A Guide to Sip and See Parties

No, a sip and see is not another way to describe beer goggles. Instead, it’s an awesome little idea that gets all your favorite people in the same room—sometimes a virtual one—to meet the newest member of your home team. Let’s have a look, shall we?

What is a sip and see?

Sip and see parties are quite literally that—a chance to sip something delicious (from tea to soda to fancy cocktails) and see the new arrival. The term originated in the South but has done a national (and even global) sweep.

So if you’re wondering What do you call a shower after the baby is born? Yeah, this is it. Like a post-birth baby shower. Refreshing.

It’s usually hosted by you, the mama, or some kind friend or relative who feels like doing the organizing.

How do I host a sip and see party?

When you have a newborn, the last thing you might feel like is navigating the complicated terrain of party planning.

So don’t worry. A sip and see doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, rather than complicating life, it can make things easier. Everyone is going to want to see your baby—so having all your nearest and dearest over at one time in one place can be a low maintenance alternative to arranging a bunch of individual visits.

That means more nap time for everyone in your house. Awesome.

Sip and see etiquette

The great news is there are very few rules to this. If you’ve got something to sip and something to see, that’s all the ingredients you need.

Baby showers can often be serious occasions with a host of activities, platters of food, and showstopper decor. Sip and see parties tend to be more lowkey. After all, you have a newborn—and this gives you a major Get Out of Organizing a Fancy Party Free card. 🙌

So, yes. You can have games. You can have decor. You can have snacks. You can have a theme. But none of this is expected.

You can seriously do it your way, on your terms, in your style.

When to have a sip and see

Generally, they are held in the first few weeks of your baby’s life. Because the guest of honor is such a tiny human, it’s not a bad idea to keep the guest list small. A dozen max.

Sip and see invite

The invite can be as simple as a text message—but if you’re in the mood, there are loads of simple templates to use for email and print invites.

Another fun idea? Send a video invite. (Again, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Just a little message.)

Sip and see gifts

If you want to, you can start a baby registry with a store—but if you’ve already had a baby shower, it’s probably most appropriate to do a no-gifts sip and see.

How do I host a virtual sip and see?

We get it. Loved ones all over the world. And all manner of plagues and pestilence. Virtual sip and sees are increasingly popular.

And guess what? There’s an app for that. Here it is.

Here’s how to organize it in three easy steps:

1. Choose your platform.
2. Send out invites.
3. Have the best time.

Some cute sip and see ideas:

• Decorate your background. And if you’re not in the mood, use a virtual one. It’s amazing what you can do nowadays. Put your baby on the moon if that’s your fancy.
• Decide on the same sips and/or snacks. Although you can’t be together in person, sharing the same taste sensations can help you feel more connected to everyone. Everyone can make the same cocktail (or color of cocktail) or get the same pizza or cake.
• Have a theme. This can be as simple as choosing the same color to wear. Dress your baby up in the theme for added oohs and aahs.
• Play some easy games. Tiny Trivia anyone? Create a quick quiz with questions about the likeness to family members, the number of diapers you go through a day, how many hours of sleep you’ve gotten in a row—and watch your friends and family battle it out.

Oh and finally, we probably don’t need to warn you that babies make unreliable party guests. They love a nap. Schedule times wisely (particularly if you have to take different time zones into account).

No doubt, your sip and see will turn into a look and love. This new arrival is going to get one awesome welcome party.