Category:

Parent & Baby

tiny baby with brown skin holds the finger of a brown skinned woman's hand

Plan a Welcome to the World Party

by Rosie Hurwitz October 6, 2021

Yay! You’re celebrating a new baby. So what’s a ‘welcome to the world’ party? Well, it’s a variation on a baby shower, but happens after the baby is born – hence the welcome bit! It’s a bit like a Christening, but without the religion. Sometimes called a baby ‘naming day’. It’s all about bringing friends and family together to celebrate a new baby. This is possibly one of life’s most exciting and looked forward to events. So what’s involved and how do you plan one? Read on to find out how to host the best welcome to the world party, with a little help from friends, family and Patchwork!

Delegating jobs and catering takes away party planning stress

What is a Welcome to the World party?

A welcome to the world party is an alternative to (or even a sequel to) a baby shower. Baby showers are usually held before the new arrival makes an appearance. It’s a chance to shower the parents to be with love, affection, attention and gifts before the hard work of parenting begins! But in recent months, with Covid restrictions playing havoc with our social calendars, it’s been difficult to get together physically. Especially with expectant friends who may be feeling extra cautious. So, a welcome to the world party is a chance to get together after the birth of the new baby, and shower parents AND baby with love and attention. There’s nothing more joyous and exciting than welcoming a new baby. And a ‘welcome to the world’ party is a great alternative to a Christening or other religious ceremony.

A Welcome to the World party is a lovely non-religious way to mark a new arrival

Who is it for?

A welcome to the world party is perfect for those who have recently had a baby and want to share their joy with those they love. Especially if they’ve missed out on a special celebration due to restrictions. It’s for people who want to welcome their baby in to their extended family, and their community and celebrate the huge milestone that is becoming a parent!

Of course, there are already traditional and religious celebrations such as a Christening, or naming ceremonies in the Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities. However, a welcome to the world party is a non-religious new baby celebration. Here you can really start your own traditions and welcome baby in the ways that feel right for you.

Ideas for Welcome to the World party food

How can Patchwork help?

Patchwork is a joy to use and will get you in to the party spirit from the start! The platform works like a dream as a welcome to the world party planning tool. You can bring everyone together online to share in the organising. Patchwork was created to allow people to come together to contribute money, time and skills to make something amazing happen. It’s, therefore, perfect for a new baby celebration! Add images and text to a ‘mood board’ of things that need to be done. Next friends and family can choose how they’d like to help.

Using Patchwork takes the headache out of planning the party and delegating roles and responsibilities. You can see at a glance how much money has been collected towards gifts, and who is volunteering to do what. All gift money is sent direct to your bank account via our payment partner Stripe. You can also message guests via your Patchwork account and share photos and thanks afterwards!

Get together to help fund one big gift for baby

What sort of things should I include?

You can include practical things you’d like people to help with on your welcome to the world Patchwork. Maybe someone can offer to make a cake, and someone else can prepare some games? Add requests like “bring a dish to share”, “make a new-baby playlist”, or “chip in towards the drinks”? Anything that needs doing (rather than funding) can be added to your page as a “make” or “do” patch.

You might also want to use your Patchwork to collect cash contributions towards one much wanted gift for the new baby. Popular group gifts for new babies include money towards doing up the nursery, or contributions towards big items such as a cot, a highchair, or simply some money to save for the future! You can add “fund” patches to your registry so that people can chip in towards a gift. Whether it’s £100 towards a cot, £25 for a pot of paint for the nursery or £5 for a board book, everyone can come together to contribute what they can.

A Welcome to the World party needs a baby friendly venue

The welcome to the world party venue

The best place to host a welcome to the world party is at someone’s home. Everyone can be comfortable and you’ll have the place to yourselves! Unless they really want to, it’s best to avoid hosting at the new parents’ home. They’ll have enough to do with a new baby without the washing up and cleaning that comes after a party. (Unless of course you add a patch to your page to ask for volunteers to clean up afterwards, which come to think of it is a great idea!)

Otherwise a local venue can work, especially if you’ve got a large guest list and space at home is an issue. Just make sure to check it’s baby-friendly of course. And don’t forget, that the bigger your guest list, the more opportunities there are to ask for help via your Patchwork. It’s a great way to get everyone feeling involved. Also, for guests that don’t know each other, it’s an ice-breaker at the party too ?

Send thanks afterwards to everyone who helped make the party happen

Sending messages of thanks afterwards

With Patchwork all pledges to “make and “do” are recorded in your account so you can keep track of who is doing what. If you are collecting money for a group gift you can see who has contributed what and how much in total you have collected. After the party, you (or the new parents) can contact everyone to say thanks for helping make it a success. It’s also a great time to make the most of the upload photo function and share cute baby photos from the day too!

How do I get started?

