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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Feb 13, 2020 22:18:47 GMT
Like:
Visiting with people I only see on occasion.
Food and cake.
Don't like:
Games(especially games that everyone is watching only you...like how fast can you diaper the dolly while blindfolded or the "poopy" identify the candy bar in the "dirty" diaper).
Having to bring extra thing(pack of diapers,book, etc...), in addition to the gift.
Young children/toddlers/tweens(under 12 should be left at home, in my opinion) that run all about or interrupt adult conversation.
When the attendees spend the majority of time, looking down at their phones.
To me a nice shower would be:
Arrive and mingle for a awhile.
Eat food.
Have cake while watching gifts being opened.
I usually work on the weekends, so I decline attending.
The older I've gotten the less I enjoy attending, what I consider to be an obligational duty to attend. Especially when it's Family related and the only time I am included/invited to things are when a gift is required or a purchase is expected(home sales party).
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691 
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Feb 13, 2020 22:24:47 GMT
Lots and lots of great food, no games or limited games that don’t make people get weirdly competitive, short, and mimosas.
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basketdiva
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Posts: 3,699
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Post by basketdiva on Feb 13, 2020 22:37:14 GMT
Between eating ( since it’s at a restaurant) and opening presents, why do you need games? If the shower is more than 2 hours, I would be leaving.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:15:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2020 22:38:13 GMT
The last one we went to , the parents registered for diapers! It was their 2nd baby and they wanted diapers.
So the the diaper raffle was a big hit.
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Post by myshelly on Feb 13, 2020 22:47:15 GMT
I intensely resent diaper raffles. I’m already buying a gift. Don’t guilt me into also buying diapers.
Balloons are so bad for the environment.
See - hate literally everything about baby showers.
Bring me a gourmet chef and some alcohol.
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Post by chaosisapony on Feb 13, 2020 23:22:28 GMT
Nothing, there is nothing I like about baby showers. 😂
For any shower I really appreciate not being forced to play games, have decent food available, and please don't force my to spend two hours watching someone open gifts.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,748
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Post by pilcas on Feb 13, 2020 23:26:14 GMT
I would keep it simple. Food, raffle, opening gifts.
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kate
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Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Feb 13, 2020 23:49:33 GMT
I enjoy a little game or two if they're purely voluntary. I think they can help break the ice when attendees are not all from the same cirle (family/work/friends, for example). I'll play a game like guess-what's-in-the-baby-food-jar, but I prefer to observe if it's who-can-chug-beer-from-a-baby-bottle-fastest.  I love seeing the gifts. I don't want to spend all afternoon at it, though - 40 gifts is waaaay too many to watch. But for heaven's sake, don't have mom or friends undo the packaging before handing gifts to the honoree to make the process go faster! My mom spends a lot of time and energy to make a beautiful package, and she's disappointed when the honoree doesn't even get to see the wrapping. Having a photo taken with the giver, honoree, and gift is BRILLIANT if it doesn't take up a ton of time! Advice-giving is a sweet tradition, too - again, as long as it's voluntary. |
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shannigan
Shy Member
Posts: 37
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Post by shannigan on Feb 14, 2020 1:33:21 GMT
When I have hosted showers, we've always played this game which has always been well received:
Had each guest a paper plate and a marker, Have them put the plate on top of their head and draw a picture of a baby with their arms reaching over their head to do so.
Always gets a lot of laughs, is quick and everyone is willing to participate. Prize goes to the person who drew the mom's favourite picture!
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Post by myboysnme on Feb 14, 2020 1:42:14 GMT
I hate games. But if you must, here are 2 I have done that were painless. The first one was like a King Cake where there were ribbons hanging out of a cake. Everyone pulled a ribbon and the one with the baby attached to the ribbon got a prize.
The second one was a sort of scrapboook station set up and people could go over and make a 8x8 page and write some advice or whatever they wanted. All of those were put together in an album afterward with pictures from the shower. It was voluntary and you could put stickers and stuff on a page or just write something.
I despise games where all the prizes go to the mom to be. I have actually pretended to be sick in the bathroom to avoid that cotton ball on the head game. I give my clothespin or diaper away right away to get it over with.
My idea of a great shower is no more than 2 hrs, preferably 90 minutes, eat snacks and treats, mom to be opens gifts and go home.
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 14, 2020 2:34:33 GMT
Personally I do NOT like the diaper raffle (or on the same line, a book raffle where you bring a book). You are already buying a gift and then to spend more money on diapers or a book (and diapers ain't cheap!!). It's just too over the top. I completely agree! |
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Post by jackietex on Feb 14, 2020 2:37:52 GMT
At my niece's baby shower they set out a package of diapers and a pack of sharpies, and asked everyone to draw a picture or write a note, so that they could have something to smile about during those late-night diaper changes. I enjoyed that.
