Looking for a guaranteed hit at your upcoming baby shower? The mommy or daddy baby shower game is one of the most popular activities for good reason! This hilarious and engaging game not only breaks the ice but also celebrates both parents-to-be in a fun, interactive way.
Whether you call it “Mom vs. Dad,” “He Said/She Said,” or simply the “Mommy or Daddy game,” this activity creates memorable moments and lots of laughter. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this classic baby shower game—from setup to execution, plus a FREE printable question list you can download right now!
Table of Contents
What is the Mommy or Daddy Baby Shower Game?
The mommy or daddy baby shower game is an entertaining activity where guests guess which parent is more likely to do certain things once the baby arrives (or which one has done certain things in the past). The mom-to-be and dad-to-be answer questions about themselves, revealing sometimes surprising and often hilarious insights about their relationship and future parenting styles.
This versatile game comes in several variations, but the core concept remains the same: questions are asked, and everyone discovers who’s most likely to handle midnight feedings, who’s the better diaper changer, or who’s more likely to cry at the first day of school!
Why Play This Game at Your Baby Shower?
The popularity of the Mom vs. Dad baby shower game isn’t just about tradition—it offers several benefits that make it perfect for any celebration:
- Includes both parents: Unlike some traditional games, this one puts both mom and dad in the spotlight
- Easy to set up: Requires minimal preparation and materials
- Adaptable: Works for large or intimate gatherings, formal or casual events
- Great icebreaker: Gets guests laughing and engaged
- Budget-friendly: Can be completely free or dressed up with simple props
- Creates memories: Provides fun predictions that the couple can look back on after baby arrives
As one happy host shared: “This game had everyone in stitches at my sister’s shower! Even the grandparents-to-be were placing bets on the answers. Definitely the highlight of our afternoon!”
How to Play: Step-by-Step Instructions
There are several ways to play the mommy or daddy game. Here are the three most popular variations:
1. The Shoe Game (Back-to-Back Version)
This interactive version creates a fun visual spectacle for guests.
Materials needed:
- Two chairs placed back-to-back
- List of questions
- Props (optional): the parents’ actual shoes, signs, or paddles labeled “Mom” and “Dad”
Steps:
- Have the parents-to-be sit in chairs with their backs to each other (so they can’t see each other’s answers)
- Give each parent their own shoe and their partner’s shoe (or alternative props)
- The host reads questions from the list
- For each question, the parents raise either their own shoe or their partner’s shoe to indicate their answer
- Guests laugh at matching or contradicting answers
- Optional: Keep score of matching answers for a sweet conclusion
2. The Paddle Version
This streamlined version works well for any setting.
Materials needed:
- Two chairs (parents can sit side-by-side)
- Two paddles or signs (one labeled “Mom”/”Mommy” and one labeled “Dad”/”Daddy”)
- List of questions
Steps:
- Give each parent-to-be both paddles
- Host reads questions aloud
- Parents hold up the paddle indicating their answer
- Delight in the matching or conflicting responses!
3. The Written Version
Perfect for larger gatherings where visibility might be an issue.
Materials needed:
- Printed questionnaires for all guests
- Pens or pencils
- Answer key from the parents-to-be (collected beforehand)
Steps:
- Distribute questionnaires to all guests
- Guests circle who they think is more likely to do each item
- The host reads the actual answers provided by the parents
- Guests score their own sheets
- Award a prize to the guest with the most correct answers
The MOST Important Part: The Questions!
The success of your mommy or daddy baby shower game depends largely on having great questions. Here’s an extensive list organized by category:
Funny Questions
- Who will be more likely to forget the diaper bag?
- Who will take more selfies with the baby?
- Who’s more likely to use baby talk?
- Who will be more protective with potential future dates?
- Who will be more likely to fall asleep while feeding the baby?
- Who’s more likely to buy unnecessary baby gadgets?
- Who will share more embarrassing baby photos on social media?
- Who’s more likely to call the pediatrician for minor concerns?
- Who will be more creative with excuses to get out of diaper duty?
- Who’s more likely to accidentally dress the baby in mismatched outfits?
Sweet/Sentimental Questions
- Who said “I love you” first?
- Who is more emotional?
- Who will cry more on the first day of school?
- Who will be more likely to check on the baby while sleeping?
- Who will take more baby photos?
- Who’s more excited about becoming a parent?
- Who will be more strict about bedtime?
- Who will read more bedtime stories?
- Who will be more protective?
- Who will be the softer parent (easier to convince)?
