Popular Baby Shower Game Ideas That Your Guests Will Love
After 20 years of helping people plan baby showers, I've learned that the right games make the whole shower - and the wrong ones can clear a room. This page has the 40 best baby shower games I've seen work at real showers, organized by category so you can mix and match exactly what fits your crowd. No cringe-worthy belly measuring or melted chocolate in diapers here - just games guests actually enjoy.
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How many games should you play at a baby shower?
Three to five games is the sweet spot for most baby showers. Plan for games to take up about 30-45 minutes of the party - any more and guests start looking for the door. A good formula is one icebreaker game that runs all shower long (like Don't Say Baby), one printable game played during gift opening (like Bingo), and one or two group games in the middle of the shower.
Always have one backup game ready in case a game falls flat or the shower runs shorter than expected. And keep your guest list in mind - a room full of grandmas will respond differently than a co-ed crowd of college friends!
Pick games that match your crowd, not just games that look cute on Pinterest. If your guests don't know each other well, lean into icebreakers. If it's a close friend group, go for the funny interactive games. No single game works for every shower - and that's okay.
Icebreaker baby shower games 8 games
Start with one or two icebreakers to get guests comfortable and talking. These work best when the shower includes people who don't all know each other.
Hand each guest a clothespin or plastic pacifier necklace as they arrive. The rule is simple: no one can say the word "baby" for the entire shower. If you catch someone saying it, you take their pin. The guest with the most pins at the end wins a prize. This game practically runs itself - no hosting required once you explain the rule - and it keeps guests engaged for the entire party.
Get Free HereTake a Mint
Place a bowl of mints (or any small candy) at the entrance. Guests take as many as they want. Once everyone arrives, go around the room - each guest must share one interesting fact about themselves for each mint they took. Always gets laughs when someone grabbed a huge handful!
Baby Item Name Tags
Instead of name tags with guest names, give each guest a name tag with a baby item printed on it - "Diaper," "Bib," "Pacifier," etc. For the whole shower, everyone must call each other by their item name instead of their real name. Anyone caught using a real name puts money in a jar for the baby. Always hilarious!
Baby Under Your Chair
Before the shower, tape the word "BABY" under one chair (or under a plate or cup). At a designated point during the shower, ask everyone to check under their chair. The guest who finds it wins a prize. Zero prep, zero hosting effort, and guests always get a kick out of it.
Who Knows Mommy Best?
Before the shower, ask the mom-to-be 15-20 personal questions - her middle name, favorite food, how she found out she was pregnant, her biggest pregnancy craving, her greatest fear about motherhood. At the shower, guests answer the same questions. The one with the most right wins. This always sparks the sweetest conversations.
Guess the Baby Photo
Ask guests to bring a baby photo of themselves. Display the photos numbered on a board and have guests write down who they think each baby is. The guest with the most correct guesses wins. This is one of the most universally loved icebreaker games - every age group enjoys it and it sparks natural conversation.
Celebrity Baby Photo Game
Print out baby photos of celebrities and number them. Guests write down their guesses for each celebrity's name. The most correct answers wins. This works best for a younger crowd who follows celebrity culture - always generates great discussion and debate!
Childhood Photos of Mom and Dad
Collect childhood photos of both parents-to-be at various ages and display them numbered on a board. Guests guess how old each parent was in each photo. The closest guesses win. This doubles as a beautiful display and gets guests talking to the parents-to-be about their childhood memories.
Printable baby shower games 8 games
Printable games are the easiest games to run - print them before the shower, hand them out, and you're done. These are the printable games guests enjoy most.
The most popular printable baby shower game of all time - and for good reason. Before the shower, give each guest a blank bingo card to fill in with gifts they think the mom-to-be will receive. As she opens presents, guests mark off matching squares. First to get five in a row wins! It keeps guests engaged during gift opening, which can otherwise drag on.
Get Free HereBaby Word Scramble
Print a list of baby-related words with the letters scrambled. Guests unscramble as many as they can in a set time - usually 3-5 minutes. Whoever unscrambles the most correctly wins. Simple to make, easy to play, works for any age group. One of the all-time most popular baby shower printable games.
