20 baby shower theme ideas to celebrate a new arrival
A baby shower is a great opportunity to celebrate the arrival of a new bundle of joy with the parents-to-be. When you plan a baby shower around a theme, it’s easier to choose decorations, select baby shower invitations, and plan food and activities to pull off a fête they’ll never forget.
Whether you’re considering a pink or blue shower, a party that features adorable woodland creatures, or an event that’s all about the eats, we’ve rounded up baby shower theme ideas you can use to get started. Add our recommendations for baby shower food ideas, décor from Paperless Post Party Shop, and activities provided for each theme below to make the big day feel just right to celebrate their soon-to-arrive little one.
Table of Contents
1. Jungle and safari baby shower
Jungle and safari animals are a classic baby shower theme idea and a tried-and-true way to celebrate a baby’s arrival.
- Invitations: Use the “Jungle Love” invitation or “Starry Slumber” to set a sweet safari theme from the start.
- Food: Give guests a taste of the jungle with delicious banana bars from Taste of Home. Tiki drinks also work well.
- Décor: Find the right decorations for your jungle party with animal-themed baby shower décor from Paperless Post Party Shop.
- Activities: Take a look at our collection of baby shower game ideas for a festive activity (psst: Animal House fits the jungle theme perfectly).
2. Outdoor adventure baby shower
Celebrate the soon-to-be parents’ most exciting endeavor yet with an outdoor adventure-themed baby shower.
- Invitations: Parents expecting a little camper will love that you’ve set the scene with the “Forest Quest” or “Lumber Party” invitations.
- Food: Consider serving campfire favorites as a snack—s’more marshmallow pops, anyone?
- Décor: Ask guests to contribute by bringing tents, lanterns, wool blankets, and plaid tablecloths, which can double as adult-loved gifts—in addition to the more traditional baby-centric registry items that guests will likely bring in tow.
- Activities: Set up an arts-and-craft station where guests decorate bibs, onesies, or decorations for the baby’s room using items from nature.
Welcome a new little one with adorable, customizable designs to fit every theme.
3. Outer space baby shower
Baby blastoff! A space-themed party feels just magical with twinkle, twinkle, little star-inspired celestial decorations.
- Invitations: Send out moon and stars baby shower invitations to invite guests to a stellar experience.
- Food: Put out homemade moon pies by The Cooking Bride for an out-of-this-world spread.
- Décor: Find everything you need for a space-themed baby shower with a collection of moon and stars baby shower decorations that match your invitation.
- Activities: Have guests write their best parenting advice on small pieces of paper, then slip each piece into a balloon. Blow up the balloons, and then have the mom-to-be pop them and read each slip aloud.
4. Mama-to-bee baby shower
What’s all the buzz about? The new baby, of course! A bee baby shower is a sweet gender-neutral theme.
- Invitations: Choose from plenty of bee baby shower invitation options, including “Bumble Bees” or “Buzzing With Joy.”
- Food: Serve honey-centric desserts like honey pudding pots by Tastemade.
- Décor: Consider decorating with yellow flowers, like daffodils or sunflowers, and putting up more floral decorations in the party space.
- Activities: Play the classic “Don’t Say Baby” game! Hand out clothespins to guests, and if they say the word “baby” in conversation, another guest gets to take their clothespins. The guest with the most clothespins at the end of the shower wins!
5. Mama bear baby shower
Who can resist celebrating the strength of a mama bear?
- Invitations: Use the “Mama and Cub” or “Balloon Bear” invitations to invite guests to a “beary” cute baby shower.
- Food: No one’s going to refuse delicious meatball sub bites from Delish.
- Décor: Decorate with teddy bears and baby shower balloons in the party space.
- Activities: Host a diapering contest—with a teddy bear playing the baby! Invite guests and the guest of honor to a diaper-changing tournament in which each winner goes on to challenge another guest.
6. Under the sea baby shower
Welcome your new little fish with an under-the-sea-themed baby shower!
- Invitations: Use an “Ocean Parade” or “Sea of Love” invitation to invite guests to a celebration full of fishy decorations and food.
- Food: Serve goldfish crackers or mermaid bark by Bread Booze Bacon.
- Décor: String up a garland or banner in your party space for that extra-festive feel.
- Activities: Put a collection of baby items and under-the-sea objects—such as plastic sea animals—on a tray. Give guests a few minutes to memorize the items, then take the tray away and have guests write down as many objects as they can remember.
