We are having a party that will be 1/3 65th b-day, 1/3 a bon voyage party for a dog that is (finally) moving back with his owner (D) and 1/3 a baby shower for our “adopted” D and her H (think crazy parents–she belongs to us).
First we are renting a Pontoon boat for a few hours for the B-day part and then having dinner at our house–10-12 people.
Surprise shower for new baby and their theme is jungle for the baby’s room.
D has told all guests that we are creating a library for the baby so the gifts will be books.
Please! ideas for 1-2 fun games for the shower. (drinking young group except the hosts–well not young anyway)
How about matching mamas/parents with babies of animals? E.g. doe and stag with fawn, etc. Making animals out of Lego or clay or playdough and having guests guess which animal each is? Identifying different jars of baby food with labels removed? Those were games I had played at showers I hostessed. Maybe they were lame, but no one told me they were.
One I didn’t play: Identifying offspring of famous parents?
I really like the baby food jar idea! I might even put votives on top as a decoration for the area where we will
sit after dinner–cute!
I just ordered tiny plastic babies and the large ice cube trays for the drinks–the winner is the first person whose melts–I have enough for 2 babies per ice cubes.
HImom we are both awake while those East coast folks are nearly ready to get up!
We would also make a “cake” for the expectant mom out of things for baby–receiving blankets, baby towels, diapers, and top with a rattle or pacifier or bottle or something. For laziness, I’d often just use a big pack of disposable diapers on a flat piece of cardboard that is wrapped in wrapping paper with an empty paper towel (or gift wrapping tube) in the center. You just tape the diapers in a circle around the roll until it gets to the desired diameter and make it 1-3 tiers, with ribbons and something cute on the top. Just search on the web for diaper cake to see cuter examples than the one I’m describing. It was useful for the new mom and made a nice centerpiece. There are really a ton of green and yellow baby food and hard to figure out what is in each jar (make sure you put numbers with sharpies on each jar and keep the labels for the new mom).
Your party sounds like FUN! I’m not a game person at showers, but I do have a few suggestions for great children’s books with the jungle theme.
Hot Hippo by Mwenye Hadithi
A is for Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet by Anthony D. Fredericks
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynn Cherry
Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck and Valeria Petrone
“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth by Eric Carle
I don’t know if it was lame, but I recently attended a baby shower for a first-time mom, and one of the games involved getting points for having certain items in your purse or pocket. Things like tissues, keys, a picture of your mom (we counted photos on cell phones). We were rewarded with pieces of candy if you had an item.
Great ideas! hrh19, thanks for the book list. I will be ordering them from Amazon today!
The diaper cakes are fun but I am pretty sure that is the type of thing her relatives will do for their shower. That shower this friend is dreading as no one gets along well. (the wedding shower was painful).
Are the “prizes” baby items the winner gives to the mother or does the winner keep them?
Prizes were candy or household items like dish towels, novelty soaps, etc. The mom kept the baby “cake” (with all the items festooning it). The cake can be as simple as desired.
At my baby shower the hosts asked everyone to bring a baby/toddler picture of themselves. They affixed them all to a posterboard, and then we all tried to guess who was who.
@oregon101, if you’re looking for animal related book ideas, I suggest the Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Lonely Firefly, and Runaway Bunny board books.
I’m no help when it comes to games.
For a young drinking group, put beer in baby bottles and have a drinking contest. Because cheering is the fun part you might round up maybe 4 volunteers and the others could root for the favorite competitor. Might want to try it out first to see how much time it takes and how much beer should be in the bottles.
Recently attended a baby shower that was beautifully done. They had a few packs of newborn diapers opened with colorful sharpies available. The idea was to write notes to the parents on the diaper for some fun for tired mom and dads. The other idea was to have onesies available to decorate with colorful fabric pens.
They also requested books instead of cards.
They had a drink area with booze ( bloody Mary’s and mimosas. I guess this is nothing new for the mom to be. Her friends had the party. Lots of decoration ideas from Pinterest.
I attended a baby shower where the host bought a bunch of white baby onesies. The guests decorated or designed them I believe with sharpie pens and then they were hung on a rope. ( like laundry that is put up to dry) The mother to be got to take home the onesies for the newborn baby. I would recommend buying them in different sizes.
You could also use markers or non toxic fabric paints.