How to host a baby shower

6. The Games. Break the ice and get the party started with one of Beverly Pearce's baby theme games.

Baby food tasting. This is just as horrible as it sounds. Buy four different jars of baby food. Cover the label and ask each guest to taste and guess the flavour.

The dirty nappy game. Buy a pack of napkins, safety pins and packets of chocolate buttons. Fold the napkins into nappy shapes with a chocolate inside. On arrival give each guest a napkin nappy. Guests are asked to hold on to the napkin throughout the party. At the end of the party everyone has to open their napkin. The one who'd held it the longest, would have melted the chocolate so had the dirtiest nappy. The dirtiest nappy wins.

Guess games. Write baby related items on to pieces of paper and put in a pot. Each guest takes it in turn to pick a piece of paper and then has to create the item using play-dough. Other guests shout out when they know the answer.

Baby prediction. This game has a practical element. Each guest has to guess the sex, date, time and weight at birth and pays a pound or more to enter. Then after the baby is born the host can open a baby savings account with the proceeds.

Baby bingo. Opening the presents can be embarrassing. To take the spotlight away from the mum-to-be, Beverley recommends making the gift giving into a game of baby shower bingo. Before the party, make up bingo cards with pictures of baby related items, such as nappies, dummies, bottles and teddies. As guests arrive, stick a picture to their gift. Distribute the bingo cards just before you start opening the gifts. Then when the mum-to-be opens the presents, the focus is off her as guests check their card to see if they have the matching picture.

7. Food. The tea party theme is the most popular for a baby shower. Bring sandwiches, mini cakes, biscuits, fresh fruit. You can make a baby punch (non-alcoholic) and non-baby punch for guests. Alternatively make a large dish and freeze the leftovers - leaving the mum-to-be a future meal.

A baby shower doesn't have to be an expensive affair. Keep all presents to less than £10. Alternatively, bring home made presents - cook the mum-to-be something for the freezer or make her a baby-sitting voucher promising her a future night out. If you've got kids of your own, bring a bag of gear for her to borrow. The most important thing is to give your friend a good send-off to motherhood!

read more:  previous | 1 |  2 |  3 | printer friendly send to a friend