Baby Shower Games Real Moms Will Actually Enjoy
If you’ve ever been within 10 feet of a baby shower, you know that baby shower activities can be on the, uh, cheesy side. My personal introduction to the scene was 10 years ago when I planned my sister’s first baby shower. I suggested we play the brand-new-to-me “Guess the Candy Bar” game—you know the one with chocolate smushed into a diaper—feeling like the cleverest party planner ever. While the game was an absolute riot, I’m glad to see that baby shower planning has leveled up in the past decade.
Whether you love these corny but classic icebreakers or are looking for some modern baby shower games for you and your guests, we’ve rounded up some favorites—with plenty of options to suit your needs. From unique baby shower trivia games to co-ed baby shower games ideas and even virtual baby shower games, scroll down for some guaranteed entertainment while toasting parents and baby.
What are the baby shower games and activities that moms-to-be enjoy the most? To find out, we polled our social media followers on which baby shower games they played (or plan to plan) at their own showers, and there was one big winner: A full 62 percent of the respondents prefer baby shower trivia games like “Who Knows Mom Best?”
That said, 15 percent like fun and active games (like the blind diaper challenge) and another 15 percent enjoy sentimental and creative baby shower activities like onesie decorating. Lastly, 8 percent of respondents said they prefer co-ed baby shower games like Diaper Pong.
Looking for specific baby shower games ideas? Check out our lists below.
When it comes to baby shower games, you’re probably thinking, “I’ve seen them all before!” (And what you haven’t, Pinterest certainly has.) But there are still a few unexpected choices—especially if you’re having a themed baby shower. Scroll for a few of the most unique baby shower games.
Rubber Ducky Raffle
If you’re on the hunt for baby shower games ideas that are fun but don’t force guests to get overly interactive, we’ve got a good one for you. It’s cute, it’s quick and it involves a whole bunch of baby shower prizes.
What you need: Ten or so rubber duckies and an equal number of prizes, plus a roll of raffle tickets (you can make them or buy a roll online) and a large tub.
Before the party: Write the numbers of 10 raffle tickets on the underside of the rubber duckies. Right before the party, fill the tub with water and set the ducks afloat.
How to play: As guests arrive, give each one a raffle ticket. Throughout the baby shower, select a rubber ducky from the tub and read off the winning number, and invite the guest with the corresponding ticket to come collect their prize.
How Many Cuties Do You See?
You don’t have to use cuties—there are endless ways to play this popular baby shower game, in which guests guess the number of objects in a container. You can make yours as unique as you want!
What you need: A vessel filled with your object of choice: orange cuties, pacifiers, diapers or whatever you choose.
Before the party: Make sure that you, as the host, know the magic number.
How to play: Have guests write down their guesses. Whoever guesses the number correctly—or gets the closest to the number—wins.
Bobbing for Pacifiers
This baby shower game is sure to get everyone laughing. “At Halloween, you bob for apples; at baby showers, you bob for pacifiers!” says Maya Mahoney, owner of Honey & Lavender Events in Washington, DC.
What you need: Small plastic bowls (one for each participant), and three to five pacifiers per bowl.
Before the party: Prepare your supplies. You can enjoy this activity inside, but it’s great for outdoor baby showers too.
How to play: Fill each bowl with water and place the bowls in a row, says Mahoney. Add the pacifiers to the bowls and ask your guests to line up with their hands behind their backs. Blow a whistle or shake a rattle to start the game—whoever gets all their pacifiers first wins! “If you want, you can also buy some baby shower prizes and number them, and then number the pacifiers too,” Mahoney says.
Blind Diaper Changing Challenge
Put the skills of your crew to the test in this fast-paced baby shower diaper game.
What you need: Two life-size baby dolls, two blindfolds and one diaper for each guest, plus two extras.
Before the party: Place a diaper on each doll.
How to play: Have guests separate into teams. Each team gets a doll, blindfold and diapers. The first person in line for each team must put the blindfold on, remove the diaper on the doll and replace it with a new one. After the first team members are done, the next person in line goes, and so on. The first team to finish wins.
Babyproofing Scavenger Hunt
This game, courtesy of Seymen U., a dad of two in Sheridan, Wyoming, is highly interactive and customizable. For example, his version had a Wyoming twist: “Teams raced to spot hazards and apply smart safety hacks, like securing cabinets and anchoring furniture against curious little ‘ranch hands.’”
What you need: A home in need of babyproofing, babyproofing supplies, prizes, creativity.
Before the party: Place prizes near not-yet-babyproofed areas around the home.
How to play: Have guests race around your home, spotting and correcting babyproofing hazards, gathering prizes at every turn.
