Baby shower: games, program, and themes

A baby shower is a celebration where guests honour the parent-to-be before the birth, with food, games and gifts for the baby. A typical day flows from welcome and food, through a few classic games, to gift opening and cake. Popular games include guessing the mother's belly size, a baby-food taste test, guessing baby photos of the guests, decorating a onesie, and writing advice or wish cards for the parents.

What do you do at a baby shower?

A baby shower is an informal celebration of the parent-to-be, held a few weeks before the due date. The host — often a friend or sister rather than the parent-to-be — gathers the closest people for a few hours of food, conversation, games and gifts for the baby. There is no fixed recipe, but most showers follow a recognisable rhythm: welcome, food, a couple of games, gift opening and cake.

The aim is a light, inclusive atmosphere, not filling every hour with activity. Two or three good games are plenty. The rest is room to talk, and to let the parent-to-be be the centre of attention without having to run anything themselves.

Usually held 4–6 weeks before the due date, while the parent-to-be still has energy
The host is often a friend or relative who takes charge of planning and games
Typically lasts two to three hours: enough for food, games and gifts without dragging

Classic baby shower games

The most popular games are simple, need little equipment, and work for a mixed group. Most can be prepared in advance and started when the conversation needs a hook. Pick two or three that suit your guests rather than a long list nobody gets through.

A smart move is to mix one calm game (writing cards) with one that brings laughter (a taste test or the belly-size guess). That way both the quiet and the outgoing guests get something they enjoy.

Guess the belly size: guests cut a length of string they think fits around the bump — closest wins
Baby-food taste test: guests taste unlabelled jars and guess the flavour
Guess the baby photo: everyone brings a baby photo of themselves and guests match faces to people
Decorate a onesie: fabric pens on plain white onesies the parents take home
Write advice and wish cards for the parents, plus the 'don't say baby' pin game where you lose a peg if the word slips out

Set a program for the day

A loose program keeps the host confident and the guests relaxed — without feeling stage-managed. Think in blocks, not minutes: welcome and something to drink, food, games, gift opening, and cake to close. That way you know what comes next, and what can be cut if time runs short.

Put the active games early, while energy is high, and save the gift opening for when everyone is seated and fed. End with the cake as a natural full stop.

Welcome (15–20 min): greet, put a drink in everyone's hand, let people settle
Food and conversation (45–60 min): eat before games, so no one plays on an empty stomach
Games (30–45 min) → gift opening → cake to finish

Theme and decor

A theme isn't required, but it makes choosing the invitation, colours and table easier. Pick one direction and let it carry through the invitation, napkins, balloons and cake — so the whole thing hangs together without costing much.

Keep the decor simple. One colour palette, a few balloons and some greenery is enough. Many choose a gender-neutral direction such as botanicals or muted tones, so the theme works whatever the baby turns out to be.

Choose one colour palette and repeat it across invitation, napkins and cake
Gender-neutral themes like eucalyptus/botanicals, terracotta, or light Scandinavian are safe and pretty
A balloon arch or a simple backdrop gives a nice photo corner with little effort

Keep the program and tasks in Zenframe

Zenframe Events (zenframe.no/event) lets you add the day's program as a timeline, so the host and helpers see the same plan. Tasks like shopping, baking, blowing up balloons and buying game prizes can be assigned by name, so nothing slips through the cracks.

The budget view keeps planned against actual in one place, next to the guest list — handy when several people chip in. The invitation itself you can make in Zenframe Invite at zenframe.eu/lag-invitasjon/babyshower.

Program: add welcome, food, games, gifts and cake as a timeline everyone can see
Tasks: assign shopping, baking and game prep by name
Budget and guest list on the same surface; invitation via zenframe.eu/lag-invitasjon/babyshower

Tips for a great baby shower

Choose two or three games, not more — it leaves room to talk and lets guests relax.
Serve the food before the games, so no one is left hungry mid-activity.
Ask the parent-to-be in advance whether they feel strongly about games, theme, or who is invited.
Save the gift opening for when everyone is gathered, and have pens and cards ready for baby messages.
Keep decor to one colour palette and a little greenery — simple usually looks best in the photos.

FAQ

How long does a baby shower last?

Most baby showers last two to three hours. That is enough time for a welcome, food, a couple of games and gift opening without dragging on for the parent-to-be, who is often tired late in pregnancy. Held in the afternoon, many land around 2–5 pm. Keep the program loose, so you can shorten or extend it depending on the mood of the group.

Do you have to have games at a baby shower?

No, games are not required. Some people prefer a relaxed gathering with just food and conversation. But two or three simple games often break the ice and give the party a natural rhythm, especially if the guests don't know each other well. Pick games that suit the group — a quieter crowd enjoys writing advice or wish cards more than loud competitions.

What theme suits a baby shower?

Gender-neutral themes are popular because they work regardless, and because many parents don't know or don't want to reveal the sex. Botanicals and eucalyptus, muted earth tones like terracotta, or a light Scandinavian style are safe choices. Pick one colour palette and let it carry through the invitation, napkins, balloons and cake. That keeps the whole thing coherent without needing much decor or a big budget.

What does the host do at a baby shower?

The host is often a friend or relative rather than the parent-to-be. The host plans the day, sends the invitation, arranges food and decor, and runs the games so the parent-to-be can relax and be the centre of attention. A good move is to agree on the theme and guest list with the parent-to-be beforehand, and to share practical tasks among helpers so it doesn't all rest on one person.