Diaper Raffle
Diapers and baby wipes are two items that parents go through the most. Newborns can go through 8-12 diapers per day! Baby shower activities don’t necessarily have to be baby shower games. Holding a diaper raffle at the baby shower is a great way to help mommy and daddy stock up the nursery.
There are two ways to hold a diaper raffle at a baby shower. First, sell raffle tickets at the baby shower and have the proceeds go towards diapers. Another way to hold a diaper raffle is to ask guests to bring a pack of diapers or baby wipes to the shower. Let them know that any guest who brings such items will be entered into a raffle. You should let guests know when you send the invitations. You can write this information on the invitation itself or include it on a separate slip of paper.
Regardless of how you hold the raffle, you need to have at least one prize. For larger showers of 30 or more you should have two or more prizes.
A Star is Born Baby Shower Theme
A Star is Born is a popular Baby Shower theme. Why not put a Hollywood Movie twist on it? You can create invitations that look like movie tickets or a movie poster with phrases like: “Coming soon to a baby crib near you” or “Making his or her appearance in (month baby is due)”. You can create baby diaper raffle tickets which look like movie tickets using Microsoft Word & some clip art. Favors can be anything shaped like stars - soaps, candles, notepads, cookies, etc. Purchase popcorn bags or boxes, fill with packing papers and top with fancy tissue paper or shred, put the favors in the popcorn bags or boxes. Make a star cookie bouquet in the popcorn box as a centerpiece. A Star is Born is a popular diaper cake theme.
It can be easy to get carried away with the Hollywood movie theme. Use aspects of this theme, but remember you are focusing on the star of the movie who is the baby.
Luau Baby Shower Games
Here are a few ideas on how to turn traditional baby shower games into luau themed baby shower games.
- Lei “Don’t Say Baby!” Game - As guests arrive greet them with a friendly “Aloha” and place a lei made of flowers (fake or real), shells, or feathers around their neck. When you are ready to play the game tell the guests that they cannot say the word baby. If someone catches you saying baby that person takes your lei. The person with the most leis by the end of the game wins. You can set a time for the game, such as during gift opening time, or it can last the entire shower.
- Limbo Contest- Some of your guests may not be up for playing this game, but a limbo contest is a great idea for a co-ed or outdoor baby shower.
- Aloha Bingo - You can actually find Hawaiian themed bingo cards. Do a Google search for “Aloha Bingo Game” to find retailers selling the cards. Party supply stores may also carry them.
- Onesie Decorating - Purchase fabric markers and different sized onesies. Have your guest decorate the onesies keeping with the Luau or Hawaiian theme. Think Hibiscus Flowers, Surf Boards, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Hula Dancers, or even a Hawaiian Shirt! The possibilities are only limited by your guests’ creativity.
- Cookie Decorating - Bake Hawaiian themed cookies - Hibiscus or Orchids, Hawaiian Shirts, Surf Boards, etc. Have your guests decorate the cookies with icing. Mommy to be can choose the best cookie(s). Everyone can enjoy the cookies!
Baby Shower Wishing Well
Wishing wells are frequently seen at bridal showers. Why not have one at a baby shower? Instead of having a wishing well with random items ask your baby shower guests to bring a baby book to the shower. We all know how important it is to read to kids and there is no reason why it should start when they are babies. This baby shower wishing well idea will give the parents of baby a head start building baby’s library.
What to write on the baby shower invitation
When writing the invitation you want to include the wishing well information near the gift registry information. For example, your registry information may read like this (usually at the bottom of the invitation after the Who, What, When, Where & RSVP info):
Mommy to Be is Registered at:
Babies ‘R Us
Baby Book Wishing Well:
Bring a Book for Baby’s Library
Creating the Baby Shower Wishing Well
To create the wishing well itself depends on the theme and function. Personally, I am a fan of using items that can be reused later. Therefore, I tend to use things like wicker laundry baskets, canvas totes (or boxes), plastic storage containers, etc. If something isn’t very pretty, such as the plastic storage container, you can always cover it in fabric. You can purchase baby themed fabric at a craft or fabric store. Use an iron on fusible web to create hems, or clean edges on the fabric. You can attach the fabric to the plastic container using hot glue or double stick tape.
Buying a baby book for a wishing well
So you’re not hosting a baby shower but you want to buy a baby book to give as a wishing well gift. Look for books with different textures, colors, mirrors, etc. You also want a board book, or a canvas or cloth book so baby can safely put the book in his or her mouth without being injured. Typically, wishing well gifts are not gift wrapped. You can add a colorful ribbon if you would like.