One of my friends recently had a baby shower with different activity options. There was a scrapbooking station. There was a ‘try baby food’ station where you’d guess each food to win a prize. Everyone also filled out ‘wishes for the baby boy’ cards. We played Bingo. I enjoyed the baby shower because it was more about socializing and less about structured game time.
Who doesn’t love to laugh? After all, baby showers are for your nearest and dearest to get together and have a good time. And if it gets a little awkward (Aunt Ethel and your bestie from college have nothing in common, for example…), these hilarious games are sure to break the ice.
Baby Food Race
A race to see who can finish a jar of carrot puree first is a surefire recipe for laughs.
What you need: Pureed baby food, baby spoons, blindfolds, fun prizes
Before the party: Prep your supplies, and make sure you’re aware of guests’ allergies and food preferences.
How to play: “For my best friend’s baby shower, we had people pair up, both blindfolded, and one person had to feed the other baby food out of a jar with a spoon,” says Jennifer H., a mom of one. “Whichever pairing finished the jar first won a prize! It was hilarious—a little messy, but made for some great pics!”
Watch What You Say
If you’re a big Mad Libs fan, you’re going to love this cheeky baby shower game. Get ready for lots of laughs (and maybe even some blushing).
What you need: Paper and pen.
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Write down the exclamations the guest of honor says when opening their presents. (“Oh, how cute!” “Look how tiny!”) Once they’re done, hold up the sheet of paper and announce: “This is what they said the night the baby was conceived.” Then have the guest of honor read it aloud for all the attendees to hear. It’s an especially fun baby shower game if the partner is present!
Hello, My Name Is…
While some baby shower games make a point of helping guests learn one another’s names, this one pretty much does the exact opposite—to hilarious effect. If you choose to penalize people a penny every time they slip up, baby might just end up with a little nest egg!
What you need: Name tags (one for each guest), a marker and a piggy bank.
Before the party: Mark each name tag with a baby-related word.
How to play: Have each guest put on a name tag when they arrive. During the shower, people can be called only by their name tag name. If a guest calls someone by their first name, they have to put coins into a piggy bank for baby.
Guess the Candy Bar
The “Guess the Candy Bar” baby shower game is renowned—and controversial. Some people love it, and some people would rather pass. Either way, it’s probably one of the funniest baby shower games ever conceived. “The whole ‘gross/interesting’ tension in the game makes for a perfect icebreaker too, as everyone will have to get hands-on to play," says Dmitrii M., dad of one in Newton, Massachusetts.
What you need: Diapers, a variety of mini-chocolate bars, and a pen and paper for each guest.
Before the party: Melt different kinds of mini-chocolate bars and pour one kind on each of the diapers.
How you play: Have guests sniff (or even dip a finger to taste) the chocolates and guess which kind is on each diaper. The winner is whoever guesses the most chocolates correctly. Weird? A little bit. But, then again, who can resist the power of chocolate?
It’s kind of gross, but I like the game where there's a different type of chocolate bar melted into different diapers and you have to guess the candy bar.
Bottle Race
You can’t go wrong with this funny baby shower game, also known as the Baby Shower Drinking Game. You can use any beverage, including beer.
What you need: A baby bottle and a beverage for each guest.
Before the party: Fill each bottle with the beverage.
How to play: Each guest takes a bottle and drinks as fast as possible. The one who finishes first wins a prize.
I'm hoping to talk my husband into a couples shower and do things like the bottle-chugging contest.
As these easy baby shower games prove, you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to have loads of fun.
Don’t Say “Baby!”
Also known as the Clothes Pin Baby Shower Game, this game makes a well-used baby shower word taboo: Baby!
What you need: Clothespins for every guest.
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: As each guest arrives, have them clip the clothespin onto what they’re wearing. Whenever a guest is talking to someone who says “baby,” they take that person’s pin and puts it on themselves. Whoever has the most pins at the end of the party wins. (An alternative is to use pacifiers on a long string instead of clothespins.)
Baby Shower Bingo
For a crowd-pleasing classic, look no further than “Baby Shower Bingo.” It’s popular for a reason and will engage guests of all ages.
What you need: Baby shower bingo cards for each guest that have names of gifts printed on them. Remember, each person’s card has to be different! (You can make your own or grab a printable
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Tell the guests to cross off items listed on their cards as the guest of honor opens their gifts. The first guest to cross out a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line wins!
Diaper Raffle
The one thing new parents use the most? Diapers! This easy baby shower game lets guests go home with prizes in hand and helps the parents-to-be feel well-stocked.
