A coed baby shower can feel less like a traditional shower and more like a celebration for both parents-to-be. My husband and I enjoyed planning ours together, so I wanted to share some of the details that made it fun for our guests and us.
Before you begin, make sure both parents-to-be are comfortable with the plan. Talk about the guest list, the type of celebration you want, and which traditions you would rather keep, change, or skip.
What Is a Coed Baby Shower?
A coed baby shower, also called a couples baby shower or couples shower, includes guests of any gender and typically celebrates both parents-to-be. It can follow the same general format as a traditional baby shower, with food, gifts, games, and time together, but the guest list and activities are planned to feel welcoming to everyone. Many parents choose a coed baby shower because it gives friends and family from both sides a chance to celebrate together.
Related: Should You Have a Co-ed Baby Shower?
10 Coed Baby Shower Ideas
These are the practical details that helped make our coed shower enjoyable, from planning the guest list and food to choosing games, prizes, and thank-you cards. You don’t have to use every idea. Pick the ones that fit your budget, guest list, and the kind of celebration you want to create.
1. Plan the Guest List Together
My husband and I are planning our second coed baby shower, and putting the guest list together has been one of the most enjoyable parts. It gives us a chance to talk about who we would most like to celebrate with and what size gathering feels right for us.
Start by deciding how many people your space and budget can accommodate, then ask both parents-to-be who they would most like to invite. Setting the guest count first makes it easier to balance friends and family from both sides.
Related: The Ultimate Baby Shower Checklist
2. Choose Invitations and a Theme
Choosing invitations is one of the most fun parts of planning because they often inspire the theme for the whole celebration. Browse premade designs together, create your own, or use a digital invitation service if you want to save money and simplify RSVPs.
Choose an invitation that reflects your personalities and gives guests a good sense of what to expect from the celebration.
Coed baby shower theme ideas include:
- Woodland
- Safari or zoo animals
- Backyard barbecue
- Brunch
- Storybook
- Seasonal
- Gender-neutral colors or décor
- Favorite sports team
- Travel
- Book or movie inspired
Related: Popular Baby Shower Themes for Every Style
3. Plan Plenty of Food
Plan your menu around the time of day, your guest count, your budget, and the style of celebration you’re hosting. For our first coed baby shower, we chose pizza because it was easy, affordable, and popular with nearly everyone. We also served fresh fruit and vegetables as appetizers.
Pizza was a hit with our guests, but there are plenty of other options. Depending on your budget and the style of your shower, you could serve:
- Hire a caterer or food truck
- Grill hamburgers, hot dogs, or vegetable skewers
- Serve brunch foods for a morning shower
- Set up a taco, sandwich, or baked potato bar
- Offer snacks and finger foods for an afternoon gathering
Ask guests about food allergies or dietary restrictions before finalizing the menu.
Related: Baby Shower Food Ideas Guests Will Love
4. Choose Games Everyone Can Enjoy
The right games help guests relax, mingle, and make the shower feel more like a celebration than a traditional baby shower. You won’t need every idea below, so choose two or three that fit your group and put your own spin on them:
- Baby Bottle Drinking Contest: Fill 4- or 8-ounce baby bottles with a drink of your choice. The first person to finish wins a prize.
- Guess the Baby Food: Place small samples of different baby foods in numbered containers and ask guests to identify each flavor. Whoever guesses the most correctly wins.
- Baby Changing Race: Set out one or two baby dolls with diapers and clothing. Time guests as they safely diaper and dress the dolls, then award a prize to the fastest participant. This ended up being one of the biggest hits at our first coed baby shower.
- Pacifier Hunt: Hide plastic pacifiers around the party area and give guests a set amount of time to find as many as they can. The person who finds the most wins.
- “My Water Broke”: Freeze small plastic babies inside ice cubes and place one in each guest’s cup. The first person whose ice melts shouts, “My water broke!” and wins a prize.
Related: Best Baby Shower Games That Guests Will Actually Love
5. Include Both Parents in the Gift Opening
Most baby shower gifts are for the baby or for both parents to use together. If both parents-to-be are attending, consider opening gifts together and including practical registry items that either parent can use, such as a diaper bag, baby carrier, books, or feeding supplies.
6. Choose Prizes Everyone Will Enjoy
Choose game prizes that a variety of guests would enjoy. We kept ours neutral so anyone could happily take home whichever prize they won. Some affordable ideas include:
- Coffee mug with a coffee shop gift card
- Movie night basket with popcorn and candy
- Tumbler filled with snacks
- Small potted plant with a garden center gift card
- Popular board or card game
- Gift card to a local restaurant
Gift cards, snacks, games, and small plants are all practical prizes that guests are likely to enjoy. Most are also budget friendly, making them easy options for the host.
Related: 50 Baby Shower Favor Ideas
7. Offer a Variety of Desserts
Offering a few dessert options makes it easy for guests to find something they enjoy. We served a classic baby shower cake along with cookies and cake pops that my mom kindly offered to make.
If you’re on a budget, buy desserts from a grocery store or bake them yourself. A few simple decorations can make an affordable dessert table feel festive and pulled together.
8. Decide Whether To Serve Alcohol
Whether to serve alcohol depends on your guest list, venue, budget, and the kind of celebration you want to create. It’s perfectly fine to skip it, offer a limited selection, or serve beer and wine alongside mocktails, water, and other nonalcoholic drinks.
We skipped alcohol at our first shower because it was a larger gathering and we wanted the focus to stay on celebrating the baby and playing the games. For a smaller shower, offering a limited drink selection may feel more manageable if it fits the atmosphere you’re planning.
9. Create a Guest Book or Keepsake
A guest book gives the parents-to-be something meaningful to look back on after the shower. Ask guests to sign their names, leave well-wishes or words of encouragement for the new parents-to-be, or draw a picture for the baby. You could also use a photo book, framed print, or another keepsake that fits your shower theme.
10. Write Thank-You Cards Together
A handwritten thank-you card always feels personal, especially when both parents add a message. Divide the guest list, write the cards together, or have each parent sign them. Don’t worry if your handwriting isn’t perfect. The time and thought behind the note are what guests will remember most.
Related: 6 Fun Ways to Involve Men at Baby Showers
Our coed baby shower worked because it felt less like a formal event and more like a celebration with the people we love. You do not need to use every idea on this list. Choose the food, games, and traditions that feel right for the parents-to-be and their guests, and you’ll create a celebration that feels personal, relaxed, and memorable.
