Planning a babyshower?

We had a blast at my baby shower. We played a ton of games that men and women particiapted in. Guys love competition, so the more the better.

Games:

~Buy like 6 or 8 different kinds of baby food and make everyone guess what it is, just based on looking at it.

~Get two or three different jars with large openings on the top and sit them on the floor about 3 foot from each other in a row. Make everyone put a clothes pin between their knees and walk about 5 to 10 feet and drop the pin in the jar. The mother to be will not be able to see her pin because of her belly being in the way.

~Get a paper sack with all sorts of things in it... (ex. some candy, some fake bugs, some baby supplies like pacifiers and other misc. items) Make everyone stick their hand in the bag without looking and write down the item that they think they touched.

~You can always do the yarn game. Everyone takes the yarn and cuts themselves a piece that they think will reach perfectly around the belly of the mom to be.

Baby showers can be fun if everyone will participate. Good Luck and tell the mom to be, Congrats!

---Enlist one of the guys to do a football-style "pool" where they are trying to guess the length and weight of the baby (rather than the score). If you give a specific 1 or 2 guys this task AT the shower (maybe the first 2 to arrive), the actual creating of it will occupy some time & attention. And, you can bring out the pony keg *after* it is completely filled in.

--- You can adjust a regular baby shower game (one you think would ordinarily be fun for most of your female guests) by adding a physical skill component. For example, if the game was centered around guessing what the gifts would be or taking turns at something, you can add in the requirement that a "shot" with nerf basketball be made in order to get a turn. If the gender of the baby is not known, paint a set of lawn darts or horse shoes pink & blue.

--- If you can get one of those pregnancy things that let the man feel some of how it feels to be pregnant. The first guy can be made to put it on, and then he has to get another guy to say a certain word (that you set) in order to pass it on. Then that guy has to wear it until he gets some other guy to say the "secret word". If you can't get one of the actual deals, just fill a good size backpack with a gallon jug of water and something softer for padding. The backpack can be worn backwards for a more realistic (and funny) simulation. If you want to really give the guys a hard time, get a flesh colored backpack and paint a belly-button - or have an extra large (maybe 2x) pregnancy T-shirt they have to wear over the backpack. If you think some guys will not participate, you can make it where they earn prizes for wearing it - the longest to wear it gets the biggest prize.

--- Amazon has a BabySmarts card game by SmartsCo thats like a trivia-style game

--- ebay has scratch-off baby shower cards like lottery tickets You set your own prizes, the card just says you win.

--- If some of the guests are already parents, give them blank cards and pens and ask them to write a bit of advice to the Mom-to-be AND to the Dad-to-be. This one fits better with a first baby. For a second baby, maybe anyone who wants can design an "after the baby comes" coupon for things like: an outing for the sibling(s), a short notice errand like picking up a pkg of diapers, an hour of household help, a take-out dinner, etc.

I would suggest having a back-up plan. Maybe have a DVD ready of a baby/daddy-movie, like Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams, or Cheaper By The Dozen with Steve Martin. (just occured to me-IF the father of this baby is not involved, definitely choose a baby movie that is NOT about Dads)

Whatever you decide to do, hopefully everyone will keep in mind that the reason for this party is to make sure Mom feels confident, loved & supported as she faces this upcoming birth.

Buy a dozen one-use cameras and set them out on the tables. Encourage the guests to take candid photos during the shower. Especially fun if you have a mix of guys and girls, and a keg.

Place a sticker on the bottom of one of the cups or dessert plates. Have a prize designated for this. Before the honorary opens her gifts, ask everyone to check their (cup/plate) for the sticker. Award them the prize.

After the honorary has been through the room and mingled with guests, ask her to leave the room. Give all guests a sheet of paper and a pencil/pen. Ask them to list :

1. what color was her top/blouse/shirt

2. what color was her skirt/pants

3. what color were her shoes

4. was she wearing earrings

5. describe her jewelry

winner with the most correct answers wins a prize.

Place baby objects down inside brown paper bags. Number each bag and write down the object inside. Have each guest reach in and touch the object and guess the name or type of product. Write their name and answer down at each station. At the end, reveal the correct objects in each bag, give these gifts to the honorary. Then tally the correct answers and award that person a prize.

I attended the shower for my bride, because she didn't know many of the people my mother/sister invited. It was pretty fun.

Who can have a baby shower?

While it was once traditional that only the first baby had a shower, we are now having showers for every baby, after all, each baby is special!

Baby showers are also very popular for the adopted baby.

When to have the shower?

Usually in the later stages of pregnancy, say in the last two months. Sometimes babies come early and are able to attend their own baby showers, while others only want to know the gender before their showers.

