Non-Game Baby Shower Ideas

Updated: March 21, 2023 by MomsWhoThink Staff | Leave a comment

Today I threw a baby shower for a really good friend. Her one request for the shower was that we not play any silly games. No candy bar diapers, no measuring her belly, and definitely no stealing clothespins every time someone says the word “baby.”

And you know what? We all had a really good time. I think I've been converted to the no-game baby shower.

Below you will find some ideas if you too are wanting to throw a non-game baby shower, but first…here are a few pictures from today (You can't tell, but the blue bucket has mustache-shaped suckers and random blue and green candies):

We went with a “Little Man” theme for the shower and had everyone grab a mustache on their way in.

For food, we kept things simple and did sweet and savory crepes (fruit for the sweet, eggs and ham for the savory). So yummy.

All of us sportin' the ‘staches

What a good little sport!

This onesie banner was so fun to make (printable at the end of the post)!

Non-Game Baby Shower Ideas

All sorts of Fun Baby Shower Ideas that don't involve playing games

Baby Wishes and Predictions

As people arrived, we had them dish up some food and fill out a baby wishes & Predictions card:

Advice/well wishes on diapers. We also had everyone write advice and well wishes on diapers so that she can be encouraged during the first few weeks.

baby shower ideas that don't involve cheesy games

After writing on the diapers, we each got to share either the best advice we ever received, or the worst. After these two activities we did the opening of presents. Here are some other ideas that we didn't have time for:

Birthday Prize. Whoever has a birthday closest to baby's due date wins a prize

Book signing. I've heard of some baby shower ideas where everyone brings their favorite children's book as part of their gift and writes a message on the inside cover. Or, you could just pass around a sheet and have everyone list their favorite book so that the mom-to-be has something to reference when buying books.

Diaper Raffle. Invite guests to bring a package of diapers for the diaper raffle. Have a fun prize for the winner.

Baby Birthing. I have never done this one, but I've heard it's really fun. Freeze little plastic babies in ice cubes and have everyone write on their cup a prediction of when the baby will “arrive”…meaning the ice has melted. Whoever is closest to the actual time wins a prize.

Onesie Station. Have everyone make applique onesies for the mom-to-be. If she is have a girl, you could also do hair bows, headbands or flower clips.

The present timer. You set a timer (for 3 or 4 minutes or so) and the mom starts to open gifts. The person's gift she is opening when the timer goes off is the winner of the prize. This is a nice way to enjoy the time and keep guests interested if the mom-to-be has a lot of gifts to open!

Out of Town Guests. I did this for a baby girl shower that I did. I told the out of town guests (that couldn't make it) to mail me a cute outfit to display on a clothesline as part of the party decor. Each dress had a tag with the name of the person that sent it. It was a fun way to include those that couldn't make it, and it was fun for them to see their gift in the party photos.

Fun Baby Shower Idea for out of town guests — Clean baby girl clothes on the clothesline
©Gergely Zsolnai/Shutterstock.com

Technically this is a game, but I've also heard of doing BINGO for present opening, with common baby shower gifts as the spots on the BINGO card. This would be another fun way to pass by the time as presents are being opened.