There’s a tiny human on the way, and you want to celebrate both the baby and their parents in the best way possible.

But planning a baby shower can feel overwhelming, from choosing a date to organising food, games, gifts, and everything in between.

You’re in the right place. This guide walks you through exactly how to plan a baby shower, step by step, with practical tips to make the process enjoyable rather than stressful.

When Should You Start Planning a Baby Shower?

You’ll typically need around two months to plan a baby shower properly.

Baby showers are usually held one to two months before the due date, so planning often begins when the mum-to-be is around six months pregnant. This timing helps ensure:

• The expecting parent is comfortable attending

• Guests can plan ahead

• There’s enough time to organise gifts and details

Who Is Supposed to Plan a Baby Shower?

Traditionally, baby showers are planned by someone close to the expecting parents, such as a friend, sibling, cousin, or close family member.

That said, there’s no single “correct” way of doing things. In modern baby showers, the planning can look different depending on circumstances and preferences. Sometimes:

• A group of friends plan the shower together

• A family member takes the lead with help from others

• The expecting parents are involved in the planning

• The parents host or co-host their own celebration

If you’re throwing a baby shower, the most important thing is that the mum-to-be feels comfortable with who’s organising it and how involved she wants to be. Clear communication upfront helps avoid stress and ensures everyone is aligned.

Baby Shower Planning Checklist

8 Weeks Before

• Draft the guest list

• Choose a date and time

• Book a venue (or decide on a home setting)

• Arrange catering or plan the menu

• Pick a theme

• Create or order invitations

• Set up a baby shower website (optional)

• Create a baby registry (for example, using Moonsift)

6 Weeks Before

• Send invitations

• Share the baby registry

• List supplies needed (decor, games, tableware)

4 Weeks Before

• Choose games or activities

• Ask someone to act as MC (if needed)

• Confirm food and drink plans

3 Weeks Before

• Buy supplies

• Confirm guest numbers

1 Week Before

• Finalise games and entertainment

• Send reminders to helpers

• Check last-minute logistics

Day Before

• Prepare decorations

• Prep food where possible

• Pick up any final supplies

What Is the Proper Order of Events at a Baby Shower?

There’s no strict schedule you need to follow, but having a loose structure helps the event flow naturally and keeps guests engaged.

A typical baby shower order of events looks like this:

Guests arrive and mingle
Food and drinks are served
Games or activities take place
Gifts are opened (if the parents choose to do this)
Cake or dessert is served
The shower wraps up with relaxed conversation

Not every baby shower includes games or gift opening, especially for more casual or modern celebrations. If you’re planning something alternative or relaxed, you might replace games with creative activities or simply allow time for chatting and celebrating.

When planning a baby shower, aim for flexibility rather than a rigid timetable. The goal is to create a warm, enjoyable atmosphere, not to stick to a strict agenda.

How to Host a Fun Baby Shower

Baby showers don’t have to be formal or awkward. A relaxed atmosphere and a few engaging activities go a long way.

Popular Baby Shower Games

• The Price Is Right – guess the cost of baby items

• Baby Photo Guessing Game – match baby photos to guests

• Dirty Diapers – identify chocolate bars disguised as “mess”

• Play-Doh Babies – guests sculpt babies; parents choose the winner

• Diaper Crafting – teams dress a volunteer using toilet paper

How to Play “The Price Is Right” at a Baby Shower

The price is right is a popular baby shower game where the host gets a few commonly known baby items, and the guests have to guess the price of each item.

To execute this game successfully, you’ll need to make sure you have the following things:

1. Printable ‘the price is right’ game sheets

2. Pens

3. A timer

4. Winning prize

To play the game, follow these steps:

1. Hand out a game sheet and pen to each guest

2. Set the timer and ask your guests to fill in the cost next to each item, and to calculate the total of all items

3. The winner will be the person with the closest total to the actual final cost

You can also play in teams rather than as individuals if you want to keep the conversation flowing.

What Can I Do Instead of Games at a Baby Shower?

If you’re looking for an alternative way to have a baby shower, you can include various fun and engaging activities that aren’t games. 

Here are some ideas:

• Hire a photo booth. Encourage guests to take pictures holding baby-related props and share them on social media.

• Diaper raffle. Ask guests to bring a pack of diapers to receive a ticket for a raffle draw.

• Host a creative activity. For instance, a paint and sip session where guests get to paint on canvases while enjoying a nice drink.

• Diaper messages. Guests get to write sweet or silly messages on the baby’s diapers.

• Baby bib decorating station. Guests decorate the baby’s bibs.

• Gender reveal. Your nearest and dearest are all here, so it’s a great chance to do your gender reveal – and saves planning two separate events!

Who Should You Invite to a Baby Shower?

Invite people who have a close relationship with the mum-to-be.

For co-ed showers, include close friends and family from both sides. Colleagues and acquaintances can also be included if appropriate.

How Many Guests Is Ideal?

Most baby showers include 20–40 guests, though this depends on family size, budget, and preference. There are no strict rules, the parents’ comfort matters most.

How many people should I invite to a baby shower?

Baby showers are meant to be intimate. People typically host between 20 and 40 guests, but the number would depend on the size of your family and friends. 

A coed shower will generally have more people than a traditional shower where there are women only.

But remember, there are no rules. The important thing is to take into account what you think the expecting parents would like.

What Foods are Served at a Baby Shower?

Baby showers typically include refreshments. 

But the food you serve at a baby shower will depend on your budget or manpower. 

Often, the easiest and least stressful option is light snacks and finger foods.

Alternatively, if you have an intimate guest list, you can gather a few extra hands to save money on catering and prepare a meal. 

