You’re throwing a baby shower to celebrate a new little one, and you’ve invited all your friends and family. Sounds lovely, right? It is, until you realize that half your guest list is under the age of five, and they are currently staging a coup in your living room.
We’ve all been there. You’re trying to chat about diaper bags, and your friend’s toddler is using the gift wrap tube as a lightsaber, heading straight for the cake. Been there, done that, got the smashed cupcake on my jeans to prove it.
Keeping kids entertained at a shower isn’t just about survival (though, let’s be honest, it’s partly that). It’s about making them feel included in welcoming their new sibling or cousin. So, I’ve rounded up my absolute favorite baby shower activities for kids that are fun, easy to set up, and won’t make you want to pull your hair out.
Why You Absolutely Need Activities for the Little Guests
First off, why bother? Can’t they just sit quietly and watch us open gifts for an hour? Ha! If you have to ask that, you’ve clearly never seen a three-year-old’s attention span in real time. It’s shorter than a TikTok video.
Having a few planned activities is a game-changer. It gives the kids their own space to be kids. It prevents them from getting bored and destructive, and it actually lets the adults have a few minutes of conversation. Trust me, entertaining the kids is a gift you give to the parents-to-be, too. They can actually enjoy their own party without chasing a tiny human.
Setting the Stage: The “Kids Only” Zone
Before we jump into the activities, you need a designated zone. You don’t need a huge space—just a corner of the room or a spot on the patio. Throw down a colorful blanket, maybe a small table and chairs if you have them, and suddenly, you’ve created a magical kids’ only area. It signals to them that this party has something for them, too.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are 15 foolproof activities that have been tested in the wild (my living room) and have passed the kid-approved test.
1. Design-Your-Own Onesie Station
This is my number one go-to. It’s creative, it’s practical, and the parents absolutely love the results. You just need a pack of plain white onesies (make sure you get a size bigger than newborn so they actually fit for a minute!) and some fabric markers or puffy paint.
Pro-Tip: Slip a piece of cardboard inside the onesie before the kids start drawing. It prevents the ink from bleeding through to the back. I learned this the hard way after one masterpiece bled onto the front of another. Oops. 🙂
The kids get to make a one-of-a-kind gift, and the parents get a wardrobe of hilarious, sentimental art. It’s a win-win.
2. Baby Animal Match-Up Game
This is perfect for the 2-5 year old crowd. Before the party, print out two sets of simple baby animal pictures (think: chicks, puppies, kittens, ducklings). Laminate them or glue them to cardboard for durability.
When the kids arrive, scatter one set around the “kids zone.” Hand each child one card from the other set. Their mission? Find their matching baby animal friend. It’s like a low-key scavenger hunt that gets them moving and burns off some of that pre-cake sugar energy.
3. Guess the Number of… (Something Tiny)
You’ve seen this at showers before, but it’s usually for the adults with candies in a jar. For the kids, make it more visual. Fill a small, clear container with something easy to count, like colorful pom-poms or chunky buttons.
Give each kid a piece of paper and a crayon (have the grown-ups help write the number). The kid whose guess is closest wins a small prize, like a bubble wand or a pack of play-doh. FYI, the key here is using items that are big and colorful enough to hold their attention.
4. Diaper Changing Relay Race
Okay, this one is as hilarious as it sounds. You’ll need a few baby dolls, some diapers, and a clear path. Line the kids up in teams (with help from a grown-up friend for the little ones). On “go,” the first kid has to put a diaper on the doll. It doesn’t have to be perfect—in fact, the sillier, the better.
The giggles this generates are pure gold. It’s a fun way to get the wiggles out and, IMO, a subtle way to make the older siblings feel like “big helpers” who know how to take care of a baby.
5. “Wishes for Baby” Coloring Pages
This is a quieter activity that doubles as a sweet keepsake. You can find free printable pages online that have space for a drawing and a message. Provide crayons, markers, and some stickers.
The little ones can draw a picture for the baby, and the older kids can dictate a wish to a grown-up to write down. “I hope you like pizza as much as me.” “I will teach you to play cars.” These notes become treasures for the parents to look back on years later.
6. Sensory Play Bins
Sensory bins are magic for focused, independent play. Grab a shallow plastic bin and fill it with a base like dry rice, uncooked pasta, or kinetic sand. Then, add some baby-themed items: little plastic babies, tiny bottles, spoons, and cups.
