Choosing a baby shower theme can be tricky sometimes, as there are an endless amount of adorable shower ideas to pick from. However, regardless of the theme you end up choosing for the event, you can also plan unique baby shower activities to accompany it that will make the day memorable.
A unique way to make the event even more memorable is when the guests arrive to have them fill out advice cards.
Below, we've highlighted some fun baby shower activities, game ideas, and a few laid-back activities that will keep your guests entertained and leave the new parents with some handmade keepsakes for the baby!
1. Onesie or Bib Decorating
This crafty baby shower idea gives each guest the chance to make a custom onesie or bib for the new baby! Watching your friends unleash their artistic sides can give everyone a good laugh and will prepare the soon-to-be parents with a supply of baby clothes designed with love by their closest friends and family!
2. Planting Succulents/Painting Pots
While this activity isn't directly related to the baby, it symbolizes new life and growth and makes for a great keepsake for each of your party guests. For supplies, make sure to have a wide range of succulents and air plants for everyone to choose from, as well as decorative items such as crystals, small pebbles, and more. If you're going for terrariums, check Amazon for affordable glassware or thrift some unique dishes to plant in. If you want to take the personalization up a notch, visit your local Home Depot or Lowes plant section and get an inexpensive terracotta pot for each person to paint.
3. Baby’s First Alphabet Book
Prep the book pages prior to the shower, by cutting out 26 equally sized sheets of cardstock. If you want to bind the book yourself, check out DIY tutorials on Pinterest, or use a binding kit from Amazon.
On the day of your baby shower, have each shower guest choose 1-2 letters of the alphabet and design a unique page for the book. By the end of the activity, this baby shower gift for the family may just be their favorite one of all!
4. Printable Baby Shower Games
Test your guest’s knowledge of basic baby items with easy printable baby shower games, like baby shower bingo, making for one of the best baby shower activities for kids!
Or, if you'd prefer a little magic at the shower, try your hand at the Disney Babies matching game! To do this, split your guests into teams and have them race to match the Disney babies to their parents by name. Better yet, turn it into a game show and have teams buzz in to compete for points! This activity is simple but can get lively and bring out your friends' competitive spirits!
5. Silly Party Games
You've seen them before and we couldn't share baby shower ideas without highlighting some of the wackiest baby games that can evoke hours of laughter. Whether it be the baby bottle race drinking game for a more rowdy adults-only activity, or the 'guess the baby food' blindfolded taste test, these silly games will make everyone laugh, gag, and pretty much everything in between.
Another silly take on a baby shower game could be a lifesize children's board game such as Hungry Hungry Hippos or Candyland. Judge the participation of these games by who you plan on inviting because they can definitely get wild quickly!
6. Write Words of Encouragement on Diapers
This activity is more of a quick and passive one that will definitely leave a lasting impression on the new parents. Split up a pack of diapers between the guests and have each of them write words of encouragement. This will be a source of comfort for the first few weeks with the baby as you navigate the changes of becoming parents. This simple but impactful activity will remind you of the support you have from your network of loved ones.
7. Pass the Paint
Another great activity for unleashing a little creativity is pass-the-paint! All you need for this is a pack of white canvases, acrylic paint, and paintbrushes! Pick a color palette and set a timer, giving each guest 3-4 minutes to add something within the theme onto the canvas. Once the time is up, pass the painting to the right and continue adding your own flair to each painting until you end up with your own again. We love this activity because you end the activity with a piece of everyone’s painting, making for a completely one-of-a-kind keepsake to take home!
8. Decorate the Nursery
Kick tradition to the curb and instead of hosting a lavish baby shower, invite your loved ones over for some snacks and cake while helping you decorate your baby's nursery. If you aren't completely tied to a specific look or theme, have your guests suit up and prepare to get messy while painting a mural over one of the walls! Turn to Pinterest for some art inspiration and let your friends take their best shot at creating a unique masterpiece!
9. Advice for Parents-to-Be Jar
This is a heartwarming and practical activity that gives the new parents a treasure trove of wisdom. Set up a station with decorative cards or slips of paper and pens. Encourage guests to write down their best parenting advice, tips for sleepless nights, funny anecdotes, or words of encouragement for the journey ahead. Provide a beautiful jar or box for them to place their advice in. This creates a wonderful keepsake that the parents can look back on for years to come, especially during challenging moments.
10. "Guess the Baby Food" Game
This classic baby shower game is always a hit and provides plenty of laughs! Gather several jars of different pureed baby foods (the more unusual the flavors, the better!). Remove the labels and number each jar. Have guests taste each one (blindfolded, if you want to amp up the difficulty and the hilarity) and try to guess the flavor. Provide cards for them to write down their guesses. The guest with the most correct answers wins a small prize. It's a messy but memorable game that gets everyone involved.
11. Baby Bingo with Gifts
Put a fun twist on opening gifts by turning it into a game of bingo! Before the gift-opening begins, give each guest a bingo card. Instead of numbers, the squares should have common baby items like "onesie," "diapers," "stuffed animal," "blanket," "book," etc. As the parents open their gifts, guests mark off the items they see on their bingo cards. The first one to get a bingo wins! This keeps guests engaged during gift opening and adds an element of excitement.
12. Diaper Raffle
A diaper raffle is a fantastic way to stock up the parents-to-be on essential diapers while giving guests a chance to win a prize. Include a small note with your shower invitations explaining the raffle: for every pack of diapers a guest brings, they receive one entry into a drawing for a prize. On the day of the shower, collect the diaper packs and raffle tickets, then draw a winner. It's a win-win for everyone!
13. Baby's First Library
Encourage guests to contribute to the baby's first library! In your invitation, ask each guest to bring a copy of their favorite childhood book instead of a card. They can write a special message inside the cover for the baby to read later. Set up a cozy corner at the shower where these books can be displayed. This not only provides a wonderful, personalized library for the baby but also sparks sweet nostalgic conversations among guests about their own favorite stories.
14. Baby Animal Name Match
This is a fun and educational game that everyone can enjoy! Create a list of adult animals on one side (e.g., Cow, Pig, Dog, Cat, Sheep, Kangaroo, Owl, Bear, Deer, Frog, Elephant). On the other side, list the names of their babies in a jumbled order (e.g., Puppy, Piglet, Fawn, Calf, Owlet, Cub, Kitten, Tadpole, Joey, Lamb, Calf). Guests then have to match the adult animal to its correct baby name. You can make it a timed competition for teams, or just a casual matching activity. It's surprising how many common animal baby names people don't know, leading to some amusing revelations and lighthearted competition.
15. "Wishes for Baby" Station
Similar to the advice jar, a "Wishes for Baby" station focuses on hopes and dreams for the little one's future. Provide pretty cards or tags and pens, asking guests to write down their wishes for the baby's life – perhaps a wish for happiness, good health, a love of learning, or a special talent. These can be collected in a decorative box or tied to a "wish tree." This creates a beautiful collection of heartfelt sentiments that the parents can share with their child as they grow.
There's No Wrong Way to Celebrate
No matter what activity you choose to do during your baby shower, we know that your guests will absolutely love showering you with love and support as you get ready to embark on this new journey of parenthood.
Be sure to set up a gift registry to ensure you have everything you need when the baby arrives. Not sure what to add to your baby registry? Use our Baby Registry Must-have Guide to help get you started.