Look, I know that *technically* as the mom-to-be (or mom-to-be again in my case!), I’m not supposed to be planning my own baby shower. However, a little brain storming of theme ideas never hurt anyone…and if the people planning my party happen to see this and get some ideas, even better! Seriously though, along my search, I found it extremely hard to find ideas for a co-ed shower, other than a backyard barbecue theme. I also found it increasingly hard to find games that would fit a particular theme. Or games in general that sounded fun. I am not the type to play “guess the smell on the diaper”, which is apparently listed on practically every must-do list for baby shower games! Please no one ever make me play this. Never, ever. Ever.
From my search, I have compiled a list of my favorite five ideas with games and some foods that I think match each theme perfectly! These themes are all co-ed and gender neutral ideas because to me, a baby shower isn’t as much about the gifts as it is about celebrating with family and friends!
The Invitation, Thank You Card, and Games Baby Shower Packages shown below are available for purchase on my Etsy Store.
Please click here to visit my design shop.
Click Here for Coupon Code to get 10% off your invitation package!
1) 1950s Baby Shower Theme
This is my personal favorite. Where do I begin with my love for this theme? I think a part of me has always wanted to experience the 1950s because lets face it, the whole 1950’s diner theme and idea of sipping on a milkshake with your sweetie while the jukebox plays in the background just sounds like so much fun. So why not turn it into a baby shower theme? Both men and women alike will find this theme fun! And don’t forget about those cute milkshake centerpieces. You can also combine this idea with the carnival theme I’ve listed as #4 below. Combining the two is my husband’s favorite idea and a great one at that!
How to Decorate & What to Wear:
- Red and White Checkered or Polka Dot Tablecloths with Touches of Blue
- Cardboard Stand Up Jukebox
- Greaser Jacket for the Father-to-Be
- Vintage Maternity Dress for the Mother-to-Be (I love the cute clothes designed on Etsy by TiCCi Rockabilly
- “Milkshake” Style Flower Centerpieces: Get milkshake glasses and fill with white flowers. Add a red pom pom on top as the “cherry” and a paper red and white twist straw to finish it off.
Food to Serve:
- Milkshakes or Ice Cream Floats
- Coke
- Milkshake Themed Cupcakes
- Snow Cones
- Cotton Candy
- Go Savory with Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Games to Play:
- Name that Baby Song: Make a cardboard jukebox and set up your bluetooth device in front of it or behind it. Compile a list of songs that include the word baby in them or are baby themed and play them for the guests. The guests must guess the song as quickly as possible. Whoever guesses correctly and the fastest wins.
- Draw the Baby: Have the guests blindly draw a picture of a baby. The best baby wins.
- Baby Time Capsule: Ask each guest to bring an item that showcases something about the year the baby will be born for a time capsule! Present it to the mommy-to-be at the end of the shower.
- Name That Baby: Have the guests each provide a baby photo and an adult photo of themselves ahead of time to the host. Let the guests guess who is who!
- Guess Her (and His) Age: Set up pictures of the mom (and dad) to be throughout their childhood and let everyone guess how old they were in each photo.
- Baby Food Tasting: Remove the labels from jars of baby food (and make some new labels turned inside out so you can figure out which one is which!) and let the guests try and guess the flavors of each.
- Mother and Father Know Best: Have the guest sign “checks” with words of advice for the mother and father to be, or just sweet notes for the baby!
- *Craft* Bib Design: Set up a table with plain white bibs with fabric markers and let the guests design some new attire for the baby.
2) Vintage Baby Shower Theme
Bring yourself back in time and decorate with an adorable old fashioned look and ample dessert choices to boot. I love the feminine look to this party (it reminds me of an old fashioned tea party!), however, I felt like it would never work for a co-ed theme…that is, until I thought about combining it with a men’s area complete with chocolate cigars and a beverage cart with a decanter and your husband’s favorite non-alcoholic drinks (or alcoholic if thats your thing for your guests, you do you!). Let the men sit back and mingle in their designated man cave while you enjoy the classic tea party and then join together for games and gifts…especially baby charades which can be enjoyed by everyone!
How to Decorate & What to Wear:
- Pink and white with touches of gold for the women; navy blue and white stripes for the men
- Chocolate Cigars and a Beverage Cart with a Decanter for the Vintage “Man Cave”
- Delicate bird cage, old fashioned oval picture frame for the wall (or a fake one made out of cardboard), and plenty of flowers in vases with pink ribbons tied around them.
- Hang classic looking baby clothes (dig into your parents old storage!) on the wall as a backdrop on a fake clothing line
- Classy and modest dresses for the ladies and something dapper and sophisticated for the men
Food to Serve:
- Cake Pops
- Petite Fours
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
- Pink Lemonade
- Tea
- Cake
- Chocolate Cigars
- Bow Tie Cookies
Games to Play:
- Baby Charades: Bring it back old school with this classic game. Make all of the charades cards baby related, of course.
- Pin the Pacifier on the Baby: This game has been around for generations and is the perfect fit for your vintage themed party.
