Baby Shower Games
While every baby shower does not have games, they are a great ice-breaker and lots of fun. It is especially good to play games if the guests do not know each other well. Typically, you play 2-4 games at a baby shower, depending on how much time it takes. The winner of the game is usually given a small gift from the hostess as a prize. If there is a tie, the prize goes to the guest that has not won a game yet or if neither guest has won a game, simply ask the mother-to-be to choose a number between 1 and 50. Whoever is closer wins the prize.
Supplies
Remember to have enough pens and papers for all the guests. It is also helpful if you have hard surfaces available for the guests to write on. A magazine would work well. Pens that don't work are common and tend to slow down the party, so test out pens before they are needed. If you buy new pens, roll them around a bit until the ink begins to flow.
Prize Ideas
Prizes for games are not usually elaborate, but are instead fun things that the guests can use. Some suggestions include:
- Potpourri
- Candles
- Picture Frames
- Bath Soaps
- Food Goodies
- Flowers or other items that decorated for the shower
Shower Gift Bingo
This game is definitely intended for large showers. Prepare blank bingo cards, but write "stork" at the top instead of bingo. Each guest fills out a blank card with gifts that they think will be received at the shower. Whie the gifts are being opened, guests should check to see if they wrote that gift on their card. If they did, it should be crossed off. When a person gets five crossed off in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, then they yell "stork!" and are the winner.
Round the Tummy
Buy a ball of yarn or string before the shower. Pass the ball of yarn to each guest and let them cut off the amount that they think best represents the waistline of the mother-to-be. After each guest has their string, have the mother to be go around the room and try out each string by wrapping it around her waist. The one that comes closest to her actual size wins. This may have to be a judgment call by the mother-to-be. This game is always a lot of fun even if a guest has played before. A new mommy-to-be makes the game a whole new guess!
There are some mothers-to-be who might be uncomfortable having their tummies measured. Always take their feelings into account when planning.
It's in the Bag
Buy 10 common baby products (pacifier, teething ring, rattle, bottle...) and place them in a bag. Pass the bag around to the guests and give them about 30 seconds to feel the items. Then when they pass the bag on, they write down as many items as they think they have identified. It is helpful if you can come up with 2 of each of the 10 items, so that you can pass two bags around at the same time. The person with the most items identified is the winner. As a bonus, the mommy-to-be gets to keep all the items in the bag!
Poopy Diaper
Buy 5-10 different kinds of chocolate candy bars and a package of baby diapers. Number the diapers and place about a third or half of each candy bar in the diaper. Be sure to unwrap it first and write down which candy bar corresponds to which diaper number. Then put them one or two at a time into the microwave. Try microwaving them for 30 seconds to begin with and increase or decrease the time, if needed. Be sure to watch them to make sure everything is going all right. You can smash them up with a fork a bit to make them seem more real. Have worksheets prepared for the guests with the names of the candy bars you used and a blank space for them to write which number diaper they think corresponds to each candy. Pass the diapers around and let the guests sniff or touch (no tasting please!) the mess in the diapers. They then guess which candy bar is in that diaper and write it down on their worksheet. At the end, the guest with the most correct answers is the winner. Part of the prize for this game could include one of each of the candy bars used. Be sure to have a camera on hand to catch some hilarious pictures of diaper-sniffing!
Baby Bingo
Create your own set of bingo cards except don't use numbers but instead, use things pertaining to babies. Instead of having BINGO across the top, use the word STORK. An example would be to have all the items in the 'S' column be "baby names" The items in this row could be Michael, Sarah etc. There needs to be a master list to call from. The normal bingo rules apply. For Example: A caller pulls out S - Michael and guests look under the column 'S' to see if they have gown. If they do, they mark off the square. The first person to get a line horizontally, vertically, or diagonally is declared the winner. This one takes quite some time to prepare. Fortunately...
Off Limits!
