Everything you need to host a baby shower — from timing it right and managing the guest list to choosing a theme, planning games, organizing food, and tracking gifts.
Last updated:
0 of 27 completed0%
Copied!
Timing and Guest List
Schedule the shower 4-6 weeks before the due date
This window gives the parents-to-be time to buy remaining items after seeing what gifts come in, while keeping the mom comfortable enough to enjoy the party. Avoid scheduling past 36 weeks.
Coordinate with the parents-to-be on guest list preferences
Ask about co-ed vs. women-only, max headcount, and anyone they specifically want included. Most baby showers have 20-40 guests — larger than that and the gift-opening portion drags past 45 minutes.
Send invitations 4-5 weeks before the shower
Include the registry link, party time and location, and the theme if applicable. Digital invitations with built-in RSVP tracking save time — set the response deadline for 10 days before the event.
Follow up on RSVPs and confirm final headcount
Chase down non-responders 1 week after the deadline. You need the final number 5 days before for food and seating — plan for 2-3 extra beyond confirmed in case of plus-ones.
Theme and Decorations
Choose a theme that fits the parents' style
Popular themes include woodland animals, storybook, safari, and garden. Stick to a 2-3 color palette — it makes decoration shopping easier and looks more polished. Check the nursery colors for inspiration.
Order or make decorations
Budget $40-$80 for decorations at a home shower: balloon garland ($15-$25), a banner ($5-$10), table centerpieces, and a photo backdrop. Order 2 weeks ahead so you're not scrambling the day before.
Balloon arrangement or garland
Welcome sign and table decorations
Photo area or backdrop
Set up a diaper cake or centerpiece
A diaper cake uses 50-80 diapers and doubles as a practical gift. Size 1 and size 2 diapers are the most useful — newborn sizes are outgrown in 2-4 weeks by most babies.
Registry and Gifts
Confirm the parents' registry and share the link
Include the registry link on the invitation and have it ready to text to anyone who asks. Most registries offer a 10-15% completion discount after the shower — remind the parents to use it.
Set up a gift tracking sheet for the shower
Assign one person to log each gift and who gave it during the opening. This makes thank-you notes 10 times easier — the mom-to-be will be too busy holding things up for photos to remember details.
Prepare a gift station at the party
Set up a table near the seating area for gifts. Have a large bag ready for wrapping paper and tissue — the pile builds up fast during gift opening. Keep scissors and a trash bag within arm's reach.
Games and Activities
Plan 3-4 games spread across the party
Mix active games (baby bingo during gift opening) with quick ones (guess the baby food flavor, baby trivia). Each game should take 10-15 minutes. Space them between food and gifts to keep energy up.
One game during gift opening (bingo or predictions)
One icebreaker game early in the party
One group activity (onesie decorating, advice cards)
Buy small prizes for game winners
Candles, mini succulents, or bath products in the $5-$10 range make good prizes. Buy 4-5 prizes total — one per game plus a spare. Wrap them to add a bit of excitement.
Set up an advice or wishes station
Leave cards and pens at each table for guests to write parenting advice or wishes for the baby. Pre-printed prompt cards get 50% more participation than blank ones. Collect them in a decorated box.
Food and Drinks
Plan the menu to match the time of day
Morning showers do well with brunch (quiche, fruit, pastries) at $10-$15 per person. Afternoon showers suit finger foods and appetizers at $12-$18 per person. Evenings call for a heartier spread at $18-$25.
Main food items — 3-4 options
A sweet option — cake, cupcakes, or dessert table
Set up a drink station with a signature mocktail
Since the guest of honor can't drink alcohol, make the featured drink a mocktail everyone enjoys. A sparkling berry lemonade or cucumber mint spritzer costs under $15 to make a batch for 20 people.
Order the cake or desserts
A theme-decorated cake from a bakery costs $60-$120 for 20-30 servings. Cupcakes or a dessert table with 3-4 options (cookies, cake pops, fruit tarts) give variety and avoid the need for cake cutting.
Day-Of Flow
Set up 90 minutes before guests arrive
Decorations first, then food, then games and activity stations. Test background music volume — it should be audible but not competing with conversation. Do a final walkthrough 15 minutes before start.
Follow the party timeline
A typical 3-hour shower: 30 minutes arrival and mingling, 30 minutes first game and food, 45 minutes gift opening with bingo, 15 minutes cake, 30 minutes second game and socializing, 30 minutes wind-down.
Arrange help loading gifts into the car
Baby shower gifts are bulky — strollers, car seats, diaper boxes. Have 2-3 people ready to help carry gifts to the car at the end. Bring a large vehicle if the parents-to-be drove a small car.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many weeks before the due date should a baby shower be held?
Hold the baby shower 4-8 weeks before the due date — around weeks 28-32 of pregnancy. This timing allows the expectant parent to be visibly pregnant but still comfortable enough to enjoy the event. Earlier than 24 weeks feels premature; later than 36 weeks risks the baby arriving early (12% of US births are premature). For twins or high-risk pregnancies, aim for 28-30 weeks.
Who traditionally hosts a baby shower?
Close friends, coworkers, or the partner's family typically host. Etiquette has shifted — it was once considered inappropriate for the expectant parent's own mother or mother-in-law to host (seen as gift-soliciting), but this rule is largely outdated. Co-hosting between 2-4 people is the most common arrangement, splitting costs and planning duties. The host covers venue, food, and decorations; guests bring gifts.
How much does a baby shower cost to host?
A home baby shower for 20 guests costs $200-$500 for food, decorations, and games. Restaurant or venue baby showers run $500-$1,500 for a private space with catering. The biggest cost variable is food format — brunch-style is most popular and costs $10-$20 per person to prepare at home versus $25-$50 per person at a restaurant. Decorations from Amazon or Party City run $30-$75 for a coordinated theme package.
Are co-ed baby showers common now?
Yes — about 40% of baby showers now include all genders, up from under 10% a decade ago. They are often called baby-q (BBQ theme), beer and babies, or simply baby celebrations. Co-ed showers skew toward casual formats — backyard barbecues, game-watching parties, or brunch — rather than traditional shower games. They work especially well for couples where both partners want to celebrate with their full friend group.
What baby shower games do guests actually enjoy?
The highest-rated games in surveys are: baby bingo (guests mark off gifts as they are opened), guess the baby food blind taste test, how big is the belly measuring game, and trivia about the parents-to-be. Games that embarrass guests (melted chocolate in diapers, chugging from baby bottles) have a 50/50 approval rate — know your audience. Plan 2-3 games total lasting 20-30 minutes combined; over-programming kills conversation time.