The Rise of the Nesting Party: A Great Way to Celebrate New Babies
When you’ve been around as long as I have, you’ve seen a lot of baby showers. Back in the day, they were simple, sweet affairs. Punch in a glass bowl, a few silly games, and a table full of pastel-wrapped gifts. And we didn’t just have showers for first-time moms. Our family tradition was to have a shower every fourth child.
But times have changed. Today, showers are often grand affairs. And, so, some families, especially those with multiple children, are looking for something easier and more practical. Increasingly, moms are asking a simple question: What would actually help me right now?
Introducing the Nesting Party
Recently, I attended a “nesting party” for a mother expecting twins, her ninth and tenth children. Instead of gifts, the local homeschool group gathered at her home to help prepare her space for the new babies.
We cleaned. We organized. We cooked.
And we filled her freezer with meals she could simply pull out and heat up in the weeks after the babies arrived.
A nesting party is a practical alternative to a traditional baby shower. Instead of focusing on presents, friends and family come together to help an expecting mother prepare her home and life for the arrival of a new child. Tasks might include:
- Cleaning and organizing
- Setting up the nursery
- Assembling baby gear
- Preparing freezer meals
It’s less about giving things and more about giving help.
How a Nesting Party Works
This particular gathering was beautifully organized. The expectant mother’s best friend from high school prepared everything ahead of time:
- A chore list for volunteers
- A menu of freezer meals
- Printed recipes and instructions
- All ingredients and supplies
Participants simply showed up, signed up for a task, and got to work.
For example, one group-prepared meal:
Taco Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
1 chopped onion
2 cups corn
2 cans black beans, drained
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilis
1 packet taco seasoning
4 cups cooked rice
3 cups shredded cheeseInstructions:
Brown the meat and onion.
Stir in seasoning, corn, tomatoes, and beans.
Divide rice into two greased 9×13 pans.
Add meat mixture and top with cheese.
Cover, label, and freeze.Reheating:
Thaw overnight. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes covered, then uncover to brown.
With a group effort, you can easily prepare weeks’ worth of meals in a single afternoon.
And if you do this right, you won’t have to plan the traditional Catholic-homeschool-group meal train after the baby arrives.
Why Nesting Parties Are Growing in Popularity
1. Practicality Over Presents
Instead of more baby items, moms receive something far more valuable: time, rest, and reduced stress.
2. Reduced Overwhelm
Preparing a home for a baby can be exhausting, especially for experienced mothers with multiple children. Nesting parties tackle the hardest tasks together.
3. A Return to Community
This approach reflects a more traditional, communal mindset. Rather than a consumer-driven event, it becomes an act of service and charity, a true “village” supporting a mother.
4. Real Postpartum Support
Freezer meals, organized spaces, and prepared essentials make a direct difference in those first weeks after birth.
5. A More Intimate Atmosphere
Smaller gatherings of close friends create a peaceful, meaningful environment without the pressure or formality of a large shower.
Other Creative Alternatives to Traditional Showers
If a full nesting party isn’t feasible, there are still many meaningful ways to celebrate:
- Diaper Shower – Guests bring diapers and enjoy a simple, relaxed gathering
- Baby Sprinkle – A smaller celebration for subsequent children
- Sip & See – Held after birth, so friends can meet the baby
- Brunch or High Tea – A quiet gathering with close friends
- Co-Ed BBQ or Potluck – A casual, family-centered celebration
Each of these offers a way to help new parents without going too overboard.
A More Meaningful Way to Celebrate New Life
At its heart, the nesting party restores something we may have lost: the spirit of practical service.
Instead of simply giving gifts, we give ourselves—our time, our effort, our care. We step into the life of a growing family and help carry the load.
For us Catholic homeschoolers, who often have large households and strong local communities, this approach feels especially fitting. It reflects the Christian call to serve one another in love and to build up the domestic church in tangible ways.
Welcoming a new child should be a shared joy (and a shared work!) of the community around the family.
And in that sense, the nesting party may not be something new at all. It may simply be a return to what we’ve always known: that families thrive best when they are supported.
What are your thoughts on this topic? I invite you to join other homeschooling parents and me in the Homeschool Connections Community or our Facebook group.