Baby-Related Questions
- Who will change more diapers?
- Who will be better at soothing the baby?
- Who picked the baby’s name?
- Who will do more middle-of-the-night feedings?
- Who will be more likely to rock the baby to sleep?
- Who’s more likely to buy too many baby clothes?
- Who will be better at assembling baby furniture?
- Who will be more organized with baby supplies?
- Who will be more likely to research parenting techniques?
- Who will be stricter about what the baby eats?
Future Predictions
- Who will be the disciplinarian?
- Who will be more likely to give in to “just 5 more minutes”?
- Who will be the fun parent?
- Who will be more likely to teach life skills?
- Who will help more with homework?
- Who will be more likely to plan elaborate birthday parties?
- Who will be stricter about screen time?
- Who will be more involved in PTA/school activities?
- Who will embarrass the child more during teenage years?
- Who will be better at giving advice about relationships?
Childhood/Past Questions
- Who was the pickier eater as a child?
- Who had the messier room growing up?
- Who had better grades in school?
- Who was more rebellious as a teenager?
- Who had more childhood pets?
- Who learned to drive first?
- Who was more athletic growing up?
- Who had the more embarrassing childhood haircut?
- Who had the stricter parents?
- Who was more shy as a child?
Pro Tip: Choose 10-15 questions from different categories for a well-balanced game that takes about 15-20 minutes to play—the perfect length to keep everyone engaged without dragging on too long.
Tips for Writing Your Own Questions
Want to create custom questions tailored to the parents-to-be? Here are some guidelines:
- Consider their relationship: Include inside jokes or references to their unique story
- Balance humor and sentiment: Mix lighthearted questions with meaningful ones
- Know your audience: Ensure questions are appropriate for all guests present
- Avoid controversial topics: Steer clear of potentially divisive parenting approaches
- Use a question formula: “Who is more likely to…” or “Who will…” makes writing questions easy
FREE Printable Question List
Ready to play? Click the button below to download our free printable mommy or daddy baby shower game questions! We’ve designed them in three different styles to match any baby shower theme:
- Classic Minimalist: Clean, simple design that works with any decor
- Sweet Floral: Beautiful botanical design perfect for garden-themed showers
- Modern Gender-Neutral: Contemporary design in soothing colors
Each printable includes 30 pre-selected questions and blank spaces to add your own custom questions.
[DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLES HERE]
Fun Variations & Twists
Want to make your mommy or daddy baby shower game even more memorable? Try these creative twists:
Video Answers
Record the dad-to-be answering the questions beforehand (especially if he can’t attend). Play the video after the mom-to-be gives her answers for extra surprise and laughter.
Guest Predictions
Before revealing the parents’ answers, have guests vote on what they think each parent will say. Award small prizes for the most accurate predictions.
Themed Questions
Tailor your questions to match your shower theme:
- Sports theme: Who will coach the baby’s first sports team? Who’s more competitive?
- Book theme: Who will read more bedtime stories? Who had the favorite childhood book?
- Animal theme: Who’s more likely to bring home a pet without discussing it first?
Lightning Round
End with rapid-fire questions where parents must answer immediately without thinking—often revealing hilarious truths!
Adapting for Virtual Baby Showers
Hosting a virtual celebration? The mommy or daddy baby shower game translates beautifully to online formats:
- Use virtual backgrounds: Create “Mom” and “Dad” Zoom backgrounds parents can switch between to indicate their answers
- Digital paddles: Parents can hold up digital signs to their cameras
- Online polls: Create polls in your video platform for guests to guess answers
- Shared document: Use a shared spreadsheet where everyone can record their predictions
Tips for the Host
As someone who has facilitated countless baby shower games, here’s my best advice:
- Practice reading the questions beforehand so you can deliver them clearly
- Appoint a score keeper if you’re tracking correct answers
- Have the parents review questions in advance to ensure they’re comfortable with all topics
- Space out sentimental questions between funny ones to maintain a good emotional flow
- Remember the purpose: This game is about celebrating the parents and creating memories, not competition
Conclusion
The mommy or daddy baby shower game stands the test of time because it brings genuine joy, laughter, and connection to baby celebrations. It highlights the partnership of parenting while creating lasting memories for everyone involved.
Whether you choose the shoe game, paddle version, or written format, this activity is guaranteed to be a highlight of your baby shower. Don’t forget to download our free printable question sets to make your planning even easier!
Have you played the Mom vs. Dad baby shower game before? What questions got the biggest laughs? Share your experiences in the comments below!
