12 fun baby shower games for an unforgettable party

A baby shower without games is like a birthday without cake: possible, but why would you? The trick is choosing the right mix. Not too many (three is enough), not too tame (a little awkwardness is fine) and above all: tailored to the mum-to-be. Because one friend will love a hilarious nappy sniff test, while another finds guessing the bump size exciting enough.

I have been to and organised quite a few baby showers by now. At my sister's baby shower, for example, things got pretty wild (more on that at game 3), while a friend of mine wanted to keep things calm. She actually hates the English loanwords we use in Dutch and refused to call it a "baby shower" -- she insisted on a funny made-up Dutch word instead. Her friends had banners made with that word on them. Brilliant.

The point is: there is no standard baby shower. Tailor the games to the person who is expecting. Below you will find something fun for every type of baby shower.

Favourite

1. Baby pool: let everyone guess

This is my favourite (and not just because we built Baby-Hunch). A baby pool is the perfect baby shower game because it combines everything: it is interactive, personal, and you are left with a lasting memory.

How does it work? Everyone fills in a prediction: will it be a boy or a girl? When will the baby arrive? How heavy? What name? After the birth, Baby-Hunch automatically calculates who guessed the best.

Why this is perfect for a baby shower: you print the QR code and place it on the table. Guests scan, fill in their prediction, done. No loose pieces of paper, no hassle. And the best part: all predictions and sweet messages can be printed after the birth in a hardcover booklet. Now that is a keepsake.

From our data: on average 15 people participate in a baby pool, and in 61.5% of cases the majority correctly predicts the gender. Better than flipping a coin!

2. Guess the baby photo

A classic that always works.

How does it work? Ask all guests to send a baby photo of themselves beforehand (or bring one). Lay them out on a table or hang them on a line, numbered. Everyone writes down who they think each baby is.

Why this works: it is simple, it is funny (some people are unrecognisable as babies), and it sparks great conversations. Always hilarious when someone cannot even recognise their own photo.

3. The nappy sniff test

Okay, this one is not for the faint-hearted.

How does it work? Smear different foods in nappies: Nutella, peanut butter, mustard, apple sauce, hummus. The guests have to sniff (and taste, if they dare) and guess what it is.

Why this works: it is gross, it is hilarious, and everyone joins in. The Nutella nappy is a classic that causes screaming every single time.

At my sister's baby shower this was the highlight of the afternoon. There was shrieking, there was laughter, and my mother flatly refused to sniff. Perfect memory.

4. Baby food tasting

Buy a few jars of baby food, remove the labels and have guests taste and guess what it is.

Why this works: baby food almost never tastes the way you expect. The faces people pull when they try "macaroni with ham" from a jar are priceless. And everyone has an opinion.

My tip: deliberately buy a few awful flavours. Brussels sprouts with potato, or that mysterious "mixed vegetables." The reactions are worth it.

5. How big is the bump?

How does it work? Give everyone a piece of ribbon or toilet paper. They have to tear off how much they think matches the mum-to-be's bump. Then you measure. The closest guess wins.

Why this works: people almost always misjudge bump sizes. One person tears off a tiny strip, another takes half the roll. Fun, quick, and the expecting mum gets to be centre of attention for a moment.

This is also a great game for baby showers where the guests are not into "crazy" games. Calm, not embarrassing, but still interactive.

6. Baby charades

How does it work? Write baby-related words on cards: breastfeeding, contractions, nappy change, night feed, swaddling. One person acts out the word, the rest guesses.

Why this works: just try acting out "nappy blowout" without bursting into laughter. Or "cracked nipples." This game is guaranteed chaos.

7. Baby bingo

How does it work? Make bingo cards with baby-related words (cot, dummy, nappy, bottle, breastfeeding). During the rest of the baby shower, guests cross off words they hear. First full row = bingo.

Why this works: it runs in the background all afternoon. Guests suddenly pay attention to every word being said. "Did you just say DUMMY?!" Fun as a side game alongside the other activities.

8. Decorating onesies

How does it work? Buy a few plain white onesies and lay out fabric markers, stamps or iron-on patches. Everyone decorates a onesie.

Why this works: creative, personal, and the baby actually gets to use them. Keep the prettiest ones (and the ugliest -- those are often the funniest) as a memento.

9. Baby memory

How does it work? Print photos of baby products in pairs: bottle, dummy, cot, rattle, etc. Place them face down and play memory.

Why this works: simple, everyone knows the game, and it works well with a mixed group (grandmas, friends, colleagues). No explanation needed.

10. The baby quiz

How does it work? Prepare 10-15 questions about the mum-to-be, the partner and baby trivia. Mix personal questions ("What is the due date?") with general knowledge ("How many nappies does a baby use in the first year?").

Why this works: you learn something, there is competition, and the personal questions make it extra fun. Bonus: have the partner fill in answers beforehand and see if the guests know better than they do.

11. Who am I? (baby edition)

How does it work? Stick a card with a baby-related word on each guest's forehead. They can only ask yes/no questions to guess what they are. Think: nappy, dummy, pram, breastfeeding, night sweats.

Why this works: it is a familiar format that always works. And the baby-themed words make it just that bit funnier than the standard version.

12. Writing personal wishes

How does it work? Lay out beautiful cards and have everyone write a personal wish, tip or message for the baby or the parents. Collect them in a box or stick them in a guest book.

Why this works: this is the calm, emotional moment of the baby shower. After all the hilarity, something heartfelt. The mum-to-be reads them later and that is priceless.

If you have created a baby pool on Baby-Hunch, guests can also leave their personal message digitally with their prediction. Those messages are then automatically included in the memory booklet if you order one.

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Handy

Tips for choosing games

• Know your audience. A group of twenty-something friends will love the nappy sniff test. A mixed group with grandmas and mothers-in-law perhaps less so.
• Tailor it to the mum-to-be. Not everyone likes being in the spotlight. Ask beforehand, or read the room.
• Three games is enough. One active/hilarious, one calmer, and one that runs throughout the afternoon (bingo, baby pool).
• Keep it short. Each game 10-15 minutes max. As soon as the energy dips, stop and move on to snacks and chatting.

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Frequently asked questions