5 adorable sip and see party ideas and etiquette tips
Baby games, baby decorations, baby supplies—everything about a baby shower just screams “baby.” The only thing missing is, well, the actual baby!
Give guests their baby fix when you host a sip and see after the baby is born. Whether you’re serving coffee, tea, rosé, or all of the above, these gatherings are a fun and easy way to celebrate the new arrival. We’ve rounded up our favorite sip and see ideas, including sip and see invitations and themes, for friends and family to meet the little one while also enjoying an adorable and delectable party.
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What is a sip and see party?
A sip and see party is an informal baby shower that happens after the baby is born. Guests “sip” whatever the host is serving, like coffee, tea, or wine—and meet the baby when the parents are ready to introduce them.
You might consider hosting a sip and see instead of a baby shower if:
- There wasn’t enough time to organize a baby shower before the baby arrived
- The parents-to-be wanted their baby to be at the baby shower
- The new baby came earlier than expected
- The parent-to-be was not feeling well enough to attend a baby shower before giving birth
- The shower host couldn’t secure a venue until after the baby was born
Sip and sees can also be lower pressure than traditional baby showers. Rather than providing full tables of refreshments and organized games, sip and see hosts can just put out drinks and a few snacks for guests to enjoy between baby snuggles.
Sip and see ideas
There’s no one correct way to host a sip and see. As long as the baby’s there—and there’s something to sip—it’s a successful party! Check out our favorite sip and see themes with corresponding invitations, refreshment ideas, décor from Paperless Post Party Shop, and activities.
1. Baby brunch
Everyone loves a good brunch, especially when there’s a baby to snuggle between courses! Whether you’re hosting a seated meal or an appetizer table, a brunch-themed sip and see party brings the best of breakfast and lunch together.
- Invitations: Send out a photo invitation like “Painted Spots” by Sugar Paper to showcase the guest of honor. Modify your Page Style with custom colors and elegant fonts that fit your party theme.
- Food and drink: Bring out the “brunchiness” of your baby brunch with breakfast appetizers, such as mini pancake skewers by Garnish with Lemon. Don’t forget the non-alcoholic mimosas by Simple Joy (you can add Champagne if the parent isn’t nursing).
- Décor: Party Shop’s classic baby shower decorations add flair to an indoor or outdoor brunch with bright hanging décor or sweet tabletop centerpieces.
- Activities: Have guests fill out baby advice cards at the table to help the parents out with those little details.
2. A sweet treat
Nothing’s sweeter than a brand-new baby, but a dessert spread comes pretty close. Guests nibble on cookies, brownies, and cupcakes as they coo over the biggest sweetie pie in town.
- Invitations: “Sips and Sweets” by Mr. Boddington’s Studio makes a perfect invitation for a dessert-themed sip and see. You can customize your envelope and envelope liner for a splash of color and design.
- Food and drink: Add petite treats like salted caramel brownie bites by Live Well Bake Often to your appetizer table. Serve root beer floats or cream soda floats for the ultimate sweet shop vibe.
- Décor: Decorate your party space with cake, ice cream, and sweets décor from the Paperless Post Party Shop. From popsicles to cake pops, these decorations look good enough to eat!
- Activities: Choose a fun baby shower game to play while the baby is awake (you can make it a quiet one if it’s naptime).
3. Help out the new parents
No one really knows what to expect when they’re expecting. If you know a parent who’s spent a few overwhelming weeks in Newborn Land, host a sip and see party to give them the stuff they desperately need—and maybe have guests wash a dish or two while they’re there.
- Invitations: Bring everyone together with “Baby June’s All-Hands Meeting” by Mr. Boddington’s Studio. You can even add a Registry Block to encourage guests to finish securing items from the baby registry.
- Food and drink: It’s all about more snacks and less work when you’re helping new parents out. Whip up drinks like sparkling punch by Southern Living and hand out charcuterie skewers by The Balanced Nutritionist for guests to munch on.
- Décor: Don’t worry about cleaning up. Party Shop’s baby boy décor (or decorations for a baby girl) go perfectly with burp clothes, nursing pads, and stacks of newborn-sized diapers.
- Activities: Set up the party as an open house so guests can stop in throughout the day. Make a sign for the front door to indicate whether the baby is napping so guests know to enter quietly.