What you need: Raffle tickets, a box or pail and a prize.
Before the party: When you send out the baby shower invitations, explain that anyone who brings a box of diapers to the shower can enter the raffle to win a prize.
How to play: As guests arrive, issue raffle tickets to those who brought diapers. Midway through the shower, pull a ticket (or two) and award that ticket holder a prize. Don’t forget to gather the diapers for the parents-to-be before they leave (they’ll need all of them!).
What’s in Your Bag?
A person’s bag is a mysterious thing—but not for long! Here, guests reveal what they’re carrying for game points to win a prize. Since you don’t need any props to play, it makes for an easy and stress-free baby shower game.
What you need: A computer and printer, and paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: Make a list of things that people might (or might not) have in their bag and assign a number of points next to them. For instance, sunglasses are one point. Hand sanitizer is three points. Print out enough lists for everyone.
How to play: Give each guest the list of objects. If a guest has it in their bag, they should circle the corresponding number of points. Then have guests count up their points, and whoever has the most wins.
Name That Baby Tune
This is an upbeat and super-easy baby shower game that calls for zero prep!
What you need: A playlist of baby songs and a pen and paper. (Spotify, anyone?)
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Play one children’s song at a time and keep track of who can accurately guess each song name the fastest. Whoever has the most correct responses wins.
Printable baby shower games are easy and super-popular. The ideas are practically endless—but here are a few of our favorites.
Baby Shower Emoji Game
Looking for modern baby shower games ideas? It doesn’t get more millennial than this. The baby shower emoji game takes the classic Pictionary game and gives it an up-to-date twist, using emojis instead of words.
What you need: Printable pictionary games and a pen for each guest—they can be on baby-related topics like nursery rhymes, or whatever you think your guests would enjoy! The Bump senior e-commerce editor, Martina Garvey, a mom of one, says she made her own version of this game. “Baby shower Pictionary always goes down a storm!” she says.
Before the party: Print out or order emoji pictionary games for each guest.
How to play: Instruct guests to try and guess the (baby-related) words or phrases that are written out in emojis, and fill their answers out on the sheet. The person who gets the most correct wins.
Where to download: See here
Guess That Celebrity Baby!
One of Mahoney’s favorites, this activity lets guests match their favorite celebrities with their baby photos.
What you need: A printable from a site like Etsy will make this game super-easy to pull off: It includes numbered pics of (adorable!) celebrity babies, plus a list of their names. (Or, you can make your own so you can include your friends and family’s favorite celebrities!)
Before the party: Prep your supplies—don’t forget plenty of pens or pencils for guests.
How to play: Ask guests to write down their guesses. Whoever guesses the most can win a prize!
Where to download: See here
Animal Pregnancy Game
If you’re hosting a baby shower that’s all about animals, you’ll need some jungle-themed baby shower games. This pick, which tests guests’ knowledge of the animal kingdom, is super-cute!
What you need: A printable animal pregnancy game—there’s no shortage on Etsy—and pens or pencils.
Before the party: Make sure to find a printable that goes with your baby shower theme, and make a copy for each guest.
How to play: Ask guests to pair each animal with a length of gestation. Whoever matches the most correctly wins.
Where to download: See here
The Price Is Right Baby Shower Game
Everyone knows that having a baby is expensive, but how much do baby supplies really cost? In The Price Is Right baby shower game, you can see which guests are savvy shoppers. Just grab a printable and you’re ready to play.
What you need: A printable and pens or pencils
Before the party: Make sure to print enough copies for all your guests.
How to play: Have each guest write down what they think each item retails for, then have them total their guesses. Whoever gets closest to the correct total without going over wins.
Where to download: See here
I’m not really a games person, but someone gave me a wooden box and had everyone fill out a card with wishes for baby—-I cherish this gift. It was a great conversation-starter at the shower for friends and relatives who might not have known one another too!
What’s on Your Phone?
In this spinoff of the popular “What in Your Bag” baby shower game, guests take stock of the contents of their phones for a chance to win prizes.
What you need: A printable. Pens or pencils.
Before the party: Print out your list, making sure you have enough copies for each guest.
How to play: Give each guest a printable, and have them fill it out and then tally up their points. You know the drill: The guest with the most points wins!
Where to download: See here
Baby Shower Family Feud
It’s time for a game of Family Feud…baby shower style!
What you need: A printable and pens or pencils
Before the party: Make sure to make enough copies for all your guests.
How to play: Have each guest fill out their printout for a chance to win a fun prize!
Where to download: See here
What Would the Parent-to-Be Rather?