Warning: This can get a little messy if you’re not careful. Put the bin on a vinyl tablecloth or an old sheet to catch the stray bits of rice. It’s worth it for the 20 minutes of solid, quiet concentration it buys you.
7. Build a Baby with Play-Doh
Who doesn’t love Play-Doh? Put out a few containers in pastel colors (pink, blue, yellow, lavender) and some simple tools like plastic knives and rolling pins.
Can the kids roll a “baby” body? Can they make a tiny head? It’s open-ended, creative, and great for fine motor skills. Plus, the smell of Play-Doh always takes me back to my own childhood—it’s a happy scent for a happy occasion.
8. The No-Mess “It’s a Boy/Girl?” Guessing Game
This is a classic for a reason, and it works for all ages. If the parents are keeping the sex a surprise, get the kids involved in the guessing game.
Have a basket of blue and pink items—blue and pink pom-poms, crayons, or even just pieces of colored paper. Ask each child to drop their guess into a “boy” or “girl” jar. You can even have the kids help reveal the gender later by dumping out the jars and counting the votes. It’s a simple way to make them feel like they’re in on the big secret.
9. Story Time Corner
Sometimes, kids just need a break. Schedule a 10-minute “story time” halfway through the party. Have a stack of board books about becoming a big sibling or meeting a new baby ready. “The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby” is always a hit in my house.
Gather the little ones on the blanket in the kids’ zone and have a volunteer (maybe a grandma or an aunt) read aloud. It’s a perfect way to reset the energy in the room.
10. Button Necklaces for Baby (and Them!)
This craft is a little more guided but yields adorable results. You’ll need some large, colorful buttons (make sure they’re too big to be a choking hazard), some pipe cleaners, and some ribbon.
For a baby-safe necklace, have the kids thread buttons onto a pipe cleaner and twist the ends to make a bracelet. For a “big kid” necklace, they can use a piece of ribbon, but they’ll definitely need help tying knots between the buttons. It’s a great fine-motor challenge.
11. Freeze Dance! (Baby Bump Edition)
When the energy is peaking, it’s time to move. Put on some fun, kid-friendly music. But here’s the twist: tell the kids to hold a small pillow or a balloon under their shirt like a baby bump while they dance.
When the music stops, they have to freeze… while still holding their bump! The sight of a bunch of toddlers frozen mid-boogie with pillows stuffed up their shirts is pure comedy. It’s silly, active, and ties into the theme perfectly.
12. “I Spy” the Baby Items
Before the party, walk through the room and make a list of baby-related items the kids can find. A bottle, a pacifier, a onesie, a diaper cake, a stuffed animal, etc. Write (or draw pictures of) the items on a piece of paper to create a simple scavenger hunt.
Give each kid a clipboard and their “I Spy” page and let them go on an adventure with their grown-up. It keeps them engaged and gives them a mission.
13. Thank You Note Coloring
This is as much for the mom-to-be as it is for the kids. Buy a pack of blank thank you cards and some crayons or colored pencils. Sit the kids down and ask them to draw a picture to help say “thank you” for the gifts.
It could be a picture of the new baby, a flower, or just a bunch of scribbles. Either way, when the new mom is writing her thank you notes weeks later, she can pop one of these masterpieces in with her note. It’s a personal touch that guests will adore.
14. Simple Block Tower Challenge
Never underestimate the power of plain wooden blocks. Put a big basket of blocks in the corner of the kids’ zone and issue a challenge: build the tallest tower for the new baby!
It encourages teamwork (or friendly competition, depending on the kids) and requires zero prep from you. It’s the ultimate low-lift, high-engagement activity.
15. Bubbles and Bubbles and More Bubbles
Seriously. If all else fails, bring out the bubbles. You can get a pack of little bubble containers at any dollar store and set them outside (or on a porch/patio) for the kids to blow to their hearts’ content.
There’s something universally mesmerizing about bubbles. They chase them, they pop them, they try to catch them on their tongues. It’s the perfect, simple way to end the party on a high (and fresh air note) before everyone heads home.
So there you have it. Fifteen ways to keep the tiny humans entertained and actually make the baby shower fun for everyone. Do you have a favorite go-to activity I missed? I’m always looking for new ideas to try at the next shindig.
