6 Small Baby Shower Ideas You Can Host at Home

Last updated November 6, 2026

What are some simple baby shower ideas you can do at home? Try a pink-and-gold tea party, a fall harvest shower, a bagel-bar brunch, a backyard baby-Q, a cookies-and-coffee drop-in, or a baby’s first library shower. Pick the one that fits your space and how your guests like to get together.

The youngest child in our family is Joeli. My brother and sister both stopped having kids well before we did, so their youngest are both twice Joeli's age.

Joeli will be 8 in September. I have had absolutely no access to a baby in what seems like forever.

Therefore, with our homeschool tutor pregnant and due in weeks, we are crazy excited about having a baby to hold every once in a while.

Plus, since Chey will be the baby's godmother, we hope to stay involved.

Our pink-and-gold afternoon tea

This also meant that we were thrilled to host the baby shower at our house a couple weeks ago.

Not only did it give us the opportunity to show off our new house (because, c'mon, we're still in that stage), but it also allowed us to prepare to begin spoiling this baby!

Colby and I took the gender reveal photos, have the mom-to-be in our home 4 days a week, and have known her for years.

This part just seemed right as we continued to help pour into this new baby's life. After all, the miracle of life is something I've always enjoyed celebrating.

Chey oversaw the planning of the baby shower and we all had a job to do.

Coming from an even larger family than ours, the mom-to-be made sure to put her family to work too.

And, boy, was this an incredible collaborative job well done!

We had a host of family and friends over to enjoy baby shower games, delicious food, and a fabulous time of fellowship.

With the initial invitation, we asked guests to consider purchasing two things for the baby: a book and a package of diapers and/or wipes.

The books were to fill her bookshelf with a collection of bedtime stories for Mom and Dad to read to her over the years.

The diapers and wipes to help ease the transition into parenting for the first-time parents' pocketbook.

Plus, for every package of diapers or wipes the guests brought, they received a ticket for a prize raffle at the end of the shower.

It ended up bringing in a host of diapers... and 5 lucky winners walked away with some pretty amazing prizes!

In addition to the raffle, guests also earned tickets by winning a game.

First, we played the "How big do you think mommy's belly is?" game, followed by a very competitive game of The Price is Right, Baby Edition.

Luckily, we had an array of tasty treats to bring everyone back together as the parents-to-be unwrapped all of the gifts.

From a watermelon baby to pink Rice Krispie treats and chocolate-covered pretzel rods.

Homemade cupcakes with cream cheese icing, finger sandwiches, and frozen sherbet punch helped round out the spread across the table.

In the front room, we had a headband station so that guests could create their own adorable accessory to adorn the baby's head throughout her first year of life.

Before leaving, we asked the guests to address an envelope to make things easier on the new mom...

and to leave a bit of advice for the young parents.

And to thank them for coming, each party attendee left with a bag full of "ready to pop" popcorn favors.

We simply wanted to be able to say "thank you" in some small way for coming out.

The pink, white and gold tea party themed baby shower went off without a hitch after a few weeks of planning.

It all came together nicely and now we simply get to count down the days until the baby girl makes her appearance.

Planning dessert for a small group? Our sheet-cake serving guide can help you decide what size to order.

Five more baby shower ideas to host at home

Our pink-and-gold tea party worked because both families pitched in with the food and guests had an activity they could do on their own. If you’re looking for a different theme or a more casual get-together, here are five other ideas. The fall harvest shower is another one we hosted for our family.

Fall harvest shower

For our oldest daughter’s shower, we went with a harvest theme and made a chalkboard sign. For a smaller version at home, set out mini pumpkins and use one table for cider, apple slices, and mini pies. Leave cards by the drinks so guests can write a note for the parents. See our fall harvest baby shower.

Bagel-bar brunch

Set out sliced bagels, two cream cheeses, fruit, and coffee on the kitchen counter. Use folded cards to label the spreads. While everyone eats, pass around a jar for guests to drop in their guesses about the baby’s arrival date.

Backyard baby-Q

Serve burgers or sliders with a couple of make-ahead sides. Use a checked tablecloth on the food table and put out a lawn game guests can join as they arrive. Pick an indoor spot for the food in case it rains.

Cookies-and-coffee drop-in

Give guests a two-hour window so they can stop by when it works for them. Set out cookies, coffee, and tea on a sideboard or kitchen counter. Leave a guest book or advice cards nearby so everyone can write a note, even if they only stay for a few minutes.

Baby’s first library shower

At our tea party, we asked guests to bring a book to help fill the baby’s bookshelf. You can make that the whole theme. Stack a few picture books beside a tray of sandwiches and fruit, then set out bookplates so guests can leave a message inside the book they bring.

Which baby shower fits your crowd?

If everyone can make it at the same time, a bagel brunch or afternoon tea gives you a chance to sit down together. If people are coming and going, cookies and coffee are easier to keep out. And if the parents would love something they can use for years, ask guests to help fill the baby’s bookshelf. At our tea party, we asked guests to bring a book so the new parents would have a collection of bedtime stories to read.

Once you’ve picked a setup, decide what to serve and give guests one thing they can do on their own. At our shower, guests could make a headband for the baby. At yours, it might be as simple as leaving a pen and a stack of bookplates by the door.