Is the guest of honor more of a chocolate or vanilla person? Cat or dog? Do they care more about naptime or bedtime? Give your guests a chance to prove they know you best with this fun printable baby shower game. (This one also counts as a baby shower trivia game!)
What you need: A printable and pens or pencils
Before the party: Grab enough copies for your guests.
How to play: Have guests circle what they think the guest of honor’s preferences are and tally up their points for a chance to win prizes.
Where to download: See here
Sometimes, a virtual baby shower is the best way to go. Maybe your village is scattered across the world or you’re trying to celebrate on a limited budget. Whatever the reason, the virtual baby shower games ideas below can help make your online event a hit.
Nursery Room Raider
Just because a party’s virtual doesn’t mean the guests have to be stationary. Samantha Goldberg, a New York-based celebrity wedding event planner, says this game will get your online guests moving.
What you need: A device with internet access and a video calling platform.
Before the party: No prep needed!
How to play: “The host names a random household item a parent might need at 2 a.m. (e.g., a flashlight, clean rag or a coffee mug), and the virtual guests have 30 or 45 seconds to exit away from their cameras and grab it!” says Goldberg.
Baby Poll
A virtual poll provides a perfect, stress-free way to engage guests from afar. Kai Peterson, co-founder of the free online event planning platform Whocan, suggests tapping into your guests’ creativity and humor with a baby-themed poll. (Who knows, maybe they’ll help you choose the perfect baby name!)
What you need: A device with internet access and a video calling platform.
Before the party: Set up a poll using the online platform of your choice, and send guests a link.
How to play: “If the parents want input (or just a laugh), let guests suggest and vote on baby names, nursery themes or first-storybook picks,” suggests Peterson.
The Registry Price is Right (Virtual Edition)
For a techy twist on this classic baby shower game, Goldberg has some tips. See below for how to make this game online-friendly.
What you need: A device with internet access, a video calling platform and a web browser.
Before the party: Set up a poll using the online platform of your choice, and send guests a link. Then, research pricey baby products to have them at the ready.
How to play: “The host will share their screen to show a specific, crazy-expensive baby gadget from the parents’ registry and guests use the video platform’s chat, or if they’re super techy the poll feature, to guess the exact price,” says Goldberg. “It’s super fun because it sparks hilarious debates or fights over whether a high-tech smart bassinet is actually worth a month’s rent.”
Leave a Voicemail for the Parents-to-Be
For a sweet virtual party activity, this idea from Olivia Pollock, the etiquette and hosting expert for online invitation company Evite, is a winner.
What you need: A phone.
Before the party: Have guests leave a voicemail with words of encouragement for the parent(s)-to-be as a virtual “guestbook” of sorts.
How to play: The guests of honor can either play voicemails live for party guests to hear or save them for later. “It’s a perfect idea for virtual showers because everyone can participate, regardless of location. Parents can even listen back as they go on to navigate parenthood,” says Pollock.
Future College Acceptance Letter
This idea, courtesy of Patricia, a mom of one in Brooklyn, New York, is perfect for forward-thinking parents-to-be. “A future ‘college acceptance letter’ is a fun game for a baby shower and can incentivize parents to start saving early,” she says.
What you need: Paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: Email guests a fill-in-the-blank college acceptance letter for them to fill out.
How to play: Have guests send you their completed letters before the party. You can then have fun reading them aloud if you choose. Is the bundle of joy Harvard-bound? Let your imagination run wild with this fun game.
There are plenty of baby shower trivia games to test your knowledge on how well you know the parent-to-be, and lots of other topics. Hint: Have baby shower prizes available to hand out!
Who Knows Mom Best?
This fun baby shower game has friends and family members vying to prove who knows the most about the mom-to-be. It calls for very little prep and is easy to play with a big crowd, making it one of the best baby shower games around. “Every once in a while, it’s nice to be the center of attention at your own party,” says Lauren Barth, associate content director at The Bump and mom of three.
What you need: Paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: Find out as much as possible about the mother-to-be’s childhood. Write your questions and her answers down on a sheet of paper, and don’t show anyone.
How to play: Read your list of questions out loud and have guests write their answers down on paper. Whoever has the highest number of correct answers wins.
How Old Were They?
Here’s another baby shower game that shines a spotlight on the parent-to-be. This one does take a little bit of prep, but everyone is sure to get a kick out of seeing childhood photos of the guest(s) of honor. (Awkward school pictures, anyone?)
What you need: Several pictures of the parent(s)-to-be at all at different ages, plus paper and a pen for each guest.
Before the party: Ask the guest(s) of honor for past pictures of themselves at different ages. Arrange them on a poster board or table with a number next to each.
