42 baby shower games that guests will actually want to play
Everyone loves celebrating parents-to-be and the excitement surrounding a new baby, but maybe the thought of playing baby shower games makes you cringe.
While trying to think of shower games for guests, keep in mind the length of the party, and be sure to leave time for eating and presenting. It’s also smart to consider the age range of guests in attendance.
Choosing the right baby shower games and choosing when to hold those games is all about knowing your guests, says Jeannette Tavares, Creative Director at Evoke Design & Creative.
“Knowing your group will help you decide which games to pick, but don’t over program the event,” Tavares told TODAY.com. “When the host realizes the game isn’t sticking, the best way to get out of it is to make a joke and call it quits. Just like parenthood, go with the flow.”
With this in mind, it’s time to nix the old games we’ve all played — measuring the pregnant woman’s belly and sniffing melted chocolate bars in diapers, we’re looking at you — and try out a few new baby shower games.
42 Baby Shower Games
These 42 baby shower games and activities will have the parents-to-be and guests alike excited for game time by moving, thinking and guessing.
Diaper Relay
Divide guests into teams with an even number of participants on each one. Assign each team a baby doll. Each team member will go down the line wiping, diapering and clothing the baby doll before the next team member starts. The first team to have every member finish, wins!
Dad Jokes
A classic dad joke is always good for a giggle … or an eye roll. Plus, it makes a great baby shower game. Start by listing a few dad jokes and have everyone try to guess the corny punchlines.
Emoji Nursery Rhyme
Replace the titles of popular nursery rhymes with emojis and see if guests can crack the code. For a few bonus points, turn popular children’s books into emojis.
Name That Tune
Create the ultimate baby shower playlist with songs that contain the word “baby.” As music plays in the background, have guests jot down the titles. At the end of the party, the person who has the most titles is the winner. From “Baby Love” to “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” you’ll have plenty of tunes to choose from.
Are You My Mother?
From cats and kittens and cows and calves, to platypuses and puggles, create a list of animals and their baby’s names for a fun and sweet matching game.
Pacifier Hunt
Before the party starts, hide a few pacifiers throughout the event venue. Tell guests to be on the lookout because if they find a hidden pacifier, they’ll win a prize.
Blindfolded Diaper Change
Divide guests into teams and hand over a baby doll, diapers and a blindfold. In a relay style, have the teams diaper the doll while blindfolded.
Late Night Diaper Jokes
Late night diaper blowouts are inevitable, but you can help new parents laugh it off by having party guests write funny jokes on the outside of diapers with permanent markers. “Houston, we have a problem” or “To pee or not to pee” are some of our favorites.
Baby Sock Sort
Fill a small basket with different colored baby socks. Time guests as they race to match the tiny socks.
Diaper Stacker
This one works just like Jenga but with diapers. Set up a stack of diapers and see how many diapers guests can pull from the stack before it falls.
Build a Library
Ask everyone to bring a copy of their favorite children’s book. During the shower, give each guest a note card to write why they love that book or a special memory they have of reading that book to their own children. Tape the message inside the book for a sweet keepake for the baby.
Bow Building
Let guests get crafty at a hair bow or bow tie building station. Line up differently sized elastic headbands, bows or fake flowers and have guests use fabric glue to make adorable accessories for the baby.
What’s On Your Phone?
Give the old party game “What’s in Your Bag?” a fun upgrade with cell phones. From apps, photos, alarms or even battery power, give each item a point value to find a winner.
Mom Brain
Place an assortment of baby items on a tray and have the mom-to-be carry it to each table at the party. Guests have 30 seconds to jot down everything they see. Next remove or swap out the items and see if any eagle-eyed guests notice.
Baby Bucket List
Give everyone a notecard and have them write down a bucket list of items for new parents to do during the first year of their baby’s life. Guests can think of places to go, things to do and experiences to take advantage of during that precious first year.
Guess Who
Share a few funny stories about the parents-to-be as kids and let guests vote on who they think the story is about. Guests get two signs, one for each parent, and will raise the signs when they vote.
Babyface
Before the party, collect baby photos of family members and put them on display. Ask guests to figure out who each adorable baby is in the photos.
Old Wives Tales: Boy or Girl
Create a list of Old Wives Tales that predict gender and have everyone guess if it’s for a boy or a girl.
