Nesting Parties vs Baby Showers: What Melbourne Parents Need to Know
- Alana Taylor
- Sep 21
- 5 min read
Pregnancy is full of milestones: the first kicks, the endless shopping lists, and of course — the celebrations. Traditionally, expectant mums have been showered with gifts at a baby shower. But in recent years, a new trend has started appearing on Google searches, Pinterest boards, and mum forums across Melbourne: the nesting party.
So, what exactly is a nesting party? What is a Baby Shower? Which one might be right for you?
As a Melbourne maternity and newborn photographer in Clyde, I’ve spoken to hundreds of local mums and many new mums are curious about these new traditions
This guide will break down everything you need to know about nesting parties and baby showers, while also sharing how to capture these special milestones through photography before your newborn arrives.
What is a Baby Shower?
The baby shower has been around for generations. Traditionally, it’s a party thrown for the expectant mum (often by a close friend or family member) where guests gather to “shower” her with gifts, advice, and love.
Key features of a baby shower:
Timing: Usually held in the third trimester (around 28–34 weeks).
Guests: Friends, family, sometimes partners.
Focus: Games, decorations, food, and lots of gifts.
Purpose: Celebrate mum-to-be and stock up on essentials for baby.
💡 You can also search google for other things such as “baby shower ideas Melbourne”, “when to have a baby shower”, or “baby shower checklist” for ideas and inspiration
A nesting party is a newer concept. Instead of gifts and games, it focuses on practical support. Guests come together to help the parents prepare the home for baby’s arrival. Think of it as a hands-on celebration.
What happens at a nesting party:
Friends and family cook freezer meals.
Guests help assemble nursery furniture.
Everyone pitches in with folding clothes, washing baby wraps, or setting up the pram.
It’s less about entertainment and more about teamwork.
For many mums, especially those juggling toddlers, work, or just sheer pregnancy exhaustion, a nesting party feels more supportive than a traditional shower.
Nesting Party vs Baby Shower: What’s the Difference?
Aspect | Baby Shower | Nesting Party |
Purpose | Celebrate mum and gift essentials | Provide practical help for baby prep |
Focus | Games, socialising, decorations | Cooking, organising, cleaning |
Guests | Mainly friends & family | Often closer circle of friends/family |
Outcome | Lots of gifts, cute memories | Freezer full of meals, organised nursery |
Photos | Fun, styled, Pinterest-worthy | Real, candid, behind-the-scenes moments |
Why Nesting Parties Are Trending in Melbourne
In suburbs like Cranbourne, Berwick and Pakenham, I’ve noticed more mums mentioning nesting parties. Why? Because life is busy. Many parents already buy the baby gear themselves, but what they truly crave is support and community.
Instead of ending the day with 15 new baby blankets, mums go home with:
A freezer stocked with meals.
A nursery that’s ready to go.
A sense of relief (and fewer tasks on the to-do list).
This trend has grown thanks to Pinterest, TikTok, and parenting blogs — and Melbourne mums are embracing it as a practical alternative to traditional showers.
How to Host a Nesting Party
Step 1: Decide the Focus
Do you want help cooking, cleaning, or organising? Let your guests know what would be most useful.
Step 2: Keep It Simple
Unlike a baby shower, you don’t need extravagant decorations. A comfy space, some snacks, and a to-do list is enough.
Step 3: Delegate Tasks
One friend tackles freezer meals.
Another helps fold baby clothes.
Someone else assembles the cot.
Step 4: Capture the Moments
Even though a nesting party is more practical, it’s still a milestone worth remembering. These candid, behind-the-scenes memories are just as special as styled baby shower portraits.
Why You Don’t Have to Choose — Do Both!
The good news is you don’t have to pick one or the other. Many Melbourne mums are now choosing to:
Have a baby shower earlier for the fun and gifts.
Host a nesting party closer to due date for support.
That way, you get the best of both worlds.
Capturing the Moments that Matter! Event, Maternity and Newborn Photography in Melbourne
Whether you’re planning a baby shower in Berwick or a nesting party in Clyde, these events are part of your pregnancy story.
Having the Events photographed means you’ll look back and remember not just the newborn stage, but the journey leading up to it.
If you’re searching specifically for an Event Photographer in Melbourne, there are some wonderful options around. A few I’ve come across whose websites and portfolios look fantastic include:
I haven’t personally used their services, but based on their online galleries, they look like great options for capturing weddings, parties, and other large-scale events.
You can also search for Event Photographers Melbourne through a range of places, including:
Local Facebook community groups for your suburb (Cranbourne, Berwick, Clyde, etc.).
Google Search with keywords such as "event photographer melbourne"
Google Business Reviews to see real client experiences.
Instagram and Pinterest using hashtags like #MelbourneEventPhotographer or #BabyShowerPhotography.
Parenting Forums and Mum Groups (like What’s On Casey or Mornington Peninsula Mums).
Word of Mouth recommendations from family and friends in your area.
At Alana Taylor Photography, I specialise in capturing cheap maternity photoshoots and newborn photography in Melbourne’s South East. My Clyde studio welcomes families from Cranbourne, Berwick, Pakenham, Endeavour Hills, Officer, Narre Warren, Frankston, and the Mornington Peninsula and beyond — creating timeless portraits you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Many mums book their maternity photography photos session around the same time as their baby shower — when they’re glowing, excited, and want to celebrate this chapter. And by the time your nesting party rolls around, you’ll be counting down the days until your newborn arrives — the perfect time to lock in your baby newborn photography session booking.
FAQs: Nesting Parties & Baby Showers
1. Do you bring gifts to a nesting party?Not usually. Guests bring meals, time, or help instead of presents.
2. Can you still have games at a nesting party?Of course! You can add fun elements — but they’re not the main focus.
3. Are nesting parties replacing baby showers?Not necessarily. Many mums choose to do both.
4. When’s the best time for each?Baby shower: around 28–34 weeks.Nesting party: closer to due date (around 36–38 weeks).
Whether you choose a traditional baby shower or a modern nesting party, the goal is the same: celebrating your baby and surrounding yourself with support.
Both events are milestones — and just like pregnancy and newborn life itself, they’re fleeting. That’s why I always encourage mums in Clyde, Cranbourne, Berwick, Pakenham, Officer, Narre Warren, Frankston and across Melbourne to capture these moments through Newborn and Maternity photography in my Melbourne Studio.
Because while the gifts, freezer meals, and games may fade, the memories you capture in photos will last forever.