7. Book baby shower
A build-a-library baby shower is a great way to build up a baby’s book collection. It also works well as a sprinkle idea for a second or third child.
- Invitations: Using a book baby shower invitation like “Book Shower” or “Chapter One,” ask each guest to bring a book they loved as a kid or a book their kids love now.
- Food: Brie, asparagus, and prosciutto bundles by Delish offer up a sophisticated touch.
- Décor: Add a stylish centerpiece to your tables that resemble a bookstore or library, or use actual books as decorations.
- Activities: Select a few nursery rhymes and famous kids’ books, Read passages out loud without mentioning the titles, and then have guests guess the title of each book.
8. Woodland animals baby shower theme
Cute animals are always a good idea for a woodland baby shower.
- Invitations: Any of these woodland baby shower invitations let you pick the critters of your choosing.
- Food: Put these adorable cheesy owl crackers by OVENTales out on your appetizer table.
- Décor: Party Shop’s collection of woodland baby shower decorations offers everything you need for this cute theme. Add plenty of plants and flowers to create your own meadow.
- Activities: Give guests a list of animal names (such as lizard, fox, or deer), then a list of baby animal names for them to match (such as hatchling, kit, or fawn).
9. Rainy days baby sprinkle shower
For parents welcoming their second—or third, fourth, and so on—baby, they may not need the full shower experience. But the new little one still needs a celebration!
- Invitations: Invite guests to a smaller sprinkle experience with Baby sprinkle invitations, and use an umbrella/rainy days theme to decorate.
- Food: Serve something shareable like whipped mozzarella dip with burst cherry tomatoes by Delish.
- Décor: Decorate with lots of umbrellas and raindrops for a sweet rainy-day scene.
- Activities: Host a raffle where anyone who brings a pack of diapers or wipes to the shower can enter for a big prize. Remember to mention the raffle on the invitation so people come prepared.
10. Bottles up baby shower
The baby’s not the only one with a bottle when you throw a bottles-up baby shower!
- Invitations: From Champagne to IPAs, let guests know that drinks will be served with the “Something’s Brewin’” or “Be There” invitations.
- Food: Have glasses of Champagne punch by Pizzazzerie ready for guests once they arrive. Charcuterie boards are the perfect complement.
- Décor: These cocktail and wine glasses are truly baby shower-ready.
- Activities: Buy a baby bottle and have guests write their names on it, along with well wishes, for the parents to display in the baby’s room.
11. Bunny baby shower
When you have a little spring bunny on the way, there’s one baby shower theme that fits perfectly.
- Invitations: Use bunny-themed baby shower invitations to invite guests to the cutest little shower they’ve ever seen.
- Food: Whip up something bunny-themed and cute, like bunny spinach dip by Creme de la Crumb.
- Décor: Take a look at these adorable Peter Rabbit decorations for a nostalgic touch at the bunny shower.
- Activities: Have guests guess what names were the most popular in the mom-to-be’s birth year. You can make it a group game or a raffle—but whoever guesses the most names in the top 10 wins!
12. Garden baby shower
Springtime babies are the most welcome little sprouts in the garden!
- Invitations: Use our floral baby shower invitations to emphasize the spring theme of the shower.
- Food: Bring the garden to the table with heirloom tomato bruschetta by Martha Stewart.
- Décor: Find flower garlands, centerpieces, and tableware in Party Shop’s collection of garden decorations. Add lots of real flowers to your party space, as well.
- Activities: Host a flower arrangement station where guests can create their own silk flower bouquets or flower crowns to take home as a shower favor.
13. Little pumpkin baby shower
If the baby’s due date is in autumn, invite guests to come celebrate your little pumpkin.
- Invitations: Send a fall-themed baby shower invitation to set the scene—and to get guests hungry for those yummy fall foods.
- Food: Go all out with your favorite fall drinks and desserts—including pumpkin spiced lattes, apple cider, and mini pumpkin pies by The Kitchn.
- Décor: Take a look at Party Shop’s Halloween decorations to add to the autumnal theme.
- Activities: What better way to celebrate a fall baby than a pumpkin carving contest?
14. Christmas baby shower
What greater gift is there than a new member of the family? If a little one is making their debut during the holiday season, plan a Christmas or winter-themed shower to celebrate.
- Invitations: These Christmas baby shower invitations are the festive touch you need.
- Food: Channel the holiday party spirit with mini cheese balls by Taste of Home and some eggnog.
