TL;DR: The problem unique to an online baby shower is that the gifts aren't in the room. Three clean options: (1) ship gifts to the parent ahead of time and open a few on camera, (2) have guests hold their gift up to the camera and send it later, or (3) skip live gift-opening entirely — about a third of parents now do. None is "right"; pick based on guest count and how the parent-to-be feels about the spotlight. Below: how each works, a decision table, and the registry + thank-you logistics that trip people up.
Most virtual-shower guides hand you a games list and a Zoom link, then go quiet on the question that actually stalls hosts: when the presents are scattered across a dozen mailboxes, how do gifts even work? This is that part.
Key takeaways
- Ship gifts to the parent in advance. The cleanest setup: ask guests in the invite to send presents to the guest of honor's home before the shower so a few can be opened live.
- Open only a handful on camera. Watching every box unwrapped over video loses a remote crowd fast. Open 3–5, save the rest for after.
- Skipping is allowed. Roughly a third of parents-to-be now skip live gift-opening — it's a normal, accepted choice, not a faux pas.
- Thank-you notes still apply. Aim to send them within about two weeks, virtual or in person.
The three ways to handle gifts
Every online shower lands on one of these. The difference is logistics and the parent's comfort — there's no etiquette winner.
| Option | How it works | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Mail ahead, open live | Guests ship to the parent before the date; a few get opened on camera | Small, close group that wants the "reaction" moment |
| Hold up & send later | Guests show their gift on camera, then ship or drop it off afterward | Mixed group; gifts won't all arrive in time |
| Skip the opening | No live unwrapping; parent opens privately and thanks everyone after | Large group, or a parent who hates the spotlight |
Option 1: Mail ahead, open a few on camera
The closest thing to a traditional gift moment — but it has to start at the invitation. As The Bump puts it, "request that all gifts be shipped to the guest of honor's house, in advance of the shower, if possible." Most registries ship directly to the parent, so guests don't even handle a box. On the day, the parent opens a curated few — not the whole pile — and narrates as they go ("this is from Aunt Dana, a swaddle set, thank you!") so remote guests feel part of it. Set a soft "arrive by" deadline in the invite to cover shipping delays.
Host tip
Pre-sort the boxes before the call and pick 3–5 to open live — ideally a mix of useful and adorable. Stack the rest off-screen. A whole table of unopened presents on camera tempts the parent to power through all of them, which is exactly what drags.
Option 2: Hold it up, send it later
When gifts won't all arrive in time — or guests would rather hand them over in person — the hold-up version works beautifully. During a quick "show your gift" round, each guest holds their wrapped gift (or a photo) up to the camera, gives a one-line description, and the parent opens it later. It keeps the shared feeling without 25 minutes of unwrapping, and it rescues the across-time-zones or last-minute shower: the gift gets its on-camera moment, and the handoff happens whenever it's convenient.
Option 3: Skip live gift-opening
The most modern option, and an increasingly common one. Per Babylist, "about a third of expecting parents" now skip opening gifts at the shower entirely — trading the unwrapping for more time to actually talk to people. The parent opens privately afterward and sends thank-yous. If you still want guests to see the haul without putting the parent on the spot, Babylist suggests a display approach — gifts or registry items shown on a table or screen to admire — which "spares the guest of honor from feeling like they're in the spotlight."
The logistics that actually trip people up
Two details cause most of the gift-flow confusion at online showers:
- Where registry info goes. Etiquette is unchanged by the format. The Emily Post Institute notes registry information "should not be included on the baby shower invitation itself, though enclosing it on a separate sheet of paper is fine" — for a digital invite, that's a separate registry line or link, not the main card.
- The ship-to address. Because guests aren't carrying anything to a venue, the invite or registry page needs the parent's shipping address front and center, plus the soft "arrive by" date — the single most-forgotten line on a virtual invite.
Thank-yous: still a thing
A virtual gift is a real gift. Babylist's rule of thumb: send thank-you notes "within two weeks of your baby shower (whether it's in person or virtual)," while the gifts and givers are fresh in your mind. A short handwritten card beats a group text — especially for anyone whose present you didn't open live.
What most people get wrong
Don't unwrap the whole pile on camera
The instinct is to recreate the in-person ritual — open every gift, one by one, so everyone sees. On a video call that's the energy killer: watching someone unwrap twenty boxes, with no side conversations to fill the gaps, is when guests quietly close the tab. Open a few, save the rest, and put a game where the long unwrapping would've been.
That's the real lever: spend the time you saved on something interactive. A quick screen-share round keeps everyone looking at the same thing instead of watching ribbon come off a box. Our on-screen games run straight from a browser — no printing, no mailing — and you can browse all 20 free games or use the virtual shower timing guide to slot the gift moment into a 75-minute agenda.
FAQ
How do you open gifts at a virtual baby shower?
Three ways: ship gifts to the parent in advance and open a few on camera; have guests hold their gift up to the camera and send it later; or skip live opening entirely. The cleanest is usually mail-ahead plus opening just 3–5 presents live.
Should guests mail gifts before the virtual shower?
Yes, if you want a live opening. Ask in the invite that gifts ship to the guest of honor's home before the date — most registries ship directly to the parent — with a soft "arrive by" deadline for delays.
Is it okay to not open gifts at a baby shower?
Completely. About a third of parents-to-be now skip live gift-opening. A display of gifts or registry items is a nice middle ground that keeps the spotlight off the parent.
When should you send thank-you notes for a virtual shower?
Within about two weeks, the same as an in-person shower — a short handwritten card is ideal, especially for gifts you didn't open on camera.
Sources
- The Bump — How to Throw the Best Virtual Baby Shower ("In the evite, request that all gifts be shipped to the guest of honor's house, in advance of the shower, if possible"; most baby registries can ship directly to the parent)
- Babylist — Baby Shower Etiquette for the Modern Era (opening gifts isn't required; "about a third of expecting parents in our survey said they skipped it"; a display shower lets guests see gifts without putting the parent on the spot; ~52% of hosts use digital invites)
- The Emily Post Institute — Baby Shower Gifts and Registries (registry information "should not be included on the baby shower invitation itself, though enclosing it on a separate sheet of paper is fine"; guests should "always feel free to choose whatever gifts they think are best")
- Babylist — Baby Shower Thank You Cards ("the general rule of thumb is to send out your thank you cards within two weeks of your baby shower (whether it's in person or virtual)")