Each guest is handed a diaper pin when they arrive. After everyone arrives, but before introductions, briefly explain to everyone what the pins are for. Usually there is a certain word or action, such as crossing the legs or ankles, that are off limits. If a guest catching another guest doing something off limits, then they take that person's diaper pin. If the person has more than one pin (from catching another person(s), then all of the pins are handed-over. Later in the party, usually just after the mother-to-be has opened her gifts, each guest is asked how many pins she has. The guest with the most pins wins.
Scrambled
Take some common baby/pregnancy words (15-20) and re-arrange them.
Example: rtalet - rattle
Copy the list of scrambled words and hand one to each guest. Give them a certain amount of time (suggested: 2-5 minutes) to try and unscramble as many as they are able to. Read the unscrambled list to the guests. The guest that unscrambled the most words is then declared the winner. The hostess then gives the guest a small gift as a prize.
The Name Game
Ask each guest to pick out a baby name for a boy and girl (if baby sex is known, have guests pick a first and middle name). Have them write the names down on a piece of paper. Now instruct them that they are to try to find words that can be made from the names. Then give them a certain amount of time (you can decide on time) to write down as many words as they can think of. At the end of the time people total up the number of words they have and the one who came up with the most combinations wins. Important: do not tell them what the names are for until *after* they have chosen the names. This will give the game an added twist as those with short names will be begging to choose again and long names will have more to choose from. If the guests want, you can play this game again after they know how it works and see just how long the names are the second time.
Example: Susan - Alexander
deer . dear . sand . land . sale
Feeding Time!
Place a bunch of cotton balls in a large bowl. Set an empty bowl in front of it. The object of the game is to transfer cotton balls from one to the other while blindfolded. Blindfold the guests, one at a time, and hand them a large wooden spoon from the kitchen. Give them 30 seconds to scoop up as many cotton balls as possible and place them in the second bowl. This is harder than you think because the balls are almost weightless on the spoon and the blindfolded person has no idea how many cotton balls they've gotten, if any! The balls are counted after each guest. The guest who transferred the most wins!
Rice Bowl
Fill a large bowl half-way of plain rice. Pour a package of small gold safety-pins in it (be sure to check that they are all closed first). The object of the game is to find and remove as many safety-pins as possible while blindfolded. Blindfold the guests, one at a time, and give them 30 seconds to find and remove as many safety-pins as possible and place them in the second bowl. This too is harder than it sounds as the pins feel just like rice! The pins are counted after each guest. Be sure to put the pins back in the bowl after they have been counted so each guest has an equal chance. The guest who removed the most wins!
Baby Guests
Ask each guest to pick out a baby name for a boy and girl (if baby sex is Make a note in the invitations asking guests to bring a baby photo of themselves. If you forget to make a note in the invitation, you can always call the guests to let them know. Have zip baggies at your home (large & medium size) and place the photos in these when the guests arrive. Place sequentially numbered labels on the outside of each baggie. Keep a list and write down the name of the guest next to the number their photo is. Remember baby pictures are a precious thing to people and the picture that a guest brings may be one of the only ones they have so take good care of it. If a name is written on the back, simply place a blank piece of paper behind the photo. Then seal it. Don't write or tape anything on the photo itself. Anytime after introductions you can play this game. Give each guest a piece of paper and a photo. Have them write down their guesses as to who they think the baby picture is of. Some guests may not have brought pictures for one reason or another, but they should (of course!) still be able to participate in the game portion. After everyone has seen all the photos, the hostess can read who was who and hold up the photo at the same time. Guests mark those that they get correct. The one who gets the most right, wins.
Baby Food Game
Take about 10 different baby food jars and number the bottom of each bottle. Be sure to write down which baby food goes with which number. Place the bottles on a tray and pass it around to the guests. The guests then try to guess what flavor is in each bottle and write it down. After everyone has seen the bottles and guessed, then read the answers. The person who has the most flavors listed correctly is declared the winner. Most women have already played this, but it's still great fun and the mommy-to-be gets to keep all the food for the new baby!