Pregnant mums' ‘genius’ party idea that’s replacing baby showers

“I had such crippling anxiety I didn’t want a baby shower at all, but this lifted the weight off my shoulders,” one mum explained on TikTok.

If you’ve never been to a baby shower, this is how they work.

Things start off like any other party: there’s food, there’s chatting, there are nice things to drink.

Then there might be some baby-themed games, like bobbing for dummies, changing dolls’ nappies while you’re blindfolded.

And after that comes what for some is the most awkward part of the event: gift opening while everyone stares at you.

If you’re an extrovert and love attention, this part is great. Traditional baby showers are your jam.

But if you’d rather sink into the floor than have anyone even glance at you, the gift-opening portion of the afternoon is torture.

So, for the introverted mums who want to celebrate the imminent arrival of their baby, but don’t want to be stared at while they tear the stork-themed paper off tiny onesies and breast pump sets, a new party trend is gainly popularity: the display shower.

“When we made the decision [to have a display shower], it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders,” mum-to-be Julez shared in a recent Tiktok.

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@julezmyers

#stitch with @Brooke My display shower was the best decision ever! #babyshowerideas #babyshowergift #momlife #momhack

♬ original sound - Julez Myers

Baby shower or display shower?

Julez spent a lot of time worrying about her baby shower in the weeks leading up to the party.

“I had crippling anxiety leading up to my baby shower to the point where I didn’t want a baby shower at all,” she said in the video.

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Instead of having a traditional party, she opted for a display shower, where guests arrive with gifts unwrapped. They’re put on display on the table, and the mum escapes having to awkwardly unbox her presents in front of everyone.  

RELATED: Should second babies get a baby shower?

“I was able to not only get excited for the baby shower, but once the day came, I was able to enjoy it.”

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Not everyone in Julez inner circle liked the display shower, but the mum-to-be didn’t care.

“That day is about me, my baby girl, and my husband,” she said.

“So, I do not regret that decision whatsoever, and I would encourage anybody else that’s dealing with anxiety about opening gifts in front of a lot of people to consider this.”

RELATED: ‘I hate baby showers’

The display shower concept was perfect for Julez anxiety. Photo: TikTok

There was plenty of support for the concept in the comments, and there were even mums who had already jumped on the display shower bandwagon.

“I did a display and NO games!” one mum said. “It was the best thing ever.”

“I did this for my daughter-in-law,” said another woman. “She has very bad anxiety and does not like attention on her. It was amazing.”

Originally published as Pregnant mums' ‘genius’ party idea that’s replacing baby showers