You can start by clicking “use template” on our readymade template here. Simply add a title and a short intro about the party plans, and then edit the images and text to suit. Once you’re happy, simply save your Patchwork and link your payment details. You’ll be prompted to create your own URL during the process so it’s really easy to share your page with friends. Simply share the link via WhatsApp, email or digital invite and let everyone choose how they want to help! If you’re planning a party to welcome a new baby, please get in touch, we’d love to hear your plans and help make them happen!

0 comment

Parent & Baby Patchwork Kids

Socially Distanced Baby Shower Ideas

by Ismay Ozga September 8, 2020

written by Ismay Ozga

Although some aspects of life are gradually returning to normal, when it comes to baby showers, it still may not be possible to celebrate in the way we used to. If there’s a new mum-to-be in your life who deserves to be spoiled rotten, but you aren’t able to get together, we’ve got some ideas for socially distanced baby showers for you. It’s still totally possible to show her loads of love, from a distance.

Organise a drive-by baby shower

Drive/walk/cycle-by baby showers are becoming a big hit in place of getting together for a bash. This is the perfect option if you all live near the parents-to-be. Just send out an invitation telling friends to pass by their house at a certain time, decorate your car or bike, and blast some favourite tunes out as you go! Arrange for the mama-to-be to sit by her front door as you all come past in your party parade to shower her with love. Everyone can drop off their gifts – from a safe distance. Pro tip: order pizza and cake to turn up at the same time. Pregnant people like food.

Host a garden extravaganza

If one of you has a nice big outside space and you’re all able to travel, it’s a lovely idea to get together for a socially distanced baby shower in the garden. Set the table with beautiful flowers and little games, and lay blankets and cushions on the grass so that everyone can sit comfortably (a meter apart!) and enjoy the afternoon. Just make sure the mum-to-be gets an extra comfortable seat with lots of cushions! Decorate with balloons and bunting and make (or order in!) some special treats.

Post a big box of love

Volunteer to put together a big box of treats from all the friends and family. Ask everyone to either send a homemade gift to you or choose something special which you can buy – then wrap everything up beautifully and package it all up together in one big box. This saves everyone making trips to the shops or post office and it creates a super special moment for the parents-to-be as they get to open all of the gifts for the new arrival at once. Organise a Zoom so that you can watch their faces as they dig into their box.

Chip in towards one big ticket item

If you know you can’t physically take your friends a gift at the moment, why not ask everyone to club together to help buy them a more expensive item – like a beautiful new cot? It’s a gift that will be loved, used and appreciated for years to come. Or maybe they’d rather a high chair, a bouncer, car seat or baby carrier? Whatever it is they really need, just make a patchwork to send to everyone, collect the money, and then buy the gift.

Throw a virtual baby shower

Zoom baby showers are a super fun way to get everyone together – albeit virtually – to show your mate lots of love. There are plenty of things you can do to make it a special call – from matching backgrounds and a gift delivery to the mum-to-be in time for the call, to coming up with lots of fun games to play. In fact we’ve got a whole post about virtual baby showers which tells you everything you need to know to make it a hit.

So whichever route you decide to go down to show your friend and their new arrival some love, all you need to do is make a patchwork to let everyone know the plan – then they can choose how to get involved and you can keep track of the funds and who’s doing what. Then you can surprise your pal with a gorgeous treat that will definitely make them feel your love, even in this strange time.

0 comment

Parent & Baby Patchwork Kids

‘It Takes a Village’ – help and support new parents

by Rosie Hurwitz August 13, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

This is my first time writing on the Patchwork blog, so let me briefly introduce myself before we get into how we can help new parents. My name is Melisa, I am 23 years old, and I have just graduated from the University of Southampton where I studied Marketing. I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to the UK at the age of 6. I love all types of music, honestly, anything I can dance to! However, my favourite genres have to be Afrobeats and South African House music. Also, I love watching movies or TV series with a cheeky cuppa, sweet or butter popcorn and ice-cream.

Young boy holding a flower carried by his mom

“It take a village to raise a child” – what does it really mean?

From my experience of being at Patchwork thus far, it reminds me of an African proverb that states ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. This means that the community aids in the process of a child’s growth. That might be through teaching, sharing experiences or lending new parents a hand. It emphasises the importance of the family, whether immediate or extended, and the community around you to help and support you in crucial moments. It perfectly captures the African culture as a whole and how it thrives from the influence and help of the local community.

Growing up in a Pentecostal Church when a dedication ceremony was being performed, (a Christian tradition that dedicates the infant to God and welcomes the baby into the church), the Pastor would ask the congregation to vow and accept responsibility to teach and train the child [in the ways of the Lord]. Thus, the meaning of this proverb can be expanded to imply that a community can work together for the benefit of one main goal. The purpose of Patchwork aligns with this; to help and support our loved ones, ease the stress of milestone events and grant them experiences that bring them joy.

