Celebrating Your Expectant Team Member

Welcoming a baby to the family is a huge moment in your team member’s life and her holistic employee experience. Be sure to mark the occasion accordingly. A well-thought-out celebration will not only leave her feeling valued, it can also deepen her loyalty to the team and build pride in the company. 

Looking for some help getting started? Check out these quick tips: 

Consider her preferences

Not all women want to be the center of attention, particularly when they’re already enduring the aches and pains of pregnancy. While making your plans, put yourself in her shoes to scope out the size of the celebration. If you’re getting vibes that she’d rather fly under the radar, consider opting for a small, intimate gathering with her closest coworkers as opposed to a blowout bash with everyone from the office.  

Get creative and recruit help

Baby showers come in all shapes and sizes so think outside of the box to avoid a snoozefest (and perhaps steer clear of the usual guessing of baby’s arrival date, height and weight).

Don’t feel like you have to go about this alone though – ask your team for ideas of how to celebrate or recruit some of her work companions to coordinate activities. You can also use technology to your advantage, particularly when it comes to hybrid teams.

Here’s some ideas to consider: 

• Make it a surprise. To be fair, she likely won’t be surprised that you’re hosting a baby shower for her but not knowing when or where it’s happening can make it feel more special. As her manager, you can use a pre-scheduled one-on-one time, so you’ll know she’s available without arousing suspicion. Then send a separate invitation to attendees with a giant disclaimer that it’s a surprise. You can do the same for a virtual gathering, too, but be sure to wait until the last minute to send around a meeting link. 
• Quiz the crowd. Whether you’re hosting the party virtually or in a conference room, using an engagement platform like Slido or Mentimeter can bring up the energy by enabling everyone to participate. You could do a celebrity baby quiz – where you show pictures of celebrity baby photos and participants guess who it is – or opt for something more personal like a contest to see who knows the guest of honor best. 
• Take it outside. Who doesn’t love some fresh air? Consider hosting the gathering outside away from the florescent bulbs and whiteboards. The extra space can also enable you to do more activities like baby bottle bowling. Be sure to have an indoor backup plan though.
• Invite her partner. Depending on your team member’s preference, inviting her partner to the celebration can be a nice personal touch. You can even incorporate them in the activities – like asking a series of questions where the couple answers who they feel is more likely to change the baby’s diapers or cry in the delivery room. 

Gift in a mindful, measured way

When it comes to gifting, it can be tempting to shower your team member with the usual baby things – all the pint-sized sleepers, uber-soft blankets and cleverly-designed toys. Proceed with caution though as treating your team members consistently is important, too. A nice way to balance gifts for expectant team members is to take a two-phased approach: 

• Organize a group gift. Provide your team with an opportunity to get in on the gift-giving action. Offer to pool money together so you can go in on a group gift or gift card to help her prepare for the baby's arrival. Gather funds discreetly so they can contribute whatever amount they’re comfortable with. This also gives you an opportunity to hand her something at her baby shower (don’t forget to let her know who all contributed though; have everyone sign a card or send her a post-party message with a list of contributors). 
• Send a company gift. Once baby arrives, you can also send her a company-funded gift, as permitted. Each employer has their own approach and monetary threshold so be sure to check with your Human Resources team before proceeding. These gifts are typically intended for mom, so flowers or sweet treats - like this cookie and brownie crate or a variety of cupcakes - are a nice gesture to formally congratulate her on baby’s arrival. 

Wrap it up in a (figurative) bow

The intent behind a baby shower is much more than providing the guest of honor with the physical items she needs for baby. It’s about preparing her mentally for the journey ahead, particularly when it’s her first little one. Although it’s best to avoid parenting advice in the workplace, seek opportunities to shower her with compliments about her personal character and how much she’s valued by the team, so she leaves the party feeling energized and ready for the challenges ahead of her. 

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our “Let’s Talk Baby Bump” Conversation Guide. It’s full of tips on how to have the most effective conversations with your expectant team member as she prepares for maternity leave. And don’t forget to follow our social channels for weekly insights on what it’s like to be nursing mom in the workplace.