Baby Predictions Card
Print prediction cards for each guest - they fill in their guesses for baby's due date, birth weight, height, eye color, hair color, and first word. Seal the cards in an envelope to be opened when baby arrives! The mom-to-be treasures these as a keepsake, and guests love finding out who was closest months later.
Display 8-10 common baby items (a box of diapers, a pack of wipes, a baby monitor, formula) and have guests write down what they think each item costs. The guest with the total closest to the actual sum wins. This game always generates gasps - most people have no idea how expensive baby items are! Best of all, the mom-to-be keeps everything at the end.
Get Free HereEmoji Baby Pictionary
Print a sheet with rows of emoji combinations - guests have to guess what baby-related phrase each emoji sequence represents. Example: 🎵+🌃 = "Rock-a-bye Baby." This is one of the most popular modern baby shower games and works brilliantly for any age group - everyone loves emojis!
A to Z Baby Name Race
Give each guest a sheet with the alphabet listed down the side. In a set time (usually 3 minutes), they must write a baby name starting with each letter. First to complete all 26 wins! This is a great fast-paced game that generates natural conversation about baby name ideas.
Baby Shower Mad Libs
Print sheets with a sweet baby-themed story that has key words removed - labeled "adjective," "noun," "verb," etc. Guests fill in the blanks without seeing the story first, then the completed stories are read aloud. The results are always hilarious. A crowd-pleaser for every age group.
Finish the Nursery Rhyme
Print a list of classic nursery rhymes with the second half of each line missing. Guests fill in the blanks from memory. More people blank on these than you'd expect - even nursery rhymes they've known their whole lives! A sweet, nostalgic game that works for every generation.
Interactive and active baby shower games 8 games
These games get guests up, laughing, and interacting. Best for groups under 25 people - they can get a bit chaotic with larger crowds, which is part of the fun!
Remove the labels from 8-10 jars of baby food and number them. Set out spoons and have guests taste (or just smell!) each jar and write down what flavor they think it is. The guest who identifies the most correctly wins. This is consistently one of the most entertaining games at any shower - the expressions on guests' faces are priceless. Peas and mixed vegetables are never anyone's favorites!
Melt different chocolate and candy bars into clean diapers and number each one. Guests examine (and smell!) each diaper to guess which candy bar is inside. Yes, it's as funny as it sounds - and guests always get more into it than they expect to. The person who identifies the most correctly wins. Snickers, Twix, Reese's, and Milky Way all work perfectly.
Fill a large mason jar or baby bottle with gummy bears or Teddy Grahams - counting as you go! Display it on the favor table and have guests write their name and guess on a slip of paper throughout the shower. The guest closest to the actual count wins the whole jar. Simple setup, runs itself all shower long, and the jar makes a fun display piece on the table.
Diaper Raffle
Include a diaper raffle insert in the invitations letting guests know that anyone who brings a pack of diapers will be entered to win a prize. As guests arrive with diapers, have them write their name on a raffle slip and drop it in a bowl. Draw a winner at the end of the shower. The mom-to-be gets a wonderful stash of diapers - and guests get the chance to win something fun. See our diaper raffle wording page for cute invitation verses.
Make a Paper Baby
Give each guest a sheet of paper. Behind their back (no peeking!), they must tear the paper into the shape of a baby. Write names on the back and have the mom-to-be pick her favorite. The results are always hilariously abstract. This is a low-key, zero-prep game that gets everyone laughing immediately.
Blindfolded Diaper Change Race
Set up two baby dolls with diapers on. Two guests at a time are blindfolded and race to change the diaper as fast as possible. Time each pair and track the fastest. The laughs come from watching people fumble with snaps and tabs they can't see. Best played with a co-ed group where the dads-to-be and dad guests have to compete!
Floating Duckies
Number the bottom of rubber duckies (one per guest) and place them in a tub of water. Have each guest draw a number from a bowl as they arrive. Every 20-30 minutes throughout the shower, pull a ducky from the tub and call out the number. The guest with the matching number wins a prize. This game practically runs itself and keeps guests excited throughout the whole party.
Left Right Pass the Gift Game
Have guests sit in a circle. Give one person a wrapped prize. Read a story aloud that's full of the words "left" and "right" - every time you say "left" guests pass the gift left, every time you say "right" they pass it right. Whoever is holding the gift at the end of the story keeps it! You can find printable Left Right stories online or in our game pack.
