What Do You Need for a Baby Shower?

The easiest way to spot a baby shower that feels thrown together is when everyone’s asking the same thing at once - where do we put the gifts, when are we eating, and who brought the nappy raffle cards? If you’re wondering what do you need for a baby shower, the good news is that you do not need a huge budget or weeks of planning. You just need the right essentials, a clear plan, and a few thoughtful touches that make the day feel special.

A great baby shower usually comes down to five things working well together: the guest list, the setup, the food, the activities, and the practical details people forget until the last minute. Get those right, and everything else is a bonus.

What do you need for a baby shower first?

Start with the basics before you think about balloon garlands or cake toppers. The first decisions shape everything else, especially your budget.

The guest list comes first because it affects the venue, the catering, and how much decor you actually need. A shower for eight close friends in a living room needs a very different setup from a 30-person gathering in a hired hall. Smaller showers often feel more relaxed and personal, while larger ones create more of a party atmosphere. Neither is better - it depends on the parent-to-be and what kind of celebration suits them.

Next, choose the date and time. Late morning into early afternoon works well for many baby showers because it keeps food simple and avoids the cost of a full evening event. If guests are travelling or bringing children, a daytime slot is usually easier.

Then pick the location. Home is often the most budget-friendly option and gives you more freedom with decorating. A venue can be worth it if space is tight or you want less pressure on the host. Just factor in setup time, parking, and whether you’ll need to bring everything from cups to bin bags.

Decorations that make it feel like a baby shower

Once the practical bits are sorted, decor does a lot of the heavy lifting. This is where the event starts to feel coordinated rather than just a casual get-together.

You do not need to cover every surface in decorations, but you do want a few focal points. Balloons are usually top of the list because they make an instant impact and work in almost any venue. A balloon arch, bunches around the gift table, or a simple mix of helium and air-filled balloons can completely change the room without eating up your budget.

Bunting, banners and hanging decorations help frame the space, especially if the room itself is plain. If you’re going with a theme, this is where it starts to come together. Popular baby shower looks include teddy bears, clouds, florals, safari animals and soft neutral tones. Gender-specific colours still have their place, but many hosts now prefer sage green, beige, white, peach or mixed pastels for a more modern feel.

Tableware matters more than people think. Matching plates, cups, napkins and table covers make the whole setup feel tidier and more intentional, and they save washing up. If you’re trying to keep costs down, focus your budget on a decorated food table and keep the rest of the room simple.

A few finishing touches go a long way. Think confetti on the table, a cake topper, party props for photos, or a guest book area. These details do not have to be expensive to look lovely.

Food and drink without making life difficult

Baby shower food should be easy to serve and easy to eat. Nobody wants a three-course meal while balancing gifts, games and conversations.

Finger food is usually the safest option. Sandwich platters, mini wraps, crisps, fruit, cupcakes, biscuits and bite-sized savouries work well because guests can help themselves. If the shower is in the afternoon, a classic tea-party style spread feels spot on and keeps the mood light.

Cake is not essential, but it does create a centrepiece and gives you a natural moment for photos. If you’re skipping a large cake, cupcakes or decorated biscuits can do the same job with less fuss.

For drinks, offer a mix of soft options that feel a bit more special than everyday squash. Mocktails, pink lemonade, elderflower presse, tea and coffee all work well. If the parent-to-be is avoiding alcohol, it often makes sense to keep the whole event alcohol-free, though some groups do offer prosecco or cocktails for guests. It depends on the tone you want. A relaxed family shower may lean one way, while a more playful friends-only gathering may lean another.

The practical bit people forget is how the food will be served. Make sure you have enough cups, napkins, serving bits, trays and rubbish bags. These are not exciting purchases, but they save stress on the day.

Games, activities and entertainment

Not every baby shower needs a long list of games. Some groups love them. Others would rather chat, eat cake and watch the gifts being opened. The best choice depends on your guests.

If you do want activities, keep them simple. Guess the baby due date, baby bingo, advice cards, name suggestion cards and nappy raffles are easy to set up and do not force everyone into anything too awkward. A few well-chosen games usually land better than a packed schedule.

For a more relaxed feel, activity stations can work brilliantly. A decorate-a-bib table, a message-for-baby card station, or a photo corner with props gives guests something to do naturally as they mingle. This works especially well when not everyone knows each other.

Prizes are a nice extra if you’re running games, but they do not need to be extravagant. Small treats, mini candles, chocolates or pamper bits are enough to keep it fun.

The often-forgotten essentials

This is the part of what do you need for a baby shower that catches hosts out. The pretty bits get all the attention, but the day runs better when the boring details are covered too.

You’ll want a place for gifts, ideally with enough room to stack them neatly. A designated table helps keep the space organised and gives the parent-to-be one clear spot to come back to when opening presents.

You should also think about seating. People often assume guests will perch wherever, but baby showers tend to involve more sitting than a standard party. Make sure there are enough chairs, especially for older relatives or pregnant guests.

Then there are the practical supplies: scissors for cards and ribbons, tape, pens, extra napkins, bin liners, serving utensils, ice, and containers for leftovers. None of these are glamorous, but they are the kind of thing you’ll be grateful to have within reach.

If children are attending, it helps to plan for that too. A small corner with colouring sheets, snacks or a couple of quiet activities can make the whole event feel smoother.

Do you need a theme?

No, but it does make decision-making easier.

A theme gives you a shortcut for colours, tableware, balloons and favours, so you spend less time second-guessing every choice. It also helps the event look pulled together in photos, even if you’ve kept the budget modest.

That said, not every parent-to-be wants a themed shower. Some prefer something soft and classic with no obvious motif at all. If that sounds more like them, go for a simple colour palette and let the decor feel elegant rather than heavily styled.

At Daisy’s Party Store, this is usually where shoppers save the most time - choosing coordinated decorations and tableware from one baby shower theme instead of piecing everything together item by item.

Favours, gifts and thoughtful extras

Party favours are optional, not essential. If your budget is already stretched, skip them. Guests do not need a thank-you bag to enjoy themselves.

If you do want favours, keep them small and useful or edible. Wrapped sweets, biscuits, mini candles or little self-care treats feel thoughtful without creating clutter. Presentation helps here. Even a simple favour looks more special with a ribbon or personalised tag.

As for gifts, it helps to decide in advance how you want that part of the event to work. Some parent-to-be guests love opening presents in front of everyone. Others find it uncomfortable. There is no rule saying gifts must be opened during the shower, so choose what feels right for the guest of honour.

A memory table, keepsake box or advice cards for the baby are lovely extras if you want something more meaningful than standard party games. They add heart to the day without needing much setup.

How much do you really need?

Less than social media suggests.

You need enough decor to set the scene, enough food to keep guests happy, and enough planning to avoid last-minute chaos. You do not need a luxury venue, personalised everything, or a mountain of props unless that genuinely suits the celebration.

If you’re prioritising, spend on the pieces guests notice most: a decorated focal area, coordinated tableware, good food presentation and one or two fun activities. Those details create the feeling of a proper event far more than overbuying lots of little extras.

The best baby showers feel warm, cheerful and easy to enjoy. So if you’re still asking what do you need for a baby shower, think less about doing everything and more about choosing the bits that will make the parent-to-be feel celebrated, comfortable and completely looked after.