Young girl with blond hair hugging her grandmother in the sunshine

Celebrating the birth of a new baby? Use Patchwork to ask your village for help

As new parents, you need as much help as possible. The beauty of Patchwork is that because it is a digital platform, your family do not need to be close by to be able to lend a helping hand. So even if family and friends are overseas or unable to meet up in real life, your ‘village’ can feel close and show their love from a distance. Setting up a Patchwork template is a super-easy way to ask your ‘village’ for precisely what you want and need for a new-born. Whether that is asking for cash contributions, gifts, time or skills. Patchwork can be used for organising a baby shower, decorating the nursery or even asking family and friends to bring food after giving birth. Whatever your need is, Patchwork can help support new parents.

Helping hands for new parents readymade patchwork template in an iPad

The village supports you for life – and so does Patchwork!

It’s not just about support and help for new parents and babies. The African proverb is really an approach to life. It’s about the community coming together to support and celebrate each other throughout life. And this is what Patchwork is all about too. It can help with all occasions – whether you’re celebrating a special milestone or coming together to support someone in need.

For example; as your little one grows, you can use Patchwork to ask friends and family to help fund a much-wanted gift or experience. It may be something that is out of reach for one person but can be shared by many. When everyone clubs together, larger items like a bike for example, or a course of swimming lessons, becomes affordable. It’s also more rewarding for family and friends to know they are sharing in helping you reach a goal or realise a dream. Rather than buying a gift that might go unused or just clutter up the cupboards!

Young toddler sitting on sofa next to his sleeping grandfather

What other occasions can Patchwork help us celebrate?

As they get older, friends and family can help them with other milestones. For example, driving lessons for a 17th birthday, helping with savings for their Gap Year travel, or helping to plan for and fund a big birthday party. Patchwork is unique because unlike other crowdfunding sites, you’re not limited to just asking for cash. Perhaps a relative is happy to take them out to practice in their car? Or lending them a backpack or some guidebooks for their Gap Year travels. Or even to bake an amazing cake for their party. With the “village” coming together in this way – anything is possible. Everyone can put their talents and skills to good use, so that money isn’t a barrier to being involved.

And of course, Patchwork is there for when families join together through marriage to make an even bigger village. Whatever it is that the couple need can be asked for with Patchwork, in a way that’s personal, meaningful and waste-free. A deposit for their first home or help doing up the kitchen? The honeymoon they’ve been dreaming of? Or just everybody’s help with making the day a huge success.

grandparents standing on edge of shoreline looking our to sea with their arms round their grandchildren

If you’d like to ask your village for help and support, you can browse our selection of readymade templates. And setting up a patchwork page takes just minutes. Or if you’re feeling creative you can start your own page from scratch. You can add your own images and text to make it really personal.

0 comment

Parent & Baby Patchwork Kids

Help with New Baby Essentials for First Time Parents

by Rosie Hurwitz June 3, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Alice and Angus were expecting their first baby and knew that friends and family would want to shower them with new baby gifts – who doesn’t love shopping for tiny clothes? However, living in a London flat meant that space was precious. Rather than risk getting bought duplicates of items that weren’t really needed, they put together a baby ‘wish list’ with all the new baby gifts that they’d need for baby’s first year. Then they set up a baby gift page with Patchwork, showing friends some of the things they’d love, at a wide range of price points to suit all budgets. This meant that everyone could contribute in an easy, secure and fun way, and the new parents received money towards baby essentials that were really wanted and appreciated. From a car seat to a baby bouncer, everything was covered!

Tell us a bit about your new arrival!

We had our first baby Sienna, in 2018; the first couple to have a baby in our friendship group. We celebrated with a massive baby shower a week before she was due, with 100 people who all contributed to our Patchwork. Subsequently she was born the next day by c-section. Advice to new mums, don’t have a baby shower at 39 weeks!

Doing up the Nursery New Baby Patchwork readymade template in iPad

What made you choose to use Patchwork for your baby gift registry?

My friend used it for their wedding gifts and I thought it was a great idea. We are young parents so the idea of getting exactly what you want without having to buy it yourself was great!

Toddler at nursery looking out of window

How did Patchwork help you as new parents?

The support we got for the first few months through patchwork was invaluable. It was great as we had a sum of money we could use to buy what we wanted for our baby. We also didn’t have to use the money straight away. It lasted for the first 6 months for anything we needed. Our friends and family all loved it too! Super easy to use and happy they were buying us what we wanted! The customer support was great too when I had a few questions.

Would you recommend Patchwork to other new parents?

I would recommend using it if you’re a first time family living in London with not much space. When you have a baby EVERYONE wants to buy you something! It’s so lovely but it means that your tiny flat gets even smaller! It’s nice to be able to stagger the purchases so you don’t have too much at one time.

Patchwork Kids: Toddler walking on pavement next to pram

And how is life with a busy toddler?

