Baby Shower Games for Children and Adults: 8 Ideas

The easiest way to include children at a baby shower is to choose games where adults and children contribute together. Mixed-age teams remove pressure from younger players, give older guests a useful role and stop the children’s activities from feeling separate from the celebration. Keep each round short, explain the rules once and make passing or watching an acceptable choice.

Plan mixed-age games safely

• A parent or responsible adult remains responsible for each child throughout the event.
• Check the youngest child’s needs before choosing materials, prizes or food.
• Avoid blindfolds, unlabelled tasting games, running indoors and small loose parts around younger children.
• Use pictures as well as words so early readers can join a team.
• Keep competitive rounds friendly and never use elimination.
• Offer a quiet table and a way to opt out when the room becomes busy.

1. Picture baby bingo

You need: picture bingo cards, chunky pencils or washable markers and a caller sheet.

Use clear pictures of a pram, teddy, book, blanket, socks and other familiar items. Children mark the picture while adults help listen for the word. Play for a line rather than a full card so the round lasts about ten minutes. Use paper marks rather than loose counters when very young children are present.

2. Parent childhood-photo match

You need: numbered copies of childhood photographs supplied with permission and answer sheets.

Teams match each photograph to the correct adult guest. Children are often good at noticing family resemblance, while adults can add clues or stories. Keep embarrassing photographs out and ask every contributor before displaying their image. Award one point per correct match.

3. Draw the baby item

You need: prompt cards, paper and pencils.

One team member draws a simple item such as a bib, book, teddy, cot or pram while the rest of the team guesses. Do not require drawing with eyes closed. Give each team sixty seconds per prompt and let a child choose the next artist. Use the same easy prompt set for every team.

4. Family photo prompt hunt

You need: a short list of photo prompts and phones used by adults.

Teams capture safe, stationary photographs such as “three generations”, “people wearing the same colour”, “the longest friendship” or “everyone making a heart with their hands”. An adult handles the phone. Tell guests how photographs will be shared and leave out anyone who does not want to appear.

5. Baby animal matching

You need: large picture cards showing adult animals and their young.

Spread the cards face up and ask teams to make pairs. Add the familiar names only where you are confident they are correct, or keep it purely visual. Younger children can find matching pictures while older players keep score. Use large cards and supervise the table.

6. Build a welcome story

You need: picture or word prompts such as home, rain, picnic, book, dog and stars.

Each person adds one sentence to a friendly story about a family preparing to welcome a baby. Children can choose a picture instead of speaking, and an adult can turn it into the next sentence. Keep the story fictional and avoid questions about pregnancy, birth or private family plans.

7. Gift-wrap picture quiz

You need: close-up photographs of wrapping paper, ribbons or gift bags already at the event.

Show the photographs one at a time and ask teams to identify the matching parcel. This keeps children involved without asking them to handle unopened gifts. Stop the activity before gift opening so the room can settle.

8. Team baby-word categories

You need: category cards and paper.

Give every team one minute to list examples for a simple category: children’s books, lullabies, items in a changing bag, things that are soft or family days out. Accept drawings from children who are not confident writers. Remove any category that depends on medical or parenting knowledge.

A 40-minute mixed-age plan

• 0–10 minutes: picture baby bingo.
• 10–20 minutes: one drawing or matching game.
• 20–30 minutes: snack and quiet break.
• 30–40 minutes: photo prompts or a collaborative story.

Prizes for mixed-age teams

Choose one shareable team prize or give every child the same small participation item. Avoid prizes with age warnings that do not suit the youngest winner, and keep sweets separate from the game unless dietary needs and allergens have been checked. Praise teamwork, kindness and clear communication rather than speed alone.

Need games just for the children?

If the adults will be eating, opening gifts or playing a separate round, set up one of the quiet baby shower games for kids. Our age-appropriate planning guide helps match timings, materials and support to the children attending.

Add one ready-made family round

The Forever Lily Baby Shower Games Bundle includes six coordinated paper games in several guest-pack sizes. Pair children with adults and choose a picture- or word-based round that suits the group.