Sip and see parties are all the rage. Never heard of them? Typically hosted two to eight weeks after baby's arrival home, this Southern tradition is a low-key party or open house that gives family and friends an opportunity to meet baby. They're ideal for when this baby wasn't your first so you may not have had a shower.
These get-togethers are also a great way for parents to show off their new wonder without having to host guests for an extended period of time. Plus, the focus is squarely on baby (let's be honest, that's who everyone wants to see anyway).
While you can certainly go all out, keeping things simple can be best — you've got a newborn after all! Serve champagne or an easy cocktail along with some light snacks. Then mingle with guests and give them time to say their proper hellos to the little one. Keep the flow like an open house, with guests coming and going as they please during the allocated time period.
Just as with baby showers, there are millions of sip and see themes and ideas. Click through for a few of our favorites.
Baby brunch
Party Box Design offers some inexpensive ideas for great party food. Schedule the party during brunch and serve up a cereal bar with bottles of milk. Grab some fresh bagels from the store along with different flavors of cream cheese. Serve mimosas with extra bubbly champagne.
Sip and see spread
Playground Parkbench also supports the brunch sip and see theme. The egg strata can be made the night before to really make things simple day of. Add a fruit platter paired with a simple sangria or cocktail for extra deliciousness.
Bottoms up!
The Cake Blog's "milkaholic" theme is a modern, sophisticated and playful take on a sip and see (emphasis on the "sip"). Guests wrote messages on diapers to keep the fun going long after the party. ended.
"I mustache you to attend our sip and see party..."
Celebrations at Home threw a delightful mustache-themed sip and see for a friend — yes, mustache-themed. A particularly cute touch: the doughnut holes, skewered and placed on top of milk shots. The whimsical garlands and flagged straws lent levity to the celebrations, too.
Sweet sips and sees
Party Patisserie’s sweet tulle covered balloons add a soft touch to any sip and see. The site's easily tutorial walks you through the steps for this great decoration. Jars filled with layers of pudding and topped with whipped cream are also perfect for any gathering. Add wooden spoons for an extra DIY touch.
Book time with baby
Fawn Over Baby gave the always-popular book theme a spin with this vintage take. Handmade pinwheels decorated the event while a stack of wrapped book displayed the day's menu. Throw your own story book party and ask guests to bring books for the baby with a special message inscribed.
Additional sip and see tips:
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Display pictures from the first few weeks of the parents, baby and any other awe-worthy additions.
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Set up a well-wishes station with notecards and pens so guests can leave sweet notes for the baby and/or dispense parenting advice.
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Create a DIY bar so guests can serve themselves while the hosts mingle.
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Keep your camera nearby to capture photos of everyone with the guest of honor.