Co-ed and couples baby shower games 6 games
Co-ed showers call for games that work for everyone - guys included. These are the ones that consistently get the best response from mixed crowds.
Before the shower, create a list of 15-20 fun questions about the parents-to-be - "Who will be the first to fall asleep during a midnight feeding?" "Who hogs the covers?" "Who will be the stricter parent?" Guests guess whether the statement applies more to Mom or Dad. Then the parents reveal the real answers. The person with the most correct answers wins. Always generates great laughs and some very revealing conversations!
Baby Bottle Chug
Fill baby bottles with juice, lemonade, or another beverage. Guests race to drink the entire bottle through the nipple as fast as possible. This is especially funny at co-ed showers - watching grown adults try to chug through a baby bottle nipple is genuinely hilarious. Keep it light-hearted and have a non-alcoholic option available for everyone.
Pacifier Toss
Set up small baskets or buckets at increasing distances. Guests take turns tossing plastic pacifiers into the baskets. Most successful tosses wins. This is a great active game for co-ed showers and takes almost no setup. Works brilliantly outdoors or in a larger indoor space.
How Long Are They Pregnant?
Print a list of animals and have guests guess how many months each animal is pregnant. Most people are shocked that elephants are pregnant for 22 months or that opossums deliver in just 12 days! This is a fun educational game that works for any crowd and generates great discussion.
Baby Animal Name Game
Print a list of animals and have guests write the name for the baby version of each one. Most people know "puppy" and "kitten" but struggle with "hoglet" (baby hedgehog), "owlet" (baby owl), or "foal" (baby horse). The guest with the most correct answers wins. Always generates laughs and surprises!
Baby Milestone Match-Up
Print cards with common baby milestones (first smile, sitting up, first word, walking) and a separate set of cards with typical age ranges. Guests try to match each milestone to the correct age range. More people get these wrong than you'd expect - and the game always sparks great conversation about parenting experiences.
No-prep baby shower games 5 games
Short on time? These games need zero preparation and can be played with items you already have at the shower.
Belly Measurement Guess
Cut a piece of string or ribbon to the length each guest thinks will fit exactly around the mom-to-be's belly. The guest whose string is closest - without going over - wins. Simple, sweet, and the mom-to-be gets to keep all the colorful ribbons as a little memento!
Guess What's In the Diaper Bag
Fill a diaper bag with 10-15 baby items. Pass the bag around and have guests reach in (no peeking!) and feel the items one at a time, writing down their guesses. The most correct guesses wins. This always generates funny reactions as people try to identify mystery objects by touch. The bag and its contents become a gift for the mom-to-be!
Baby Sock Hunt
Hide tiny baby socks around the party venue before guests arrive. Put a small sign at the entrance letting guests know to look for hidden socks throughout the shower. At the end, whoever has found the most wins a prize. Super easy to set up, runs itself, and guests love the scavenger hunt element.
Baby Shower Memory Game
Place 15-20 small baby items on a tray and give guests 60 seconds to study them. Cover the tray and have everyone write down everything they remember. Most correct items wins. A classic game that needs zero prep beyond gathering the baby items - which the mom-to-be keeps afterward!
Overheard at the Baby Shower
Appoint one guest as the "recorder" for the shower. Throughout the party, they write down funny, sweet, or quotable things they overhear guests saying. At the end of the shower, read them all aloud. It's hilarious how things sound out of context! Zero prep and completely organic.
Virtual baby shower games 5 games
These games work beautifully for virtual or hybrid showers where some guests are joining remotely via Zoom or video call.
Virtual Bingo
Email printable bingo cards to all guests before the virtual shower. As the mom-to-be opens gifts on camera, guests mark their cards. First to get five in a row types "BINGO!" in the chat and wins. Works exactly like in-person bingo and keeps remote guests totally engaged.
Virtual Price Is Right
Share your screen with a slideshow of baby products and their prices hidden. Guests type their price guesses in the chat. Reveal the real prices one by one. This works brilliantly online because everyone can respond simultaneously in the chat - even faster and more fun than in-person!
Virtual Emoji Pictionary
Share your screen with a sheet of emoji combinations. Guests type their answers in the chat - first correct answer wins that round. Fast-paced, fun, and works perfectly for any size virtual crowd. Prepare 15-20 emoji phrases in advance.
