Guessing games are a staple at baby showers. Most people love the fun of guessing and the potential thrill of finding out they've guessed right, so these games are a great way to get all your guests involved.
Guess the Baby Food
Buy 12 jars of baby food in pairs of similar colors – for example, a jar of green beans and a jar of peas, a jar of applesauce and a jar of pears, and a jar of carrots and a jar of squash.
With a permanent marker, number the lids of the jars 1 through 12. Then remove the labels, marking the jar number on the back of the corresponding label. Hide the labels to use as an answer key.
Have the guests examine the unopened jars by sight only – no tasting or smelling! – and guess what each one is. They can write down their answers on a piece of paper. The person with the most correct answers wins. After the game is over, tape the labels back on the jars and give the baby food to the mom-to-be.
Variation: Do a taste-test version of the game – you'll find out why babies make some of those funny faces during meals! (Of course, don't send the guest of honor home with opened jars of baby food.)
Baby Price Is Right
Fill a basket with a few inexpensive but necessary baby items and have everyone guess at the cost of the entire basket of goodies. (A great way to keep it difficult is to throw in things like a jar of baby food, diaper rash cream, and other stuff that moms of older kids haven't had to buy in a while!)
Whoever best estimates the retail value wins a small prize, and the parents-to-be get to take home the whole basket. This is a nice way to give a large, thoughtful gift without breaking your budget.
Guess the Girth
It's a good idea to check with the guest of honor in advance about this one because some women may find this game a bit too personal. But if she's not self-conscious about her weight, it's a great icebreaker and can be entertaining.
All you need is some string or yarn. Ask each guest to cut a length of string that they think will stretch around the expectant mom's belly.
After everyone has had a turn, the mother-to-be measures and cuts a string that actually fits her belly. Compare her string to the pieces of string from each guest. The person who is closest wins. It can be surprising how far off some people's estimates are!
Baby Picture Match
Before the shower, ask the guests for pictures of themselves as babies. Assemble the photos on a board or post them on a wall and assign each a number.
During the shower, pass out sheets of paper to the guests so they can write down which grown-up matches which baby picture. If the guests don't know each other well, name tags can help the process. The person who gets the most correct answers wins.
Baby Bag Mystery
Before the shower, get a bunch of brown paper bags and number them with a marker. Stick one baby item – like a pacifier, teething ring, or diaper – in each bag and staple the bag shut. As you go, write down an answer key that shows what item is in what number bag.
Pass the bags around and let your guests guess which item is in each just by feeling it through the bag. Have everyone jot down their answers on a sheet of paper. At the end of the shower, read off the correct answers. Whoever gets the most right wins a prize, and the parents-to-be get the baby supplies.
Guess How Many
Fill a baby bottle with jelly beans. (Or put diapers – or whatever you like – in a large, clear container instead.) Make sure you count the items first! Have each guest guess how many they think are in the bottle or container. The person who comes closest wins a prize.
Variation: Buy a hollow plastic egg at a crafts store. Fill it as full as possible with items from around the house – anything from a grain of rice to a paper clip. Be sure to list and count the items as you go – you'll be surprised at how many things you can squeeze in!
Nursery Rhyme Lyrics
Choose 10 nursery rhymes or well-known children's songs, select a line from each, and write it on a piece of paper numbered from 1 to 10.
Hand out copies of the list and give guests a few minutes to come up with the titles for as many of the rhymes or songs as they can. Include some that are easy and some that are more difficult to keep the game challenging.
Variation: Play or sing the songs and have guests guess the title.