Rent.com asked, we answered. Take a look at our advice in Rent.’s new article: What is a Nesting Party? How to Host and How to Show Up. (Reprinted with permission from rent.com)
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In for 2025: nesting parties. According to Pinterest’s 2025 Predictions, nesting parties are the latest trend in the prenatal community. “You’ve got your baby showers, your gender reveal parties, and now, enter the nesting party: a time when the people you love come together to help you prepare to welcome your new baby into your home,” describes BeauGen.
For these gatherings, the gift is your time as unlike baby showers, nest parties are truly focused on the parents and helping them prep for the postpartum period. So, whether you’re hosting (or attending) a nesting party at your rental home in Jersey City, NJ, apartment in Fort Worth, TX, or Bellevue, WA home, we’re here to help you understand all the ins and outs of this latest trend.
But, what is a nesting party?
Still confused? Don’t worry, this trend is still new to us too. Nesting parties ask us to re-think the way that we celebrate new parents and challenge us to focus on what the expecting parents need. It’s really less of a party and more of an opportunity to provide the family help.
Unlike baby showers, “Nesting parties shift the focus from stuff to support to help families prepare their homes and hearts for life with a new baby,” explains Lara Elfstrand, the pediatric sleep practitioner of Little Elf Family Services. Here “The gifts are presence and acts of service which prepare the family and their home for a new baby,” continues Katie Madill, founder of Eco Nesting.
“Nesting parties are also more practical and immensely beneficial for soon-to-be parents,” claims Allegra Gast of Aloha Nutrition. She hosted one herself saying, “it was one of the best decisions I made for myself as [we expecting parents] don’t need more onesies, but more support going into the postpartum period.”
Nesting parties also “create opportunities for more connection and impact in postpartum [as the expecting parents] likely don’t need more stuff, but rather need nourishment” notes Katie. Regardless of the way attendees help out and what tasks they check off the parents’ list, “this support is invaluable and lends to make the adjustment more enjoyable and positive and less stressful,” adds Annamarie Rodney, founder and owner of Chicago Family Doulas.
Nesting party ideas: how to help out
Unsure of what you need or how to best help out? We’ve compiled a list of seven nesting party ideas for hosts and guests alike. And for attendees, a good rule of thumb is to “focus on thoughtful contributions — whether it’s your skills, time, or a personal touch — so you can offer support that feels both inspired and impactful,” reminds Cradle Comforts.
Create a calendar
Whether or not you’re Type A, “Consider creating a calendar sign-up at your baby shower where friends and family can volunteer for specific tasks on specific days,” recommends registered nurse and postpartum doula Amanda Devericks of Ivory Circle Wellness. Of course you can send out a calendar or sign-up sheet electronically, but you could also “even print a cute calendar that matches your theme,” suggests Amanda.
With so much to-do and (hopefully) several helping hands, it’s a good idea to stay organized to make sure everything gets done. A calendar can help to space out the help as having several people over at once can be stressful and overwhelming.
Prep the nursery
With the chaos of baby prep, consider asking guests to help set up your nursery. Since “getting organized can feel overwhelming and tedious for both parents, especially the one giving birth,” doula Sherry Jones “strongly encourages parents to call in the troops and delegate instructions on how to help put furniture together, organize the nursery, etc.”
“Help the parents-to-be by organizing and decluttering their space to create a calm, baby-ready home,” continues Nesting Finance. Consider helping stock and organize the nursery with essentials like diapers, clean, or “prep the baby space with developmentally appropriate baby toys (a mobile, rattles, tummy time mat, etc.) while stashing the toddler toys away for later,” says Miss Jaime, O.T. “Gather friends or family to help her organize baby shower gifts, set up baby essentials, or even decorate the nursery,” adds DayJah Danielle, owner of Family Felicity.
“When I was recovering after my premature birth experience, my friends came over and turned a chaotic pile of bibs, onesies, and diapers into a beautifully organized baby space. We utilized storage bins with labels for items like diapers, clothes by size, and feeding supplies to keep everything accessible and stress-free for those busy moments,” continues DayJah.
Utilizing your time (or asking your guests) to help prep the nursery can greatly decrease stress. “My family hosted a small nesting party for me before the arrival of my second son and it made a world of difference for me. So much stress of preparing for my new baby was relieved and I was truly able to savor those last few weeks of pregnancy before we became a family of four,” says Jessica Small of Currently Jess.
Create a postpartum space
Similarly, another great way to focus on the wellbeing of the parents is by “creating a cozy postpartum recovery space,” says Ashmita Srivastava of Couture & Beyond. Focus on making the space calm and soothing so think soft lighting, comfortable blankets, and essentials like water, snacks, and nursing supplies.
Having a designated area (whether or not that be in the nursery) for the parents to rest and relax (with or without the newborn) can make a great difference. This “meaningful and hands-on support is sure to make life easier for parents-to-be, so they can focus on what matters most: bonding with their new baby,” says Ashmita.