How to play: Ask guests to write down how old they think the parent-to-be was in each picture. Whoever gets the most right wins.
Guess the Baby
Another take on the “how old were they?” game, in this activity, you match guests with their baby photos.
What you need: A baby photo for each guest, blank numbered lists, pens.
Before the party: “Ask guests to each bring a baby photo of themselves, and then guests can guess whose baby photo is whose!” suggests Mahoney. Then, number each photo. You can also have guests send you a photo when they RSVP.
How to play: Ask guests to write down their guesses next to the corresponding number on the list. The Bump contributor Wyndi Kappes remembers playing this game at a baby shower with friends: “Whoever had the most correct received a diaper stuffed with dollar bills!”
Find the Guest!
The best baby shower games serve as ice-breakers and encourage your guests to mingle and get to know one another—and this one does just that!
What you need: A computer and printer, and paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: Write up a list of various fun facts that could apply to many of your guests. For example, “Went to so-and-so college,” “owns a Volvo,” “has a child under 3,” etc. Have a copy of the list waiting on each guest’s seat.
How to play: Each guest will have to get to know each other quickly to find people who fall into the various categories. The person who meets enough guests to be able to tick off the most fun facts wins.
Guess the Baby Food
Who has the most sensitive nose among you? (Our guess is the mom-to-be—pregnancy has a way of heightening your sense of smell.) Another fun baby shower game that gives guests an excuse (or a challenge, depending on your palate) to polish off yummy baby food, this activity puts people’s sniffers (and food knowledge) to the test.
What you need: Unlabeled jars, pureed baby food and paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: Fill each of your unlabeled jars with a different kind of baby food (and make sure to keep track!).
How to play: Distribute paper and pens to guests, then ask them to smell each jar of puree and jot down which foods they think are inside. (If you want to make it especially tricky, have them do this blindfolded!)
What’s Mom Craving?
Pregnancy does more than just amp up a woman’s sense of smell—it can also spark the funniest food cravings. This baby shower game has guests guessing what’s been on Mom’s menu of late.
What you need: Paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Mom-to-be describes all the strange things she’s been craving, one by one, without actually saying the name of the food. The guests write down what they think each one is. Whoever has the most right wins.
These activities aren’t exactly games—many of them involve crafty keepsakes—but guests will enjoy creating something special just for you and future baby.
One-of-a-Kind Baby Shower Onesies
If you’re looking for creative baby shower activities for your group, this one is bound to yield some unique results.
What you need: Plain onesies (and other articles of clothing, if you wish) in various colors, tacks, thick cardboard sheets, fabric markers, stencils and iron-on letters and graphics. (A lot of people swear by the Cricut machine to create vinyl and iron-on cutouts.)
Before the party: Tack each onesie to a piece of cardboard for support and prepare any iron-on and fabric fusion options you’re planning to offer guests.
How to play: Make the onesies (with attached cardboard) and decorating items available during the shower for everyone to use. This way, baby has a set of unique clothes, and the guests of honor will always remember the day.
Craft a Blanket
This is another crafty group baby shower activity that’s guaranteed to create meaningful memories.
What you need: Craft paint and washcloths.
Before the party: Prep all your supplies, and make sure to cover all the areas you don’t want your guests to get paint on.
How to play: “I had everyone use craft paint and write a message or draw something on a baby washcloth,” shares Jennifer H. “I then had all the washcloths made into a blanket that I framed. It’s a special thing that I treasure.”
Paint the Nursery Furniture
This idea, courtesy of Anna J., mom of one in Denver, is another hands-on project that attendees are sure to enjoy. “Our friends painted the dresser for our baby’s room during our baby shower,” she says. “We were a little nervous for how it would turn out, but it looked really lovely and serves as a reminder of how supportive our community has been for us in our transition to parenthood.”
What you need: A ready-to-paint furniture piece, furniture or cabinet paint, paint brushes and dropcloth.
Before the party: Prep all your supplies, and make sure to cover all the areas you don’t want your guests to get paint on.
How to play: Give everyone a paintbrush and paint, and let them do their thing. “We got a lot of positive feedback from our friends about how cool they thought this activity was,” says Anna.
Stinky Messages
When you’re changing yet another diaper at 3 a.m., you’ll appreciate having something to laugh about. Mahoney recommends having your guests write funny or encouraging messages on diapers for you to read during those late-night changes.
What you need: Diapers of varying sizes and thick, nontoxic markers
Before the party: “Make a cute sign directing people to write a funny or cute message on as many diapers as they can,” says Mahoney. You can find a free printable sign here.
