Mystery Nappy Game: Touch-and-Feel Rules and Setup

The Mystery Nappy game is a touch-and-feel guessing activity. Each clean nappy hides one safe object, and guests identify the contents without opening it. This is different from the melted-chocolate Dirty Diaper game: there is no food, no tasting and no need to heat anything.

Mystery Nappy game at a glance

• Best for: 6–24 guests.
• Preparation: 10–15 minutes.
• Playing time: about 12 minutes.
• Recommended number: six to eight mystery nappies.
• Winner: the guest or team with the most correctly identified objects.

Choose safe mystery objects

Use clean, dry objects that are large enough to handle safely and easy to remove after the game. Good options include a new baby sock, folded bib, sealed packet of wipes, soft washcloth, empty baby-care bottle, large teething ring, rolled muslin square or clean bath toy.

Do not use pins, loose batteries, medication, liquids, food, breakable items, sharp objects or anything small enough to present a choking risk. If children will attend, keep the filled nappies supervised and remove the contents as soon as the round ends.

What you need

• Six to eight clean disposable nappies.
• One safe mystery object for each nappy.
• Large number labels or stickers.
• Answer sheets, pens and a host answer key.
• A tray, basket or table for the game station.
• An optional blindfold-free privacy sleeve, such as a clean opaque fabric bag, if an object can be seen through a gap.

How to prepare the nappies

1. Choose the objects. Aim for a mix of soft, firm, flat and rounded shapes.
2. Write the answer key. Record each object beside a number before wrapping it.
3. Place one object inside each nappy. Fold the nappy around it and fasten the tabs without crushing the object.
4. Cover obvious gaps. If the item is visible, place it in a clean opaque bag before putting it inside the nappy.
5. Label the outside. Use large numbers from 1 upward and keep the station in that order.
6. Create one line per guess. Each answer sheet should show the nappy number and a blank space for the object name.

Rules to explain before starting

1. Guests may squeeze, turn and gently feel each nappy, but they must not open the tabs.
2. Allow 30–45 seconds for each number.
3. Each guest writes one object for every nappy.
4. Nappies move in numerical order so nobody misses a round.
5. The host opens each nappy during the final reveal and scores the sheets.

A simple answer-sheet layout

• Nappy 1 — my guess: __________
• Nappy 2 — my guess: __________
• Nappy 3 — my guess: __________
• Nappy 4 — my guess: __________
• Nappy 5 — my guess: __________
• Nappy 6 — my guess: __________
• Tie-break — which object will the parents use first? __________

Scoring and tie-breaks

A correct object earns one point. Accept a sensible equivalent—for example, “face cloth” for “washcloth”—rather than requiring exact packaging language. If scores are tied, ask the parents-to-be to choose which hidden object they expect to use first; tied guests who selected the same item share a second closest-to-the-due-date tie-break.

Accessible ways to play

• Use large labels and read each number aloud.
• Let guests work in pairs or as table teams rather than requiring individual writing.
• Offer a clue card with three possible answers for each nappy.
• Allow guests with limited grip or touch sensitivity to give the clue sheet to a partner and make the final choice together.
• Keep the game seated and pass a lightweight tray around the room.

Variations for different groups

• First-time parent round: use six everyday items and ask what each one is used for after the reveal.
• Team challenge: one answer sheet per table encourages conversation and reduces stationery.
• Clue-led version: give one short clue after 20 seconds if nobody has an answer.
• Quick version: use four nappies and a one-minute final review.

Which nappy game should you choose?

Choose this mystery-object version when you want a food-free, low-mess activity that can be played seated. If your group enjoys silly visual clues and you can manage food-allergy precautions, use the Dirty Diaper chocolate bar game instead.

Add another ready-to-play game

Pair the Mystery Nappy round with one or two quicker paper games so the party does not rely on a single activity. The Baby Shower Games Bundle provides six coordinated games for guest groups of 10, 20, 30 or 40.