Sienna is now at nursery in Stockholm. We moved here just before Corona hit. We have great adventures in her pram everyday! Her pram, cot, Moses basket, newborn clothes and toys were all bought using Patchwork. Also some of her bedroom furniture. We still have all of those things and we use them all the time.

THANK YOU SO MUCH PATCHWORK!

Thank you so much Alice and Angus for sharing your story with us, and we wish you many more happy days exploring Stockholm with Sienna!

If you’d like to set up a new baby gift page, for yourself, or a friend, we have lots of beautiful, easy to customise templates for you to use, or you can create your own page from scratch.

From baby shower ideas to celebrating birthdays, Patchwork can help make family milestones fun, personal, and inclusive for your friends and family. And practical and waste-free for you!

0 comment

Yay - Bunting and pom poms for baby shower

Parent & Baby

Best Virtual Baby Shower Ideas

by Rosie Hurwitz May 21, 2020

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Baby showers are the best! Nothing is more exciting than sharing the anticipation of a new life with closest friends, sisters and aunties-to-be. The current climate might have thrown a few obstacles our way, but we are here to help you throw the best virtual baby shower ever with our top tips.

Set your date and invite your guests

Whether you choose to use Zoom, House Party or something else, at least at the moment you know no-one will have any other plans! Set the date, ideally 6 weeks or so before she’s due. Have a chat with the mum-to-be about gifts that would be most appreciated and talk about ideas for the day. Don’t give away all the surprises though! Then use Patchwork as your party planning tool and get everyone in the mood. Let everyone know what they can do to make it the best virtual baby shower EVER.

A drink and some cake to celebrate

A virtual baby shower isn’t complete without plenty of cake and a glass of fizz (or whatever your favourite drink is). This bit is easy, as everyone can simply make sure they have enough cake for themselves and a drink to toast the new arrival with. If you want to really go to town and get creative, baby themed cakes and a newly invented cocktail named after your friend are a great idea. Otherwise a doughnut and a Pimms will do the trick!

Decorate her space

Under usual circumstances you’d be decorating the venue (most likely someone’s living room) and making it all look gorgeous before her arrival. The next best thing is to arrange for some decorations, flowers or bunting to be delivered on the morning of the baby shower. Like this gorgeous personalised bunting from The Sewcial Circle. Then she can surround herself with gorgeousness and you can all admire from a distance.

A wish for the baby

This is a lovely one, and works so well for a virtual baby shower. Just ask each guest to find some coloured paper or card, and write down their wish for the new baby. Then each person can take it in turns to read their wish. Or if you prefer, you could ask everyone to send them a week ahead, so mum-to-be can open them all and read them all out on the day. And do her very best not to cry.

Club together for one big gift

Booties and bibs are cute, but is there something else that would really help the new parents out, and be more appreciated once little one arrives? One of the most popular group gifts we’ve seen on Patchwork lately is a food delivery for new parents. Time with their new born baby is so precious, and without friends and family physically around to help, they might struggle to cook in the early days. A food delivery service from somewhere like Cook is perfect, or maybe put together a hamper with some easy to prepare meals, healthy snacks for those late night feeds, and some vitamin packed fruit. Otherwise maybe there’s a big ticket item they might like help with? Maybe they’d appreciate money towards decorating the nursery, or you could chip in towards a beautiful new cot.

Design a babygrow or vest

Buy a multipack of plain newborn vests or babygros and send one out to each guest along with some coloured fabric pens. On the day of the shower, get everyone to design their own tiny masterpiece, to be sent to your friend as extra gifts. Every time she puts one over a tiny head, she’ll feel the love. (Especially needed during those middle of the night feeds).

Place your bets

An oldie but goodie – everyone loves doing this at a baby shower. Nominate someone to run the game and get everyone to guess the sex, weight, birth date, hair colour, or any other variable you can think of. Carrying high or low, craving salt or sweet? There are so many old wives tales to help you out here.

Jelly babies in the jar

Ask one of the crew to fill a jar with jelly babies, or any other kind of sweets and everyone else has to guess how many there are inside. The winner wins the jar through the post! What a treat.

Baby boogie

Use your patchwork to get everyone to suggest a baby related song and make her a playlist. (Yes, there are a LOT of songs with the word ‘baby’ in the lyrics). She can play it during the baby shower and you can all have a baby boogie. Or she might want to play it at the birth, or just when she needs to feel her friends’ good vibes close by.

Who’s that baby?

Ask everyone to send over a baby pic of themselves, upload the pictures and see if everyone can spot who’s who (and vote for who had the cutest smile or the chubbiest cheeks).

Who knows her best?

Organise a “who knows her best” quiz. Does she like to sleep in late or get up early? Is she craving fish and chips or a curry? Is she a fan of shopping in town or browsing online? See who’s been paying attention and who knows her best!

