Baby Shower Bingo Virtual
Similar to baby shower gift Bingo, this game requires guests to listen for baby related words during the shower. Each guest needs to make their own Bingo board. It should be a five-by-five grid. In each grid square, guests should write a baby word they think will be said at least once during the shower. When my in-laws started throwing around the idea of a virtual baby shower, I will admit I was a bit skeptical. I appreciated the thought and the excitement over the new baby, but I’d never heard of this type of shower before and wasn’t sure how it was going to work. These 10 virtual baby shower games will inspire you with more ideas. Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comment below. Related: How To Host A Virtual Baby Shower Bingo – 2 Ways To Play! Everyone loves bingo – it’s a classic favorite. And it’s an easy virtual baby shower game to play.
Are you interested in hosting a virtual baby shower?
Whether your friends and family live far away, you’re limited on travel, or if you just want to be unique, having an online baby shower may be right for you.
In this post, I’ll share exactly how you can plan and host your baby shower online.
Let’s jump into planning your virtual baby shower!
What is a Virtual Baby Shower?
A virtual baby shower is simply a baby shower that’s hosted online via a live stream.
It is a great option for those who have family and friends who live far away, but still want to take part in the celebration of new life.
This doesn’t have to be the only reason that you host your baby shower online, though.
In fact, hosting a virtual baby shower was the first thing that I considered when our family began planning our shower.
Because our families live far apart from each other, having a shower in a central location would require travel and just be a chore.
Although our parents decided to host separate showers for each side of our families, hosting a virtual shower was still something that I explored and will consider in the future.
Here’s how you can plan your shower.
Grab your FREE Baby Registry Checklist! Click here to access it.
What to do during an online baby shower
The activities of an online baby shower are no different from what you would do in person.
Your shower should include both playing games and opening gifts.
Steps to Planning a Virtual Baby Shower
1. Secure a hosting platform
Before you can host your baby shower, you’ll need to secure a suitable hosting platform. This is basically figuring out what website you’re going to live stream from.
There are both free and paid options that will enable you to do so.
Let’s look at both options.
Facebook is a great option for hosting your shower. Most people are already Facebook users, which means it will be easy for them to join.
To host your shower on Facebook, you would simply create a closed or private group specifically for your event. It’s important that the group is not public to ensure that your event can remain private and only for your guests.
Guests will be able to join the group, where they can interact beforehand and after. You’ll be able to go live while others view and can comment in real-time.
Pros:
- Free
- Able to build a community around the event
- Option to upload pictures within the group
- You will be able to download a video of the live stream as a keepsake
- It is an easy to use platform that most people are already using
Cons:
- Must have a Facebook account
- Guest can only interact through comments
Zoom
Zoom is a platform specifically designed for video conferencing. There are, however, limitations with the free version of this platform so you should plan on using the paid version.
You can sign up for as low as $14.99 and cancel or downgrade after you’re done.
All that guests will need to use this application is the specific link to join your event. They will be able to join using a phone or computer.
Unlike Facebook, guests will also be able to join by video and actually talk. There is also a chat that you can use to play games.
If you choose to use Zoom, I strongly recommend having a host who knows how to use the platform so that they can moderate. They will need to be responsible for making sure that everyone is on mute at certain times and responding to questions that may come up in the chat.
Pros:
- Meant for video conferencing
- Guests can join with audio and video
- Ability to download a video of the live stream as a keepsake
- Doesn’t require guests to have an account
Cons:
- Will require the paid version
- Only meant for video, no community aspect
Another free option that is similar to Zoom is Skype, although all features may not be the same.
WebBaby Shower
This site is specifically designed to help moms and their families host virtual baby showers. Included is a virtual guest book and games that you can play.
This platform makes it easy to host a virtual baby shower and is more than just a one-time event. With WebBabyShower’s simple setup, you can choose your theme, personalized URL, and have a cute baby shower website ready to go in 60 seconds.
Your WebBabyShower package will include a guest book, a gift registry page, photo and video albums, birthday bets and games with scoreboards so your guests can compete when they visit!
You can also use WebBabyShower to send invites to your guests directly from the platform, you can even track the open rates too.
You can easily plan your baby shower video call by using WebBabyShower’s video call planner.
Unlike other platforms, WebBabyShower is an ad-free completely private space. Only those who have your unique URL will be able to access your site, and for added security, you can also set up a password for guests if you like
Once your plan is coming to an end (plans range from monthly subscription to a year plan) you can print off a pdf keepsake so everyone’s well wishes and photos will be saved forever.
