Ideas for Unique Games to Play at a Baby Shower

March 29, 2009 by  
Filed under Baby Shower Games

Everyone loves a great baby shower – guests are able to socialize and visit with old friends and distant family, eat great food, play unique baby shower games, and watch the expectant mom open all of her baby shower gifts. If you’re planning the party, it’s a good estimate that it will last for 2 to 3 hours; you’ll need to have plenty of activities planned for the guests to prevent any embarrassing lulls in the pace of the shower.

When planning a baby shower, remember that as everyone arrives they’ll want to say hello and talk with all the other guests and expectant mom. Allow for some time to socialize and catch up with everyone before moving on to the food.

The menu does not need to be elaborate or formal, but a few munchies or finger foods are ideal for snacking. The time of day that the baby shower is planned for will largely determine the type of foods you offer the guests. However, the cake will usually be reserved for the end of the party, so everyone has a photo opportunity of the mom cutting her cake.

Baby shower games are always fun, and this is a great way to make your baby shower party unique and unlike any other. Just about any game that exists can be altered to be appropriate for a baby shower, or to fit the mother’s personality and the expected baby.

You should plan on at least a few different games to sufficiently keep the guests active and busy. These baby shower games should be planned at least a few weeks in advance to ensure you have plenty of supplies for all the guests expected. Door prizes also need to be purchased or collected for winners of each game, too.

One classic baby shower game is where everyone attempts to guess how big the expectant mom’s belly is with a roll of toilet paper. Another game idea is to fill a bottle with candy of some sort or cotton swabs (to be given to mother afterward, of course), and have everyone guess the number of them in the bottle.

Baby bingo is another unique baby shower game, as well as baby tic-tac-toe, and pin the pacifier on the baby. Free printable baby shower games are typically found online, and you may find some other unique baby shower game ideas on forums or dedicated websites.

Instead of games, you may also plan an activity. This may include the group making a special and personalized item for the expectant mother, and could involve everyone in making a scrapbook, quilt, or video documentary. Another idea is having everyone write a personalized message to mother and baby in an ‘advice book’ as an activity or simply as the guests arrive in the door.

If you’re planning a couples or men and women baby shower, make sure the baby shower games and activities will cater to the entire group. You may also simply want to plan the baby shower party as a group get-together, like a barbecue outdoors in the park or an ideal backyard.

Choosing Decorations to Compliment a Baby Shower Theme

March 29, 2009 by  
Filed under Baby Shower Games

Once you have spent time with the expectant mother to determine the ideal color scheme and theme for the baby shower, it’s time to plan for the appropriate baby shower decorations to coordinate. Depending upon your budget, the amount of and elaborate possibilities in decorations for the baby shower will be determined already.

Some party decorations will be quite affordable, and others will be more expensive, so these costs will need to be juggled accordingly to properly incorporate the theme into them. The location of the baby shower will also largely determine the types of decorations you’ll be able to use. Streamers may not be easy to hang from some types of ceilings, and others may simply be too large to fit in the allotted space.

Even the simplest of baby shower decorations can be used to create a wonderful space for the event. A few basics can be personalized to fit any baby shower theme, and make an impression with even the smallest budget available.

First, a great baby shower centerpiece is a balloon bouquet congratulating the mother, or announcing the impending birth. Other great baby shower decoration ideas including using inexpensive pink and/or blue balloons to mark directional signs on the day of the event, as well as the location itself to help guests identify it.

Balloons are one of the most inexpensive baby shower decoration ideas, as endless color options can be chosen to match any baby shower theme or color choice.

Paper goods and baby shower tableware will also be a large part of the decorating budget. The guests need to put their food and drink somewhere, and will also need utensils if required, but definitely will need them for the cake. Wonderful baby shower plates, napkins and cups can be found in virtually any theme you can think of, or you may simply choose to match a specific color scheme for a less expensive option.

After these basics are addressed, any tablecloths, banners and other special decorations will largely be dependant upon the area you are holding the baby shower, and your remaining budget. You can always splurge on a fancier baby shower cake, or find additional decorations to use throughout the baby shower party location. Baby shower centerpieces are available for girl baby showers, boy baby showers, and virtually any theme you may decide upon.

Confetti on the tables, themed baby shower favors and game prizes, and even special baby shower party hats may be additional decorative options. Flower arrangements, whether real or silk, can also be used to compliment the chosen colors, and placed on tables or on the gift table for added flair.

Candles, place cards and even chair covers may be used to create a more formal atmosphere for the baby shower theme. Always consider, too, that unless the baby shower will be held in your home, you’ll need to complete the decorating on the day of the event. You will need a few hours to finish the task, but don’t try to incorporate too many baby shower decorations for the time you’ve allotted.