Set up your virtual baby shower patchwork

You can customise our readymade template in minutes and then send the link to all her friends to get everyone involved in making it the best baby shower ever. You can upload images, personalise the text and make it your own. Or you can create your own page from scratch. Once everyone has pledged what they want to fund, make or do, you can start planning and treat your friend to an AMAZING lockdown baby shower.

We’re here to help if you need any more tips or advice – just drop us a line at [email protected]

0 comment

Parent & Baby

Patchwork x No+mi Indulgence Gift Box Giveaway

by Ismay Ozga March 31, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

We think the gift boxes from our friends at No+mi London make the perfect baby shower and birth gifts. Filled with beautiful, useful products, hand-picked by the No+mi team, they’ll make any new mum feel super special and very loved. And now we’ve made it easy for a group of friends to chip in towards one, so it can be presented from all of you at a baby shower, or posted to a far away friend to show you’re all thinking of her. All you need to do is customise one of our new No+mi patchworks (A Hamper for a Mum-to-be, A New Baby Hamper or an Indulgence Gift Box), send it out to friends to fund, then head to No+mi to order your gift.

To celebrate our partnership we’re giving away TWO Indulgence Essentials gift boxes – one for you and one for a friend. The Indulgence box isn’t just for mums to be – it’s perfect for anyone in need of a treat. Each box contains:

1 x Cashmere blend Sleep Socks by YAWN
1 x Dry Nourishing Oil 100mL by Enfance Paris
1 x Box of Herbals caffeine-free infusions by Paper & Tea
1 x Soy Wax Scented Candle 100mL by Earl of East
1 x Luxury Raw Chocolate 45g
1 x 1 Month Unlimited Magazine access with Readly Gift Card
To enter for your chance to win head to either our Facebook page or our Instagram:
1. Follow both @patchwork_it and @nomi.ldn on instagram OR like both Patchwork and No+mi on Facebook.
2. TAG someone in the comment of either this post on Facebook or this post on instagram who deserves a treat
*1 entry per user. 1 winner. UK Only. Ends 06/04/17. Full Ts&Cs below.

COMPETITION T&C’S

Terms & Conditions
The Patchwork x No+mi Collaboration Instagram & Facebook Competition is open to residents of the UK aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Promoter: Patchwork or their affiliate companies, their families, cohabitants, agents and anyone connected with the promotion.
No purchase necessary.
To enter, you must TAG your friend on the competition posts and FOLLOW @patchwork_it and @nomi.ldn on Instagram or LIKE Patchwork and No+mi London on Facebook so we can see your entry to the competition. Entering on both Facebook and Instagram equals two entries.
The start date of the promotion is 30/03/2017 5.45pm. The closing date by which entries must be received is 06/04/2017 23.59pm. This competition will run for 7 days from the start date ONLY.

Prize
There will be 1 winner ONLY. The winner and their friend will receive 1 x Indulgence Essentials box from No+mi each.
The prize is as stated, is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
Should the original prize, or any part of it, become unavailable for any reason whatsoever, Patchwork may substitute a prize of comparable or greater value.

Winner Selection
The Free Prize Draw will be carried out on 07/04/2017. The prize-winners will be picked at random.
The prize-winners will be announced on the @patchwork_it Instagram and Patchwork Facebook page on 08/04/2017. The winners will also be notified via direct message on Instagram and email within 7 days of the Free Prize Draw.
Should the prize-winner not respond to the email within 14 days, Patchwork reserves the right to allocate the prize to another entrant.
The result of the Free Prize Draw is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

General
If Patchwork is unable to satisfy certain terms and conditions of this promotion due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, they may modify such terms accordingly or, if necessary, suspend or discontinue the promotion. By entering the Free Prize Draw, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and that their names and counties of residence may be released if they win the prize. Entrants agree that Patchwork shall be entitled to use the entrants’ quotes in any publicity material.
Promoter: Patchwork, 7b Harefield Road, Brockley, London, SE4 1LW

0 comment

Parent & Baby Party Planning

10 Super Cute Baby Shower Ideas

by Ismay Ozga December 14, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

We love baby showers. There are few occasions in life that are so full of love and excitement. And cute baby things. If you’re organising a shower for one of your bezzies we’ve got some ideas you’re going to want to steal. Take it from us, if you include just one of these in their shower, you’ll have a lovely day. Do them all and you’ll go down in history as the best mate ever. So get your organising-head on and take some notes:

Beautiful blooms

Fill your venue with fresh flowers. This is a foolproof way to make the occasion feel super special. Get friends to help you gather the parent-to-be’s favourite flowers from the market and arrange them around the place – it will look and smell incredible.

Make a delicious non-alcoholic drink

Invent a fresh and fruity non-boozy drink for the occasion and name it after your bestie. We love a refreshing cucumber + mint limeade, but why not do a bit of experimenting yourself with different juices – you can’t really go wrong.

