I keep seeing nesting parties pop up all over social media, and honestly? I am into them!
We’ve had baby showers, gender reveals, and push presents. But nesting parties? At last, we seem to have something really useful. In this age of overconsumption and late-stage capitalism, we may have the perfect antidote.
What Is a Nesting Party?
A nesting party is a beautiful way to bring people together and set yourself up for support in those early postpartum weeks.
Instead of gifts, a nesting party is about gathering your community – a ‘village’ of people who are ready to offer support as you transition into new parenthood.
And let’s be real: most of us don’t have the village our ancestors could rely on. Only a few generations ago our extended family would have played a huge role in helping us to raise our babies. Now, most of us live far from our relatives. We have to juggle parenthood almost alone, in a way that can be incredibly isolating.
A nesting party is a gathering of your closest friends and family, held before your baby arrives, with only one key goal: to set up your support system.
Rather than focusing on baby gifts, the emphasis is on practical and emotional support for you. It is your chance to communicate how you’d like your postpartum period to go and set expectations with your loved ones.
Here’s how to make it work:
1. Choose Your Inner Circle
This is not a huge social event, but a gathering of your most trusted people. Who do you feel comfortable asking for help? Who do you trust to respect your needs and boundaries? These are the people you invite.
2. Decide What You Want Your Postpartum Weeks to Look Like
- Do you want a quiet newborn bubble with just you and your partner?
- Do you want company and connection to help prevent loneliness?
- Are you hoping to focus on breastfeeding without visitors passing baby around?
A nesting party is the perfect opportunity to talk through these questions with your support network.
3. Set Expectations for Visitors
One of the biggest challenges new parents face is the unexpected visit when we feel obliged to host well-meaning guests, even when we’re overwhelmed, exhausted and healing.
A nesting party allows you to set boundaries before the baby arrives. You can gently let your loved ones know:
✅ Visits should be short (e.g., one hour max).
✅ Guests should make their own tea!
✅ Practical help is far more valuable than holding the baby. Emptying the dishwasher, putting on a load of laundry, or bringing a home-cooked meal are likely to be very much more useful – and welcome!
Setting these expectations in advance makes it easier to uphold them when the time comes.
4. Discuss Feeding Support
Research shows that family support plays a huge role in how parents feed their babies. If you plan to breastfeed, this is a great time to explain:
- Why it’s important to you.
- How often newborns feed (it’s more than people expect!).
- That you’d like baby handed back to you at the first hunger cues.
This can help prevent well-meaning but confidence-shaking comments like “Are they hungry again? Maybe your milk isn’t enough.” When everyone understands what to expect, you’ll feel more supported and less second-guessed.
5. Protect Your Birth Space
At traditional baby showers, people love to share dramatic or negative birth stories—but that’s the last thing you need when preparing for your own experience.
At your nesting party, you can let people know that you only want to hear positive birth stories. Surrounding yourself with encouraging, empowering narratives can help you feel more confident going into birth.
The Power of Community in Parenthood
Parenting was never meant to be done alone. Nesting parties are a simple but powerful way to bring back the village mentality and ensure you have the support you need. So, if you’re expecting, consider hosting one. It’s a beautiful way to reclaim your postnatal experience—on your terms. 💛