How to play: It’s time to get creative! A few ideas for messages from Mahoney: “I’m a Stinker,” “Oops I Did It Again,” “Dad’s Turn”…you get the idea!
Baby Shower Memory Book
Having your guests write notes for the future to you and baby is among the more fun and meaningful baby shower activities. “It’s a nice activity for the aunties and grandmas that are going to want to say those things anyway,” says Keri S., an aunt and godmother who’s enjoyed this activity before.
What you need: A keepsake book with blank pages or stationery—whatever you prefer to save and look back on! You’ll need nice pens or markers too. “You can buy the Dr. Seuss book Oh, Baby! Go, Baby! and ask everyone to write a note to the parents on a different page,” suggests Keri S. “A fun book to read to baby, but also to see notes from friends and family.” For another fun option, have everyone draw “one letter [per] page to become baby’s first alphabet book,” suggests The Bump reader @jaaaaleeson.
Before the party: Prep your supplies. Decide on your time frame: Do you want your guests to write the note for when baby is 1 month old—or for five years in the future?
How to play: Have each guest write the parents and baby an encouraging note. Then, open all the notes in the future and enjoy them!
We did The Price Is Right game at my shower, but only the guys guessed. The hostess printed out pictures and product descriptions for a bunch of baby items (crib, formula, safety gate). The guys had no clue for the most part, so it was really funny.
The Baby Bucket List
Having a baby opens up a world of fun firsts and new adventures. This game gets everyone thinking about a bucket list for the new parents. Best of all, you don’t have to do anything ahead of time, making it one of the easier baby shower activities to pull off.
What you need: Pen and notecard for each guest, and a bucket.
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Ask guests to write down at least one thing the new parents should do in baby’s first year. The suggestions could include things they wish they did with their kids, things they want to do if/when they have a baby or things they think the parents-to-be will enjoy doing with their child—for instance, trips to take, moments to remember, advice that’s often forgotten. Collect all the notecards and present them to Mom or parents-to-be by the end of the party.
Many modern parents-to-be are choosing to celebrate their new bundle of joy together, and we’re here for it. If you’re planning a joint baby shower, we’ve got you covered with some ideas that are sure to entertain your whole guest list.
The “Which Partner” Game
Looking for the best baby shower games for a couples baby shower? This one might just top the list. Guests take a fun “Which Partner” quiz, and then the parents-to-be weigh in with their responses. You can prep a quiz sheet and have prizes at the ready, or just have people shout out their answers and keep things casual—whatever floats your boat.
What you need: A computer and printer or copy machine, and paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: Type out a list of 10 to 20 questions that can be answered with the name of either parent (e.g., “Who’s never changed a diaper before?” or “Who has always gotten at least eight hours of sleep every night?”). Print it out and have enough copies for all the guests.
How to play: Hand out the list of questions to each guest. Once everyone’s jotted down their answers, invite the parents-to-be up front, read the questions out loud and have them give their responses. Whichever guest answers the most correctly gets a prize.
Guess the Parent Story
This game, courtesy of Patrick M., a dad of one in Tacoma, Washington, is a great go-to for a couples baby shower. “It’s a fun way to learn new things about the parents and spark conversations,” he says.
What you need: Paper and pencils for each guest.
Before the party: Ask friends and family to submit short stories about the parents-to-be.
How to play: Have someone read each story. Guests will write down their guesses about which story belongs to which partner. The guest who answers the most correctly gets a prize.
The “Who’s More Likely To” Game
For a couple-centered game that will crack up your hosts, you’ll love this suggestion from Goldberg, the celebrity event planner.
What you need: Each partner-of-honor needs a pair of shoes.
Before the party: Prepare a list of “Who will…?” questions like in the example below.
How to play: “The expecting parents sit back-to-back—each is holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s shoes—and they raise the appropriate shoe to answer rapid-fire prompts like ‘Who’ll cry first during childbirth?’ or ‘Who’ll sneak the baby extra snacks?’” says Goldberg. “It’s a big hit because the guests get to watch the couple’s real-time, often opposite reactions! It’s hysterical!”
Diaper Pong
A baby shower twist on the college classic, diaper pong is an active game that’s sure to please an co-ed crowd.
What you need: A large piece of cardboard or wood that stands up, diapers, hot glue, a marker, ping-pong balls.
Before the party: Make a DIY diaper pong board—essentially a big piece of cardboard (or whatever you’d like to use!) with diapers in the shape of little “baskets” hot-glued to it. (One Sweet Nursery has directions.) Label each diaper; they should each be worth a certain amount of points.
