Once you plan out your baby shower games, you have to figure out what kind of prizes you’re going to give out.
This can be stressful when you don’t know who is going to win a prize. You can’t really buy for a specific person.
It has to be able to go to anyone invited. It could go to your crazy teenage cousin or your super Catholic grandma.
Here are 10 prizes for baby shower games that will (hopefully) fit pretty much anyone.

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Tips for Giving Out Prizes at Your Baby Shower
How many prizes do you need?
Your guests should have at least a 1 in 10 chance of winning. So if you have 30 guests, you’ll need at least 3 prizes.
You can always do more, but I would do at least one for every ten people you invite.
How do you decide which prize to give for each game?
You have a couple of options:
- You can have the prizes wrapped and the winner chooses one.
- The gifts are not wrapped (everyone can see what they are) and the winner gets to pick the one they want.
- The host or the mom-to-be picks a random one to give to the winner.
- You specify a certain prize for each game before the party starts.
It’s really up to you, but I like the idea of letting the winner choose the prize they want.
It would be less stressful to just give them out at random and not have to choose a prize for each baby shower game.
But if you are super organized and you want to be specific, you do you.
Does the winner have to give the prize to the mom-to-be?
Apparently there’s a tradition of giving the prizes to the mom-to-be (Or in the case of bridal showers, the bride.)
I’ve seen it happen at least two or three times at showers I’ve been to. So don’t be surprised if someone offers their prize up.
I personally don’t like this tradition because the point of giving out prizes is to give back to your friends and family that are giving you a lot more in gifts. And it takes the fun out of winning.
So, no. They don’t HAVE to give up their prize. But they can if they really want to.
Are Prizes and Party Favors the same thing?
No. Prizes are usually worth at least $5 up to $20. Party favors are much cheaper or simple like little bags of candy.
You don’t need to do both at your shower, but most people do.
Party favors go to everyone that comes to the shower. Prizes are only for people who win baby shower games.
What happens if there’s a tie?
You’d either need a spare prize or a tiebreaker game. Here are some tie breaker games you can use for your shower.
Ok, on to the prize ideas!
1. Gift cards
Who doesn’t love gift cards?
If you get one to the right place, they’re basically cash. Gift cards can be to anywhere your friends might like such as Starbucks, Target, or (my personal fave) Amazon.
They don’t have to be huge amounts. Get a couple of $5 or $10 cards or you can do one big prize of $20 or $25.
Diaper raffles tend to have a larger prize so a gift card would be perfect to reward your friends.
For my BFF‘s baby shower, we gave out Starbucks gift cards to all of the winners because she requested the chillest of baby showers.
2. Movie night gift bag
Most people have Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video so you don’t necessarily need to include a DVD or BluRay.
But if you want to, you can get one from the Walmart $5 bin.
Add in a bag of popcorn and some theater style candy, and you’ve got a movie night in a bag!

3. Smelly stuff
Ok, so I’ve never been a fan of giving “smelly stuff” because it’s so impersonal. But at the same time, I love getting shower gels and lotion because then I never have to buy it!
I can’t tell you the last time I actually purchased shower gel for myself.
I always get some from The Body Shop. They have great lotions and gels.
Bath bombs are really popular now too. You can get a gift set for about $13.
Candles also fall under the smelly stuff category. For some reason, we as women love candles. They smell amazing, and they’re perfect for a luxurious bath.
Yankee Candles are my favorite candles to give as gifts or prizes. A good smelling candle is a safe bet for any woman.

4. Baked goods
You can send the winner home with a homemade pie or batch of cookies or banana bread! No one said you had to buy the gifts!
Of course, if you’re bad at baking like me, you CAN go down to the store and pick up something from the bakery.
Cookies are cookies. And no one makes fancy donuts like professionals.
The winner’s family will also thank you!
5. Coffee gift bag
Keurigs are about as common as Netflix.
Pick out a cute mug, get some k-cups, and you’ve got yourself a little coffee gift bag.
If you’d rather go the traditional route, pick out a bag of coffee grounds to go with the mug.
This is something I’d definitely love to win.
Another coffee related gift you could give as a prize is a mug warmer. They’re really affordable and very useful. My coffee always goes cold unless it’s on my mug warmer.

6. Wine
You’re buying a gift for a woman. Obviously, wine is on this list.
I love a great bottle of Moscato. You can also go with a Chardonnay or a Pinot Grigio because they tend to be crowd favorites.
You can always ask around ahead of time if the group has a favorite wine.
Even though the mom-to-be can’t drink, wine is still one of my favorite prizes for baby showers games.
If you don’t want to give out actual wine, maybe pick up some wine glasses (or margarita glasses) as a prize instead.
Stemless wine glasses are my favorite.
(Just make sure the person who wins the wine isn’t an alcoholic or sober. That’d be awkward.)

7. Chocolate and more chocolate
Did I mention chocolate? Because chocolate.
Oh, there are so many good options when buying chocolate.
Lindt truffles are amazing. There’s also Godiva, Dove, and Ferrero Rocher. UGH. So much crave happening right now.
Get a bar or a small bag of truffles or wrapped candies. Sure, you could go with the regular candy like Snickers but gourmet chocolate is just more luxurious.
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t appreciate chocolate gifts. They’re a great prize that everyone will love.

8. Plants or flowers
Now, I don’t claim to be a green thumb, and I’m sure some of the women attending the shower are not either.
So, you may want to get a plant that is hard to kill like aloe or other succulents. Bamboo is also pretty hard to kill.
Fresh flowers are another prize option.
Grab a bouquet and a standard vase and you’re all set. There are a couple of cons with buying flowers, though.
- They die like a few days after the winner gets them.
- You pretty much have to buy them the day of the party so they’re fresh.
But they’re really pretty and usually very appreciated. Who doesn’t love fresh flowers?