For instance, you could have a BBQ menu, or prepare a popular, crowd-pleasing dish.

Here are some tips to bear in mind when serving food at a baby shower.

• Think about where guests will be eating. For instance, will guests be sitting at tables, standing or eating on their laps? This will help to steer the menu.

• Ask about dietary requirements. It’s a good idea to add a question about dietary requirements to your baby shower invitation, to make sure everyone is catered for.

• Offer a range of options. Offering a choice of foods that range in texture, temperature and spiciness can ensure you have foods available that are appealing to everyone.

• Label foods. If you’re hosting a buffet, labeling dishes with tags or cards can help guests to select foods that adhere to their dietary requirements.

• Be mindful of food safety. Make sure food is prepared safely – for instance, wash fruits and vegetables carefully and check that all meat is well-cooked.

• Make food accessible. If you’re serving food buffet-style, do your best to avoid overcrowding. For instance, consider pulling tables away from walls so guests can access them from both sides.

• Make dishes ahead of time. If you’re handling the catering yourself, choose dishes that you can prepare ahead of time so there’s less to worry about on the day.

• Steer clear of mess. Opt for mess-free foods that are easy to eat, especially if guests are going to be eating standing up.

What is the average cost of a baby shower?

Average Cost

A baby shower typically costs between $200 and $1,000, depending on venue, food, and guest count.How can I host an inexpensive baby shower?

Baby showers can be costly, and at times, it’s better to spend your money on important things that the baby will need. 

Luckily, you can host an inexpensive baby shower by gathering help from friends and family, and doing things yourself instead of hiring certain services.

How to Host Your Baby Shower on a Budget

• Make centerpieces and do the decorations yourself

• Host the baby shower at home or ask to use someone’s house for free

• Use online baby shower invitations

• Cook your own food

• Use free games and entertainment ideas online

• Bake a baby shower cake yourself

• Have a limited guest list

• Host a virtual baby shower

Who Normally Pays for a Baby Shower?

In most cases, the person or group hosting the baby shower covers the cost. This is often a friend or family member who has volunteered to plan the event.

However, there are no hard rules. Depending on the situation:

• Costs may be shared between multiple hosts

• Family members may contribute

• The expecting parents may choose to pay for part or all of the shower

If cost is a concern, it’s completely acceptable to plan something more modest. Many hosts look for ways to reduce expenses by hosting at home, cooking food themselves, or keeping the guest list small.

If you’re looking into how to plan a baby shower on a budget, remember that thoughtful touches matter more than expensive details. A warm, well-organised celebration will always feel special, regardless of how much is spent.

And for those who can’t attend in person, how to plan a virtual baby shower is a great alternative. Virtual showers reduce costs significantly while still allowing loved ones to celebrate from anywhere in the world.

Baby shower gifts

Gifts are part of the tradition of baby showers. 

But if you’re clueless about the correct baby shower etiquette, don’t worry. Here are some key considerations.

What is a good budget for baby shower gifts?

That depends on your relationship to the expecting parents.

If you’re an acquaintance, a good budget for a baby shower gift can be anything between $25 and $50. 

But, if you have a close relationship with the mom or dad-to-be, you should consider digging a little deeper into your pockets and spending between $50 and $100.

Meanwhile, family members typically go for higher-cost items that the baby can use for a long time. These items often range between $100 and $150.

Best presents for baby showers

Newborn essentials are excellent choices when it comes to baby shower presents, as these are items that are sure to be used frequently.

Here are some categories to explore:

• Clothes

• Newborn bath essentials

• Feeding items

• Baby nursery items

• Health essentials

• Playtime

• Outdoor essentials

Nowadays, most expecting parents put together a baby registry ahead of time, so that guests can pick items out that they actually need and want. More on that a bit later!

Do you open presents at a baby shower?

Traditionally, the mom-to-be would open the gifts in front of the guests at a baby shower, but it’s becoming less common.

Opening all the gifts at the baby shower might become tedious and disengaging, depending on the kind of crowd you have. Alternatively, you could encourage an activity like baby bib decorating.

Should I make a baby shower registry?

Creating a baby registry is a great way to direct guests to the gifts that the mom and dad-to-be actually want.

Plus, it avoids duplicate gifts and makes life a lot easier for guests who will know exactly how to put a smile on the expecting parents’ faces.

Universal gift registry providers like Moonsift let you add items to your registry from any store in the world – meaning you can be sure to link guests to the exact items you want.

You can create your free baby registry here.

Number of items

The average baby registry includes 100 to 120 items. This consists of all the items you’ll need for the baby.

The good thing about having a wide assortment of items on your registry is that your guests have many options to choose from, and could purchase multiple items if they wanted to.

Price range for baby shower gifts

A decent baby shower gift can range between $25 and $150. 

Apart from affordability, the appropriate spend for a baby shower gift will likely be based on your relationship with the parents of the baby on the way.

Always include items that span a range of price points on your baby registry, so that your guests aren’t pressured into spending more than they’re comfortable with.

How to create a baby shower registry

Creating a baby shower registry is easy on Moonsift.

1. Sign up for a free account

2. Install the browser extension or download the app

3. Create a baby registry collection

4. Save items from any store

5. Refine and share with one link

Ready to host a memorable baby shower?

Hosting a baby shower might seem like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. 

The most important thing is to leave yourself enough time, consider what the mom-to-be would like most, and make sure their nearest and dearest are there.

With our tips and ideas up your sleeve, you’re all set to host a memorable and enjoyable baby shower – both for the expecting parents and their guests.

You got this!

Start your baby registry today.