How to play: Divide guests into teams and take turns throwing ping-pong balls. Each team or guest gets one shot before the next one does. Alternate taking turns until each team or guest has thrown a total of six ping-pong balls. The objective is to get the ping-pong balls in the diapers, and the team or guest with the highest score wins a prize! Beer optional.
Teddy Bear Flip Cup
For another baby-themed twist on a drinking game, “Teddy Bear Flip Cup,” suggested by Pollock, is equal parts cute and hilarious. “It truly puts the most adorable twist on a classic party game,” she says.
What you need: Teddy bears for each player, small diapers or baby clothes.
Before the party: Set up a table with teddy bears and diapers lined up on both sides.
How to play: “Instead of racing to finish a drink, guests attempt to quickly dress a teddy bear in a diaper or baby clothes and then pass it along to the next person. It’s surprisingly competitive and hilarious to watch!” says Pollock.
Having a large group gathering at your shower? The more, the merrier! Baby shower games that everyone can play simultaneously—like guessing games—are the most practical way to go.
The Baby Shower ABC’s
This classic baby shower game is fast-paced and exciting, and perfect for a big crowd. Plus, it calls for very little prep ahead of time!
What you need: Paper, pen, timer and a computer and printer or copy machine.
Before the party: Write the alphabet vertically down the left side of a sheet of paper. Make enough copies for all your guests.
How to play: Hand out a sheet to each guest and for each letter, have them write down a word that’s associated with babies (example: B is for bottle). Whoever writes the most words in one minute is the winner.
How Well Do You Know Your TV Children?
Calling all TV buffs! How many famous children from popular shows can you name? We’ve made this baby shower game extra easy for you, providing you with the questions (and answers) below.
What you need: Paper, a pen and a computer and printer.
Before the party: List the questions below on a sheet of paper, and make enough copies for your guests. A. What was the name of Fred and Wilma’s child on The Flintstones?
B. What were the names of Ross Geller’s two children on Friends?
C. What were the names of the three kids on The Simpsons?
D. What were the names of the four children on Family Ties?
E. What were the names of the six kids on The Brady Bunch?
How to play: Hand out the questions and ask your guests to respond to as many as they can. Whoever answers the most correctly wins. (The answers are: a. Pebbles; b. Ben and Emma; c. Bart, Maggie and Lisa; d. Alex, Mallory, Jennifer, Andy; e. Marcia, Jan, Cindy, Greg, Peter and Bobby.)
Oh Baby, A Playlist!
There are a ton of songs out there that mention the word “baby”—but how fast is your recall? This is an easy baby shower game to play with a crowd, but it’s still high-energy and loads of fun.
What you need: Paper and pen for each guest.
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Each guest must write down as many songs they can think of with the word “baby” in the title. Give the guests a time limit—five minutes max—and whoever has the most (real!) songs written down is the winner.
The Nursery Rhyme Quiz
The baby shower nursery rhyme game is a super-popular pick these days. Who doesn’t love a good dose of nostalgia?
What you need: Paper, pens and a computer and printer or copy machine.
Before the party: Type out a list of nursery rhyme snippets, leaving out key words and phrases, and make enough copies for all your guests.
How to play: Ask your guests to fill in the blanks. The person who completes the most correctly wins.
The Baby Name Game
You might already have your baby name picked out—you’re just not telling anyone, yet. But you can still have your guests brainstorm some alternative options with this funny baby shower game.
What you need: Paper and pen for each guest and a timer.
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Have each guest write any baby names they can think of in the allotted time. To make the game more difficult, you can also choose a particular letter the names should begin with. The person who comes up with the most names wins.
Many baby showers include kids on the invite list—and while many of the best baby shower games are kid-friendly, not all of them are totally appropriate. These fun, interactive picks make perfect baby shower games for kids.
Yum, Applesauce!
It’s not just toddlers who can’t get enough of applesauce—big kids love it too! They’ll get plenty of giggles out of this funny baby shower game that’s likely to get a bit messy.
What you need: Large plastic garbage bags, scissors, jars of applesauce, baby spoons and blindfolds.
Before the party: Cut holes in the bottom of the bags so they can be worn like a poncho.
How to play: Separate guests into teams of two. Have guests put trash bags over their clothes, then blindfold everyone. Give a jar of applesauce and two spoons to each team and have them feed each other. Whichever team finishes their applesauce first is the winner.
Find the Socks!
This is one of the rare times when kids will actually want to help pair socks—so take full advantage!
What you need: 14 pairs of baby socks and a timer
Before the party: No prep needed.
