What is a nesting party? The ultimate hosting guide

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What is a nesting party?

If you've heard of the term 'nesting' then you might have an idea of what a nesting party could be all about. During pregnancy, most expectant mums reach a point where their nesting instincts kick in in anticipation of their baby's arrival. You'll feel the urge to clean, organise and prepare your home for your bundle of joy.

For some, the nesting urge will be so strong and you'll want to conquer mountains of baby laundry, assemble the cot and paint the nursery room all in one day. Realistically though, as a heavily pregnant person, you might not have the physical energy to fulfil your entire nesting checklist. This could also be the case if you've recently moved to a new home or haven't got much turnaround time left until the baby arrives.

As much as it might be a struggle for you to ask for and receive help, this is a time when your loved ones will be more than willing to show up and give you the helping hand you need. But before you create and send your nesting party invite, here's the low-down on what it is.

A nesting party is an intimate gathering of the expecting parents' friends and family. The guests come together to help organise and prepare things ahead of the baby's arrival and for the tiresome postpartum period.

Nesting ideas include:

stocking the fridge-freezer with pre-cooked meals
cleaning and decluttering
washing bottles and breast pump parts
washing, drying and organising the baby's clothes in drawers
assembling the baby's pram
assembling nursery furniture
decorating the nursery
setting up a changing station with nappies and wipes
installing the car seat
packing the hospital bag
setting up a bedside nursing station for the mum-to-be

The old saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' comes to mind here, and a nesting party really is all about doing the practical things that need to be completed and is often left for the expectant parents to do by themselves.

As the expectant mum, it's up to you to decide who gets to plan and host the nesting party. At the very least, it's a good idea for you to have a nesting party to-do list to ensure what you need help with is covered on the day. Some nesting parties have a theme and planned activities for the day. You can decide to centre your party around cooking and meal-prepping or just focus on assembling and decorating the nursery – whatever is a priority on your baby nesting checklist.

You can still share food and snacks with background music on during your nesting party, you and your guests will enjoy bonding whilst preparing. Nevertheless, the whole idea is that you'll be receiving practical support that will help to alleviate stress in the lead-up to your baby's arrival.

Nesting party vs baby shower

A nesting party and a baby shower have their similarities, they both focus on celebrating the expectant parents. The key differences though are that the nesting party focuses on practical preparation whilst the baby shower focuses on the showering of gifts for the parents/baby on the way.

A baby shower involves a lot more socialising and celebrating. There's food, fun and games and the expectant couple gets to go home with gifts showered on them to aid their parenting journey.

A baby shower can be as big or intimate as you like, invited guests range from family and friends to sometimes even work colleagues. The atmosphere tends to be fun, vibrant and pure party vibes.

A nesting party isn't exempt from fun, socialising or gift-giving. If there are gifts, it's more fitting for guests to bring items that directly help with meaningful prep and organising.

Attending guests are usually close friends and family, people who you'll be comfortable with having in your home and who will serve you wholeheartedly.

The atmosphere for a nesting party is causal, task-oriented and somewhat chilled out. No need for guests to feel awkward participating in the party games here, they'll simply roll up their sleeves and get to work through your nesting party checklist.

You can, however, combine both a nesting party and baby shower together and have your closest friends and family remain after the celebrations to help you unpack and organise the gifts given.

Tips for hosting a stress-free nesting party

The last thing you need as a heavily pregnant person is to be stressed out when planning a party. This would be the best time to figure out who amongst your friends and family is good at planning events and see if they'll be up for organising it.

If you're hosting it, get rid of stress and overwhelm by planning your nesting party well. Follow these tips and we guarantee you'll have a smooth sailing party:

Make a guest list

This shouldn't be too difficult as your guests will likely consist of your closest friends and family – people willing to offer you meaningful acts of service. They must be people you and your partner feel comfortable allowing into your home. Additionally, you want to feel confident delegating tasks to them too.

Send party invites early

Send out your nesting party invites well in advance so that your guests can plan ahead. Also, be clear on what they're coming to do so you can manage their expectations, especially if they've never heard of a nesting party before.

You can send an online invitation or create a paper one and post your invitations through snail mail.

Create a clear plan

Freezer-friendly meal prep or baby cupboard organising – you decide.

Making a plan will mean you won't have to oversee every single guest during the party. A clear plan means your guests know exactly what you'd like to achieve by the end of the day and can independently crack on with it – leaving space for socialising and bonding.

Think about having various stations set up for different tasks so your guests can easily access what needs to be done. Remember though not to over-plan, you don't want to overwork your loved ones!

Do you need clothing to be organised and labelled? On the day, show them where the drawer and label maker are and bundle up the clothes that are to go in there. Be as specific as you can about what you need help with. Have realistic expectations of the day in case some tasks aren't finished, progress is better than perfection here.

Add a label maker and a planner notebook to your shopping list – don't forget!

Practice the 80/20 rule

If you think you'll need a nesting party but know that you're the kind of person who likes to be particular and in control then this rule is perfect for you. Let your guests do 80% of the organising to give you a head start and after the party is done, you can finish off by doing the remaining 20%.

This way, you'll still be receiving the support you need with the bulk of the task whilst being in control of the end result.

Prepare equipment

Will you need a screwdriver, some paint brushes or laundry detergent for the day? Make sure you have all the tools and equipment you need for your guests to effectively help you. The last thing you need is laundry detergent running out in the middle of washing and drying baby clothes.

Feed your guests

This doesn't have to be stressful. If you'd rather not make the refreshments, simply order some finger food and drinks for people to graze on during the day. You'll want your invited guests to be fuelled and energised for the tasks ahead.

Prepare goodie bags or 'thank you' items

Thank your guests for their acts of service by giving them a parting gift. It can be as affordable as a hand-written thank you note or a specially curated goodie bag for each of your guests. Consider your budget and figure out the best way to thank them for the contribution they've made to your parenting journey.

Here are beautiful embossed 'thank you' cards that you can write a hand-written message on or a gift-wrapped personalised scented candle for your party favours.

Have fun!

Don't forget to have fun! A nesting party is predominately a task-oriented event but make it a special and memorable time for your guests and yourself. Play a music playlist, schedule mini breaks in between to relax and take a group photo at the end to capture the sweet memories.

What do you bring to a nesting party?

This all depends on what the expectant parents need and want. In some cases, as an attendee, all you need to do is bring your helping hands.

However, the mum-to-be may ask guests to bring items to help with the nesting tasks. These could be storage boxes, baskets, nappies or drawer dividers. If you've been given the task of making freezer meals then perhaps bringing some ingredients or food storage containers is a good idea.

Above all, bring your positivity and an open mind in case things don't go completely to plan.

As the expectant mum, the main thing to bring is all your equipment, baby gear and items for nesting. Don't forget a little 'thank you' gesture for your supportive friends and family to take home afterwards.

Pic: Getty Images

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Janet MtimaDigital Journalist

Janet is a Digital Journalist for MadeForMums and mother to a boy and girl both under 4. With a keen eye and passion for creating online media content, she enjoys sharing her own journey of motherhood, and providing encouragement for new mums.