9. Book lover gift bag
It will be pretty hard to pick out a book that everyone will like or may not have.
So you will probably want to get a gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble. $5 to $10 will be enough for a new book.
Include a pretty bookmark or book thong (I LOVE THESE) and a k-cup to enjoy while reading!

10. Kitchen Tools and Utensils
I’ve won cutting boards from a baby shower years ago, and I still use them.
You can get some great kitchen tools usually for less than $10, and they make great prizes.
People often don’t think about replacing their spatulas or measuring spoons. My measuring spoons have completely worn off the label so I’m not even sure if it’s a tablespoon anymore.
It’s nice to get useful prizes. I like to know that the prize winners will actually use what I give them.
Kitchen tool ideas to put in a prize pack:
- Spatulas and whisks
- Measuring spoons or cups
- Cutting boards
- Cheese plate and spreader set
- Serving spoons or forks
- Charcuterie board
- Pizza cutter
- Mini egg frying pan
- Decorative paper towel or napkin holder
- Flour and sugar storage containers
- Decorative hand towels
What prizes for baby shower games do you like to win?
Let me know in the comments below!
I would be perfectly happy with any of these prizes for baby shower games. But I think I’d like wine the most. lol
Pam says
Thanks!! very helpful and I needed help!!
Sarah Durham says
Thank you. These are all great ideas!!
MELISSA AY says
I would love to get either wine or chocolate package 🙂 These are great ideas Niki, Thanks for sharing!
Bena says
A big hit at our shower was stationary, perpetual date books, pens, pencils, as well as desk accessories and luxury notepads. Also, personal and relaxation gifts.
Niki at Toot's Mom is Tired says
Oooh good ideas!
Charlotte says
Thank you SO much for all of the creative, much more up to date, (and *definitely* cost efficient!) ideas for the games and prizes!
I’ve been to countless “old school” baby showers which all became SO predictable, that I always dreaded that little invitation…and even worse when I hosted two showers myself! It’s no wonder most of my generation doesn’t see them as very enjoyable.
Now, I’m six days away from hosting my third shower for my third grandchild. I wasn’t planning any games because to me they are just BLAH and stupid!! and who wants to play and win but give their prize to the mom to be? That’s how we always did it and while nice, I’m just a competitive person and I want my prize if I win lol
I feel like you’re ideas have breathed new life into the worst part of the shower for me!
I’ve already seen three games that everyone will love…and love the AFFORDABLE prizes to be won!
Another idea I’ve been thinking of was a “Guess (babys name) Birthday” as a sort of “grand prize” thing in which everyone writes their name and number in a notebook alongside the date they think the baby will be born (probably not good to do for a planned c-section?), and no one can use the same dates! When the baby is born, the winner is notified and given a pair of movie tickets or something of the like.
Maybe I will, maybe I won’t, but either way, you definitely don’t lack in plenty of awesome ideas!!
I am actually EXCITED about the shower now!
Niki at Toot's Mom is Tired says
I’m so glad you’re excited about the shower and that I could help. I hope you have fun!
LAN’s Mom says
I definitely love all your ideas?I attended a Baby Shower recently that was put together within 10 days of the mother actual due date. A friend out of town didn’t have a shower planned – so a family member (hostess) invited 10 friends/family women. The FAVORS for the attendees were the small scented sanitizers (little white ribbon tied around each bottle and PRIZES were small purse size lotions & med size candles placed in a colorful gift bag with tissue paper. The hostess says she has also seen purse size scented lotions & medium size, or larger candles These purse size items can be bought at Targets, Walmart’s, Bath and Body Works, etc.
ALL WINNERS KEPT THEIR PRIZES!! Tie breakers can whisper a number to the hostess from 1-10. The mother-to-be can then say
“ lowest or highest number”
to decide the winner!!!
Denise says
How many prizes do you recommend? I’m having baby bingo and baby words scramble games. I’m inviting 60 people. Do I need a prize for everybody?? I’m having small favors on the tables for each guest
Niki at Toot's Mom is Tired says
No just for the people that win games. I’d say for 60 people maybe do 5 prizes. 3 for bingo and 2 for the scramble game.
Denise says
Phew….sounds good to me!!! Thanks!!
Sonya says
I’m giving my granddaughter a baby shower and got makeup brushes, face mask, foot treatment, makeup remover pads, had some black and navy blue washcloths monogrammed with the word. makeup on them ( I like to use a dark washcloth to clean my face to make sure all the makeup is off and then it won’t mess up my good white wash cloths). Eye mask.
Adriane says
I knew this girl that did shower related products, and there was a cute note that said “from our shower to yours” and it came w soap and lotion and a loofa and chapstick. It was really cute and clever. I really love the ideas and am thinking about throwing my own shower but have no idea where to start! Thanks again!!
Vickie Elrod says
Love your gift ideas.i was having a problem with co Ed shower. What if a man won.the coffee works for both. I always have the gifts out and then said and for the babyu won her a teething ring. Rattle or pacifier that way they both got gifts and using small ones for the baby left my money for my special gift
Lisa says
I am getting ready to host my first baby shower for my daughter. Since her theme is dinosaurs, I am making terrariums for the center pieces on each table, I was going to use these as prizes for the games. Also, it is a co-ed shower, so to get the men involved in game playing, I was going to pick up a couple of craft beers and etch dollar tree beer glasses for a few prizes.