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 14, 2020 2:40:22 GMT
Nothing. lol. Honestly, the only baby shower I’ve been to that I liked had a customize your own mimosa bar, an omelette station, a crepe station, and the most delicious catered food I’ve ever had. That’s what I want in a shower. There were no games and we ate all through the opening presents. I could get behind this shower. Most of them are just idle chit chat with people you may or may not know and can last 3 hours on a weekend. Having the guest open the gifts at the beginning of the shower would be perfect. Then people who want to stay longer can and others don't feel like leaving after an hour or so is so bad. |
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 14, 2020 2:42:35 GMT
When I have hosted showers, we've always played this game which has always been well received: Had each guest a paper plate and a marker, Have them put the plate on top of their head and draw a picture of a baby with their arms reaching over their head to do so. Always gets a lot of laughs, is quick and everyone is willing to participate. Prize goes to the person who drew the mom's favourite picture! I have played this at a shower and it was pretty funny. It was quick and voluntary. The pictures are generally awful. |
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Post by padresfan619 on Feb 14, 2020 3:05:00 GMT
The one time I went to one with a taco truck was pretty great. Otherwise I really hate spending so much of my time on my limited weekend at a baby shower. They seem to last all day long or are during the worst times where I can’t do anything before or after.
Good food and quick gift opening and I’m pleased.
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Feb 14, 2020 4:46:03 GMT
Nothing. lol. Honestly, the only baby shower I’ve been to that I liked had a customize your own mimosa bar, an omelette station, a crepe station, and the most delicious catered food I’ve ever had. That’s what I want in a shower. There were no games and we ate all through the opening presents. I went to one at the officers club at quantico once that served the clubs Thanksgiving dinner menu. It was delicious! |
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Post by AngieJoy on Feb 14, 2020 4:55:47 GMT
I passionately hate baby shower games.
Activities that are NOT games are great though! It keeps things moving. The messages on the diapers is great, the little scrapbook station is good, too. At my shower for my DD we asked who had a funny parenting tale to tell (no horror stories allowed!), learned an amazing trick when their kids were small, or who was given a GREAT piece of advice that everyone parent should know.
It was casual, relaxed, kept the conversation moving on appropriate topics, but didn’t put anyone on the spot or involve games.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Feb 14, 2020 12:31:02 GMT
All this makes me a little sad. We've all become so jaded and crabby about social engagements. At the heart of a baby shower, it's an excited new mama anticipating the arrival of a new life and wanting all her friends and family to share that joy.
I vote for the keep it simple showers that focus on loving on the expectant mama while she gets all the paraphernalia needed for a new baby. But even if you do a shower with all the stuff I find annoying, I'm still going to be there smiling and happy for you.
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Post by candygurl on Feb 14, 2020 13:14:03 GMT
Not to play a million baby games! Sorry but about 3-4 is my limit. When I planned my sisters I made it that way and it was fun and relaxed. We did a scramble, music game where the word baby was in the title, and a few others.
We did simple finger foods and made sure it only lasted about 2 hours. People are busy and don’t want to be there forever lol.
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Post by auntkelly on Feb 14, 2020 13:56:45 GMT
My ideal shower is a come and go type shower where the mom to be is in one area opening gifts and the food and drinks are in another area and the guests can circulate between the two rooms and come and go as they please within a two hour window.
I really don’t enjoy party games, but I’ll be a good sport and play. Thankfully, at most showers I’ve gone to there aren’t any games.
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Post by marzbar71 on Feb 14, 2020 14:01:24 GMT
I usually have fun at them - even the dumb games. But one thing I refuse to do is fill out my own envelope for a thank you card. If the host thinks it will be such a burden on the person, they should fill them out for her. There have been several showers I didn't get a thank you card because that was better than having to basically send it to myself. LOL
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J u l e e
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Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Feb 14, 2020 14:10:54 GMT
Not into raffles or balloon bouquets - I like good food, seeing the mom to be, seeing other friends and family and leaving before not super long I agree. I'm not overly annoyed with anything about traditional showers, but they definitely have evolved (or SHOULD have evolved). They don't have to be terribly decorated, raffle/prize oriented, or game focused. My baby shower 18 years ago was women and men, in a restaurant, tons of good food and beer, no games, cute presents, visiting with friends, and two hours tops. And since people were fed lunch, those two hours weren't a huge imposition into their weekend/family time.