4. Sip and see baby-Q
If the baby was born in a warm month, host an outdoor sip and see baby-q in your backyard. With burgers, brews, and baby, you couldn’t plan a nicer way to introduce the newest neighbor on the block.
- Invitations: Make your guests grin with “BBQ Picnic.” Add a baby (or burger) themed stamp to your baby-q invitation to mark this special occasion.
- Food and drink: Have guests bring their favorite wine and IPAs to share. Alongside your burgers and dogs, consider serving burnt ends with bourbon sauce by Food & Wine.
- Décor: Just because your party is outside doesn’t mean you can’t decorate! Find BBQ and cookout decorations to string along your picnic table or patio space.
- Activities: Set up outdoor games like cornhole or badminton for guests to play as they wait for their turn with the baby.
5. Sip and tea (party)
If your crowd likes an excuse to dress up, invite them to meet the baby at a sip and see tea party. Every birth story sounds more refined over a cup of chamomile. And don’t forget the fascinator!
- Invitations: Tell guests it’s time for tea with “Tweeting Over Teatime” by Little Cube. Add a Photo Gallery Block to showcase your little one’s first few weeks on Earth.
- Food and drink: Set out a selection of teas for guests to choose from. If you’re hosting during a hotter time of year, consider preparing a pitcher of sweet tea by Southern Living. A plate of blueberry scones by Bluefield Kitchen is the perfect finishing touch to your tea table.
- Décor: Set a pretty, delicate tone with tea party decorations from Paperless Post Party Shop.
- Activities: Create a baby-friendly playlist for guests to enjoy as they drink tea and pass the baby around.
Sip and see etiquette
You may be familiar with baby shower etiquette, but does that apply to sip and sees? Learn more about sip and see trends and rules—and how they’re different from a traditional baby shower.
Who hosts a sip and see?
Anyone can host a sip and see, including the parents themselves. Unlike a baby shower, new parents may host a sip and see as a “meet the baby” gathering. Friends and family can also host a sip and see party as a gift to new parents who would like everyone to meet their baby, but are too sleep-deprived and busy to make the arrangements.
When do you host a sip and see?
Typically, a sip and see occurs a few weeks to a month after the baby is born. But the timing of a sip and see depends on a number of factors, including:
- The baby’s health, as preterm babies may be too immunocompromised to see visitors for a while
- The parent’s health, especially if the birth was difficult
- The availability of a venue
- The parents’ preferences and needs
When it comes to the time of day, that all depends on the parents’ (and baby’s) schedule. Most people will want to see the baby at the party, so try to plan the sip and see for a period of the day when the baby isn’t napping.
Who do you invite to a sip and see?
You can invite anyone to a sip and see, but typically, these gatherings are for the parents’ inner circle of friends and family. This can expand to include neighbors, colleagues, and relatives, but only if the parents are comfortable with that many guests around their baby.
Do you bring gifts to a sip and see?
Sip and see parties aren’t necessarily gift-giving occasions, especially if the parents also had a baby shower. But if you’d like to bring a small gift, that’s perfectly acceptable—especially if there are still items on the baby registry, or if the parents didn’t have a baby shower before.
Can you have a baby shower and a sip and see?
There are no rules about having both a baby shower before the baby is born, and then a sip and see after. Both parties serve different purposes—one is to welcome the new parent into parenthood, and the other is to welcome the new baby into the world.
But if you’re having a shower and a sip and see, it’s better etiquette to only expect gifts at one of the events. List your registry on your baby shower invitation, and you can add a Gifts Block to your sip and see invitation that says, “No gifts, please!”
Do you have to have games at a sip and see?
While baby shower games are an instant hit, sip and sees are a little more low-key. The baby may need a quieter atmosphere, and the parents may appreciate a mellow moment rather than a rousing game of Baby Shower Bingo.
That said, if the parents are fans of party games, feel free to set up games or activities at the sip and see. From poker to Pin the Pacifier on the Baby, you can make it as rousing as you see fit!
Welcome baby with Paperless Post
Whether the party happens before the baby arrives or after they’re here, Paperless Post has what you need to plan a baby shower in style. From baby shower themes to matching invitations and décor, we’re a one-stop shop to welcome baby properly.
If it’s the first baby for the parents-to-be, we can help them decide what to put on their registry. When the party’s over, use our guide to baby shower thank you cards to let your guests know how much you appreciate their support—and to sneak in one or two more baby pictures!
Welcome a new little one with adorable, customizable designs to fit every theme.
