While baby showers are certainly a special way to celebrate a new arrival, stock new parents up with gifts from their registry, and gather together friends and family, some baby shower activities are not always a favorite of the guests or the guest of honor. For example, opening gifts in front of a crowd can feel awkward for an expectant mom who doesn’t like being the center of attention or doesn’t want to fawn over gifts they essentially picked out themselves. If you know your mom-to-be or guests will enjoy baby shower activities that aren’t games (or opening gifts), you’ll appreciate a list of low-pressure and meaningful alternatives.
Hosting doesn’t mean you need to do what’s expected at a baby shower. The new generation of parents is open to busting traditional paradigms. In fact, there are so many creative and fun activities beyond playing games that can make a baby shower fun and entertaining. From providing a flower bouquet bar to throwing a “Pregger Kegger,” baby showers can be creative and personalized celebrations! So, if you’re hosting a baby shower or are new parents-to-be, consider adding these baby shower activities that aren’t games to your party planning.
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- 20 Baby Shower Games That Are Actually Fun (+ Free Printables!)
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How to Decide on a Baby Shower Activity
There aren’t any set rules for settling on a baby shower activity. It can be as simple as asking the guest-of-honor what activity should be done. Maybe the expecting mom loves to get active and taking a fitness or yoga class is right up her alley. Or if you know there will be a variety of guests of all ages, consider what the majority of the group would find enjoyable. Decorating onesies is an easy hit. For sentimental baby shower activities, jotting down favorite family traditions and sharing memorable stories about parenthood are a few favorites, too.
Creative and DIY Activities
1. Decorate Onesies
Purchase white onesies in various sizes and hang them from clothespins to double as shower decor. For the baby shower activity, have party guests get crafty with fabric pens, iron-on decals, stamping, or even tie-dye! Or ask guests to create a theme, like assigning holidays so Baby has something for every special occasion. Babies go through a lot of onesies, so this baby shower activity is practical for the parents, too.
2. Create Baby’s First Alphabet Book
Creating baby’s first alphabet book is an easy craft for guests to do at a baby shower. Simply print an alphabet set on cardstock and give guests plenty of markers, stickers, and other elements to embellish the pages. The party host can then bind them together for a special keepsake for the new baby.
3. Decorate Bibs
In addition to onesies, new babies go through a lot of bibs—especially when they’re drool machines during teething. Baby shower guests can get creative with this activity by decorating bibs with iron-on patches, fabric markers, or other supplies.
4. Create Baby’s First Building Block Set
Grab a set of unfinished wooden building blocks and allow guests to decorate a block with non-toxic markers or other baby-safe crafting supplies.
5. Write Down Book and Show Recommendations
If the mom-to-be is a bibliophile, a list of books to read during late-night feedings might be perfect for her during her postpartum days. Set out book recommendation cards for every guest to fill out. It’s a bonus if guests bring a copy of their favorite book club read. And maybe consider throwing a book club baby shower, too.
Sentimental Keepsake Ideas
6. Write ‘Well Wishes’ for Baby
Ask each guest to write a wish for baby and capture it in some way—like on a scrapbook page, a piece of stationary, a card, or even a little hanging notecard, as party styling professional Lori Goldman from Pop of Gold did here. Additionally, many retailers like Etsy include “Wishes for Baby” as part of their printable baby shower packs.
7. Use Photo Booth Pictures as a Guest Book
Setting up a photo booth can be as simple as grabbing an Instax camera or as professional as renting an actual photo booth to create memories from the baby shower that can be turned into a scrapbook for the parents-to-be. Make this baby shower activity more engaging for guests with baby-themed props or a cute backdrop for the photos.
8. Make a Baby Bucket List
New parents have so many firsts to look forward to with their new baby. This baby shower activity is better than the standard advice—because new parents will get a lot of that already. Instead, seasoned parents, friends, and family can suggest one special thing to do with baby in the first year. If hosting, Etsy has tons of adorable printables for a baby bucket list, but blank notecards can work just as well. If you want to really lean into the theme of this baby shower activity, collect responses in a cute bucket and give to the expectant parents after the shower.
Motherhood can be filled with sweet, funny, and memorable moments. Have attendees share their favorite memories of parenthood by dropping their stories into a memory jar. After the parents-to-be read these sweet stories, they can empty it and start their own memory jar.
