While you've probably heard of a baby shower, a sip and see might not be something you're so familiar with. Put simply, a sip and see is a gathering where friends and family can meet the new baby. It's usually hosted by the new parents or close family members.
They tend to be very informal affairs where people can pop in for a cuddle with baby and a drink and a few snacks. If you're keen to find out more about sip and see parties and want some planning tips, keep reading.
Reasons to have a sip and see
When you have a new baby, dealing with regular and often unexpected visitors can be tough, especially if you've had no sleep and you're still physically recovering yourself. A sip and see provides a date and time for all your friends and family to visit together when you're prepared and ready to host. It's also a lovely way to see all your loved ones meet your baby for the first time, so have your camera at the ready!
Sip and see vs baby shower
Many mums decide to have both a baby shower and a sip and see, but they're very different occasions.
Baby shower
Your baby shower tends to take place in your third trimester shortly before the arrival of your baby and is usually only attended by the females in your life. It's great chance to take some lovely pregnancy photos with your loved ones, play some games and have a good get together with your friends before baby takes over. You and baby will usually get a lot of presents too!
Sip and see
This will take place shortly after your baby is born and anyone who wants to meet little one is welcome to come along. While there are usually no games or fun activities to play, it's a good chance to catch up with loved ones and burst that newborn bubble you might have found yourself in. People will likely bring some presents along for baby and these can have a more personal touch now baby has a name and everyone knows the gender.
When to have a sip and see
Most people plan their sip and see before baby is born so excited family members have a date in mind for when they'll get to meet baby. It's a good idea to leave at least two weeks from giving birth until you have a sip and see. Not only does this give you time to physically recover, but it also gives your baby's immune system time to develop.
Remember, there is no rule when you should have a sip and see. Every pregnancy and birth experience is different, and some mums might feel ready to host a get-together sooner than others. While some mums wait two weeks, others wait up to four months, so it really depends on you and your baby.
Who to invite
Most sip and sees tend to take place at home or at the grandparents' home, so consider how much space you have before making an invite list. You might want to split it up to have family visit for the first half and friends to visit later on in the day.
Alternatively, if you have a large family and big circle of friends, you may want to host a few sip and sees to accommodate everyone. Although it might take more time and planning, hosting a large crowd can be stressful, so it may be worth it to make it a more special experience for everyone, especially baby.
How to host
The good news is there's no need for fancy decorations or games at a sip and see. You've been taking care of a newborn so no one expects an elaborate affair but there are a few things you should think about.
Invitations – a Facebook group, text message or email works just fine for an invite, especially if you're wanting a more laid-back affair. Don't feel the need to mail out invitations as it's not a formal occasion.
Drinks – for the 'sip' part of your party, make sure a variety of drinks are available. Coffee, tea and juice are essential, but you might want to add alcoholic options such as Champagne, Prosecco, wine, beers or even cocktails and mocktails for non-drinkers.
Decorations – again, there's really no need to go overboard here but some simple balloons and a banner might be a nice touch if you do want some decorations of some sort.
Food – while some might like to serve a large buffet or grazing table at their sip and see, there really isn't any need to. Simple finger food is enough such as bowls of crisps, dips and nuts for savoury snacks with cookies and sweets for a sweeter option.
Guest etiquette
With sip and sees being a relatively new idea, you might be wondering what's expected of you as a guest before you attend.
What to wear – while you might want to look your best at most get togethers or parties, try to wear something that will be soft against a newborns skin. You'll also want to wear something that you won't be too upset about getting sick over as you never know when holding a newborn what you might be in for.
Gifts – we'd advised taking a gift along to a sip and see. Now you know baby's name and sex, you might even want to get a gift personalised. While it's only really necessary to buy baby a gift, you may also want to take the parents something too. Think flowers, some chocolates and maybe a bottle of fizz if they're drinking.
Don't overstay your welcome – of course, you don't want to leave as soon as you've had your baby cuddles, but you don't want to be hanging around for too long when baby probably needs to sleep (not to mention their parents). We'd suggest sticking round for no more than a couple of hours, having your cuddle, seeing the parents, having a drink and bite to eat then heading home.
Sip and see ideas
There's no need to have a theme, but if you do fancy pushing the boat out, there are a few ideas you might like the sound of.
Warm and cosy
We love this theme idea for a winter sip and see and it's all about those cosy vibes. If you make it a BYOT (Bring your own thermal mug) you can have some hot chocolate on the go, warming coffee and endless tea for your guests. For snacks, we'd recommend some fresh biscuits and cookies and toasties for a savoury option. We also love the idea of having a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, cream and sprinkles.
Your little star
A star is born, so what better theme than a starry theme. Think star balloons, banners, confetti and you could even dress your baby in a star printed outfit. For the food, you could make a star shaped cake, star shaped sandwiches, star shaped cookies – the possibilities are pretty much endless.
Sweetie
What's sweeter than your new baby? A sweetie theme is a lovely idea. You could provide a sweetie bar, as well as doughnuts, cupcakes and fruit sticks. For a sweetie themed sip and see, go for pastel coloured decorations with your balloons, table clothes and banners.
Sip and see tips
While you can keep things a little simple for your sip and see there are a few things you might want to consider.
• Have some hand sanitiser at the door – if you're worried about germs, you might want to provide some hand sanitiser at the door for your guests and some to use before they touch baby.
• Ask for help – while it might be tempting to plan the whole thing yourself, try to ask for help. Looking after a newborn is enough stress so getting some assistance when it comes to planning is a good idea.
• Set boundaries – having a clear start time and end time is a must so that your guests know when they need to leave by. This also helps you keep to a bit of a routine with your baby too, and will help ensure they don't get too tired.
• Suggest a dress code – you might want to stress on the invite that it's a very laid-back affair, so guests shouldn't wear their smartest clothes but should wear something that's soft on baby's skin. After all, no one wants to get baby sick on their nicest top!