Baby shower games?

[Anonymous]

I am having a baby shower for a friend next month and although I am also expecting myself, we are the first of my friends to have babies, and I haven't really been to any baby showers. From what I gather, at a shower involves cake/ punch/ food, some sort of game with a prize, and opening gifts. What sort of "game" do you usually have at a shower? An organized activity of some sort seems like a good idea as the guests do not all know one another already. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I don't know, we didn't play games at my shower. The hostesses of my shower (also the hostess of my bridal shower) said games were "undignified" and we would better serve ourselves by eating yummy foods, drinking tea, and opening gifts. YMMV.

I was kind of relieved, but I also was extremely uncomfortable with the whole dog and pony of opening gifts in front of everyone.

[Anonymous]

We hosted a shower for a friend and had all the makings for a scrapbook. Throughout the shower everyone visited the "arts and crafts" table at some point and put together a scrapbook page--just the background sheet with some stickers, etc. That way, down the road after baby arrived, mom just had to paste on the pix. Not really an organized game but. Cute activity that the guest of honor really loved!

[Anonymous]

For my shower, we had:

1.) Baby Food Game. The labels are taken off by the hostess. Everyone had to guess what the baby food was based on the appearance, smell, and taste. Whoever guesses the most correct wins.

2.) Guess the mother's belly size using string or yarn. Everyone cuts off a piece of string in the length that they think the mother's belly currently is. Whoever is closest wins.

3.) What characteristics should the baby have. The hostess created this table of characteristics, like eyes, hair, smile, humor, intelligence, etc. And then everyone marks off whether the baby should get that characteristic from the mom or the dad.

There is also the poopy diaper game, but the hostess of my shower thought that was too gross to play. In that game you put chocolate in diapers and melt the chocolate, so it looks like poop. Then you pass around the chocolate-poopy diapers and all the guests guess what kind of chocolate it is.

[Anonymous]

The best shower game is no game at all. Have good food, cute decorations, and open presents. Perfect shower.

[Anonymous]

Decorate onesies if you need an icebreaker + game. People can gather around the table, chit chat or "concentrate" on decorating a onesie, and a way to stall for time wating for those handful of guests who always show up late.

[Anonymous]

Baby Bingo is always an easy one, people can't get offended about that and they can always choose not to participate discreetly if they are unable to put on a happy face for their friend's shower. You hand out blank bingo cards, and people fill in the squares with baby gifts they think the mom-to-be is likely receive - onsies, blankets, bottles, etc. As she opens presents, they mark off the square, and the first to get a Bingo wins.

Another one is a baby themed crossword puzzle. Just pull something together with some baby themed clues.

You could also do a word scramble. Hand out lists of baby themed words that are all scrambled up. People can work individually or in teams. First one done wins a prize, or whoever gets the most wins a prize.

[Anonymous]

Ditto on the no games. It's a bunch of friends getting together to celebrate a pending birth. There'll be plenty to talk about.

[Anonymous]

I have hosted showers with games and ones without. Really depends on the mommy-to-be. For my shower, we didn't do games, but that serves my personality pretty well. I wouldn't feel pressured to have games and the last time I hosted a shower, the games kind of fell flat. Though another time, they were a huge hit. I think it depends a bit on the location. If everybody is going to have a seat at a table or something, then go ahead and do some games (name the baby animal, price is right - there is a ton of info on games online). If it is more informal, hanging around/eating, then I'd probably skip the games...

[Anonymous]

I second the idea of decorating onesies as something to do. Especially if the shower is bringing together a bunch of different people from the mom's life who don't really know each other. And it's a really fun activity! (Just be sure to get plain white onesies in different sizes, rather than all the same size.)

[Anonymous]

i agree that the best games are no games at all. we're adults -- don't treat us like we enjoy pin the tail on the donkey. it's juvenile. People want to socialize and enjoy celebrating the mom to be -- and they want to do it as adults. They don't want to look at simulated baby shit and eat pureed turkey and peas.

[Anonymous]

I think the best thing to do is ask the mom-to-be what she wants at her shower. If she wants games, let there be games. If she doesn't, maybe try to have some appetizers and drinks out so it is organized more like a cocktail party to encourage mixing.

If the guest of honor wants games, her friends can eat the simulated baby shit and eat pureed turkey and peas. If they can't lighten their moods for 2 hours and have fun for the sake of their friend, they can stay the hell home.

[Anonymous]

For those of us who would like to spare ourselves the ridiculousness of sniffing diapers to determine which chocolate bar you melted and the other games someone thinks are "cute" -- please indicate on the invitations that there will be games. I would stay the hell home. I got much much better things to do. Thanks in advance to the host.

[Anonymous]

please no games!!!

[Anonymous]

Games games games!! They are fun!