- Décor: Decorate your party space with a combination of baby shower and Christmas decorations.
- Activities: For a twist on the “Baby” song game, play a few seconds of famous Christmas carols and have guests write down the titles. The person with the most correct titles wins!
15. Beach baby shower
If the expectant parents love the beach, sailing, and all things seaside, then a beach-themed baby shower will be right up their alley.
- Invitations: These nautical baby shower invitations are a simple and fun idea for an ocean-inspired celebration that’s perfect for any baby, whether the due date is in summer or another season.
- Food: Craft the beautiful—and healthy—fruit pizza beach ball by Hungry Happenings.
- Décor: Decorate with palm trees, beach towels, and flip-flops to channel a beachy vibe.
- Activities: Have a basket of medium-sized shells available for guests to write their names and short messages, then put the shells in a jar to display in the baby’s room.
16. Fiesta baby shower
Play up this theme at a baby shower with the help of your favorite Mexican food, festive decorations, and margaritas.
- Invitations: This baby is about to be the “taco the town”!
- Food: Two words—taco bar!
- Décor: Hang up a baby shower piñata as decoration, and fill it with treats and favors for an activity.
- Activities: Play the classic baby food-tasting game! Take the labels off various flavors of baby food and have guests guess which one is which.
Discover sweet decorations and party supplies the parents-to-be will love.
17. Pink or blue baby shower
Revisit traditions with a pink and/or blue theme for a classic baby shower idea for boys or girls. Focus on one color or decorate with both if you’re hosting a gender-neutral shower, planning a gender reveal, or if you’re celebrating boy-and-girl twins!
- Invitations: Use the “Big Bow” invitation for a pink-themed shower, or opt for “Up in the Air” for a blue theme.
- Food: Guests can snack on pink popcorn by Leigh Anne Wilkes (you can also make it blue).
- Décor: Choose from a selection of pink and blue baby shower decorations to fill your party space with color.
- Activities: Have guests tie-dye onesies with the color theme.
18. Tea party baby shower
It’s high tea time at this baby shower! Let guests know that hat-wearing is strongly encouraged, as is their Sunday best.
- Invitations: Set the tone with tea party baby shower invitations.
- Food: Serve all kinds of tea party classics, like dainty cucumber sandwiches by Southern Living, tea, scones, and other pastries on a dessert table.
- Décor: Add to the vibe with Party Shop’s collection of party picks and drink stirrers.
- Activities: Set up a fascinator decoration area where guests can create the most fabulous hat possible! Give prizes to the winners and encourage them to wear their creations over tea.
19. Unicorn baby shower
A unicorn baby shower is a particularly magical way to celebrate the arrival of a little one.
- Invitations: Kick off this baby shower idea for girls or boys with the “Magical” or “Unicorn Landing” invitation.
- Food: A baby shower cake idea that never fails: petit fours, or mini-cakes with buttercream and raspberry jam. Try this recipe by Delish. Then add festive unicorn horns on top to tie in the theme.
- Décor: End the party with flair using these beautiful baby shower celebration crackers.
- Activities: Create a worksheet or slideshow of celebrity baby pictures, and have guests match the photos to their adult versions. For extra fun, ask guests to bring their own baby pictures instead!
20. Food-themed baby shower
Some themes also lend themselves to a coordinated menu!
- Invitations: Celebrate a “Little Cutie” with a citrus-themed party, or welcome a “Little Dumpling” with a delicious Chinese banquet. You can even add a nod to veggies and the “Happy Pea” who’s on the way!
- Food: Incorporate the food of your theme into the spread. Add traditional appetizers, such as mushroom-stuffed phyllo cups by Southern Living, as well.
- Décor: Decorate with images of the food you’re focusing on as the theme, such as bowls of cuties or pictures of dumplings.
- Activities: Have guests decorate cupcakes with an adorable cupcake decorating set.
Paperless Post is here for you and Baby, too
Your baby shower is only your first chance to celebrate the amazing new addition to your life—and Paperless Post wants to help. From when to have a baby shower to a guide on planning the best baby shower ever, we’re here to support you as you celebrate your loved ones and their new addition. And, of course, we’ve got adorable baby shower invitation ideas to match the baby shower theme those soon-to-be parents have been dreaming of.
Once you’ve picked your invitation, check out our guide to baby shower invitation wording and what you should include (or not). Plus, Paperless Post invitations come with features like Registry Blocks and up-to-the-minute RSVP tracking updates, so everyone has everything they need.