- Thirsty Baby: Fill baby bottles for each guest with water, milk, or another non-alcoholic beverage and see how much the contestants can drink in one minute. This will fit perfectly in the “man cave” area even if everyone decides to join in.
- Name That Nursery Rhyme: How well does everyone know their nursery rhymes? Either print a list for guests to guess on or make it interactive and have the party’s host ask the “audience” and see who answers the most!
- Baby Shower Crossword: Create a crossword with questions revolving around babies, family, etc and see who can complete theirs the fastest.
- Candy in a Bottle: Fill a baby bottle with a candy of choice and have guests guess how many candied are inside.
- Baby Names Through the Years: See how well your guests know baby name trends! Hand each guest a sheet of paper with three columns, each listing a different decade you’ve chosen. In each column, have the guests guess the top 10 names from each decade. Either include both boy and girl names, or make it gender-specific based on what gender your baby is!
- *Craft* Onesie Design: Set up a table with plain onesies with fabric markers and let the guests design some new attire for the baby.
3) Friends TV Baby Shower Theme
There aren’t pretty much any ideas out there for a Friends Themed Baby Shower which is honestly shocking. Instead of a sign like above that says “The One Where (Name Here) Turns 30” make a sign that says “The One With (Name Here)’s Baby Shower”. Set up some classic Friends treats like cheesecake and Phoebe’s famous Nestle Toullhouse cookies, and instead of coffee, put out coffee mugs and serve some hot mockolate. Phoebe’s crazy picture frame can be designed with baby clothes and baby dolls sticking out of it or a giant baby bump and arms, and make sure to include a cutout at the head for people to pose behind it. Also, if you have a co-host they may decided to decorate with a lot of cups and five different types of ice. You’ve been warned. This is for the most avid Friends fanatic, and I think it would be pretty spectacular. Just don’t be surprised if the mom to be makes a joke about the breast pump she gets being beer bong for a baby…and please, whatever you do, don’t get her a pair of leather pants to wear after the baby is born.
How to Decorate & What to Wear:
- Central Perk Blackboard announcing the parents-to-be
- Streamer sign saying “The One With (Name Here)’s Baby Shower”
- Friends style cutouts of the famous gold picture frame with menu items printed inside
- Purple door cover with a pretend picture frame
- Take it to the next level and make Phoebe’s wall art
- Wear anything you please. Just wear one outfit. No need to be wearing everything someone else owns.
Food to Serve:
- Hot Mockolate
- Apple Cider (You can call it “The Fat”)
- Milk in Baby Bottles (or cantaloupe juice if you’re really feeling the theme)
- Phoebe’s Nestle Toullhouse Cookies
- Cheesecake
- Monica’s Dirty Salad
- Unagi Rolls (the fish is cooked so for those of you who avoid raw fish during pregnancy, this is fair game!)
- Mini Meatball Subs
- Pizza
- Snow cones, dry ice, ice cubes, and anything else ice related
Games to Play:
- Bamboozled: It might be hard to figure out all of the rules for your guests but you can definitely ask trivia questions about the mommy, daddy, and baby. Just don’t forget the hopping bonus and the wicket wango card. Here’s the Rules of Bamboozled in case you want to throw some of these into your standard baby shower trivia game. Just don’t end the game with telling the mother she’ll be a terrible mother. It won’t go over well no matter how funny you think you are quoting “Friends”.
- Trivia Game with Timer: If Bamboozled is too challenging for you to figure out, go with Ross’s trivia game from “The One with the Embryos”. Team your guests up to answer questions and see who wins. Have categories about the mom and dad, their children (if they already have some), how-to baby related questions, kids entertainment (tv shows, theme songs, nursery rhymes, books, you name it!), etc. Have each category have different levels for points. And whatever you do, don’t forget that timer. You want to make sure that the buzzer goes off when you ask what the mom or dad to be’s job is.
- Guess What’s in the Bag: A classic baby shower game but also a classic Friends game from “The One with the Embryos”. Have guests guess what’s in the mother-to-be’s purse or compile a diaper bag and have the guests guess the items inside!
- Baby Names: Rachel decided to use Monica’s favorite baby name so why not let your guests throw some ideas into the ring and see if there’s any you like! Just don’t forget to put the caps back on the pens. And do it gently. This party is organized fun after all.
- “Chopped” Baby Food Competition: Get out a couple of blenders and try your hand at being Monica in the kitchen, “Chopped” TV style. Set out a variety of ingredients that guests can use and have them race in teams, relay style, against a timer to see which team can make the most baby food first. If you’re really brave, taste test them afterwards and vote for which one’s the best!
- *Craft* Wall Art: Let your guests get creative and make some wall art for the baby’s room. Provide them each with a small wooden plaque, or let them all decorate the same plaque! Include a variety of decorative items for them to use. Just keep your finger’s crossed it doesn’t turn out like Phoebe’s artwork.
