Let me tell you about one of the most practical (and honestly underrated) pre-baby celebrations that deserves way more attention than it gets! While everyone knows about baby showers with their adorable onesie gifts and diaper cakes, the nesting party is that friend who shows up with food when you’re sick and actually helps you do the dishes.
What Is a Nesting Party? (AKA “Why Didn’t I Think of This?”)
A nesting party is basically friends and family coming together to help an expectant parent (or parents) prepare their home for baby’s arrival. Instead of focusing on gifts and games, it’s all about ACTION – painting the nursery, assembling furniture, organizing baby clothes, meal prepping, or deep cleaning the home.
I’ll never forget when my sister was pregnant with twins and we threw her a nesting party. There she was, 34 weeks pregnant with two humans squishing her internal organs, watching in grateful tears as her friends installed cabinet locks, assembled not one but TWO cribs, and filled her freezer with labeled meals. Worth. Every. Minute.
Nesting Party vs. Baby Shower: What’s the Difference?
Baby showers and nesting parties serve different purposes, and honestly, you might want both! Here’s how they differ:
Baby Shower:
- All about gifts and celebrating baby’s arrival
- Usually includes games, decorations, cake
- The guest of honor opens presents while everyone watches
- Typically happens 1-2 months before due date
- Often involves lots of sitting for the pregnant person (thank goodness!)
- Usually women-only (though this tradition is changing)
Nesting Party:
- Focused on physical help and preparation
- More casual, task-oriented atmosphere
- The guests actively work on projects
- Often held closer to the due date when nesting instincts kick in
- Involves movement and productivity
- Usually includes partners and friends of all genders
Last year my friend Jessica had her traditional shower at a restaurant,, and then three weeks later, had a nesting party where her brother-in-law installed the car seat while her college roommate organized the nursery closet by size. Both were perfect in their own way!
How to Plan a Nesting Party
When I planned my own nesting party, I was 37 weeks pregnant and suddenly NEEDED everything to be ready RIGHT NOW. Here’s what worked for me:
1. Timing Is Everything
Aim for about 3-6 weeks before the due date – close enough that the nesting instinct is in full force, but not so close that baby might decide to crash the party! Though honestly, my cousin’s water broke during her nesting party, and everyone just switched to “go time” mode. Talk about efficiency!
2. Create a Task List
Before inviting anyone, sit down and brain dump everything you want accomplished:
- Assembling furniture
- Setting up the crib/bassinet
- Washing and organizing baby clothes
- Deep cleaning bathrooms/kitchen
- Meal prepping for the freezer
- Installing baby gates or safety features
- Organizing the diaper station
- Packing hospital bags
- Setting up the feeding area (whether bottle or nursing station)
I actually color-coded my tasks by difficulty and created stations around the house. My husband thought I was losing it, but EVERYONE commented on how organized it was. Pregnancy brain for the win!
3. Match Skills to Tasks
When you invite folks, don’t be shy about asking for specific help:
- “Uncle Joe, we know you’re great with tools – could you help assemble the crib?”
- “Sarah, since you’re the meal prep queen, would you mind heading up the freezer meal station?”
My contractor brother-in-law installed a ceiling fan in the nursery during our nesting party. Would I have asked him to do that normally? Absolutely not. Did pregnancy make me bold enough to ask? You bet it did!
4. Supplies and Refreshments
Have all supplies ready before people arrive:
- Cleaning supplies
- Tools needed for assembly
- Containers for organization
- Ingredients for meal prep
- Laundry detergent for baby clothes
And don’t forget to feed your helpers! Consider:
- A crockpot of something hearty
- Sandwich platters
- Plenty of snacks and drinks
- Or make it potluck style!
We ordered pizza and had a cooler of drinks in each room of the house. Nothing fancy, but nobody went hungry or thirsty while installing cabinet locks!
