Baby Shower Relay Games: 6 Safe Indoor and Garden Ideas

Baby shower relay games can create lively team competition without asking guests to run, crawl, drink from bottles or play blindfolded. The six games below use walking routes, soft equipment and optional non-physical roles. Each one can be shortened for an indoor room or expanded across a private garden.

Relay games at a glance

• Best for: 10–36 guests in two to four teams.
• Playing time: 5–8 minutes per relay.
• Space: a clear indoor lane or flat garden route.
• Team size: four to eight active players plus optional scorers and timekeepers.
• Recommended plan: choose three relays rather than trying to run all six.

Safety setup before any relay

• Clear bags, trailing cables, loose rugs, wet leaves and other trip hazards.
• Mark one walking route per team with tape or soft cones.
• Use a start line and turning point with enough space to slow down.
• Keep the parent-to-be in a seated role unless they choose otherwise.
• Explain that walking is required and speed never overrides safety.
• Offer equal-value roles such as captain, scorer, equipment manager, clue reader or timekeeper.

1. Soft-toy tray relay

You need: one lightweight tray and one soft toy per team. Players walk to the turning point carrying the toy on the tray, return and hand the tray to the next teammate. If the toy falls, the player stops, replaces it and continues from that spot. The first team to complete the agreed number of turns wins.

2. Peg the baby socks relay

You need: a low clothesline, pegs and equal piles of mixed baby socks. One player at a time walks to the line, finds a matching pair, pegs it up and returns. Run the game for three minutes; the team with the most correctly matched pairs wins. Indoors, tie the line securely between two stable chair backs and keep it away from walkways.

3. Nappy-bag packing relay

You need: an identical bag and set of large, safe items for each team—for example a rolled nappy, muslin, bib, soft toy, sealed wipes and empty bottle. Display a packing checklist. Each player carries one correct item to the bag, places it inside and returns. Add a one-point penalty for any decoy item.

4. Baby-name card-sort relay

You need: alphabet cards and a pack of baby-name cards. Put the name cards at the turning point. Each player brings back one name and places it beneath the correct first-letter card. Score one point for speed and one for accuracy so a careful team can still win.

5. Doll nappy-change team relay

You need: one doll, changing mat, clean nappy and simple outfit per team. Player one opens the outfit, player two changes the nappy, player three refastens the outfit and player four checks the result against a picture card. Do not use blindfolds. Award points for correct order and secure fastening before considering time.

6. Beanbag slalom relay

You need: a beanbag, tray and four soft cones per team. Players walk a gentle slalom while balancing the beanbag on the tray. Touching a cone adds five seconds; dropping the beanbag means stopping to replace it. For a seated version, players pass the tray along a line without using their other hand to steady the beanbag.

Indoor and garden adaptations

• Small indoor room: shorten the route, use one team at a time and compare completion times.
• Backyard: keep routes on flat ground and provide shade and water.
• Mixed ages: pair an adult and child, use shorter distances and remove timed penalties.
• Limited mobility: use seated passing versions, card sorting, scoring or equipment roles.
• Quiet group: replace cheering with team signs and use accuracy-first scoring.

How to score fairly

Use a simple ten-point card: up to five points for completing the task, three for accuracy and two for teamwork. This avoids rewarding speed alone. Deduct a point only for a clearly stated rule, such as using a decoy item or missing a station; never penalise an accessibility adaptation.

A 30-minute relay schedule

1. 0–5 minutes: divide teams, show the routes and assign optional roles.
2. 5–11 minutes: soft-toy tray relay.
3. 11–17 minutes: nappy-bag packing relay.
4. 17–23 minutes: socks or card-sort relay.
5. 23–27 minutes: check accuracy and calculate points.
6. 27–30 minutes: announce the result and take a team photo.

Relay mistakes to avoid

• Blindfolding people who are moving or throwing objects.
• Using glass, hot liquids, open food or heavy baby equipment.
• Planning a route across steps, slopes or public paths.
• Making physical participation compulsory.
• Explaining rules only once in a noisy space; also display a short written version.

Plan the rest of the games

Use the Outdoor Baby Shower Games hub for mixed-energy garden activities and a weather plan. The Baby Shower Scavenger Hunt guide provides a longer team challenge without a race. For seated paper games between relays, see the Baby Shower Games Bundle.