Co-ed baby shower. HELP!

chelseamp

I love planning bridal and baby showers, but have never planned OR attended a co-ed baby shower.  I'm throwing a baby shower for my BIL's girlfriend, and she requested a co-ed shower. The theme is "safari" and they're having a boy. Any ideas on food, decor and games that won't make the men too uncomfortable?

TarHeels&Rebels

Skip the games and anything else that screams baby shower.  Just make it a co-ed mixer.  We had a co-ed bridal shower and it was just a cookout - no cheesy decor, no horrendous games, no sitting around watching me open gifts - just celebrating our happy time with friends. 

sarahbear

Just think of it as a normal party or get together. The last one I went to had games, but they were inside and anyone who wanted to participate could go inside.

HappytobeMrs

I'm hosting a co-ed shower for my SIL. I plan on having lots of figer foods (ie - chocolate dipped stawberries, veggie tray, crack dip, etc...) with a large platter of smaller sized subs. We will also have beer, wine, and pink lemonade.

 I went with simple and easy games that all guests would enjoy. Here's what we are doing:

*Giving everyone a baby clothes pin and making a theme word like "baby". Anytime someone says the phrase word and gets caught has to give up their pin or pins.

*Baby Trivia - I made up a bunch of questions about the parents to be and the baby.

*Memory game - I put a bunch of baby items in a basket (some items are from the registry) and will pass it around. Each guest has 15 second to look at the basket. Whoever can remember the most items, wins... and the parents to be get to keep the basket.

*Present Bingo - It can get boring watching someone open gifts, so to engage the guests I made bingo cards with gifts the parents to be might be recieve. As they open the gift, guests cross it off on their bingo card, first one to get BINGO, wins. 

Jim&Jaime

Nobody likes shower games.  If they say they do, they're probably lying.  We had a co-ed baby shower and it was a great cookout with family and friends.  No games, but we did open presents since people like to see you open what they brought for the baby.  It was nice, and DH had a better time than he thought he would.

Mokie

I agree, skip the games.  People come to see the person of honor and to eat.

dublintomadras

My sister went to a co-ed baby shower recently that was cowboy themed and she said it was a blast.  It was a backyard cookout with lots of booze and everyone actually dressed up.  The hosts set up a fake Wesetern jail where people could get their pictures taken and they gave out fake sheriffs badges, etc., etc.  I don't think they played any games, but it did have a few gimmicks that made it fun. 

GatorWedsNole

My aunt had a safari baby shower a few years ago.  The color scheme was gorgeous: khaki, white, tan.  Really nice.

The table sunners were made of strips of burlap, which was really cool. (Though hers wasnt' co-ed, I think the burlap can really help make yours a manlier party).  I think some stuffed animals might have served as decor too.

I'm in agreement about skipping games at co-ed showers and keeping a party vibe going.  But you know your crowd best.  Maybe they're drinkers that would get a kick out of watching guys drink beer from a baby bottle.

However, I do think it would be nice to include one *baby* element.  Maybe you can have a white onsie and some frabric pens and all the guests can sign it.  Even the most macho guy shouldn't have an issue with writing his name. 

Good luck!

CarlaAndJames

I did one recently, and overall it was just a normal party - but we did play ONE stereotypical baby shower game (the tasting baby food, guess the flavor game) with an interesting twist - only the guys played.

It worked, and was really funny, because girls see these games all the time and we roll our eyes at them, but guys probably have no idea these games existed. At our party the guys got really competitive about trying to guess them all right and it was HILARIOUS watching them get all serious and try to figure it out!

wejustwant2:)

Hi!  I agree with the others re: skipping the games.  At some point - it is nice if the "ladies" want the Guest of Honor to open her gifts for the baby. They can go off and do that separately - but there is no rule that she has to.

Men can play cards or darts or just hang out while this is going on.

If you decorate... I would skip anything pink or babyish and maybe decorate with some animal print fabrics and set up a lounge area...

Also be sure to have plenty of beer in bottles and serve some heartier foods that men will like too...  

its nice just to treat it like any other party as Tarheels suggested.

 Cheers!

benkenb

If you do decide to go with some games, you can add a special one for the guys, like having them drink beer from small baby bottles. Whoever finishes their bottle first wins a 6-pack. They don't say no to the beer and it's hilarious for everyone else to watch!