Nesting Party Gift Ideas
While gifts aren’t the focus, some guests will want to bring something. Suggest practical items that support the work being done:
- Home-cooked freezer meals
- Gift cards to food delivery services
- Cleaning service gift certificates
- Practical items like outlet covers, cabinet locks, or baby-proofing kits
- Laundry detergent, stain removers, or cleaning supplies
- Organizational tools like bins, labels, or hangers
My favorite gift at my nesting party? My friend brought me a massive box of paper plates, cups, and disposable utensils with a note that said, “Because doing dishes with a newborn is criminal.” I used every last one during those first weeks!
Theme Ideas for Nesting Parties
Yes, you can still have a theme even though it’s a working party!
- “Stock the Freezer” Party: Everyone brings ingredients and recipes, then spends the day cooking and freezing meals.
- “All Hands on Deck” Cleaning Party: Deep clean the entire house with different rooms assigned to different guests.
- “Assembly Required” Party: Focus on putting together all the baby gear and furniture.
- “Closet Organization” Party: Sort through baby clothes, wash them, and organize by size.
- “Baby-Proofing Bonanza”: Install all the safety features around the house.
My friend did a “Netflix and Fold” theme where everyone binge-watched Bridgerton while folding tiny clothes and organizing drawers. Multi-tasking at its finest!
Nesting Party Activities (That Actually Get Things Done)
Unlike baby shower games, nesting party activities are productive:
- Assembly Line Meal Prep: Set up stations for chopping, cooking, packaging, and labeling.
- Nursery Setup Relay: Turn furniture assembly into a friendly competition.
- Wash, Fold, and Organize: Create a system for processing all those tiny clothes.
- Postpartum Care Kit Building: Have guests assemble recovery kits for the birthing parent.
- Hospital Bag Check: Have someone who’s been through childbirth before review the hospital bag.
When we did our nesting party, my husband’s bachelor friends were initially terrified about what they’d gotten themselves into. By the end, they were arguing over the most efficient way to organize diapers by size. I have photographic evidence!
How to Make It Fun (Because Yes, Cleaning Can Be Fun… Sort Of)
- Create upbeat playlists for different rooms
- Take “before” and “after” photos of each project
- Have small prizes for completed tasks
- Schedule short breaks for snacks and socializing
- Share funny stories about pregnancy or parenthood
I still laugh thinking about my brother struggling to install a baby gate while my dad kept trying to “supervise” with outdated advice from the 1980s. The intergenerational debates about baby gear are REAL, folks.
When a Nesting Party Might Not Be Right For You
Let’s be real – not everyone wants a house full of people touching their stuff, even with good intentions!
A nesting party might not be your jam if:
- You’re particular about how things are organized
- You’re feeling physically uncomfortable or on bedrest
- You prefer privacy during this vulnerable time
- You’d rather do tasks gradually than all at once
And that’s completely okay! There’s no rule that says you need to host one. My friend hired a cleaning service and had her partner assemble everything instead – equally valid preparation!
Virtual Nesting Party Ideas
Can’t gather in person? Consider these virtual alternatives:
- Virtual consultation with an organizing expert
- Group video call for moral support while you fold baby clothes
- Registry completion party where friends buy remaining needed items
- Online childbirth or newborn care class taken together
During the height of COVID, my cousin did a Zoom nesting party where friends watched her assemble the crib via video chat, offering advice and moral support. Not quite the same as hands-on help, but the company made tedious tasks more enjoyable!
Final Thoughts: The Real Value of a Nesting Party
The most beautiful thing about a nesting party isn’t just the completed tasks (though those are AMAZING) – it’s the village showing up before baby arrives. It’s the physical manifestation of “we’re here for you” that can be so reassuring when you’re about to embark on the wild journey of parenthood.
When my nesting party ended and everyone left, I stood in the newly organized nursery, freezer full of meals, hospital bag packed, and felt this overwhelming sense of support. Those helping hands had created a space where I could welcome my baby with a little less stress and a lot more love.
Whether you’re expecting your first or your fifth, remember that it’s okay to ask for help. That’s what community is for! Your nesting party might just become one of your favorite pregnancy memories – it certainly was for me.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go help my neighbor assemble a crib. The nesting party circle of life continues!
