18 Non-Traditional Baby Shower Ideas For A Special Day

Baby showers are fun to plan but sometimes they look alike! The same games, the same gifts, and even the same blue and pink colors…So how about we shake things up with something special? We at Peerspace love party planning. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of 18 non-traditional baby shower ideas for a truly special occasion!

1. Make it a couples’ event

Baby showers are traditionally a woman-only affair, but why? How about bringing the hubbies along for a couples’ baby shower? It will likely be one of the last few big get-togethers you’ll be able to have before all of your time is taken up by the baby. So let everyone come to the party for a truly non-traditional baby shower idea! 

2. Have a onesie decorating party

How about a non-traditional baby show idea that isn’t a game? Set up a onesie decorating station for your guests! With some paints, sequins, buttons, and other additions everyone can contribute to the growing baby wardrobe. A DIY crafts event like a onesie decorating party is best held in a special venue. Did you know that Peerspace has hundreds of baby shower spaces near you that can be reserved in mere minutes? This well-lit creative studio in Phoenix, AZ, is just one of the many crafts-oriented baby shower venues we have!

3. Celebrate the second-born with a baby sprinkle

A baby shower is usually all about the first-born child. The new mother is gathering tips and gifts from her friends while basking in the excitement of the occasion. Meanwhile, future children don’t often get celebrated with a baby shower…But you can have a baby sprinkle, instead! The expectant mother is no longer a newbie and has most of the gear already. But you can still have a smaller-scale party and celebration!

4. Baby shower color party

Add a cohesive theme to the event by making it a color party! Blue and pink are the usual baby shower colors and we can build from that with blue and pink-colored food, decorations, and outfit choices! There’s no reason you can’t go with red, purple, gold, or any other color you like, however! 

5. Host a backyard baby-Q

Not everyone is on board with the major party planning that baby showers often require. Looking for a non-traditional baby shower idea that is more on the low-key end of the spectrum? Have a backyard baby-q instead! That means close friends and family come on over for some burgers, outdoor games, and conversation. A baby-q still leaves room for gift-giving but you don’t need to rent an entire venue for a large guest list. That makes the perfect baby shower option if you don’t have much time to party plan.

Don’t have a backyard? No worries; simply check out this guide on how and where to rent a backyard for a day!

6. Give to charity instead of receiving gifts

Thousands of mothers lack the resources they need for newborns and young children. One way to help these struggling parents is by donating gifts or funds to charities like Women in Need or Every Mother Counts. You can make your baby shower a sort of mini-fundraising gala, where everyone can still celebrate your newborn while helping mothers who are more in need of the gifts than you are! 

7. Play babies against parenthood

Looking for a cheeky card game for your upcoming baby shower? Most of us have played Cards Against Humanity but it turns out there is an alternative called Babies Against Parenthood! This version is more family-friendly than the infamous card game it’s based on but no less hilarious. All you need to do is download the cards and print them out for a surprising game that’s worth hours of fun!

8. Decorate the nursery party

Want to help the mom-to-be by tackling a huge chore she may not have time for? Then consider planning a decorate the nursery party! Along with the other shower guests, gather supplies like paint, baby furnishings (secondhand is fine), and nursery-perfect decor and let the mom sit it out. Let her act as the guide as you and her other baby shower guests paint, set up the crib, build a wall of diapers, and generally help her create a beautiful space to welcome her bundle of joy.

9. Make a baby video wish tree

Sometimes it simply isn’t possible to have everyone you love attend an in-person baby shower due to distances, schedule conflicts, or social distancing needs. One way to connect with far-flung well-wishers is to collect videos for a baby video wish tree! People jump online and record themselves greeting the expectant mom and the soon-to-be-born little one. Take the videos and compile them into a single movie that you can revisit for decades to come.

10. Send a baby shower in a box

This non-traditional baby shower idea is perfect for family and friends who want to celebrate a mother-to-be who is too far away. Instead of showing up in person someone can gather gifts and send them in a decorated box to the new family! A single box of diapers and toys won’t last long but the spirit of celebration and love are the same. Especially when you include cards, gift certificates, and other gifts!

11. Get a group gift for her

Instead of relying on the baby shower gift registry, try getting together with everyone and finding something that will surprise her! A deep house cleaning, spa day, or vacation might be something the new mother has wanted for some time but couldn’t plan on her own. Gift cards are another practical way for her to get prepared for the upcoming newborn.

12. Have a onesie signing

Guest books are a fun way to look back on a baby shower with fondness but there are more ways you can collect signatures. A plain white onesie left by the entryway with colored markers is far more creative! Guests can leave well wishes and memorable quotes for you to enjoy decades later. Have the onesie framed or placed in storage like a photo album so the colorful ink won’t fade in the sun.

Who plans the baby shower? Here’s everything you need to know.

13. Host a diaper raffle

Diapers are more expensive than ever! Since they are such traditional baby shower gifts, how can we spice things up a little? Make a diaper raffle a significant part of the baby shower! Everyone who brings a package of diapers is automatically enrolled in the raffle where the mom-to-be draws a name from the contestants for a prize!

14. Set up a photo station

As time goes on you’ll look back at these times with immense fondness. Why not immortalize the present forever with some Polaroid images? You can easily rent a photo booth for a baby shower or other special event. Have your friends join you in the booth for some funny pictures. You’ll have instant prints you can hang up all over the house! 

15. Host a DIY blocks decoration party

Lovers of arts and crafts should check this idea out! Let your guests make blocks the youngster will use one day to learn their ABCs! You can buy plain wooden blocks to give out that you will all paint with letters, animals, and numbers. Stencils and sponge brushes will help keep things tidy, along with newspaper or other disposable materials on your painting tables.

16. Have a baby name idea box

Now here is a truly non-traditional baby shower idea that is fun for guests yet places no pressure on the parents-to-be. A baby name idea box is a little station with a box and some cards for people to write on. They write down their ideas and drop them into the box. During – or after – the party, you can go over the ideas and see what you think! No pressure to take any of them but who knows what you might discover in that box? 

17. Make a time capsule

A baby time capsule is the perfect non-traditional baby shower idea for parents who love special memories! You and your guests can pack it full of well wishes for the family and child, photos from the baby shower, pictures of your parents as they are now…And then open the time capsule up on their 21st birthday or even when they have a baby shower of their own.

18. Gift her a spa day

Sometimes the best gift is a relaxing day by herself or with a few close friends instead of a big party. Buy her a day pass to a luxury spa where she can enjoy the finest wellness treatments. A facial scrub, massage, saltwater pool soak, and wellness smoothies are a treat that anyone can enjoy! 

Non-traditional baby shower ideas: conclusion

As you can see, there is no wrong way to throw a baby shower! From onesie signings to time capsules you can make the day as unique as it is memorable with a few of Peerspace’s favorite non-traditional baby shower ideas! We love helping people make lasting memories together…So while you’re here, check out some of the baby shower venues near you we have for your next big event! 

Find unique event spaces perfect for a baby shower on Peerspace