Baby showers — whether held in real life or virtually — are still the most popular way to celebrate a new arrival. But sometimes, a pre-birth soirée isn’t possible (time constraints, geographical hurdles, finances) or preferred (maybe you don’t want to open gifts in front of everyone, for example). Enter the sip and see, a party trend among new parents that involves inviting friends and family to meet your baby after he's born.
Curious about sip and see parties and how they compare to traditional baby showers? We have all the details from top party planners below.
What is a sip and see?
Simply put: “A sip and see can be described as an intimate gathering or open house, typically hosted by the new mom or parents, to give family and friends the opportunity to meet or ‘see’ their new baby,” explains Katherine Kommer, founder and lead planner for New York-based k.Lane events.
Instead of being held before your baby's arrival, these events take place after you've given birth or adopted your baby, says Mindy Weiss, founder of Mindy Weiss Party Consultants in Beverly Hills, California.
These parties likely started in the South as a post-facto celebration for loved ones to get together to sip (some light drinks) and see (you and the baby). The trend has grown over the years, especially among parents who can't have a baby shower for various reasons.
“It made more sense to us since we live away from family, so then people can give gifts and meet the baby at the same time,” says What to Expect Community mom smy123.
When should you schedule a sip and see party?
If you're opting for a sip and see instead of a traditional baby shower, you might begin some preliminary planning while you're pregnant, but wait until after your baby is born to set a date, suggests Kommer. After all, if you recently gave birth, you’ll want to make sure you’re having the party when you feel up to it — which could be anywhere from weeks to months after your delivery.
A sip and see party "allows parents to settle into their new roles as mom and dad and decide on an appropriate date to invite their loved ones to meet their newest addition,” she says.
Some people decide to factor in their newborn’s vaccine schedule when figuring out the date. “We are doing ours after the 8-week shots," says What to Expect Community mom kokid94. "A few family members will see our little one early on, but for a larger amount of people, we are waiting for the newborn shots to be complete.”
Who should host a sip and see party?
These parties usually take place in the new family’s home, though they can also be hosted by a close friend or family member.
“Location is dependent on what is most comfortable for the new mom or parents,” says Kommer. “It may be more convenient for the mother to host at her own home, so everyone comes to her and all baby gear, supplies, and nursery are readily available.”
If you’re hosting a sip and see party yourself, aim to set up one area of your space — the living room or back patio, for instance — for the event. And (this is a biggie!) enlist the help of a friend or family member to help coordinate, says Kommer. “A sip and see should be more of a casual, relaxed event with a relatively shorter timeline — about an hour or two,” she says. Most new moms also won’t want the hassle of big setups or cleanups.
The party could either be scheduled like an open house where guests come and go within a certain window or you could ask guests to arrive at a set time.
Should you open or bring gifts to a sip and see party?
As for gifts? It’s perfectly acceptable to register for them, says Weiss. “Loved ones want to get you gifts and they want to get you what you want, so definitely register.”
That said, gifts are not expected at these events the way they typically are at a baby shower (where a registry is usually listed on the invite), says Kommer. “Many guests will feel inclined to bring a gift for the new baby, but if you have already given a gift, there is absolutely no need to purchase another.”
Feel awkward coming empty handed, or don’t see a registry? A baby book or a gift for the parents — think flowers or a home-cooked meal — are always welcome, Kommer says.
Want more baby shower or post-birth party ideas? You'll find it in the What to Expect app, which offers week-by-week guidance to help you navigate all the milestones.
Who should you invite to a sip and see party?
If you're hosting your own sip and see, feel free to invite anyone you want to meet your new baby! Some couples prefer a coed party, while other new moms want just female friends and relatives to attend.
If someone else is hosting the event, it’s important to ask the new parents who they'd like to have there, says Kommer. After all, while some postpartum moms might be thrilled to see all of their friends, others may prefer a smaller group.
Sip and see party ideas
Ready to plan your sip and see? Here are more expert tips for a successful event.
- Sip and see food ideas. Since these parties are on the shorter side (usually only a few hours), there’s no need to go all out with a full-blown catering menu. “Refreshments are usually light, and it’s fun to have a few drinks on hand for the ‘sip’ part,” says Kommer. If it’s a mid-morning event, you might serve a few platters of fruit, a spread from a local bakery, and a coffee bar or mimosas.
- Sip and see decoration ideas. It’s easy to get caught up in Pinterest-worthy decor dreams, but Kommer suggests keeping decorations simple. “The guests are there to meet and see the new baby and mom,” she says. Plus, with a simple setup, you minimize cleanup. Beautiful, fresh flowers or a styled vignette area are both lovely ways to brighten up a room, she says. That said, if you have the time (and energy!), more decor is great too, Kommer says. Not sure where to start? Decide on a theme — children’s books, jungle (wild about your new baby!), or nautical, for example. “No matter the palette, balloons are always an easy way to fill a room,” Weiss adds. Oversized ones (perhaps spelling out baby’s name) make a simple but fun statement.
- Sip and see game ideas. Since the main purpose of a sip and see is to meet baby and check in with the new parents, games are not expected. Plus, if you have people stopping in for an open house, it might be hard to plan them. But if you ask guests to arrive at a set time and want to have games, you certainly can, says Weiss. You could ask guests to write a short note or wishes to baby, pass around Polaroid cameras to snap photos of the party (and of guests with baby) to create a scrapbook or, if you just gave birth, hang photos of you and your partner when you were babies and ask guests who baby most closely resembles.
- Safety tips for newborns during a sip and see. Finally, while a sip and see party should be relaxed and fun, it’s also important that everyone (including and especially your new baby) keeps safety in mind. You may request that guests be up-to-date on their flu shots to keep baby "cocooned" against the flu. And of course, “this goes without saying, but as a guest, if you have a cold or cough, refrain from attending the party,” says Kommer. “The hostess and mother will be grateful you were thoughtful in not wanting to spread germs to a susceptible newborn.” All guests should wash their hands before and during the event (regardless of whether the mother will be passing baby around), she says. Keeping travel-sized hand sanitizer or wipes handy is a good idea as well. Another way to limit your baby’s exposure to potential germs? “You can have people literally sip and LOOK, and not pass baby around!” says What to Expect Community mom BjEKE123.
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