How to play: Put all the baby socks, unpaired, in a pile on the floor. Each guest must match as many socks as they can in one minute. The person who matches the most socks is the winner.
Place the Pacifier in Baby’s Mouth
Pin the Tail on the Donkey is a classic party game, but this modern take is the baby shower version. It’s a perfect baby shower game for kids and adults.
What you need: A picture of a baby, a blindfold, a picture of a pacifier, a copy machine and tape.
Before the party: Enlarge the baby picture if necessary and hang it up on the wall. Make enough copies of the pacifier picture so each guest has one (you might want to resize the pacifier so it fits the baby). Attach a piece of tape to each.
How to play: A la Pin the Tail on the Donkey, blindfold each guest and see how close they can place their pacifier picture to baby’s mouth. Whoever gets the closest wins!
Block Painting
This crafty activity, courtesy of Pollock, invites your tiniest attendees to express their creativity and make a totally unique toy for your new arrival.
What you need: Unfinished wooden blocks, washable paint, paintbrushes, a dropcloth.
Before the party: Set up a painting station for the kiddo attendees.
How to play: “All you have to do is let the little guests’ imaginations run wild! The finished blocks become a one-of-a-kind toy that the baby can play with,” says Pollock.
Pacifier Hunt
A twist on an Easter egg hunt, this activity will overjoy your youngest party guests. Their delight is sure to add to the fun of the day!
What you need: A large pack of pacifiers (or similar baby item)
Before the party: Hide the pacifiers all over your property like you would with an Easter egg hunt.
How to play: Let the little ones run around and search for all of the hidden baby items.
When it comes to planning out your baby shower games, there are a few bits of advice to keep in mind:
- Keep your audience in mind. How big is your group? Is it co-ed or gals-only? What’s the age group? All of this can help you decide which baby shower games and activities to choose.
- Make it personal. Our readers say they love baby shower trivia games, which can involve baby photos and other fun family tidbits. They also enjoy creative baby shower activities, like decorating onesies or crafting a special blanket for the parent-to-be. Whatever you choose, keep it meaningful!
- Don’t overplan. Your guests want time to eat and mingle—and celebrate your special moment. “It’s nice to be able to enjoy celebrating the mom and relax a bit with friends,” says The Bump reader Yvonne. “Our group always tries to limit games to two to three total and make the shower more of a social event,” says SgtLou2, a community member on The Bump.
- Leave time to open gifts. My personal favorite baby shower activity was opening gifts—but sometimes this gets relegated to the end and feels rushed. If you want this to be a viewing opportunity, make sure to leave plenty of time.
The best part about any baby shower is feeling the love and support from your favorite people as you embark on this new chapter. No matter which baby shower games ideas you choose, with the right crowd, it’ll be a celebration to remember. And most importantly: make it your own. “One of the best parts of planning a shower is finding a way to make it unique to you. Incorporating a fun activity is a perfect way to do that because they offer a great canvas for creative, personalized games,” says Pollock.
Baby showers can be tricky to plan, what with far-flung friends and family and varying tastes. To help you bring the fun, we spoke with event planners and real parents to explore unique baby shower games your crew is sure to enjoy. After editing, this article was fact-checked through our thorough editorial review process.
About the author: Kristen Bringe is a freelance writer and mom who’s played many a fun, and not so fun, baby shower game in her time. (Just don’t ask her to sniff a chocolate diaper again!) Through her writing, she seeks to help other moms feel seen and supported throughout their motherhood journeys.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Kai Peterson is the co-founder of the free online event planning platform Whocan
Maya Mahoney is the owner of Honey & Lavender Events in Washington, DC.
Olivia Pollock is the etiquette and hosting expert for online invitation company Evite.
Samantha Goldberg is a New York-based celebrity wedding event planner.
Real-parent perspectives:
- Christine Carpenter, contributing editor at The Bump and mom of two
- Lauren Barth, associate content director at The Bump and mom of three
- Martina Garvey, senior e-commerce editor at The Bump and mom of one
- Wyndi Kappes, writer at The Bump
- Anna J., mom of one in Denver
- Dmitrii M., dad of one in Newton, Massachusetts
- Jennifer H., mom of one
- Keri S., aunt and godmother
- Patricia, mom of one in Brooklyn, New York
- Patrick M., dad of one in Tacoma, Washington
- Seymen U., dad of two in Sheridan, Wyoming
- Yvonne, The Bump reader
- @jaaaaleeson, The Bump reader
- baby0708, The Bump community member
- bookishbaker, The Bump community member
- ladybugpjb, The Bump community member
- michelle_bird, The Bump community member
- SgtLou2, The Bump community member
Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.
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