Baby Shower Games

by Patricia Hughes

Baby shower games are a part of nearly every baby shower. If you are hosting a shower, the task of selecting games and entertaining guests may seem daunting. Fortunately, planning baby shower games doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Here are some ideas for easy baby shower games that don’t require many supplies or additional work.

How big is Mommy’s belly? This is a game that has been played at showers for years, but remains popular. It’s also an easy and inexpensive one to prepare. All you need is some yarn and a pair of scissors. For this game, each guest cuts a piece of yarn to a size they think will fit mom’s waist. The guests with the yarn nearest to mom’s belly wins!

Baby Gear Alphabet: This is another game that is easy to plan. Paper and pens are all that is needed. Guests list the letters of the alphabet down one side of the page and fill in a baby item for each letter of the alphabet. For example, Amby, Bottle, Car seat, Diaper…and so on. A variation of this game is to make a list of as many baby items as possible and the one with the most items wins.

Baby Pictionary: Divide the guests into two teams and play a baby version of pictionary. Make cards prior to the shower with baby related phrases. The game works just like the traditional Pictionary game. One person from each team chooses a card and draws what is written and team mates try to guess the phrase.

Guess that Baby: For this game, you’ll need to have each person bring a picture of themselves as a baby. Display the pictures and have the guests match the baby pictures to the guests at the shower. The person with the most correct guesses wins.

How Many in the Jar: Most people are familiar with this game, as a variation is played in many situations. Fill a jelly jar with any small object, such as diaper pins, newborn pacifiers, Q-tips or any other small object. The guests need to guess how many are in the jar to win the prize.

Don’t Say the Word (or Never Say Baby): This is a common game that has been played in different variations at many showers I’ve attended over the years. The host chooses a word; often “baby” and the guests aren’t allowed to say that word. Other words that can be used include the baby’s name, the gender of the baby or any other related word. Necklaces are given to the guests and when a guest says the forbidden word, another can take the necklace. Whoever has the most necklaces at the end of the shower wins a prize.

Unscramble the Word: Make a list of baby gear or words and scramble the words. For example, the word blanket could be ktnaelb. Set a time limit, such as five or ten minutes and the person with the most words unscrambled wins the game.

New Parent Trivia: This game lets guests show off how well they know the mother, or mother and father to be. Depending on the guest list, you will decide whether to use questions about just mom or mom and dad. Create a list of questions about the mother or the couple and the guests need to answer the questions. The one with the most correct answers wins.

What is it? You will need blindfolds and small baby items that you can hold in your hand. The guests wear blindfolds and the host places an item in the palm of the hand. Using only touch, the guest must figure out what they are holding. Things like pacifiers are easy, so select more difficult or unusually shaped items to make the game more interesting.

There are numerous websites on the internet with baby shower games for sale as well as free games you can print from your home computer. One site with some good printable games is http://www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com/ .  Some of the printable games include bingo, scavenger hunts and trivia games.

Ideas for Prizes

Most baby shower games involve some sort of prize for the winner. Depending on the number of games that will be played, this can get expensive. You don’t have to spend a fortune on shower prizes. The local grocery store or dollar store is a good source of inexpensive prizes, many for $1 each or less. Some easy and inexpensive ideas for shower prizes:

• Lotions
• Refrigerator magnets
• Small notebook or journal
• Note cards
• Candles
• Nail polish
• Bath products
• Packages of baking mixes (muffins, cookies)
• Small picture frames
• Seed packets

Other ideas include Finish the Baby Rhyme, and Guess the Baby Item where the person is blindfolded and had to guess the item handed to them. These are just a few of so many fun baby shower games. Hopefully give you a start on a fun and enjoyable baby shower. If you have some ideas ideas, go to the bottom of this page and you can share them with everyone!