ways to not just have a baby shower, but to make it as fun and engaging as possible. A drive-by baby shower doesn’t need to be impersonal and quick.
Even with a drive-by baby shower, you’ll still have people coming and visiting. Jamie Bacharach, head of Acupuncture Jerusalem, reminds expectant moms to put safety first. “The best ways to be safe during a pandemic-time baby shower is to ensure social distancing, require mask wearing, and keep the crowd small," Bacharach told Mom.com. "As difficult as it may be to accept that you can't have your dream baby shower with dozen of friends and typical games, safety is paramount for the mom-to-be as well as any guests.”
Drive-by baby shower invitations and preparation
The first thing to do is get the word out. Baby shower invitations are often very creative and cute, and don't hold back just because you’re having a drive-by baby shower. Throw a pickup truck filled with presents on the invitation, or incorporate a street map into your design for a clever — and informative — invite. Check out options for online and downloadable invitations, too.
Do make sure to include pertinent information to help your guests know what to expect — this means clearly explaining that the shower is a drive-by and giving people a specific time to stop by. Remind your guests that you’ll be outside and waiting to greet them, but that social distancing and mask wearing are a must.
If applicable, indicate where or how to park. You may even cone off a space in front of your home and decorate it with balloons to help guests feel more festive, too.
As with any invitation to a baby shower, give your guests enough time to check the registry out and get the right gift. Just because it’s a few minutes of time doesn’t mean you don’t want to allow everyone the opportunity to prepare.
You can still decorate and hand out party favors at a drive-by shower
The drive-by baby shower has family and friends pull up and greet you, and drop off their gift if they have one. Even though people are socially distancing, there are ways to get a lot of interaction with people and give the expecting mom a big surprise. Decorate the front yard with balloons (or a balloon arch) and a gift table. Have prepackaged thank you gifts and cupcakes to give to all the guests to show your appreciation for their love and support. Set all items on a tray that guests can grab themselves, to keep contact to a minimum.
Expecting mom Latrice Smith Clairborne's drive-by shower was a big success. “It went really, really well," she told Mom.com. "Some people even got out and stayed talking to other people in the yard while social distancing. It was great.”
Want the baby shower to be a surprise? Creative family members or best friends can plan this drive-by baby shower covertly and simply show up to surprise the mom-to-be. Just don’t tell her what is happening, and either take her to a family member’s home where the yard is decorated, or stealthily decorate her front yard while she’s busy inside. Call her out and see the excitement on her face.
Add a Zoom party to your celebration, or throw a hybrid shower
Want to be able to open your presents with all your guests? The drive-by won’t really allow that, but adding a Zoom party with your guests afterward will let everyone share in the joy as you open the wonderful gifts.
Creatively engage those on the call. You want it to be more than just well wishes and “I love you” filled with empty silence. Plan a few ice-breaker baby shower games to get everyone in the mood, and then get to opening the presents. This is a nice way to end a great drive-by baby shower. Guests will feel like they really got to share in the experience with you, and you’ll be able to give heartfelt thanks for the celebration.
The trick is the timing. It may be best to plan the virtual part of the shower for the next day when the mom-to-be has had some time to rest and recuperate from the actual drive-by.
Hybrid drive-by baby shower
If you really want to have an in-person event, think about using a local church or school parking lot to host a tailgate party with a few friends. This is much like a drive-by because you really aren’t gathered in the same room just a few feet away. This way everyone can attend but safely remain apart. Make sure your gathering is small, per CDC guidelines, and everyone has masks and follows strict social distancing rules and disinfect gifts as they are brought to your car. You’ll be able to play a few fun socially distant games that might include gift bingo, guess mom’s waist size, or Pictionary.
Note: If you do decide to gather with others outside your household, 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 as much as possible.