Ice Ice Baby
Fill ice trays with water and little plastic babies (you can find them at craft stores). Place the ice cubes in drinks and tell guests the first one whose ice melts and sets their baby free is the winner.
Baby Bingo
You only need markers and bingo cards to put this game together. Put a twist on this classic by offering enviable prizes, like gift cards or free babysitting coupons.
Ready To Pop Relay
It’s a relay race dedicated to balloon popping! Divide guests evenly into teams. Give each player a balloon. At the buzzer, the first player on each team with blow up their balloon, stick it under their shirt and get it to pop. Once popped, the next player starts. The first team to finish wins.
Babies Around the World
How many different ways can you say baby? Create a matching game of different ways to say baby in other languages. From bebe to bambino and dietguests will learn some new lingo while having fun.
Dough Baby
This one is great for parties with lots of kids. Leave out containers of Play-Doh so guests can make a cute dough baby and the parent-to-be can pick the winner.
What’s It Called?
This is a fun game if a lot of the guests don’t have kids or it’s been a while since they’ve purchased baby items. Rattle off a list of baby product names and see if they can guess which ones are real and which ones are fake. From Butt Paste to a Snot Sucker, you’ll have plenty of options to include.
Pin The Paci
Reminiscent of the classic “Pin The Tail On The Donkey” game, blindfold guests and have them pin a pacifier on a poster of a baby. The closest to baby’s mouth wins a prize.
Celebrity Babies
This game is perfect for the mom-to-be who loves her celebrity news. Round up pictures of celebs and their babies and see if the guests can match the pairs.
The Price Is Right
Everyone loves a good guessing game. For this one, just print out pictures of baby products and have partygoers guess the price of each item.
Inspirational Diapers
Grab a pack of newborn diapers and have guests write sweet notes or inspirational messages for the parents-to-be to give some extra support when they just might need it most.
What’s In My Diaper Bag?
Place one baby item — a pacifier, rattle or diaper cream, perhaps — inside a paper bag. Blindfold guests and have them put their hands inside the bag and try to figure out what’s inside. No peeking allowed!
Mother Knows Best
Ask the mom-to-be’s partner to answer a list of questions beforehand, and at the shower, see if she can guess their answers. From “how many kids do you want?” to “how many diapers will the baby go through in a day?” you’ll see if their answers match up.
Raffle Diapers
Have guests bring a box of diapers to the shower. When they arrive, they’ll get to add their name to a raffle. The lucky parents get plenty of diapers and a few lucky guests get prizes.
BabyShark
Everyone gets a full cup of gummy sharks and forms into two lines. When the timer starts, have guests toss the sharks into each other’s cups. The person with the most sharks at the end of the game is the winner.
Onesie and Bib-Making Station
Let guests get crafty by using fabric markers or paint to decorate onesies and bibs for the baby.
Lullaby Charades
Give regular charades a baby shower twist by having guests act out different lullabies.
Don’t Say Baby
Give each guest five clothespins at the start of the party. Each time they’re caught saying the word “baby” another guest can take one of their clothespins. Whoever has the most clothespins at the end of the party wins.
Baby Face Mix and Match
Start by enlarging pictures of both parents’ faces and gluing them to a poster board. Next cut the pictures into pieces for their chin, lips, nose, eyes and hair. Then, like a puzzle, let guests mix and match the strips to create a mock-up version of what the baby might like.
Baby Trivia
Create a baby trivia game with facts and stats about babies, labor and delivery, and raising babies around the world. This fun game will leave everyone feeling a little smarter and (maybe) more prepared.
Baby Pool
Have each person make a prediction for the exact date, time and weight the baby will be born. However, you will have to wait to see who wins this game.
Guess How Many
Fill an extra large baby bottle with candy, counting as you add each piece. Have guests drop their best guess into a bucket, and at the end of the party, give a prize to whoever comes closest.
TV Babies
Create a quiz to test guests’ TV family knowledge and match kids with their TV family.
Baby Jeopardy
All About Babies for $100! Just like the traditional quiz game, create categories and questions for attendees to test their knowledge. It’s up to you if their answers need to be in the form of a question.
Oh Baby, Baby
Give each guest a sheet of paper and ask them to write down as many songs as they can think of that mention the word “baby.” Set a timer and whoever has the most on their list ends up winning.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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