Pros:
- All in one platform
- Not just a one-off event site
- Private space with no ads
Cons:
- Most expensive option ($79)
- Will still need to use other platforms (No video chat integration)
2. Create a guest list
Now that you have a hosting platform secured, it’s time to come up with a guest list.
Funny Baby Shower Games
If you’re looking for a way to organize your guest list, I’ve included a printable in the Baby Bump Binder.
It’s important to remember that attending a baby shower online may be unfamiliar to some people, so they’ll need to have some basic technical skills to join.
3. Create a registry
You’ll want to create your registry before you send out your invitations so that guests have the opportunity to purchase and mail gifts.
I recommend creating your baby registry on multiple sites to give your guests options.
I’ve written an entire article on where you can register and what to put on your registry—The Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist.
Grab your FREE Baby Registry Checklist! Click here to access it.
4. Create and send out invitations
In keeping with the theme of being virtual, you can send out electronic invites as well.
If you’re hosting on Facebook, you can simply create an event that is connected to your closed or private group.
However, even if you are using Facebook as your hosting platform, there are sites where you can create virtual invitations customized to your theme.
Virtual Baby Shower Invitations
Since you’re hosting a virtual baby shower, why not have virtual baby shower invitations?
Here are two place where you can customize your virtual baby shower invites for free!
Canva
Canva is one of the most popular sites to use for graphic design. In fact, I do all of my designing on this platform.
They’ve made it super easy for you to create your unique baby shower invites with their premade baby shower templates.
Just update the information and you can download these templates to print or send via email. It’s really that simple.
Evite
One popular site is Evite. This site has tons of free options that you can choose from for your invitations—including video options.
If you choose to use the premium version of this site, be sure to Rakuten so that you can get cashback on your purchase.
I’ve downloaded the Rakuten browser extension so that it can notify me of when I can earn cashback.
While writing this article, I could earn 17.5% back for any purchase that I made on Evite.
When you sign up for Rakuten and make an eligible purchase of $25 using the site, you’ll get $10 free!
What to include in your virtual baby shower invitation
- Details on the date and time of your live event
- A link to join the group or meeting
- A link to your registry with a ship-to address
5. Plan your games
Because you’ll be hosting this online, you will have to be a little bit more strategic about the games you play.
Your games will have to be something that everyone can play online and still feel engaged.
The great thing about doing this virtually is that the prizes can also be virtual. Consider giving away virtual gift cards as prizes to winners.
Virtual Baby Shower Game Ideas
Here are a few virtual baby shower games that you can play with your guests. You can read my article on virtual baby shower games to play on Zoom for more ideas.
Guessing Games
Create a list of facts that the guests may not know about mom, dad, or baby. Have them guess the answer to these questions by entering them into the chat or showing their written answers on camera.
The winner can be the person who gets the most right.
You’ll want to ensure that the host or a designated person is keeping track of answers to determine the winner.
Scavenger Hunts/Trivia
Another engaging game is an online scavenger hunt or trivia.
Have guests look for the answer to questions online. The first person to find the most right answers wins.
6. Decorate your live stream room
Just because this shower is virtual doesn’t mean that it has to be void of decorations.
Take some time to decorate the room that you’ll be joining the live stream from.
A quick and easy decoration is a simple backdrop. Amazon has tons of inexpensive options specific to baby showers that you can choose from.
Simply put a backdrop behind you to add some decor to your video!
7. Go live!
Before going live, you may want to do a test run on the platform you’ll be using. That way everything can go off without a hitch.
Be sure to send guests a reminder of what time the stream will start so that they can join on time.
If you’re using Zoom, you can set up your call to have people wait in a virtual waiting room until your host starts the live stream.
I suggest having a schedule or agenda written out beforehand so that you know exactly what should happen when. Here is an example:
5:55 PM – Start live stream
6:00 PM – Welcome guests
6:05 PM – Guest introductions (Name, relationship to mom, where they’re joining from)
6:20 PM – First game
6:35 PM – Second game
6:50 PM – Have mom open gifts
7:10 PM – Thank you to guests
7:15 PM – End call
8. Send out thank you notes
Alas, don’t forget to send out thank you notes to guests who joined the shower and those who sent gifts. These can be done virtually or sent via mail.
