Let the Games Begin b y   J e s s i c a   W i l l i a m s

Why do we play these silly shower games? Perhaps because these games are a lot like the first few months of parenting: you try your hardest to come out on top, and sometimes you just have to laugh at your creative attempt.

Shower games should be tailored around the comfort of the mom-to-be. Also, consider the guest list. It might be easier to choose games after looking at what types of personalities will be there. If her conservative boss will be there, perhaps you shouldn't match each naked baby picture to each guest.

Traditional and Popular Games
Determine what materials and small prizes you will need for each game. For instance, the popular "tray game" (explained below) generally serves a double purpose -- the items on the tray are used in the game, but are also the gifts from the hostess. You might also call on other guests to provide game materials.

Tray Game Find about 15-25 small items that all relate to babyhood. Examples include, a baby thermometer, rattle, teething ring, baby Tylenol, socks, jar of baby food, etc.. Arrange these items on a large tray. Let everyone view the objects on the tray for one minute, then take the tray away. The person who can list the most objects from memory wins. Baby Food Smell Test Take five different flavors of baby food and empty them into five disposable bowls. Number each bowl and then write down the flavors on an answer sheet. Place the bowls in front of the guests and have each of them smell the food. Each guest writes down what they think the baby food is for each number. The person that matches the most wins. Clothespin Round-up As everyone arrives, hand out one clothespin to each guest. Tell them to place it anywhere on their clothing. The object of this game is to NOT sit cross-legged (because mom-to-be can't) through the entire shower. The guest who catches another guest sitting this way gets to take their clothespin. The person with the most clothespins at the end of the shower wins. Everything Baby From A-Z Give each guest a piece of paper and a pencil. Set an oven timer to one minute and tell the guests to write each letter of the alphabet on each line of the paper. Each guest has to come up with one baby-related word for each letter before the timer goes off. The person with the most creative baby-related words wins. Diaper Race Using cloth diapers, have each guest diaper a baby doll as quickly as they can using safety pins. The person with the quickest time wins. Variation: Have two guests race each other in diapering a balloon blindfolded. If they don't pop it in the process, the person who diapers quickest wins. Cloth diapers and pins go to the mom-to-be. Diaper Door Prize Before the party: Cut out small triangles (which will be folded into diapers) for each guest from felt or paper napkins. To make the diapers, fold two corners in so that they touch each other, then fold the last corner over the two corners and pin it together with a small safety pin. Open up one of the little diapers and draw a small streak inside with a brown marker or pen. Have each guest pick one diaper as they arrive and have them pin it to their shirt with another safety pin. Don't tell them why they are wearing the diapers. At the end of the shower, have them open their diapers. The guest with the "poopy" diaper wins the door prize.

Getting ready for the new little one? Visit the Preparing for Baby discussion board!

Here are some ideas for great games for best for intimate groups:

Multiple Guess Mommy Quiz
Before the shower, think up ten silly questions to ask the guests about how the mom-to-be will respond to certain parenting situations, along with three answers to choose from. Example: "Who is the first person Julie is likely to call if her baby is up at 2 a.m. crying?" Answers: "(a) Her mother, (b) Her pediatrician, (c) No one. She knows she can at least wake up Dan and make him suffer too." Have each person (including the mom-to-be) write down their answers after you read the questions out loud. The winner has to have the most matches with the mother-to-be.

Variations
For guests who have played these games repeatedly, you can catch them off guard by changing the rules. For example, if every guest has played the tray game, put the tray in another room of the house and then lead the guests to the tray. When they return to their seats, tell them to list everything they saw in the room they were just in, instead of the items on the tray.

A note to mom
Games are supposed to be fun for everyone. But if you have heard about (or played) the game where each guest estimates how "round" the mom-to-be is with a piece of ribbon --and you don't want to be subject to that kind of scrutiny, let your host know. You can also provide game ideas and suggestions she may not have thought of. After all, this is your shower!

About the Author: Jessica Williams is a Pregnancy Today contributing writer and mother of two boys, born in 9/93 and 8/96. She writes breastfeeding, parenting and pregnancy articles from her home in northwest Montana. She is the breastfeeding guide at Suite 101.

Other articles in this series:

Showering the Mom-to-Be With Love	The Best Baby Gifts
Let the Games Begin	Organization For a Memorable Shower
The Coed Baby Shower	Tasty Treats for the Baby Shower
Baby Shower Gift Ideas and Tips