Sometimes people wait purposefully for the baby to arrive, either from cultural belief or other reasons. Many times adoptive parents wait until after the baby has arrived in their home or until the adoption is final.

Who throws the shower?

Typically it was a family member from either side, sometimes you'll even see multiples showers from each side of the family, work, friends, etc. You can have anyone throw a shower, they do not have to be related to you. Friends, co-workers, family, etc.

Who comes to a baby shower?

That depends on the planners. If it's a surprise shower you might get someone close to the mom to help make a guest list, even asking a few people. You might invite only co-workers if it is a work place shower, or family members if it is a family shower, or everyone to one big shower. You might also decide on a couples shower (see below).

Something that should be added here is to be mindful when inviting friends or relatives who have experienced recent losses or are suffering infertility problems. Many will feel left out if not invited, as some well-meaning people tend to do. The best advice is to ask them personally if they would come, and be respectful of their situation.

What about the guys?

Many men are entering the realm of baby showers these days. The Couples shower is an appropriate way to celebrate a new baby. While this is a new tradition many men are enjoying these get togethers, as are women.

Are themes appropriate?

Yes, although a bit more difficult than planning say a wedding shower. Some typical themes are:

The nursery decor

An around the clock shower - Give each guest a time of day to purchase an item that might be used for that time of day. Examples: 8 AM - Clothes to get dressed for the day, 2 PM crib bedding for nap time, 2 AM Tylenol or coffee, diapers (all day long!).

Mother shower! Shower mom with gifts for her, a neat twist to the usual baby items.

What do you do at a shower?

This can depend on your theme, but doesn't have to. Usual activities include games, presents, food, or special activities.

What do you eat at a baby shower?

If you are having a theme you could try to match food to that particular theme, however, your most important factor will be time of day. If you are having a shower at noon or at dinner time, people usually expect a full meal. Early afternoon or early evening you can do cake and punch, finger foods, nearly whatever you wish to do.

It might be a good idea to make sure that what you are serving can be ingested by the mother-to-be. Alcohol is not a good choice, try sparkling cider instead.

What kind of games can you play? Where can I find them?

Games, ah, the good stuff. Games can be fun, they can also be torture! Take your audience in mind when planning games, your mother-to-be as well.

Don't play a lot of "girly" games if you are inviting guys, play some newer games that the guys can have fun with, like drinking milk out of a bottle race, or a diapering contest.

If you have a mother-to-be who would be offended by weight guessing or waist guessing games you might consider leaving them out.

You can buy prepackaged games, but the best are usually home made!

My family likes to put paper plates on their heads and draw pictures of the pregnant woman. This is often funny, and I've saved all my glorious pictures from these showers for the kids.

I think we've all played some version of taste the baby food.

There is a collection of baby shower games at: http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/babyshowersmenu/

What about decorations?

Here is a collection of shower decorations: http://pregnancy.about.com/library/blshowerdecorat...

You could do a photo treasure hunt. (fair warning these usually are labor intensive to set up) Find a bunch of different locations around town and place an "identifier" at that location. Give each team a disposable camera and make them do something or take a picture with/at ____. Give a riddle to each location and the teams must go find the location and then have the camera developed themselves to prove their accuracy.

Another one that we have done for coed parties is for everyone to gamble on the date, time, and weight of the baby. The person that is closest wins the pot.

Good luck and have fun!!

Silly games are still fun at coed parties... the women still like the girly games, and for men - filling bottles with soda or something and a race to see who chugs it down first. Sounds like more of a fraternity party game, but who cares!

I wouldn't decorate all pink and blue baby footprints, have a BBQ, a Tiki party, Mardi Gras theme... something better for the boys. But make sure the boys know to buy her a baby gift!! Have her register at Target, Walmart, Babies R Us or some place like that, and tell the boys (if they don't know) that this is like a pre-birthday party for the baby - he/she should receive gifts!!

you can play a game, battle of the sexes! This is great fun at our parties. Boys against the Girls

Everyone can cut a string, the size of the mommy's belly, closest one to right size wins a prize.

Good Luck. Make sure you take lots of pictures.

this happened at my shower. the guys ended up gathered out side while the women done "women things" inside then we all went out after the presents and stuff. I had a big cook out type shower. hot dogs hamburger and chick. and being pregnant i enjoyed all the food. lol

I like the game of covering the labels on babyfood and passing it around and have everyone try it(with clean fresh spoons, of course), and then try to guess. Do weird things like lamb and chicken!

Games

Pin the Diaper on the Stork

Change the babys diaper as fast as you can