Final Thoughts on Hosting a Baby Shower Online
Hosting a virtual baby shower is a great way to still celebrate your new addition, even if your family is afar.
Don’t let distance or restrictions prevent you from having your celebration. As you can see from this post, technology has made it possible for you to have your baby shower virtually.
If you need more help organizing and planning your pregnancy, don’t forget to check out the Baby Bump Binder for checklists and other templates.
Posts Related to Web Baby Showers:
Virtual Baby Shower Ideas
With the shift to virtual social gatherings, baby shower hosts now have an extra hurdle to jump when it comes to entertaining their guests. While there's only so much you can do about the general awkwardness of showers (whether virtual or not), there are some Zoom baby shower games that will help guests loosen up, get engaged, and have some fun. Plus, if there's a good e-gift card prize up for grabs, you'll have no problem convincing everyone to participate.
Unique Virtual Baby Shower Games
DIY Food Or Drink Competition
Have everyone show up to the virtual shower with an entry for a 'best food/drink competition' amongst each other. When you send out the invites, let guests know they need to show up with a food or drink they prepared themselves. You can instruct them to do a specific type of snack like a cupcake, cookie, or smoothie, or let them use their imaginations. Then, all of the guests will vote on their favorites (but they can't vote for their own creations) and the winner will get a prize.
Scavenger Hunt
Just like you used to play when you were a kid, come up with a scavenger hunt list of household items and have your guests find them around their home. On the list, include both typical and obscure things you'd find in a house like a paper clip and a pig of some sort. You can either play this as a race or a competition of who can find the most items in a certain amount of time.
Baby Gift BINGO
Who doesn't love a good game of BINGO? Come up with some cards to send out to guests to mark off during the gift-opening portion of the party. Any time a gift matches one of their squares they can check it off, and whoever gets BINGO first wins.
Traditional Games For Zoom Baby Shower
Who's That Baby?
Before the shower, ask guests to send in a photo of themselves now and when they were a baby. Create a page with all of the guests' current photos and names and send it to everyone to use during a slide show presentation of everyone's baby pictures. Guests have to match or guess who's who, and whoever gets the most answers correct wins.
Don't Say 'Baby'
This is about as classic as it gets when it comes to baby shower games. Have everyone be on alert to call each other out if they say the word 'baby.' The host (or a host-helper) will keep score for the guests, and whoever caught people saying 'baby' the most gets a prize.
The Price Is Right
Unfortunately, there's no Plinko game here, but this game is still full of the spirit of The Price Is Right. Come up with a list of baby essentials, like a car seat, diapers, formula, and a pack of onesies, and have guests guess what they think the average price of each item is. The person who gets the most correct, or closest to correct without going over, is declared the winner.
Trending Baby Names
This came can be played two ways, using either the top 20 baby names from the year mom-to-be was born or the top 20 baby names from the prior year. Either way, have guests rank the names based on what they think was most popular. Whoever's list is closest to correct wins.
Guess How Many
Since the Guess How Many game is visual anyway, it can still be done virtually. Fill a vase or container with an object or candy and have guests guess how many are in there. Whatever you choose, make sure it's small enough to make the game a challenge.
Interactive Online Baby Shower Games
Never Have I Ever
Remember playing this game before kids came along? Well, bring it back! Guests can bring a cocktail or mocktail while everyone goes around in a circle with their 'Never Have I Ever' story. If the person has done the thing, they take a sip. To give it a baby-shower twist, ask guests to keep all of their stories centered around babies and/or parenting experiences such as, 'never have I ever used a Nose Frida' or 'never have I ever had to clean up a blowout diaper.' There are no prizes here, just a way to get everyone talking to each other (and probably laughing a bit).
Baby Charades
Send every guest a baby-themed word that they need to act out on screen for the rest of the guests to figure out. You can either split the guests up into teams or play every person for themselves and whoever gets the most right wins. To avoid everyone cutting each other's sound off because they're yelling the answers, have them type their answers into the chat.
Pictionary
Online Baby Shower Games
This is just like your standard Pictionary game, only with all things baby. You can have guests draw on a piece of paper at home or use a drawing program on their tablet/computer to do it digitally (just remind them it has to be freehand). This can be played as individuals or in teams.
With a good group of people and some fun games, a virtual baby shower can be just as entertaining as an in-person one. It's all about getting guests to interact with each other and have a good time. The 'winner' titles and prizes don't hurt, either.