Building the nursery, attending prenatal classes, packing a hospital bag, choosing a pediatrician — these are just a few items that expecting parents typically need to tackle before their bundle of joy arrives. Add hosting a baby shower to the mix, and even for those who receive help planning, a joyful event can start to feel like just another box that needs to be checked.
Luckily, there’s a more supportive alternative: nesting parties. The pre-birth events, during which family and friends help expecting parents prepare their home for the baby, have skyrocketed in popularity. Between 2022 and 2024, Pinterest searches for the term “nesting party” increased by 205%, and social media abounds with viral videos of the good-willed get-togethers.
TikToker Allegra Gast’s friends said that her event was “more fun than some baby showers they’d been to,” she wrote in the caption of a 2024 video. “There were no awkward games, everyone participated in something, and who doesn’t love organizing someone else’s house?”
@aloha.nutrition My second Nesting Party with my third pregnancy..success! Thank you soooo much to my friends for helping me “nest” and prep for the postpartum period. We had so much fun and they told me they had more fun than some baby showers they’d been to. There were no awkward games, everyone participated in something and who doesn’t love organizing someone else’s house 😆 If Nesting Parties seems like it’d actually give you more anxiety, I totally get it. I practice the 80%/20% rule where my friends do 80% of the prep work and organization, then I do my 20% finishing touch. I actually didn’t even end up changing anything my friends did because they did such a great job! I was like wow, that’s so pretty and organized. Nesting parties should really be a thing, pass the word along and if you do/did one, how did you feel about it? Anxious or was it helpful? 🔹BTW if you want to grab my checklist, you can grab it in my bio. Makes things soooo much easier! . . . #nestingparty #nesting #thirdtrimesternesting #nestingpartyhowto #howtothrowanestingparty #nestingpartyisthenewbabyshower #preppingforpostpartum #nestingwithgrace #nursingcart #pregnancy #thirdtrimester #lasttrimestercountdown
♬ original sound – Allegra Gast, RDN, IBCLC
Whether you’re the one who’s about to welcome a baby or you want to support parents-to-be in your life, read on to learn more.
Why Throw a Nesting Party?
Nesting parties can still include many of the celebratory elements of a baby shower, such as food, drinks, music, and photos. But many parents find that the experience provides a more personal way for their loved ones to give tangible support, especially if they’ve already had a child and own most of the items they need. Instead of having accumulated more material things, parents end the day with completed projects like built furniture, prepped freezer meals, and stocked nursing carts, as well as an experience full of support and connection.
“Nesting parties are incredibly hands-on and meaningful. They allow friends and family to share their knowledge of welcoming a newborn — everything from organization tips to practical ideas that truly help,” Renee Patrone Rhinehart, founder of both Events by Renee and Party Host Helpers, told Nice News, adding, “That kind of support is priceless and makes a real, lasting difference for new parents during those first few weeks at home.”
Counting on the essentials you’d receive at a baby shower? There’s no rule saying you can’t host both events. After receiving gifts at the first festivity, parents can enlist a smaller group to help organize the new items during the second. “Whether they are first-time parents or pros, this is the perfect way to help them prepare for this new chapter,” Rhinehart said.
Let Your “Village” Take the Lead
While baby showers usually take place at a family member’s house or rented event space, you’ll ideally want to throw a nesting party at your own home — but that doesn’t mean you have to take on all the responsibilities yourself. If you have loved ones who excel in party planning or make a mean charcuterie board, for example, feel free to assign those tasks to them.
You’ll want to do some prep yourself, though, to make sure the day is as productive as possible. “Go in with a clear plan — have a list ready of what you’d like to accomplish so everyone knows how to help,” Rhinehart advised. “Divide and conquer by assigning tasks to friends, and share the list in advance so guests can bring any tools or supplies that might be useful.” When you’re delegating, try to assign responsibilities to guests who enjoy or are good at them, and pair up the people you know work well together.
When it comes to the day of, you have full permission to take as much off your plate as possible (including post-party cleanup), but remember to encourage your guests to take breaks for snacking and socializing. After all, community, rather than entertainment or aesthetics, is the driving force behind a successful nesting party. “Don’t forget to say thank you — skip cooking and order takeout instead, so you can relax and enjoy the time together while your village gets things done,” Rhinehart recommended.
How to Show Up and Pitch In
As a nesting party guest, your main job is simple: help the expectant parents in a positive, practical way. Communicate your strengths and areas of expertise so they can delegate jobs accordingly, and follow their lead regarding how they’d like projects to be completed. You may also want to check with them ahead of time to see if they’d like you to bring any specific supplies.
Unlike at a traditional baby shower, you can typically feel free to wear comfortable clothes appropriate for the tasks that’ll be involved. And while gifts aren’t required, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a registry you can contribute to.
But ultimately, know that your mere presence and support will help create a truly invaluable experience for the soon-to-be parents. “The gift, to me, was feeling my village lift up our family during this time,” journalist Lindsay Tigar wrote for Good Housekeeping after her nesting party. She added: “What I’ll cherish (and remember) the most from my nesting party is looking around my living room, admiring the women who have helped me grow into motherhood, given me grace during the changes, and been there to celebrate and honor my journey — the good, the hard, the bad, the beautiful, and the messy.”
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