Baby Shower Favor Ideas

Remember going to birthday parties as a little kid? You always came home with a goodie bag. Sometimes it would contain candy or bubbles or a pinwheel. It was so fun to go to a party for someone else's birthday and come up with a little present for yourself.

Bring a present – get a present. We still get to do that as grown-ups … only now we call them "favors."

It's a nice gesture to have something that your guests can take home with them after the festivities are finished. If your shower will be like most, you'll probably play some silly games. No game would be complete without prizes or favors.

It's a good idea to have a little something for everyone to take home. Here are a few ideas:

• How about a little tin candle with a custom label that reads "Your friendship lights my day. Thanks for being part of my special day"?
• Most everyone likes chocolate. Little boxes of chocolate that read, "You're so sweet. Thanks for coming to my baby shower." Or a little package of nuts wrapped in tulle, "You're nuts. But that's why we're friends – thank you for coming to my shower."
• Lotion is always a good little favor for women. Be careful not to get something too fragrant – as some people are bothered by strong scents.
• A small gift booklet with the inscription on the inside cover: "I appreciate your wisdom and support of my new baby." Or "Thanks for all times I've cried on your shoulder, I appreciate you." Or if you don't feel very sentimental how about simply: "Thanks for coming to my baby shower. June 1, 200x"

The truth is that it doesn't really matter what you offer as a favor. It's a small token of your appreciation for the time your friends devoted to celebrate your baby.

Baby Shower Theme Ideas

If you have a particular baby shower theme, it makes it very easy to decorate and to plan menu items. Well, sometimes it helps with the menu items.

Of course the reason for the shower is the baby, but you can also decide to have a particular theme. Below are just a few examples.

Fall Harvest Theme
You could decorate in orange, brown and gold colors. Serve pumpkin pie, cider, spiced chai tea and apples. Make some soups and warm dips; and burn cinnamon candles. Having a fall theme is just another added dimension to the shower. It in no way distracts from the main focus of celebrating baby.

Pool Party Theme
If it's summertime, this can be the perfect themed. Suggest everyone bring their bathing suit and a towel. Host the shower outside. Serve lemonade and popsicles.

Spring Theme
A spring theme could include lots of flowers. Favors could be a little package of bulbs. Stress the new birth that comes with spring and tie it in with the new birth of the baby.

"Pamper-Me" Theme
Let everyone take their shoes off and dip their feet in the foot massager. Then rub peppermint lotion on your feet. This would be a fun get together – all the while making mom and baby the focus. It will be enjoyable and memorable for the shower guests too.

Cookie Exchange
Have all the guests bring 2 dozen cookies and swap them out. Chances are your guest of honor will have fun too. Of course a baby shower is all about mom, but sometimes there are only so many baby festivities to do in one afternoon.

Luau Theme
You can make this theme can be complete with grass skirts, leis and coconuts.

Make your shower FUN. It doesn't have to be about tea and crumpets while sitting quietly in a chair. If your guest of honor was fun before she was pregnant, she'll still be fun. (Give her one last hoorah before baby settles her down.)

Game Ideas for Your Baby Shower

Wouldn't be nice if all your friends and family were to RSVP to your baby shower right away because they simply could not wait to play THE GAMES? We all know that's not going to happen.

Baby shower games - it's a rite of passage. What's a shower without silly games? Ok, admit it, while some may grumble and groan (generally silently while they outwardly smile and play nice) there is guaranteed to be much laughter and memories with baby shower games. Below are some suggestions:

Baby Food Tasting
Sit mom in a chair, blindfold her and be prepared for some funny faces. The hostess will spoon mom different kinds of food and she'll have to guess what flavor it is. Or better yet, blindfold all the guests and have THEM try to guess the flavor. Have them remove their blindfolds (or if on the honor system, open their eyes) so that they can write down their guess – then begin with the next flavor.

Along the same lines is to put a dollop of baby food inside a disposable diaper. Eww, yes it is somewhat gross, that's what makes it so fun. Everyone must sniff and try to determine what kind of baby food is in the diaper.

Toilet Paper Around Mommy's Tummy
Pass a roll of toilet paper around to all the guests. Tell each one to take as many squares as they think will be necessary to fit around mom's tummy. This also works with string but the toilet paper is funnier because if someone guesses too little, the paper squares break apart. Nothing like making mom feel HUGE.

Unscramble the Words
Write baby related words on pieces of paper – rattle, diaper, teething, colic, bath, ointment, bouncy seat, Pack n' Play, etc. and then scramble up the letters. Give everyone a few minutes to decipher as many as they can.

Test Your Memory
Have a box or a tray with baby related items – wipes, diaper pin, diaper ointment, ear bulb, teething tablets, booties, washcloth, hair bow, etc. The smaller the items the better. Put the box or tray in front of everyone for two minutes then remove it. Have guests write down as many items as they can remember. Of course mom gets to keep the box of goodies when the game is finished.

***Don't Forget***
You should have some little prizes for the winner(s) of each game. Candles, bath and body items, dish towels, or lip balm work nicely. Think of anything small that most women would like.

Don't dread the games – have fun with them. Make sure to take lots of photos during the festivities.