Miscellaneous
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Some Baby Shower Games?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

At many baby showers, baby shower games are standard. These can be a fun way for guests to participate more fully in a shower. They can also be a terrific way to give out a few little gifts to shower attendees, by having prizes for game winners. On this front, those throwing the shower and the mom to be should probably not accept the prizes though they can participate in the games. Not all environments for showers are equally suited to games; quick office parties on a short lunch break may represent too little time for visiting and baby shower games.

Numerous baby shower games exist and there are websites and books that devote significant times to listing them. It would be difficult to compile an exhaustive list, but there are certainly some games that are particularly fun and quite common at baby showers. One of the easiest of these to play, though hardest to win, is the “Don’t Say Baby” game.

Disposable diapers can be used in a baby shower game.
Disposable diapers can be used in a baby shower game.

Each attendee is given a diaper pin, which they get to keep as long as they don’t say the word baby. Any other guest can “catch” someone saying baby, and claim her pin. The winner at the end of the shower is the person with the longest pin strand. Some guests enjoy this game but others don’t like to be inhibited by not saying the common word because they want to talk freely about children and the expected baby.

Shower attendees may have a chance to win prizes during baby shower games.
Shower attendees may have a chance to win prizes during baby shower games.

Another of the common baby shower games is to guess mommy’s waist size. This may be fun if the mom doesn’t mind having her personal space invaded or facts about her waist size revealed. It isn’t for everyone though, and expectant moms who are more private may not want to play.

More neutral games include a number of guessing games. Many involve estimating amount of a certain thing in a large jar. This can include candy, if the jar itself is the prize, diaper pins, or anything else that seems appropriate. Word scramble games can be fun too. These can be played in two ways, where the words are scrambled, usually common baby words, and guests must unscramble them, or where a word related to baby themes is used to make a lot of small words.

Passing around a guest book at the shower will make sending thank you notes easier.
Passing around a guest book at the shower will make sending thank you notes easier.

Baby shower games that involve memory also make for good guessing games. Place 10-20 items on a tray that are baby or childcare themed. Let guests take a look for a minute, and then cover the tray. Have contestants list all things they saw on the tray, with those remembering the most rewarded with a prize. Alternately, collect baby pictures from all guests (make copies so as not to damage originals) and have a guessing game of which picture belongs to each guest.

Other baby shower games can be more active. Blind diaper changing can be fun with the right supplies, a few disposable diapers and some baby dolls. Blindfold gamers and see how quickly and accurately they can change a diaper.

"Don't Say Baby" is a popular baby shower game.
"Don't Say Baby" is a popular baby shower game.

Since baby showers often are a couple hours in length there is usually time for two or three games. Conversation is typically part of the shower, so leave in opportunities for lots of chatting and snacks. Don’t forget to leave a good half hour to hour for opening of gifts, and plan games for the early part of the shower, before eating and gift opening commences.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

pastanaga

@KoiwiGal - A baby shower is a celebration of babies though. If someone is worried about their ability to cope with it, or enjoy it they don't have to go.

And the games are usually just a lot of fun. I once played pin-the-pacifier-on-the-baby, for example, which I don't think was supposed to be taken seriously.

KoiwiGal

@MrsPramm - You just have to know your guests well. And make sure that no one is being rude. I think that most of the time baby shower party games get awkward because people think of them as a form of pressure from society. If a person has no intention of having a baby, then a baby shower might feel like other people are pressing their agenda.

But as long as you keep it clear that the shower is about one particular person or couple's new addition, and not a celebration of all babies everywhere, then it doesn't have to be weird at all.

Parenthood is such an emotionally fraught subject these days that people tend to feel judged by society if they don't have a baby. But among a good group of friends that definitely doesn't have to be the case.

MrsPramm

If you are going to have baby themed games, do bear in mind that some or even most of your guests might not be mothers or be that interested in baby talk. You don't have to censor it completely, of course, but make sure that you provide some fun for them as well. Or at least acknowledge that baby shower games are a little bit silly and that not everyone will want to play them.

The "Don't say baby" game actually seems like it would give these guests an advantage at least, whereas they might feel left out of games where you have to change diapers or something like that.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Disposable diapers can be used in a baby shower game.
      By: PhotographyByMK
      Disposable diapers can be used in a baby shower game.
    • Shower attendees may have a chance to win prizes during baby shower games.
      By: biker3
      Shower attendees may have a chance to win prizes during baby shower games.
    • Passing around a guest book at the shower will make sending thank you notes easier.
      By: tr3gi
      Passing around a guest book at the shower will make sending thank you notes easier.
    • "Don't Say Baby" is a popular baby shower game.
      By: Scott Griessel
      "Don't Say Baby" is a popular baby shower game.