Throw an outdoor picnic

Picnics make for a practical and relaxed baby shower (weather depending!) with enough room for everyone to spread out and for big kids to run around. Just head to a local park, or ask a friend with a nice garden if you can use their space. Keep things casual by asking friends to bring a blanket and a dish, then make your little area feel special with balloons, twinkling lights and pretty decorations. Don’t forget to bring a garden chair and lots of cushions for the pregnant person in case they’re not comfy sitting on the ground.

Baby shower biscuits by Tuck Box

Baby themed snacks!

Like these incredible baby biscuits by the genius Tuck Box Cakes. Order enough for everyone and they will be amazed by their beauty. Or if you’re a star baker, whip out your whisk and make some little cakes of your own. We’re not huge fans of the whole pink for girls and blue for boys thing – why not make some in your friend’s favourite colour instead. Or a nice gender-neutral yellow.

Go polka-dotty

If you’re struggling to come up with a fun theme, polka-dots are always a winner. It’s a bright, cool alternative to pastels and you can incorporate it into the day in lots of ways. Buy polka dot straws for your drinks, dotty napkins, and huge clear balloons filled with confetti.

Baby shower planning patchwork — A Subtle Revelry

Bring out your inner-artists

There are tons of baby shower games to keep everyone entertained, but this activity might be our favourite. Buy a bunch of plain white baby-grows (in a range of sizes so baby has something to grow into) and some waterproof fabric pens, and get everyone to sit down and draw a design. It’s a chance for everyone to get creative, plus they’re lovely for the new parents to keep as mementos.

Snap a photo

Ask everyone to write down a message for the baby to read when he or she grows up. Then get them to hold it up while you take a photo. You’ll get instant results with a Polaroid camera, but if you don’t have one just get them printed and put them in a little box for your friend to keep.

Chip in for a big gift

Club together for an expensive item

If you know there’s one thing (a pram, cot, or sling) that the new parents really need but haven’t wanted to splash out on, get everyone to chip in. With Patchwork you can show everyone the gift, collect cash contributions, then buy it where you like, ready to wrap up and give to them on the day.

Send notes in the post

Send a baby shower in a box

Finally, if your best mate doesn’t live close to you, you can still show them you love them by creating a ‘baby shower in a box’ and posting it out to them to open while you Zoom. Fill the box with homemade cookies, handwritten notes, pre-decorated babygrows and all the other fun things you’d have if you were to celebrate in person. Although the ombre mocktails might not travel too well.

Get everyone involved

As with all events, organising a baby shower is way more fun and much easier if you get friends involved.

Just use Patchwork to show everyone the plan and ask them to help. You can customise our baby shower patchwork or create your own from scratch uploading your own photos and using images from our gallery. Then write descriptions telling everyone what you want them to help you to make and do. Friends can then click around the patchwork and choose whether to do the decorations, make a cake, bring a dish or pick up the parent-to-be and bring them to the venue. With Patchwork it’s easy to keep track of who’s doing what in your account. And once the day rolls around, your friend will have the best baby shower ever, knowing that everyone helped make it happen.

0 comment

Parent & Baby Party Planning

Throw the Best Baby Shower Ever

by Ismay Ozga November 2, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

Yay! Your best friend in the whole world is having a baby. And you’ve been tasked with arranging the baby shower. But what’s next? If you don’t have a clue where to start, read on to find out the answers to all the big questions. These baby shower basics should set you up to host the best shower ever.

Who plans the baby shower?

It’s up to you whether you keep the baby shower plans a secret from the mum-to-be or if you want to get her involved in the planning. Does she like surprises or is she more of a planner? If she’s the latter it might be a good idea to keep her in the know, as the last thing you want to do is stress her out! On the other hand if she loves surprises and has enough on her plate, leave her to relax and keep all of the details a secret. Get a couple of her other close friends involved to help with the planning too – planning any party is much more fun with a bit of help.

When should the baby shower happen?

You can of course throw a baby shower at any point in the pregnancy, but we think the perfect time is around the 7 month mark. It’s super exciting because it’s almost time for the baby to arrive, but it’s also great for mum to have something fun to look forward to, as the last weeks can start to drag. Plus she’ll have a lovely big bump, so it’ll all be feeling very real.

Who should be invited to the baby shower?

You should be inviting all of the mum-to-be’s close friends to her baby shower and of course any family she’d really like to see. In fact, if you’re only going to involve her in one aspect of the shower, it should be the guest list. You don’t want to forget about her favourite workmate or beloved auntie.

Baby showers are traditionally a chance for the women in the new mum’s life to get together and celebrate, but if you want to involve the dad, go for it. It is after all his baby too! Mixed baby showers are becoming more popular, so if you want to invite the dad and his friends there’s nothing stopping you – just check with your friend if she likes the idea. Mixed showers work really well when you keep things casual – get everyone together in a garden with a BBQ and you’re sorted.