4) Carnival Baby Shower Theme
There’s no baby shower theme that allows itself more to silly baby shower games than a carnival or circus theme! I’m not into the cheesy games in general but throw in a carnival theme and suddenly I’m there. This theme is great especially if you have a backyard to use and you want a lot of active games for the guests! It’s also a great theme if you have kids over the age of 3 that will be at your shower. As I mentioned earlier too, this theme is easy to turn vintage and would work hand-in-hand with the 1950s theme I listed as #1 on the list.
How to Decorate & What to Wear:
- Red and White Stripes and Streamers
- Welcome to the Carnival Signs with arrows pointing to games, prizes, food, and bathrooms
- Plenty of game activity tables!
- Hang some red curtains to enter the party area with red and white streamers in hanging in between or put up a tent outside if you’re feeling really ambitious
- “Come One, Come All, to the Greatest Baby Shower” Entrance Sign
- Make Hot Air Balloon Centerpieces or use mini gum-ball machines
- Dress comfortably. After all, you’re playing carnival games!
Food to Serve:
- Soda
- Snow Cones
- Cotton Candy
- Caramel or Candy Apples
- Cake or Cake Pops
- Popcorn
- Corn Dogs
- French Fries
Games to Play:
- Guess the Gum-balls: Fill a jar with gum-balls and have the guests guess how many are inside. Whoever guesses closest wins.
- Baby Bottle Ring Toss: Set up some baby bottles with some teething rings and try to toss them onto the bottles!
- Bobbing for Pacifiers: Fill a baby bathtub with water and place pacifiers into the tub. Have the guests bob for the pacifiers while holding their hands behind their back. The person who gets the most wins!
- The Price is Right: Set up a table with baby items and have the guests guess the price for each item.
- Ready to Pop: Set up a board with balloons and provide some darts (or some type of pointy object) to throw at the balloons to try and pop them.
- Bingo: Give the guests bingo cards to mark off while the guest of honor opens gifts!
- *Craft* Baby’s First Alphabet Book: Set up a table with pages labeled with each letter of the alphabet. Let the guests stop by and pick a sheet to draw a picture that goes with the letter. If you really want to connect with the carnival theme and challenge guests, try to make all of the pictures carnival related! Afterwards, the book can be laminated and bound for the baby!
5) Vineyard Baby Shower Theme
This one is impossible to find during a google search but I think it would be a hit for a co-ed baby shower! Instead of the well known co-ed BBQ theme, make it fancy and bring a non-alcoholic version of Napa Valley to your backyard. Decorate the table with wine bottles or baby bottles filled with fruit juice and set up a fruit juice tasting bar with some food to nibble on. Fill up wine glasses with a piece of cake, trifle, or scoops of ice cream, and make a cake out of cheese wheels.
How to Decorate & What to Wear:
- Set up outside and decorate with plenty of foliage
- Wine barrel tables for displays or wicker picnic baskets with fruit and bread rolls
- add miniature wine barrels to the tables you have as centerpieces or flowers on tree stump style wooden boards
- Wooden boards for serving platters
- Sundress for the mom-to-be and a polo shirt with nice slacks for the dad-to-be
Food to Serve:
- Trifle (in wine glasses)
- Ice Cream (in wine glasses)
- Cheese Wheel Cake, with a side of honey
- Fruit Platter
- Fruit Juices
- Non-Alcoholic sparkling cider
Games to Play:
- Juice Tasting: Set up a juice tasting bar with sparkling and non-sparkling options and let your friends each try different types of juice and try to guess which fruits are in them.
- Baby Food Tasting: Remove the labels from jars of baby food (and make some new labels turned inside out so you can figure out which one is which!) and let the guests try and guess the flavors of each.
- Thirsty Baby: Fill baby bottles for each guest with water, milk, or another non-alcoholic beverage and see how much the contestants can drink in one minute.
- Scavenger Hunt: Start off your shower with a hunt around the party. Give everyone a list of things to find or a list of clues.
- Ice Breaker Bingo: Create a bingo board with fun facts about each of your guests. Let your guests get to know each other as they mingle and try to fill in their bingo cards with the answers.
- TV & Movie Family Trivia: Ask your guests trivia questions about famous TV and movie families and see how much they know!
- Draw the Baby: Have the guests blindly draw a picture of a baby. The best baby wins.
- *Craft* Wooden Blocks: If you want to offer something crafty, set out some wooden blocks and paint pens for your guest to decorate wooden building blocks for your new baby.
The Invitation, Thank You Card, and Games Baby Shower Packages shown above are available for purchase on my Etsy Store.
Please Click Here to Visit my Design Shop
This is genius! Thank you for the ideas, I especially love the Friends theme idea! Definitely bookmarking this for the next baby shower party!!
Thank you! I’m torn between having the Friends theme baby shower now or waiting for my 30th birthday next year for a Friends theme party. No matter what, I know that sometime in the next year or so, I’m having a Friends theme party one way or the other…and I’m definitely making everyone play Bamboozled! 🙂
The ideas are different
You’ve put so much thought and research into this! I love the vintage and 50’s themed for something completely different.