24 baby shower ideas to celebrate your growing family

baby shower themes
Paperless Post BlogBaby > 24 baby shower ideas to celebrate your growing family

When you’re anticipating the arrival of a new family member, a baby shower is a great opportunity to celebrate with all your closest friends and family. While themes aren’t necessary for a baby shower (or any party, for that matter), they can make the day feel more cohesive and celebratory. Plus, they make it way easier to decorate, select your baby shower invitations, and pull off a fête to remember—after all, your guests are sure to take plenty of photos. Traditionally, baby showers have been held to celebrate the mom-to-be, with all female friends and family members invited, but today, your invite list is up to you and it’s perfectly normal for baby showers to be co-ed with both parents involved in the celebration.

Opting for a themed baby shower doesn’t mean you have to rely on tried-and-true traditions. Some parents-to-be may still favor the classic baby blue or baby pink options when celebrating their expanding family, but others may prefer a gender-neutral baby shower. Baby shower themes can also be as broad or as literal as you’d like. Simply put, you have plenty of creative freedom to make the big day feel just right for you and your soon-to-arrive little one.

1. Adventure awaits baby shower

Here’s an option that your most outdoorsy, camp-loving parents-to-be will love. Decorations like tents, lanterns, wool blankets, and plaid tablecloths can double as adult-loved gifts (in addition to the more traditional baby-centric registry items that guests will likely bring in tow). Consider serving campfire favorites as a snack—s’mores, anyone?  Forest-themed invitations or lumberjack-inspired invitations set the scene. Adventure awaits!

 

adventure baby showerAdventure awaits baby shower by Petite Collage and Lumber Party by Paperless Post

 

2. Space-themed baby shower

Baby blastoff! A space-themed party feels just magical with twinkle-twinkle little star-inspired celestial decorations. Think star, moon, planet, and—if you’d like to go all-out—rocket ship decor. Send out these space baby shower invitations and look into serving astronaut ice cream the day of.

space themed baby shower Baby Blastoff for a space-themed baby shower by Cheree Berry

 

3. Bee baby shower

What’s all the buzz about? The new baby, of course! A bee baby shower is a sweet gender-neutral theme. Consider decorating with yellow flowers like daffodils or sunflowers and serve honey-centric desserts. You have plenty of bee baby shower invitation options too, like this one celebrating the mama-to-bee,  this one that’s buzzing with joy, and this sweet illustrated one.

bee baby showerBumble Bees bee baby shower invitation by Paperless Post

 

4. Bear baby shower

Who can resist the classic cuteness of a teddy bear? Or celebrating the strength of a mama bear? The iconic toy makes for a creative baby shower decoration and theme for a “beary cute baby shower.” This mama bear-themed card is a great option.

bear baby showerMama bear baby shower invitation by Petite Collage

 

5. Owl baby shower

Hoo’s there? A new member of the family. An owl-themed baby shower is another adorable animal option, especially with these enchanted forest-inspired owl baby shower invitations by stationer Stephanie Fishwick.

Owl baby showerOwl baby shower themed invitation by Stephanie Fishwick

 

6. Under the sea baby shower

An aquatic party theme is fun year-round, but especially in the summertime. Use an ocean parade invitation to invite guests to a celebration full of fishy decorations and food (Goldfish, anyone?). You can also serve a marine-life-inspired cake or use aquatic cupcake toppers to set the mood.

under the sea baby showerUnder the Sea baby shower invitation by Petite Collage

 

7. Book baby shower

Little ones go through picture books fast, especially if they love storytime. So, you can give the parents-to-be a hand in building baby’s library with a unique baby shower theme. Using a book baby shower invitation, ask each guest to bring a book they loved as a kid or a book their kids love now (and coordinate so that you don’t end up with doubles). Used books are totally fine. A build-a-library baby shower also works well as a sprinkle (which is a smaller baby shower for a second or third child).

book baby showerBook baby shower invitation by Paper Source

 

8. Woodland baby shower theme

Cute animals are always a good idea for a woodland baby shower. Using our woodland baby shower invitations, you can pick the critters of your choosing and deck out your venue with plenty of plants and flowers to create your own meadow. If you want to provide baby shower favors for guests, consider getting a bunch of small, 2-inch plants that they can grow at home.

woodland baby shower themeFestiva Fauna by Rifle Paper Co. for a woodland-themed baby shower 

 

9. Sweet pea baby shower

Sometimes, you just want something to do with your hands. A sweet pea baby shower isn’t just adorably unique—it also involves an out-of-the-box activity for a rustic baby shower. Shell some fresh peas together and then have someone arrange them into a salad everyone can enjoy. For dessert, you can even serve cake pops decorated to look like peas. For a twin-baby shower theme, this idea works especially well, as you’re expecting two peas in a pod. 

sweet pea baby showerPeas in a Pod for a sweet pea baby shower by Paperless Post

 

10. Elephant baby shower

When you have a little peanut on the way, you can celebrate the occasion with an elephant baby shower invitation. If you want to lean into Dumbo as inspiration, you can serve carnival snacks as a refreshment, like popcorn and cotton candy, along with an elephant-themed cake.

elephant baby shower invitationsStarry Elephant for an elephant baby shower by Hello!lLucky

 

11. Dumpling baby shower

When you have a little dumpling on the way, this card is the perfect pick to kick off the perfect baby shower. Especially if the mom-to-be isn’t a big fan of cake, consider this a better savory shower theme. Serve your favorite dumplings for lunch, or (if you’re feeling a little more ambitious), make them together as an activity. If you opt for the latter, save yourself some hassle and use pre-made dumpling wrappers or make the dough ahead of time. Assign someone to kitchen duty for any necessary steaming and frying so that everyone can later dig into their creations. 

