Opening the Seventh Gift

This is one of the baby shower activities that has been around for a long time. There is an old tradition that says that the giver of the seventh present opened by the mommy-to-be will be the next to have a baby.

As the hostess, keep count of the gifts as they are opened and as the seventh is opened, tell this tradition and give the gift-giver a pair of baby booties or other small baby item. It’s ok if the “winner” decides to give the item to the new mommy-to-be.

Birth Beads

This is one of the most meaningful of the baby shower activities in my opinion.

You’ve heard of worry beads? How about birth beads? Birth beads are an African tribal tradition. Those close to the mother make a wish for the baby and another wish for the labor. Each wish is represented by a bead. The mommy-to-be will find comfort in wearing the necklace or bracelet during labor. It reminds her that she is not alone and there are many people projecting good thoughts at this time.

If you are a person who does a lot of beading for a hobby, you’ll more than likely have all the supplies for this activity. Even if you don’t do beading, beads are very inexpensive and come in a wide variety.

Have lots of different beads for the guests to select from, something to string the beads on, a journal and a pen. Each guest selects a bead and makes a wish for the baby or for the mommy-to-be while she is in labor. She then writes the wish in the journal and puts the bead on the string. A person can make more than one wish and put on more beads if they want. During labor the mommy-to-be can take comfort in reading the wishes and being reminded by the beads she is wearing. A lovely tradition.

What’s In a Name

This is one of the baby shower activities that can be done only if you know the baby’s name.

Write the baby’s name vertically. In other words, down the left side of the paper. The guests will write down advice to the new mom beginning with the letter. For example if the child’s name is Barbara, the first letter will be B and you can say something like “Be careful to keep pan handles turned inward on the stove.” And for A you might say, “Always tell your child you love them everyday.”

Once you have the baby’s name down the side of a page, you can just photocopy it and hand it out to the guests.

Keepsake Quilt

If you are a sewer, or know someone willing to do the sewing, this is of the baby shower activities that will leave the mother with a useful keepsake of the shower.

When I adopted my daughter, this was done for me. This quilt was my daughter’s blankie that she carried everywhere. When my daughter had her first baby, I gave her the quilt and guess what? My granddaughter loves it too!

Cut blocks of plain colored or white fabric into squares about six inches by six inches. You can do smaller or larger if you wish. Have plenty of fabric paint, ribbons, embroidery thread and needles, and whatever else you think would make a good embellishments. Just remember that buttons and small objects could come loose and baby could swallow or choke on them.

Each guest creates a block for a quilt and signs it. After the shower, the seamstress sews the quilt together for the mother.