| Sometimes, you just want a baby shower that's a little | | | | hears someone else say the word "baby" can call her |
| more rousing or colorful than the average event. | | | | out. If she's the first one to do so, she gets that |
| Maybe you're expecting a lively crowd, or maybe your | | | | woman's pacifier or safety pin. The woman with the |
| shower's pretty large -- like a "Come and Go" shower | | | | most pacifiers or safety pins at the end of the shower |
| -- and you'll have lots of guests who don't know each | | | | wins a prize. For a variation, tell guests they can't cross |
| other that well. | | | | their legs instead of telling them they can't say "baby." |
| In that case, you might want some active, hands-on | | | | 3) Head Artist. Give each guest a pen or pencil and a |
| games to help pass the time at your shower and keep | | | | paper plate, and have them place the plate on their |
| things lively. Here are some baby shower games sure | | | | head. When you say "go," have each guest draw the |
| to get things moving -- all of them inexpensive, and not | | | | best picture of a baby they can manage -- while the |
| a single one requiring guests to scribble out their | | | | plate is sitting on their head! This game is extremely |
| answers ons a sheet of paper while the clock ticks | | | | challenging, but some guests are really good at it! The |
| away! | | | | best drawing of a baby earns a prize. |
| 1) The Cotton Ball Game. This hilarious game is totally | | | | 4) The Toilet Paper Game. Pass around a roll of toilet |
| easy to set up, and doesn't require anything you don't | | | | paper, and have each guest tear off a piece |
| probably already have in your home: cotton balls, a | | | | according to how big around she thinks the new |
| spoon, and some bowls. You can play this game in | | | | Mom's tummy is. The closest guesser wins a prize! |
| pairs, or singles. Just plop down a bowl full of cotton | | | | (But only play this game if Mom's pretty svelte, so you |
| balls in front of your player, who you've blindfolded. | | | | won't hurt anyone's feelings.) |
| Have them try to spoon all the cotton balls from their | | | | 5) Twister. The twist on this game of Twister is that |
| bowl into another bowl -- either one in sitting in front of | | | | the players have to be "pregnant" (e.g., they stuff big |
| their partner, or a second bowl balanced on their own | | | | pillows under their shirts). Get a nice prize for the last |
| head! | | | | one standing, er, twisting! Naturally, any truly pregnant |
| Watching people play the cotton bowl game will make | | | | women will be sitting this one out, but laughing their |
| everyone laugh their heads off. Cotton balls are so | | | | heads off! |
| light, you can't really tell if they're actually on the spoon, | | | | As for prizes, do guests have to give them all to |
| so most of the time your players will be working hard | | | | Mommy? You might have heard this "rule," and |
| to transfer nothing at all. Whoever transfers the most | | | | wondered about it. The answer is: absolutely not! The |
| cotton balls to the other bowl wins a prize. | | | | gifts are for the mommy; the prizes are for the guests. |
| 2) Don't Say "Baby". As each guest arrives, give them | | | | So pick out some small but sweet items, and tell your |
| a necklace (that is, a length of string) with a baby | | | | guests to enjoy! |
| pacifier or a safety pin strung on it. Any guest who | | | | |