 

dumpling baby showerLittle Dumpling baby shower invitation by Hello!Lucky

 

12. Sh*t just got real

For the couple who loves a good laugh, a little diaper humor is well within reason—so consider this “sh*t just got real” invitation to set a lighthearted mood for your couple shower (bonus if you have a diaper cake at the celebration). Baby showers don’t have to be a ladies-only event—instead, invite all the couple’s friends to decorate white cotton onesies. You can even use the party as an opportunity to share a name reveal. 

Shit just got real baby showerSh*t got real baby shower by Paperless Post

 

13. Bunny baby shower

When you have a little bunny on the way, you can celebrate with rabbit decorations (easily repurposed from Easter), carrot cake cupcakes, and gardening imagery. Jelly Cat stuffed animals and Peter Rabbit books can also double as decor and baby gifts for your bunny-themed baby shower

bunny baby shower theme

 

14. Cutie baby shower

A fruit-themed baby shower works well year-round, but it’s an especially fun idea during the summer. Send out these invitations or and be sure to serve up plenty of fresh fruit and fruity desserts (including a cake decorated in fresh berries). Celebrate your little cutie on the way with a citrus-inspired baby shower.

summer baby shower theme ideas

 

15. Little pumpkin baby shower

If you’re expecting in the fall, ask guests to come celebrate the arrival of your little pumpkin. Go all out with your favorite fall desserts—including pumpkin spiced lattes, apple cider, and pumpkin pie, of course.

little pumpkin baby shower

 

16. Christmas baby shower

What greater gift is there than a new member of the family? If you’re expecting your little one during the holiday season, this Christmas baby shower invitation is just right. If you’re having an in-person celebration, serve up some hot cocoa and consider building gingerbread houses as an activity No matter the type of shower, we have the perfect Christmas baby shower invitations to match. Christmas baby shower

 

17. Nautical baby shower

If you’re a family who loves the beach, sailing, and all things seaside, then a nautical-themed baby shower is right up your alley. These nautical baby shower invitations are a simple and fun idea for an ocean-inspired celebration that’s perfect for a baby boy. Plus, there is a sea of nautical theme baby shower decor to choose from online, which will make decorating smooth sailing.

baby shower themes for boy

 

18. Jungle baby shower

You can never go wrong with baby animals as a baby shower idea for a baby boy. We love how Melissa of Brooklyn’s Cake Hero made our invitation design even cuter with a mommy-and-me theme, giving each animal a baby counterpart. You can also give off a sweet, cozy vibe with this starry invitation option.

19. Taco baby shower

When you know your little boy is about to be the “taco the town,” you might as well theme your shower with the help of your favorite Mexican food. Create a taco bar or get catering from your favorite local Mexican restaurant, including chips, salsa, guacamole, and margaritas. Decorate your space in bright colors to make it even more fun.

20. “It’s a boy” baby shower

If you want to have a simple, traditional baby shower for a boy, allow your invitations to serve as a gender reveal for your little one and plan a boy baby shower accordingly with all-blue-everything. For a blue-themed activity, you could shibori tie-dye onesies for baby boy!  

21. Unicorn baby shower

A unicorn baby shower is a particularly magical way to celebrate the arrival of a little girl. Kick off the party with a unicorn invitation. A coordinating cake with a unicorn horn makes this girl’s baby shower theme even better. 

baby shower themes for girls

 

22. Pink baby shower

Don’t want to overthink it? Stick with pink! These invitations with pink dots or pink bows are a great way to kick off the celebration of your new baby girl. Then, deck out your venue with all kinds of pink plates, centerpieces, balloons, and more—even pink desserts. Don’t feel pressured to stick to the same hue of pink. Instead, it can be fun to mix and match hot pink, baby pink, and more. 

23. Tea party baby shower

Serve all kinds of tea party classics, like finger sandwiches, tea, scones, and other pastries on a dessert table. Set the tone with tea party invitations. Include in the baby shower invitation wording that hat-wearing is strongly encouraged, as is your Sunday best.

24. Food-themed baby shower

Some themes also lend themselves to a coordinated menu. A garden party-themed shower makes a great opportunity to host a tea party. A taco-themed one provides the occasion to enjoy your favorite Mexican cuisine. You can also ask the mom-to-be if she has been craving anything in particular, and serve that. 

Fruit baby shower

 

For a fruit baby shower, you can serve a festive baby shower fruit platter. You can also surprise the parents-to-be by providing a cake that ties in with the theme (or at least a fun cake topper). Better yet, buy the cake locally and support a local bakery. If you’re looking for some matching cake ideas, head on over to our blog post about the topic to satisfy your sweet tooth even more. 

You don’t have to go all out when picking a theme. Sure, you can turn to Pinterest to get party ideas for all kinds of over-the-top baby showers, but small touches can feel just as special. Think: coordinated paper plates and napkins, centerpieces, and balloons. If you need more inspiration, you can check out our baby shower decorations at Paperless Post Party Shop.

 

 

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With a fun baby shower theme, your baby shower is bound to be an event everyone on your guest list is sure to remember—and it will be an amazing way to welcome your little one into the world.