It’s true, baby shower games are a real love it or hate it phenomenon. When inviting friends to my own shower I got more than a few “I love you, but I’m not coming if there’s going to be games.” Really, I understand. I find a lot of baby shower games to be not only silly but gross and sort of initiation-like. Take for example the chocolate diaper game: it’s where you melt different kinds of chocolate onto a diaper and the players must sample and guess what they are tasting. Ew.

Then there’s the one where each player is handed a baby bottle filled with some type of liquid (could be milk, water or let’s face it – most would require the hard stuff) and whoever finishes theirs first, wins. Yech.

How ’bout guessing what kind of baby food you’re eating? No thanks.

Bet how big around the Mommy-to-be’s belly is? I would have killed anyone who tried this one.

Personally I enjoy more artistic shower fare, like everyone paints a onesie for the little one. Or my personal favorite – the Bubble Gum Baby game! I’ve enlisted my husband (the actual artist of the family) to take me on. See if you can tell which was done by a professional and which was done by little old me…

If you’ve never played it or even heard of it, it goes like this:

Items needed for each player:

1. Pen*
2. 3×5 index card
3. Bubble gum pieces (Bubblicious or Bubble Yum are best)
4. Using the gum, each person creates their own sculpture of a baby.

*I also use the pen tip to indent eyes, belly buttons, mouths, fingers – whatever!

How to play:
Write your name on one side of the index card, turn it over, and place your masterpiece on the blank side so that the Mommy-to-be can judge the best and the worst with impunity.

*Tip: Do not pre-chew the gum! I’ve had folks insist that this is how it is done; which made me understand why when I’ve suggested this game to shower throwers that it’s “gross.” Here’s the best I could do with pre-chewed gum:

Happy baby shower gaming!

If you have a child already, you well know how hard it is for you or your partner to rustle up some dinner during those first few frantic weeks home from the hospital (or even to remember to rustle it up, let’s be honest). If on the other hand you’re expecting your first baby – then let me tell you from experience, you’ll want this baby shower gift!

My sister Sabrina, an experienced mommy of two, arrives at baby showers with a sign up sheet and polls the guests to see who wants to volunteer to bring meals to the new parents once the little one arrives, with the goal of providing meals each night for two weeks.

When talking to the friends of the mommy-to-be, she lays down the ground rules:

• Nothing spicy and no chocolate (transfers through breast milk and can affect the baby).
• If you are not a cook, please consult the list of delivery places with meal preferences chosen by the new parents.
• Sign up for what date you’d like so that there is no doubling of deliveries, nor are there days of famine.
• Be sure to call ahead of your delivery to make sure you’re not interrupting nap time.

Last but not least (and consult the parents on this one, everyone is different), new parents can often be in a surreal state of adjustment and can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the idea of “entertaining” visitors right away. Be prepared to simply drop off your meal and be on your way. There will be plenty of time for visiting and cooing over the new bundle after those first frantic weeks have passed.

I can’t tell you how valuable this gift was to us in the beginning of our new adventure.

Bon Apetit!

There’s no reason you can’t rock out at your baby shower. Here are our picks for a great mix to liven up your party. You could play Rockabye Baby! lullabies, but we can’t be responsible for people falling asleep in the punch.

What are your favorite baby shower song ideas? Tell us in the comments!

P.S. Don’t miss Part 2 in this series for more of our playlist picks.

Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf

We say, why not reference Dennis Hopper at your baby shower? Besides, when the sweet little bun in your oven is entering the terrible twos, this pick will make a lot more sense.

Be My Baby – The Ronettes

We wanna be Ronnettes. Pencil skirts, teased hair and black eyeliner, crazy Phil Spector wall-of-sound production (and we do mean crazy).

Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses

Axl, Slash and co. really knew how to deliver a hard rock ballad. Plus those high notes kind of remind us of a baby’s high-pitched wail. You might was well start getting used to it now.

P.S. Check out our lullaby rendition here!

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight – Bob Dylan

Okay, not so rockin’, but we were convinced this song was about a baby when we were little. Especially the line “Bring that bottle over here…”

Shower the People – James Taylor

Get it? SHOWER the people? By sweet BABY James. Get it?

Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure

Oh, they don’t? This is either highly ironic or a lovely bit of fantasy for expecting parents to indulge in. Also suitable for a bris. Hear our lullaby rendition here.

Cry, Cry, Cry – Johnny Cash

Yes, that’s more like it. Our country cousin, Hushabye Baby, covered this one quite beautifully. Check it out!

And the Cradle Will Rock – Van Halen

Don’t even dream of rocking your shower without this one.