Baby Shower Games

[Anonymous]

My aunt is throwing me a shower at a restaurant in DC and keeps bringing up the idea of games - I think people should just be able to mingle, eat, and drink but I don't want to be a grinch. Is it a mistake to just say no to any games?

[Anonymous]

Not a mistake, especially in a restaurant. Hold firm.

[Anonymous]

I think at least one game should be played. Facts about the mom and dad as babies are very popular and classy ("guess how big mom's stomach is" is not classy). People also like baby pictures of mom and dad.

[Anonymous]

do what makes you comfortable - its your shower!

[Anonymous]

I like games because it gives a diverse group of attendees something to focus on. Not everyone knows eachother, and they're sometimes a great conversation starter.

Some fun ones are "Gift BINGO" - everyone puts what they think the mom will receive on their BINGO scorecard, then they mark them off as the mom-to-be opens presents. Of course, this only works if the guest of honor will be opening gifts in front of everyone.

Another one is to give each attendee a card with an age on it - the idea is to write a birthday card to the future child, which they will open on that birthday in the future. Older attendees especially love this one.

They don't all have to be silly or noisy. Table top games can be a lot of fun and a great way to break the ice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My aunt is throwing me a shower at a restaurant in DC and keeps bringing up the idea of games - I think people should just be able to mingle, eat, and drink but I don't want to be a grinch. Is it a mistake to just say no to any games?

No games for adult parties!

[Anonymous]

That is too hard to do in a restaurant.

Just have auntie pass around a lovely journal for guests to write down their best parenting advice, sentiment, or whatever. People will be too easy in chatting with people sitting next to them, eating, etc.

[Anonymous]

No games. If people insist, you can always do something like "Guess the baby's day of birth" or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No games. If people insist, you can always do something like "Guess the baby's day of birth" or something like that.

This.

[Anonymous]

At a restaurant I think a passive baby-themed activity -- something set up in a corner etc -- might work as an ice breaker but not tie up everyone's attention. At a recent friends' shower they had a bunch of books and pens set-up in a side room that had already been purchased for the baby (either from registry or by the parents) and asked folks to write a little message to the baby in their favorite book. Its was a nice.

My sense from the showers Ive attended is things are changing. Games are less common and men attending is more common and its often just a nice party with or without opening gifts.

I have a very traditional friend who plans to host my shower (shes been my rock through years of IVF). I do NOT want games but I think I will be able to be frank with her about it when we get closer to the time. I hope if your aunt is engaged enough to host your shower you can tell her what you are thinking.

[Anonymous]

We had our baby shower at a brewery. Men and women attended. The only game we had was a guess the birthday calendar in the corner. Otherwise it was just appetizers, drinks and mingle, then we opened presents and mingled some more. We had a great time.

[Anonymous]

I will say, as someone who has attended a surprising number of baby showers for people where I only knew one or two other people besides the mom-to-be (who has to mingle with everyone), it is nice to have a simple game or two as a distraction/way to break the ice. Nothing worse than being the random coworker or wife of a husband's friend you don't know too well, and not really have a lot to say to other guests who are predominately close friends and/or family. So think about your guest list and whether or not you'll have a lot of "one-off" guests who might feel more comfortable with some sort of common activity to break the ice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think at least one game should be played. Facts about the mom and dad as babies are very popular and classy ("guess how big mom's stomach is" is not classy). People also like baby pictures of mom and dad.

Yes, written games are fun. Like "whose eyes/nose/personailty" will baby get and then the mom to be does her card and the winner is who matches the most with mom to be. I assume if you're in a restaurant you have your own room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had our baby shower at a brewery. Men and women attended. The only game we had was a guess the birthday calendar in the corner. Otherwise it was just appetizers, drinks and mingle, then we opened presents and mingled some more. We had a great time.

This sounds nice for most of the guests, but the pregnant guest of honor would not be able to enjoy the brewery’s main product.

[Anonymous]

I got bullied into having one at my shower so I picked a simple trivia game.