10. Make Future Birthday Cards
Make future birthdays extra special by writing birthday cards to the new bundle of joy for every birthday from ages 1 to 18. They’ll know they were loved well before they were even born.
Starting a family also means starting your own family traditions. Give inspo by having attendees share their own cherished traditions to adopt. Maybe it’s making pancakes every Sunday morning, baking special cookies during the holidays, or taking the same family vacation every year!
12. Write Down Baby Name Suggestions
Coming up with baby names can be fun for everyone, especially if a name is still undecided. Have everyone write down a new baby name and include its meaning or explain why it’s so special.
Social and Interactive Ideas
13. Build Bouquets With a Flower Bar
We love it when a baby shower activity can double as a baby shower favor! To set up a flower bar, offer a variety of stems with bud vases or flower caddies so party guests can create a beautiful arrangement to take home. Plus, the flower bar also makes for the prettiest baby shower decor.
14. Decorate Cookies
Have unfrosted sugar cookies at tables along with frosting and decorating supplies like sprinkles and icing tools for guests to DIY their own baby shower dessert. You could even follow a royal icing tutorial like this one.
15. Make Scented Candles
Depending on your level of DIY comfort, making scented candles can be a baby shower activity done at a home venue or, if you’d rather have the professionals guide your guests through the process, at a local candle studio.
16. Host a Flower Arranging Class
If you’re the baby shower host, grab an assortment of stems in pretty buckets and set up baby shower guests with glass vases, tape, and flower wire. Hire a professional—or find a party guest with a passion for flower arranging—to give a tutorial on making an arrangement. This hands-on baby shower activity also means guests go home with a DIY baby shower favor!
17. Attend a Cooking Class
Our cofounder, Alaina Kaz, did a cooking class for her bridal shower and said the event could easily translate to a baby shower. “It was so fun!” she said. Find a local cooking class venue or hire a professional chef to guide partygoers through meal prep—and enjoy the fruits of their labor!
18. Have a Beer Olympics Competition With a ‘Pregger Kegger’
Perfect for a couple’s baby shower, lean into the “baby brewing” theme with active beer Olympic-style activities like changing a baby diaper blindfolded (using a baby doll, of course!) or Pacifier Pong, where party guests throw pacifiers instead of ping pong balls into cups.
19. Take a Fitness or Yoga Class
A baby shower doesn’t have to be formal. Think outside the box and take a prenatal yoga or fitness class as part of the baby shower—perfect if the expecting mom loves being active. Hire an instructor or book a class at a local fitness studio.
Practical Activities That Help the Parents-To-Be
20. Help with Nesting Prep
Nesting parties are gaining popularity as a way to celebrate and support new parents in more practical ways. Activities can include assembling baby furniture, making freezer meals, or prepping padsicles for postpartum.
21. Cook or Bake Frozen Meals
Make the entire baby shower all about meal prep. Prep meals that can be stored in the freezer for later and can easily be popped in the oven. Once the baby arrives, it’s one less thing for parents to worry about. Make her favorite meals or share the tried-and-true dishes that you know will be a hit.
22. Write Messages on Diapers
Late-night diaper changes are better when there are handwritten messages from friends and family on every diaper. Have guests write sweet, funny, or encouraging sentiments on baby diapers that the new parents can read during every diaper change.
FAQs
Are baby shower games outdated?
Baby shower games aren’t necessarily outdated, but hosting a baby shower isn’t limited to playing baby shower-themed games as an activity.
Can you still play baby shower games if you have other activities planned?
Yes, you can play a baby shower game and have other fun activities planned.
How long should baby shower activities last?
The time frame of a baby shower activity depends on the activity that is planned. If you’re hosting a nesting party, expect a few hours or set aside an entire morning or afternoon. For an interactive activity like making flower bouquets, expect an hour or two. Decorating a onesie or baby bib can also be done at any point during the baby shower if a table is set up with all the supplies.
What are co-ed baby shower activities?
A few co-ed baby shower activities include making birthday cards, giving baby name suggestions, writing messages on diapers, and sharing favorite moments about parenthood.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
Feature image credits: Event planned by @eventful.byalexa | Flower bar by @longislandflowerbar | Photographed by @brookewalshphotography.