However, that's what *I* suggested when asked for input into my shower, since it was for us and I know my social group well. mayceesgranny, have you asked the parents to be what they would like or be comfortable with? |
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Post by lily on Feb 14, 2020 14:23:07 GMT
Oh I did go to a baby shower once where they gave everyone a white baby onesie and they had stencils and fabric paint and we got to paint a design on the onesie! It was fun and cute, and useful!
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 14, 2020 14:27:17 GMT
Hey I have an idea...let's take ALL the responses and see what kind of baby shower we can throw...   |
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Post by beepdave on Feb 14, 2020 14:57:05 GMT
If you must have games in the restaurant environment, do games that people can do on their own during the shower - on paper - find the games that are like matching the celebrity to their weird baby name, etc. Then provide the answers at the end for the prizes.
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Post by mayceesgranny on Feb 14, 2020 15:15:44 GMT
I thank you all for your input! I agree that I don't like baby shower games either!
The baby mama requested the diaper raffle - I don't like them but I'm doing it cuz she wants it. I agree I'd rather spend more on a gift than buy a gift and diapers.
I am hosting this shower at a restuarant and I am paying for everyone's meal. In the past I have rented a hall and made the food. I think this will be much easier on me and actually equates to about the same dollar amount.
We are having a hot sandwich buffet ( roast turkey and pulled pork) with garnishes, chips, pasta salad and a tossed salad and we will serve cupcakes for dessert.
I decided that the diaper raffle and advice cards were plenty for activities and that we will pick "winners" from the diaper raffle tickets and advice cards. Depending on time we may also put an egg timer on during the gift opening and hand out a gift to the person whose present is being opened when the timer goes off.
We also have an instax camera and film left over from baby mama's wedding so we thought we'd pass the camera so people can put their photo with the advice cards.
Hopefully it will be joyful and not too painful. Thanks again for the honest and thoughtful responses!
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Feb 14, 2020 15:18:50 GMT
I enjoy a little game or two if they're purely voluntary. I think they can help break the ice when attendees are not all from the same cirle (family/work/friends, for example). I'll play a game like guess-what's-in-the-baby-food-jar, but I prefer to observe if it's who-can-chug-beer-from-a-baby-bottle-fastest. I love seeing the gifts. I don't want to spend all afternoon at it, though - 40 gifts is waaaay too many to watch. But for heaven's sake, don't have mom or friends undo the packaging before handing gifts to the honoree to make the process go faster! My mom spends a lot of time and energy to make a beautiful package, and she's disappointed when the honoree doesn't even get to see the wrapping. Having a photo taken with the giver, honoree, and gift is BRILLIANT if it doesn't take up a ton of time! Advice-giving is a sweet tradition, too - again, as long as it's voluntary. It only added the time it took for the guest to sit next to Mom. Many of the guests enjoyed it too. |
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Feb 14, 2020 16:40:42 GMT
I had to go to several baby showers on DH's side of the family. I knew few of the guests, not interested in babies, uncomfortable in social gatherings. After the last shower where I was singled out and teased by other guests for my lack of baby knowledge, I told DH I was done. For me, the thing I like best about baby showers is that I will never attend another one.
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Just T
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Posts: 6,145
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Post by Just T on Feb 14, 2020 17:34:18 GMT
I'm an oddball among the peas. I love baby showers. I haven't been to one in years, so I have no idea how they have changed.
I like the silly games, but I also have enjoyed showers that didn't have them. I also like watching the mom to be open gifts. Like I said, I'm an oddball. 
Until 2 peas, I had no idea that people have such strong, negative feelings about showers.
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paget
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Feb 14, 2020 17:45:41 GMT
I'm an oddball among the peas. I love baby showers. I haven't been to one in years, so I have no idea how they have changed.
I like the silly games, but I also have enjoyed showers that didn't have them. I also like watching the mom to be open gifts. Like I said, I'm an oddball. 
Until 2 peas, I had no idea that people have such strong, negative feelings about showers.
Whispering…I actually like the games, too. What I don't like is that many seem to be becoming more pricey for the guest. The last one I was invited to needed a gift (registry info supplied), a diaper raffle - and it was stated every pack of diapers you bring is another ticket - so even if you brought one pack of diapers it kinda had the feel it wasn't good enough and multiple packs were expected. AND they also wanted you to bring your favorite book for baby's new library. Oh hell to the no. This was a coworker I am not super jazzed about anyway so I must say I was not too sad I was going to be out of town that weekend! |
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