Expectant mothers embrace 'Nesting Parties' over baby showers

A “baby shower” is a celebration thrown in honor of the expectant mother. It's practically a universal tradition for expecting women all around the world. However, not every woman finds this appealing. Take, for instance, influencer Nia Lui, who proposed a noteworthy alternative to her loved ones.

Typically, a baby shower is considered a nice gesture for future moms shortly before childbirth. Sometimes the mom-to-be organizes it herself, sometimes with a little help from someone close. Occasionally, the party is even a surprise for her.

These parties often feature food, sweet treats hinting at the baby's gender, gifts for the mother and upcoming baby, games, and quizzes revolving around motherhood. For many expectant moms, such gatherings are desirable, as they provide an opportunity to share their joyous anticipation with close friends and receive their attention.

However, not every mom-to-be is enticed by the idea of an overly sentimental gathering focused on gifts, games, or discussions on motherhood. Catering to these women is an innovative concept known as a "nesting party". Influencer Nia Lui, who is expecting another child herself, introduced this concept on her TikTok. She proposed to her close ones to have a "nesting party" instead.

The core idea is to gather at Nia's house and…clean it. The expecting mom prepared a list of chores she needed help with and dispatched it to her friend. Her friend then took up the mantle for the rest of the preparations.

Nia's friends did not disappoint. On the designated day, they arrived at the expectant mom's house and started ticking off individual tasks from the list. Duties included cleaning kitchen cabinets, doing laundry, vacuuming carpets, and dusting hard-to-reach areas. Most importantly, they prepared Nia's hospital bag, set up a cozy corner for the baby, and cooked meals for the soon-to-be mom, which they subsequently froze for her to consume post-childbirth. This whirlwind of activity, interspersed with a shared, joy-filled lunch and conversations about motherhood, was completed in one day.

Nia expressed a great sense of relief following the gathering, feeling prepared for childbirth and the upcoming arrival of the baby, knowing that her house is clean.

On the contrary, the traditional “baby shower” could potentially bring about stress and effort in preparations, and entail cleaning before and after the event.

However, the “nesting party” had its share of critics as well. Some internet users expressed disapproval in the comments, arguing that there are limits to friendship and everyone should clean their own home. Conversely, there were expectant mothers who praised the idea, contending that adopting such a pragmatic approach would help them transition smoothly into motherhood.