Inside: Are you throwing a baby shower and can’t stand baby shower games? We’ve got you covered! Choose a few of these not lame baby shower activities, instead, to keep guests occupied all shower long.
If you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you’ll remember Callie’s baby shower.
Arizona couldn’t believe that Callie would want what she considered to be a crazy baby shower with a ton of activities and games and food.
But she did. Mark knew (sorry, Arizona).
I’m honestly hoping that baby showers in 2025 are changing. That eating baby food blindfolded and guessing which flavor is a thing of the past.
In honor of those wishes, I give you several baby shower activities that are NOT games.
Because unlike Callie, apparently, I cannot stand cheesy baby shower games.
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15 Baby Shower Activities That Are NOT Games
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If the mom-to-be hates games just as much as I do, you’ll love these activities that will keep guests occupied during the shower.
Because sometimes families don’t get along and literally no one knows each other, and you really don’t want people sitting around awkwardly for two hours waiting for the gifts to be opened so they can make their exit.
(If mom-to-be does like games, try these baby shower games that don’t suck.)
1. Estimation Jar
Put together a fun treat jar that matches the baby shower theme.
For example….
- “Teddy Bear” Jar with Teddy Grahams
- “Bunny” Jar with Jelly Beans
Ask guests to estimate how many are in the jar and write down their name and guess on a slip of paper. Make sure to have a prize for the winner!
2. Board Book Messages
Instead of asking guests to bring their favorite board book, you could purchase board books as the hostess gift.
Then ask guests to write encouraging notes in Sharpie on the inside cover.
This can take a good amount of time and conversation as guests discuss what to write in the books.
3. Quilt
At my baby shower, my mom cut out the pieces for a Sun Bonnet Sue quilt. Guests got to piece together their own unique Sun Bonnet Sue figure and iron everything in place.
Guests also could write a Bible verse or encouragement/prayer on the square as well. My mom took the squares home and put them together for a finished product.
This makes such a great gift!
Related: The Best Bible Verses for a Baby Shower (Unique + Classic Options)
4. Pass the Gift Poem
I recently attended a baby shower where they used THIS poem to “pass the gift”.
The creator calls it a “game”, but….it’s not tasting baby food and guessing what flavor, so it got a pass for this post (at least in my book).
Again, you’ll need to have a gift to pass along for this baby shower activity.
5. Family Tradition Cards
I especially love this because we tend to always think of the baby stage at a shower, but these newborns have a whole lot of life ahead of them!
These cards give the mom creative ideas for all kinds of traditions she can begin with her child – for birthdays, holidays, etc.
Not only that, it gives the guests a chance to reminisce about their own childhood or share what they love doing with their own families!
6. Diaper Message Activity
Every mom knows about the late night diaper changes that seem to be endless!
For this activity, have guests write a fun, silly, or encouraging message with a Sharpie on the outside of the diaper for mom to read during one of those late night changing sessions.
While she might feel like a zombie, at least it might get her to squeak out a smile.
7. Raffle
This is a fun way to give out prizes without forcing a game. As ladies are entering, have them grab a ticket.
At a certain point in the shower, call out numbers and distribute gifts accordingly.
Many people choose to do this activity as a diaper raffle also. In this case, guests would be asked to bring a package of diapers, and when they arrive, they would get a raffle ticket after they drop off their diapers.
It’s a fun way to help the new family stock up on an item they will most definitely need. Just be sure to clarify on the invitation any diaper requests, like brands or sizes to avoid.
8. Baby Shower Bingo
Is it a game? Really? It doesn’t feel like a game, so I guess it counts.
Guests simply fill out a bingo card with the gifts they think mom-to-be will receive at the shower.
As she opens gifts, guests tick off the squares until someone gets Bingo. Easy peasy, and as non-gamey as it gets.
Related: FREE Printable Baby Shower Bingo Cards
9. Photo Booth
Photo booths have been growing in popularity for all kinds of events in recent years.
Set up an area with a pretty backdrop, some fun props, and let the guest take all sorts of fun pictures.
Add a hashtag and encourage ladies to share on social media of your choice for a fun way to see everyone’s pictures.
10. Creative Dessert Stations
This is a yummy area where guests can decorate a cookie or a cupcake. Cookies can be in the shape of all the baby things like rattles and pacifiers.
You can have fun embellishments to put on top of cupcakes (we have 31 unique baby shower cupcakes HERE).
Or you can set this up as a candy bar for women to fill a bag or container of their favorite sweets.
Bonus: You can also use these desserts or candy bags as the favor for the baby shower.
11. Rock Blessings
This is a really cool idea, especially if the family is more of the outdoorsy type.
Each person would decorate or write a blessing, prayer, or Bible verse on a river rock using paint pens!
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12. Advice for Mom Cards
Have each attendee fill out a card giving the mom-to-be his/her best advice, from their own experience or something their mom swears by.
If the guest happens to be single or not a mom yet, they can share something they observed that their own mom or dad did as a parent.
There are also versions of this idea with a fill-in-the-blank format to make it easier on guests who may be stumped with advice to share, like this one or this one!
This can be set up at each table or at a separate station.
13. Paint a Block Set
Purchase THIS simple Melissa & Doug block, and have guests paint a block each. This classic set that will last them for years!
You’ll need a set of non-toxic paints, perhaps milk paints and several brushes with water cups and paper towels for rinsing and drying.
I love baby shower activities that end up producing actually useful gifts.
Related: Top 12 Minimalist Baby Toys That Will Last for Years
14. Numbers and Letters Book
This is a fun activity you can have guests do throughout the shower. Have a table set up with various printable alphabet and number sheets.
Leave markers, color pencils, and crayons on the table and have guests color the sheets so they can be used to create the baby’s first number and letter book!
This will be a sweet keepsake for the baby and a fun memory as well. This blog post has clear instructions if this is the way you want to go.
15. Have a Co-Ed Shower
Why not throw a party for the mom and dad? When it’s a co-ed get together, the whole ‘games-at-a-baby-shower’ expectation disappears.
I’m sorry, but it’s true: no one ever expects men to sit around and do the kinds of things women do at showers.
Once you add the males to the atmosphere, it just becomes a party to celebrate the mom, dad, and soon-arriving newborn. The focus is usually on food and gifts, with no extra games or activities needed!
Read Next: 31 Unique Baby Shower Cupcake Ideas – to Go With Theme
Owner of Growing Serendipity, June could talk to you all day about homeschooling, parenting, and minimalism, which she does at This Simple Balance. When she’s not homeschooling, decluttering, or blogging, she loves to enjoy perfect silence while sipping a hot cup of coffee and thinking uninterrupted thoughts—which, of course, with five kids, doesn’t happen very often.