One of the great joys when preparing for a new baby is connecting with other moms, shopping and preparing a space for your new addition. One recent trend I am in love with and hope sticks around is nesting parties. Some people have these instead of baby showers and others have both. So, what’s the difference? A baby shower is often filled with food, gifts, crazy games (anyone automatically not crossing their legs right now or avoiding using the word “baby”?) and often lots of advice and storytelling. Nesting parties are more of a day-long gathering, usually of close friends and family who show up to help expectant parents, by focusing on household tasks and preparation for before bringing the baby home from the hospital.

Nesting, according to the American Pregnancy Association is “the overwhelming desire to get your home ready for your new baby,” an instinct that gets strongest in the weeks before delivery. The timing of labor and the need to clean is something of a myth, even if most of us find ourselves off to the hospital not long after deep cleaning grout.

With so much to do, expectant parents can often feel overwhelmed and low on energy. Nesting parties are meant to help share the load and ensure everyone is feeling ready. You often hear the saying “it takes a village” and nesting parties truly embrace that spirit. Anyone can host a nesting party; it just takes someone willing to coordinate the details and pull it together. This is also one of those things where an expectant mom can throw the party for herself — and if you do I applaud you. Asking for help is something we all should do more often.

Ready to host a party? Use the following guide to get rolling: Before starting, talk to the recipient of the party and make a list of their needs, tasks they are worried about, and then add other tasks that will make life easier in the first few weeks. Here is a sampling that may need to be completed:

Laundry — baby clothes, extra bedding, etc.

Meals — get your meal preppers together and freeze meals, also put together some quick fridge and pantry options.

Grocery run — the last thing anyone wants to worry about is essentials – toilet paper, diapers, pads, pain relievers and anything else you’d want when you’re home recuperating and not able to get out.

Cleaning — I don’t know anyone who does not love the feeling of coming home to a clean and tidy space. A good deep clean at the party will give the new parents one less thing to worry about for a while.

Feeding station — gather all items needed for the feedings, breast pump and pads, formula, distilled water and bottles.

Diaper station — diapers, wipes, creams, extra onesies (include a top or two for the parents), socks, and trash liners and anything you need to keep baby happy.

Rocking station — this doesn’t have to be a rocking chair, the idea is to choose a space where whoever is doing a late-night feeding can relax and have everything within arm’s reach. Add snacks and water, pacifiers, light blankets, etc.

After you have created a task list, add that information to the invitation and give guests a chance to chime in about what they would like to do or how they would like to contribute. Use the RSVPs to assign the chores ahead of time and let people know what they will be doing.

Pick a date that is close to the due date, but not so close that you might not get things done. If you can, try to let the parents-to-be know your plan as early as possible, that way you can save the tasks of removing tags, washing, and putting away all the new clothes. This is the perfect way to help, and it can be fun sitting as a group working on the clothes and getting to spend a bit of time together. Watch a movie, play music, or pick conversation topics. The best part is everyone can chime in, even if they are in the kitchen on meal prep.

As host make sure to plan to feed your crew and keep them hydrated. Some hosts are creating thank-you goodie bags for the end of the party.

What I really love about this idea is that this is a way to truly make a difference no matter if it is the first baby or the fifth and it reminds the new parents that they have a support system to lean on. I think sometimes as parents we forget to lean into that support system and for that reason, I hope that nesting parties become the norm so that we are always reminded of that support.