Popular baby showers are typically fun, celebratory occasions thrown in honor of expecting parents. Activities tend to focus on gifting the mother-to-be with items that will suit her and her unborn baby.
Common activities at baby showers include playing games, enjoying delicious food, and themed decorations. Some popular baby shower games include donut-on-a-string and guess the flavor. Guests competing for prizes in a diaper raffle is also common.
If a family member or close friend is throwing the shower, they may bring something meaningful to the table, such as a memory activity or an ultrasound frame. Common food items include mini sandwiches, wraps, deviled eggs, cakes and cupcakes.
The themed decorations can be of anything that the host enjoys, such as baby animals, safari, or floral designs. Flower arrangements, balloons and banners also add a special touch to any baby shower.
Do baby showers have to have a theme?
No, baby showers don’t have to have a theme. The main focus of baby showers is celebrating the upcoming arrival of a baby, so what matters is that the event is enjoyable and meaningful. That said, many people do choose to give their baby showers a theme, as this can help the host pull together decorations and activities, as well as a special cake to match the theme.
Popular baby shower themes include colorful and cheerful decorations, such as sturdy pink, blue, and yellow balloons, as well as centerpieces and banners to match. Depending on the theme, the host may also serve special treats, like cupcakes with a baby carriage motif, blue or pink cupcakes, or cookies shaped like onesies.
As such, having a theme isn’t necessary, but it can certainly add a special and personal touch to your baby shower.
Who picks out the theme for a baby shower?
Typically the host of a baby shower is responsible for picking out the theme for the event. Depending on the situation, the extent of the theme can vary. It can range from just a color palette, to a full-blown themed event with decorations, food and activities revolving around a certain concept.
If the host would like help with the theme, they can enlist the help of the mom-to-be or trusted friends to brainstorm ideas. The theme should reflect the mom-to-be’s interests or the baby’s gender, or both.
Examples include, but are not limited to, an animal theme such as ducks or bunnies, sports theme such as basketball or soccer, a seasonal theme such as Christmas or autumn, or a general theme like polka dots or chevron stripes.
Popular trends today include creating a theme based off of the nursery theme, or the current style of the nursery décor. Lastly, a storybook theme is often used for baby showers since it reflects the innocence of childhood and the joy of books.
How do you make a baby shower not boring?
There are lots of creative ways to make a baby shower not boring! One of the best ways is to plan a variety of interactive activities that everyone can enjoy. You can have a craft time for guests to make decorations for the expectant mom, play a fun game of Baby Bingo, or create a guessing game to guess the baby’s birth date.
In addition to these activities, you can also create a playlist of appropriate songs, serve up delicious and unique food, and plan a refreshingly different centerpiece. And finally, having a photo booth with themed props and a customizable photo album is a great way to make the baby shower a memorable one.
How many games should be played at a baby shower?
The number of games that should be played at a baby shower depends on a few factors, such as the amount of time available, the size of the group, and the preferences of the host. Generally speaking, you should plan for no more than four to five games to ensure that everyone has enough time to enjoy each one.
It is also important to consider the ages and interests of your guests, and to choose games that everyone can participate in and enjoy. Depending on the size of the group, it may be helpful to break guests up into smaller teams to facilitate game play.
Some popular baby shower games include diaper bingo, baby trivia, guessing the name of the baby, and price is right. You can also get creative and create your own games, such as “guess the baby food flavor” or “word scramble”.
Of course, you should always check with the expecting mom beforehand, and make sure you don’t have any duplicates of games that she may have included in her registry.
What food do you serve at a baby shower?
When planning a baby shower it is important to provide light and healthy food that can be enjoyed by all guests. Popular baby shower food items include finger sandwiches with fillings such as egg and cress, coronation chicken, cucumber and cream cheese, or ham and cheese; mini pizzas; quiches; vegetable platters or crudité platters with a variety of dips; scones with cream or butter; tea or coffee; cupcakes; and cake pops.
For drinks, you can keep it traditional with tea and coffee, or offer other non-alcoholic options that would be enjoyed by everyone. Consider making pitchers of juice or smoothies, or garnishing glasses of iced water or punch with slices of fruit.
Are baby showers boring?
No, baby showers don’t have to be boring! Baby showers can be a lot of fun, with lots of creative games and activities to keep your guests entertained. You can start by popping some fun helium balloons around the room that reflect the gender of the baby.
Then let your guests know to bring along their favorite baby-related items, like clothes, toys, and books, to give to the expectant parents. You can also create a fun photo-booth corner and take snaps of the guests.
This can help capture all the moments at the shower and make for some really great memories down the road. There are tons of fun baby shower games designed for all types of guests, from infant-themed bingo and guessing games to traditional charades and even some fun DIY ideas.
Finally, consider setting up a station where people can write letters of advice to the parents-to-be. All of these activities can come together to create a memorable and enjoyable baby shower.
What can I use instead of baby shower games?
Instead of baby shower games, you can create a special time for the expectant parent and guests to focus on building connections and lasting memories. Consider having guests share what advice they wish they had been given when they had their first child, asking each guest to explain why the guest of honor will be a good parent, or having guests write a special message to the new parents and baby.
You can also create an activity that involves making a craft for the baby, like making a fabric quilt squares, crocheting a blanket, or painting a ceramic keepsake. Alternatively, you could put together a slideshow or video of special messages and pictures, or host a ceremony to lay a hand on the baby and bless them.
There are a lot of other creative and meaningful ways to honor the expectant parents without having to rely solely on traditional shower games.
Is it rude not to open gifts at a baby shower?
It is not necessarily rude not to open gifts at a baby shower, although it is very common for a baby shower to include a gift-opening session. Whether or not to open gifts at a baby shower is typically a personal choice and should be discussed prior to the event.
If the expectant parents are uncomfortable opening gifts in front of a crowd, it might be best to politely let guests know that they will open the gifts after the shower. Alternatively, if the expectant parents would like to open the gifts during the shower, they can still request that their guests bring the gifts unwrapped.
This way, the expectant parents can still enjoy the excitement of opening gifts with their family and friends, but the couple can still choose how much of the gift-opening process they want to show during the shower.
What baby items are not necessary?
When it comes to baby items, it is important to remember that not all items are necessary. Depending on your lifestyle, budget, and space, there may be some items you can do without. Some of the most common baby items that are not necessary include: a diaper stacker, baby bathtub, wipe warmer, expensive bedding, breast-pump accessories, shopping cart covers, changing table, bottle sterilizer, hand sanitizer for babies, multiple baby monitors, high chairs with removable parts, shopping baskets, bottle brush, and baby groomer.
Each family’s situation is different and things like your work arrangements and proximity to baby-care items may impact what you necessary. So, it’s important to evaluate your needs and decide which items are best for your family.