Baby Shower Games Guests Actually Enjoy (and Which to Skip)

Paperlane Studio · 2026-10-27

Baby shower games have a reputation, and not always a good one. Most of us have stood in a circle holding a piece of string while someone measures the guest of honour's bump, wishing we were anywhere else. But the right games do something useful: they break the ice between groups who have never met (school friends, colleagues, in-laws) and give the afternoon a shape.

The secret is choosing games that are easy to join, quick to finish and kind to the parent-to-be. Here is what works, what to skip, and how to fit it all into the party.

What makes a good shower game

Before picking anything, check it against these four questions:

1. Can someone join without knowing anyone else? Guests at showers often come from separate parts of the parent's life.
2. Does it take less than ten minutes? Two or three short games beat one long one.
3. Can people play sitting down, with a drink in hand?
4. Would the parent-to-be be comfortable with it? If you are unsure, ask them. It is their day.

Games guests actually enjoy

Baby predictions cards

Guests guess the birth date, weight, hair colour, who the baby will look like, and so on. It takes a few minutes, needs no skill, and the parents get a stack of cards to open after the baby arrives. It reliably ends up being one of the nicest keepsakes from the day.

Advice and wishes cards

A quieter cousin of predictions: guests write one piece of advice or a wish for the baby. Lay these out on a table with pens so people can fill them in whenever they like, rather than as a formal game.

Baby bingo (during gift opening)

Gift opening can drag. Bingo fixes that. Guests fill in a blank bingo grid with gifts they think will be opened, then mark them off as the parent unwraps. Everyone pays attention, and there is a winner by the end. You can make cards with our free bingo card generator, or use the bingo included in a ready-made pack.

Who knows the parent best?

A short quiz about the parent-to-be: favourite food, where they were born, first job, how they met their partner. Partners, friends and family all compete, and guests learn a little about each other's connection to the parent. Keep it to 10–15 questions.

Guess the baby photo

Ask guests in advance to send a baby photo of themselves, print them with numbers, and have everyone match photos to names. It is a great mixer because people have to talk to each other to work it out.

Word scrambles and quick paper games

Baby-themed word scrambles, emoji puzzles and "name the nursery rhyme" are low-pressure games people can play in pairs. They are especially useful for filling the first half hour while guests arrive.

A pack with several of these ready to print saves a lot of time. Our Baby Shower Game Pack has 15 printable games in a gender-neutral, minimalist style, so you can pick the three or four that suit your group.

Games to think twice about

These are not banned, but they are the ones most likely to make someone uncomfortable.

• Measuring the bump with string or toilet paper. Many pregnant people do not want their size discussed in front of a room. Skip it unless the parent asks for it.
• Melted chocolate in nappies. Some guests find it funny; plenty find it off-putting at a food table.
• Tasting baby food blindfolded. Messy, and it can feel awkward for guests with food allergies or sensitivities.
• Anything with forfeits or saying "baby" as a penalty. The clothes-peg game, where saying a banned word loses your peg, can work with a lively crowd but irritates others if it runs all afternoon. If you use it, end it after an hour.
• Long, competitive games. Anything that needs teams, rules explanations and twenty minutes will lose half the room.

Timing: how to fit games into the shower

Most showers last two to three hours. A simple structure:

Self-serve games on the tables at the start are the most important tip here. Guests who arrive alone have something to do with their hands and something to talk about.

Practical hosting tips

Plan the details on paper

Showers involve a surprising number of small tasks: guest list, invitations, food quantities, who brings what, decorations and thank-you notes. Keeping it all in one place helps, especially if several friends are co-hosting. The Party Planner has pages for exactly these things.

Prizes

You do not need many. Small, useful prizes go down best: candles, hand cream, nice chocolate, a plant. Buy one more than you think you need, as ties happen.

Keep the parent-to-be comfortable

• Give them a comfortable chair and keep it free.
• Do not make them the centre of every game. They should be able to sit back and watch.
• Keep the schedule loose. If they are tired, end the games early.

Gender reveal or not

If the shower doubles as a reveal, keep the reveal itself short and do any voting before it. Gender reveal printables with voting cards and old wives' tales give guests something to do while they wait.

A thoughtful extra

Many hosts add a small group gift alongside the games, such as milestone cards for photographing the baby's first months. Baby Milestone Cards can be printed and tied with a ribbon.

Quick checklist

• Ask the parent-to-be which games they would enjoy
• Choose two or three group games and one or two self-serve table games
• Print games, pens and prizes the day before
• Set out table games before the first guest arrives
• Use bingo to keep gift opening lively
• Keep the whole thing short and relaxed

FAQ

How many games should a baby shower have? Two or three group games plus one or two table games is plenty for a two to three hour shower.

Do co-ed showers need different games? Not really. Quiz games, photo matching and predictions work for any crowd. Just skip anything that relies on in-jokes only one group will understand.

What if the guests do not know each other? Start with photo matching or a "find a guest who..." sheet. Both get people talking within minutes.