Giving Prizes To The Mom To Be

by Wendy
(Iowa)

Is it proper to offer the gifts received from shower games to the expectant mother?

Our Answer:

Hi Wendy,

Thank you for your question. It depends if the gifts are given in a voluntary or involuntary fashion. The baby shower prizes should be something the guests would want to keep. After all, that is the point of having a prize at the end of the game. If the prize is a bottle or baby item, the guest most likely will not want to keep it. (Unless of course, they have their own little kids at home).

So from the hostess view point, the prizes should be for the guests and not the mom. Some example of game prizes would be candles, chocolate, lotion or bubble bath.

The "game" could include baby items that can be given to the mom as supplies, but the "prize" should never be for the mom, it should be for the guests.

It does happen every once in a while that the hostess gives prizes that are baby related. This puts the guests in an awkward situation. It is the guest’s choice on whether to give it to the mom to be.

I hope that helps. Good Luck With The Baby Shower!