What kind of invitations should I send?

You’ve got a few options with your baby shower invitations. If you’re keeping things super casual it’s totally acceptable to send an email invite. You could even use Paperless Post and upgrade your email with one of their beautifully designed e-invitations. For a special touch it’s nice to go for printed baby shower invites, these will feel more formal and the mum-to-be will be really excited when one shows up on her doormat.

If you’re keen to save money there are plenty of ready-to-print designs that you can add your own details to. Or you can make your own from scratch – if it’s going to be a small group it won’t take you long to put together a few handmade invitations and everyone will appreciate the effort you’ve gone to. Send these out 6 weeks before the big day so her friends have time to make plans, RSVP, and arrange babysitters if necessary.

Where should we hold the baby shower?

It depends how many people you’re inviting, if the guest list is over 30 then you might need to look into hiring a venue. Most baby showers tend to be a smaller, more manageable group, so it’s best (and cheapest) to host it in a house. As the organiser it will fall to you to offer to host, but if you don’t have the space you can ask another friend if they would mind. It’s also perfectly acceptable to ask the mum-to-be if you can host the baby shower at her home, just make sure you get her out of the house for a few hours beforehand so you can set up. Send her out for a mani/pedi while you hang your baby bunting. Then make sure you stick around for the clean-up afterwards so she can put her feet up.

What should we do at the baby shower?

Play games! There are so many brilliant baby shower game options out there and they really are the best way to bond and have fun. We love the old favourites like ‘guess the bump size’ – all you need for that are string, some scissors, and a bump. Buy a bundle of babygrows and material pens and have everyone decorate them for the baby, then get mum-to-be to pick her favourite. It’s a nice touch to have some prizes for the winners – they only have to be little things like stickers and sweets.

Depending on what the mum-to-be has requested gift-wise, she might spend time opening presents too. Then just factor in lots of time for chatting, laughing and getting excited for the baby’s arrival.

How much is the baby shower going to cost?

It doesn’t have to cost a bomb. There are plenty of ways to keep baby shower costs down: host the party at home, make your own decorations, and ask everyone to chip in when it comes to the food and drink. Asking friends to bring a dish is the perfect way to save money and cater for everyone.

You won’t need to spend a lot on drink – since the baby mama can’t partake, baby showers tend to be mostly alcohol-free occasions. Although a little champagne toast among the rest of you is definitely okay – just make sure you have a delicious non-alcoholic option for your bezzie.

If you’re looking for an easy, stress-free way to organise a baby shower, setting up a patchwork will take the hassle out of it for you. You can show everyone the plan with beautiful images and your own descriptions, and ask everyone to chip in towards the shower with their time, money, or skills. You could ask granny-to-be to bring a cake, ask your friends to prepare some sandwiches, and get another mate on bunting-making duty. And if you need to ask for a cash contribution towards the day, include that in the patchwork too. Then you can collect the money for the bits and bobs you need, and easily keep track of who’s doing what in your account. It couldn’t be easier.

Customise our template baby shower patchwork or make your own from scratch.

0 comment

A colourful salad in a blue dish on a wooden table, viewed from above

Gift Ideas Parent & Baby

New Baby Gift Idea: Food Delivery

by Rosie Hurwitz July 14, 2016

written by Rosie Hurwitz

Lots of people use our site to organise baby-showers and new baby gifts and recently we’ve noticed a bit of a trend. Food. Lots of it. On the doorstep. So we asked three new mums why a food delivery, organised and paid for by friends, is such a special gift to celebrate the birth of a new baby.

Harriet’s friends used Patchwork to organise a hamper from her local deli, health food shop and bakery. Then added “a few of her favourite snacks, some champagne and extra tea bags for all the visitors”.

When Harriet’s husband found a huge hamper on the doorstep he was “surprised, delighted and, after a night of no sleep, very grateful for some fresh croissants and coffee”.

Harriet says “I just felt really loved. It was like having a big hug from all my friends and exactly the help we really needed. Not only the most useful present we received but also the most heartwarming. At a time when you really need to eat well you don’t have the energy to think about meals, so it was lovely to feel that our friends had thought of everything and were really taking care of us”.

mum with new baby and two siblings in bed - food delivery gift

Steph’s friends used our site to collect cash towards a week’s worth of readymade meals from Cook.

“We were having baby number three” says Steph. “We really didn’t need much in the way of clothes, toys and baby things so when my friends asked what they could do as a baby gift I suggested some readymade meals! I was half joking but I was so chuffed when our Cook delivery turned up. Having a new baby is exhausting but of course my other two children expected life to continue as normal. Having meals that were already prepared and required no cleaning up saved my sanity. It also meant I had more time to cuddle with my new baby and rest and recover after the birth. I thought it was such a great idea that I have used Patchwork to organise the same gift for a friend who’s about to have her second baby.”