Help with chores
Beyond the nursery, there are several other easy to help out around the house. Danielle Bruner, founder of A Bridge To Motherhood, suggests “spoil[ing] the new parents to be by coming into their homes to wash the new baby clothes or set up all the new baby gadgets.”
While baby showers happen before birth, Meghan Doyle, CEO of Partum Health, encourages us to continue the support postpartum. Since “The early days postpartum can be exhausting, even in the most smooth of circumstances, there’s no reason that kind of care can’t continue after the baby arrives,” says Meghan. Whether that be folding laundry while the parents nap or deep cleaning the cabinets, your help is sure to go a long way.
After all, “There’s one gift you’ll never get enough of, that no one will remind you to put on your registry list and that you’ll need more and more of after each baby and its community,” says Chicago Birthworks Collective. Regardless of the help you provide pre- or postpartum, “Your tribe can do so much in a few hours to ensure your postpartum time is a lot less hot mess and a whole lot more mama-baby bliss,” they add.
Meal prep
“In the first few weeks postpartum, resting and nourishing your body are super important, but also really tough with a new baby needing your attention,” says Jenny Meier, content creator and messaging strategist of Millennial Mama. Opt to “assign some attendees to food prep duty during your nesting party or include a favorite recipe in each invitation and ask that your attendees come bearing a meal,” suggests Jenny. “Think pre-chopped ingredients you can dump straight into the crockpot, soups, casseroles, egg bakes, marinated meats, breakfast sandwiches, or pasta dishes,” she adds.
If you want to anticipate this need, consider “gifting a year-long meal-prep service or a healthy snack basket can ease the postpartum period with nutritious, ready-to-eat food,” recommends Huma Chaudhry RD, LDN of Dose Of Nutrition. You can also “bring a prepped frozen meal complete with utensils and dessert,” suggests Jenna Karvunidis. Just remember to “focus on the tastes and preferences of the new parents, and find out if they have food allergies” to steer clear of, adds Jenna.
Don’t forget about the older siblings
If the family already has little ones, consider helping out with them instead of focusing solely on the newborn. “A thoughtful task at a nesting party is creating an activity basket to entertain the older siblings,” suggests Lexi Battershell of Our Slice Of Home. While you could always offer to help watch the kids, having a “basket brimming with fun, new activities can help keep the older children happily entertained,” says Lexi. Keeping the older ones preoccupied is sure to “lift a huge load of stress off [the parents] shoulders,” by allowing them to focus on the newborn, other tasks, or whatever else they need like selfcare.
Emotional support
Beyond acts of service, offering words of encouragement and affirmation can be a great way to help the parents nest. After all, “A nesting party is the time to gather with your beautiful inner village filled with motherhood knowledge and wisdom [to] celebrate the parents in the most nurturing and softest way,” says doula Megan Limon.
Nesting parties “can be a valuable way for couples to prepare for their baby by providing a supportive community and emotional support,” continues Stacey Hoekwater of Birth Center Of Chicago. Simply having “the hands-on approach of having guests lend a helping hand in creating a cozy nest for the newest member of the family not only eases the burden on expectant parents, but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose among guests,” adds Samantha Amaya of The Holistic Honeysuckle.
While it’s true that raising a child takes a village, so does nesting. At your nesting party, consider asking “guests to bring a favorite book for the baby’s library or share parenting advice,” suggests Jennifer Skarakis, founder of Sendo. Whether you’re bonding over crafting personalized baby keepsakes or meal prep, the “Shared moments are what create a sense of community and leave parents feeling supported and ready for their new adventure,” says Jennifer.
If you don’t want to host an official nesting party or can’t attend one, simply being available to offer emotional support in any capacity is truly invaluable. “Nesting can happen in person, via an hour-long phone call, or via a card sent to a friend for no reason,” reminds Jana Kemp. “Settling into a comfortable spot to make a call or pen a note can calm your soul and create joy for your recipient,” continues Jana.
If gifting is a move of your love language, you don’t have the mental or physical capacity to offer support, or another reason, consider this option. Ask “attendees to contribute monetarily toward birth or postpartum doula support to help enhance the parents’ preparedness and well-being, and ease their transition into parenthood,” suggests Vicki Woods, owner of Nashville Doula Services.
Regardless of how you choose to host your nesting party or choose to offer support, recall that “The most valuable gift a new parent can receive is a strong support network to navigate the challenges of parenthood,” reminds Stacey.
Remember to prioritize the parents
We’re so glad nesting parties are all the rage because parents and families seriously do need and deserve all the help they can get. These parties genuinely do “provide the perfect opportunity for friends, family and neighbors to show up for expecting parents and shower them with the support they need,” says Ivory Lynn, blogger of At Home With Ivory. We hope you’ve gotten some ideas for how to host and/or show up to a nesting party and are sincerely wishing everyone the best of luck with their next chapter.
For more tips and ideas, see my original nesting parties blog post. And be sure to sign up for a free nesting party planning session.