Virtual Trivia - Baby Facts
Read out baby trivia questions and have guests type answers in the chat. Categories can include baby product prices, celebrity babies, baby animal names, developmental milestones, and fun facts about the parents-to-be. Keep score on screen and crown a winner at the end!
Virtual Baby Predictions
Email prediction cards to guests before the shower. Everyone fills them out and emails them back. During the shower, read out everyone's predictions and discuss. The predictions get sealed away and opened when baby arrives - whoever is closest on birth date, weight, and height wins a prize sent in the mail!
Amy's game planning tips
More games is not better. Three well-chosen games that match your crowd will be far more fun than six mediocre ones. Plan for 30-45 minutes of game time total and leave plenty of time for eating, opening gifts, and just visiting.
A passive game is one that runs in the background all shower long without needing to be "played" as a group - like Don't Say Baby, the Baby Under Your Chair, or the Floating Duckies draw. These keep guests engaged without interrupting the flow of the shower.
A quiet, reserved group will not enjoy loud competitive games. A raucous friend group will be bored by sedate printable games. Think about the age range, the personality of your guests, and how well they know each other when choosing games. The best game is the one your specific crowd will actually enjoy.
Even a small prize makes guests try harder and care more about the outcome. A candle, a mini wine bottle, a bath bomb, or a gift card are all excellent game prizes. See our baby shower prize ideas page for 25+ ideas at every budget.
Gift opening can drag if guests aren't engaged. Bingo is the perfect fix - it gives everyone something to do and creates natural excitement as gifts are opened. Hand out bingo cards just before gift opening begins and watch the energy in the room pick right up.
Frequently asked questions about baby shower games
Three to five games is the sweet spot for most baby showers. Plan for games to take up about 30-45 minutes total. A good formula is one passive game that runs all shower long (like Don't Say Baby), one game during gift opening (like Bingo), and one or two group games in the middle. Having one backup game ready is always smart in case you have extra time or a game doesn't land as expected.
Don't Say Baby is consistently the most popular baby shower game - it's easy to understand, needs almost no supplies, and runs itself for the entire shower without any hosting effort. Baby Shower Bingo is the most popular printable game, especially during gift opening. The Baby Food Taste Test and Candy Bar Diaper Game are the most popular interactive games for laughs. For co-ed showers, Mom vs. Dad and the Baby Bottle Chug tend to get the biggest response.
For large groups (25+ guests), stick to games that don't require everyone to perform in front of the group. Baby Shower Bingo, Don't Say Baby, the Guessing Jar, Baby Under Your Chair, and Floating Duckies all work brilliantly for large crowds because they're self-managing. Avoid active games like the Blindfolded Diaper Change Race or Baby Bottle Chug for very large groups - these work best for 20 people or fewer.
The best non-embarrassing baby shower games are ones where guests compete on knowledge or luck rather than having to perform. Baby Shower Bingo, Who Knows Mommy Best, the Baby Food Taste Test, the Guessing Jar, Baby Predictions, and Emoji Pictionary are all crowd-pleasers that nobody feels awkward playing. Avoid belly-measuring games or anything that puts guests physically on the spot - modern showers are moving away from those.
The best co-ed baby shower games are Mom vs. Dad, the Baby Bottle Chug, Animal Pregnancy Length, Baby Animal Name Game, Pacifier Toss, and the Blindfolded Diaper Change Race. These all work for mixed crowds and are especially fun when the dad-to-be and male guests have to compete. Avoid games that feel very "girly" for co-ed showers - keep it competitive and lighthearted and everyone will enjoy it.
Not necessarily - but prizes do make games more competitive and fun. A small prize for each game winner is the most common approach. For a passive all-shower game like Don't Say Baby, announce a prize at the end to keep people motivated. For printable games like Bingo, a single prize for the winner is enough. Prize ideas don't need to be expensive - a candle, a mini wine bottle, a bath bomb, or a spa product all make perfect baby shower game prizes. See our prize ideas page for 25+ curated options.
Did you know...
We offer a ton of baby shower games - all for free? Get them here.
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Hi, I'm Amy!
I'm a mom of two and grandma to two sweet granddaughters, and baby showers are my happy place. I created this site to share everything I've learned about planning showers that feel personal, beautiful, and stress-free.