Hetty’s friends used our cash gift list to organise a supermarket delivery the day she got home from hospital.

“The idea was just to have some really good comfort food and a few easy meals within reach” says the friend who organised it. “As Het has moved away, we couldn’t all pop around with supplies so we thought this was the next best thing.” Hetty says, “I barely remembered or had the time to cook for myself in the first week. So a supermarket delivery from a bunch of friends living 100 miles away was a godsend. So thoughtful and the most perfect baby gift.”

Although we all love buying cute booties and bibs, it’s practical and emotional support that our friends really need when a new baby arrives. You could treat them to a local hamper, a selection of home-made meals or essentials from the supermarket. Whatever you decide, we think a food delivery is a wonderful way to show your love and offer real support in those first few weeks.

Congratulations to Hetty, Steph and Harriet and welcome to the world Imogen, Jack and Rosa.

Check out our other Parent and Baby gift ideas here.

0 comment

Parent & Baby Party Planning Patchwork Kids

The Mamahood plans your kid’s party

by Ismay Ozga July 8, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

Fabulous woman and fellow SE Londoner, Diana Bardega, set up The Mamahood a year ago, with the aim of bringing mamas together in their local neighbourhoods. The Mamahood provides mother’s with a chance to get creative, collaborative and inspired with crafting workshops across the UK. She’s written us this great blog about planning kid’s parties to help take the stress out of those little birthdays.

Urgh. If you are anything like me, when the time comes to organise my children’s birthday parties I feel dread. It can be such an expensive, mass produced, stressful affair. From naff decorations, to expensive entertainers, crap food, to heaps of plastic tat that will only end up in a landfill.
But fear not, there is another way. You see, all around us are some incredible, creative, independent businesses who are there to help when we hit party planning season. And better than that, some of them are run by fellow multi-tasking mothers who understand better than anyone the stress of organising a party.

The Mamahood is all about enabling mothers to connect and support each other. I believe passionately that we should be buying and supporting and working together more because when you become a mother you join a community. Regardless of class, religion, creed, choices and status we all understand the pressures of being a mum. So when you shop, shop independent and where you can, support your fellow mamas. Because we all know how hard it can be to manage the juggle.
Plus I’ve done the hard work for you. Here is a round up of my top 5 mama-run businesses to check out if you are planning a kids party.

Invites

I have always found it tricky to find stylish invites on the high street. If you’re a stationery addict (I am) you will love the gorgeous Marby and Elm. Set up by a very talented mama Eleanor, she designs and letter presses in beautiful neons and brights. They are so beautiful you will almost not want to send them.
And if you’re after something extra special I can’t recommend more highly the wonderful illustrator and mama Lakshmi. She can sketch a gorgeous illustration of your child that you can use for invites and then keep for posterity. Double win.

Tableware

Look no further than The Jelly Rabbit. Run by lovely mama Sarah, she will take all the stress out of party planning for you. She sells gorgeous tableware, decorations, Pass the Parcel kits, balloons, dress up – you name it. I love her party kits. Literally everything you need by theme and all delivered – no stress!

Party Bags

Sick of plastic rubbish that goes straight in the bin? Then definitely check out Cotton Twist, set up by two mamas Anne-Clare and Alexis. They create the most wonderful craft kits that make the perfect take home alternative to a goody bag. Choose from a huge range of themes that suit both boys and girls. And if you need any party extras like themed food boxes then they’ve got you covered there too.

Cake

For ridiculously beautiful cakes look no further than Blossom and Crumb. Run by mega-talented mama Megan, her cakes speak for themselves.

Venue

Obviously this is hugely dependent on where you are based, but if you do find yourself in SE London, I can not recommend more highly The Punk Me Up Ceramics cafe. Run by the loveliest mama Toni – her kids party packages (held in the back of her beautiful shop) are wonderful. From the make your own goody bags, polaroids of the kids with their faces painted, painting your own themed ceramics and the mini milk bottles and bento boxes for the kids, every detail is covered stylishly and with minimum stress for you. A huge thumbs up.
To stay on top of workshop news and exclusive offers to shop at mama-run businesses, follow us over at @the_mamahood. Whether you want to meet other local like minded mothers, or just have some time for yourself and learn a new skill, you can find out what’s going on in your local area by signing up over at The Mamahood.

Planning your kid’s party? Take some of the stress out of it with our party planning Patchworks. Ask your friends and family to fund, make and do to organise a stress-free and fabulous party. They can contribute their time, skill or money to make the party happen. Your best friend can buy the bubbles, your mum can bake the cake and your brother can blow up all the balloons. Simple.

Customise one of our party planning patchworks here or create your own from scratch.

0 comment

Load More Posts