Co-Ed Baby Shower Ideas: What to Buy for 12, 20, or 30 Guests
Part of our guide: Baby Shower Ideas: The Complete Guide
A co-ed baby shower, also called a couples shower, invites both women and men. The party is usually shorter, the food is more filling, and the games need to work for people who do not all know each other. This guide starts with the shopping list, because the numbers are the hard part. Then it covers food, drinks, games, and decor.
Quick facts:
- Length: 2 to 3 hours. An afternoon or early evening start works best.
- Food: about 10 bites per guest if you are not serving a full meal.
- Drinks: plan 3 drinks per guest and about 1 pound of ice per guest.
- Decor and supplies budget: about $66 for 20 guests (balloons, banner, tablecloth, centerpieces, plates, napkins, cups), a planning estimate. It excludes food, cake, and tax.
- Games: 2 or 3 short games of about 10 minutes each.
Top Decor Picks for this Setup
Curated essentials on Amazon to help you recreate this setup easily.
Sage Green Cream Navy Balloon Garland Kit
The balloons for the room.
Baby Shower Banner Neutral
One banner on the wall.
Glass Drink Dispenser 2 Gallon
The mocktail or lemonade station.
Disposable Plates 25 Count Heavy Duty
Plates for the food table.
What to buy, by guest count
Use this table to fill your cart. It covers the basics, and it includes spares.
| Item | 12 guests | 20 guests | 30 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plates (guests + 5 spare) | 17 | 25 | 35 |
| Napkins (2 per guest) | 24 | 40 | 60 |
| Cups (3 per guest) | 36 | 60 | 90 |
| Food bites (10 per guest) | 120 | 200 | 300 |
| Ice (1 lb per guest) | 12 lb | 20 lb | 30 lb |
| Cake | 9 by 13 inch (12 to 15 servings) | 12 by 18 inch (about 24 servings) | 12 by 18 inch plus 12 cupcakes |
| Balloons | 24 | 40 | 60 |
A bite is one small piece: a slider, a skewer, a mini quiche, or a cookie. If you serve a full meal, cut the bites in half.
Buy first, buy later, skip
Buy first: the food and drinks, plates and napkins, and one table with a tablecloth. Guests usually care more about the food than the decor.
Buy next: 40 balloons, one banner, and 3 small centerpieces. These make the room look planned.
Skip: themed games with props nobody uses, party favors for each guest, and large signs. A thank you note after the party works better than a favor.
Hearty food on one table, with plates and napkins at the start of the line.
Food that works for a mixed group
A co-ed shower is often at a time when people are hungry, so serve food that fills. Pick 4 savory items and 2 sweet items. For 20 guests and 200 bites, that is 40 bites of each savory item (160) and 20 of each sweet item (40). Ask about allergies and diets on the RSVP, and make at least 1 in 5 bites vegetarian.
- Savory: sliders, meatball skewers, a veggie and dip tray, and a cheese and cracker board.
- Sweet: a sheet cake and cookies or brownies.
- One vegetarian main: such as veggie sliders or caprese skewers, so everyone has something filling.
- Label allergens: put a small card by each dish for nuts, dairy, eggs, and gluten.
The mom-to-be should avoid some foods, such as unpasteurized cheese and deli meat that is not heated. Check the FDA page below when you plan the menu. See our baby shower food ideas and baby shower dessert table guides for more.
Drinks
Plan at least 2 drinks without alcohol, since the mom-to-be should not have alcohol. A mocktail or lemonade station works for everyone. One gallon makes about 16 cups of 8 ounces, so 20 guests with 3 drinks each need about 4 gallons of drinks in total. If you also serve beer or wine, put it on a separate small table.
A drink dispenser, an ice bucket, and cups, set apart from the food.
Games that work for couples
Pick games that need no skill and no knowledge of the other guests. Two or three are enough. Add name tags for guests who do not know each other.
- Guess the baby food. Cover the labels on 8 jars, and ask guests to guess the flavors by taste. Offer a spoon for each guest and let people skip it. About 10 minutes.
- Baby price guess. Show 6 baby items and ask guests to write down the price of each. The closest total wins. About 10 minutes.
- Advice cards. Each guest writes one tip for the parents-to-be on a card. Read a few aloud, and keep the rest in a jar. About 10 minutes.
- Diaper raffle. Each guest brings a pack of diapers and gets a raffle ticket. Draw one winner. It needs no setup, and the parents get the diapers.
See our baby shower games for more rules and ideas.
One small table holds the game supplies, so setup takes 10 minutes.
Decor for everyone
Pick a neutral palette so the party feels right for both men and women. Sage green, cream, and navy is one easy mix. Use one banner, 40 balloons for 20 guests, a tablecloth, and 3 small centerpieces of greenery or white flowers. For more palette ideas see our gender neutral baby shower ideas.
Decor and supplies budget for 20 guests
This covers decor and disposables only. It is a planning estimate for U.S. stores, and it excludes food, cake, and tax. Prices vary by store and region.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 40 balloons | $12 |
| One banner | $8 |
| One tablecloth or runner | $9 |
| 3 centerpieces | $15 |
| 25 plates | $8 |
| 40 napkins | $4 |
| 60 cups | $10 |
| Total | $66 |
To save money, buy plates, napkins, and cups in multi-packs, and make the centerpieces from greenery from your yard. See our budget baby shower decorations guide.
Set up schedule
- The day before: buy the ice and drinks, make the advice cards, and cover the baby food jar labels.
- The morning: blow up the 40 balloons, hang the banner, and set the tables. This takes about 1 hour.
- 30 minutes before guests arrive: put out the cold food and start the drinks. Keep hot food hot until guests arrive.
Mistakes to avoid
- Only light snacks. Guests come hungry, so plan 10 bites per guest.
- Too many games. Two or three short games are enough.
- Only alcoholic drinks. Always offer 2 options without alcohol.
- Girly decor. Keep the palette neutral so everyone feels included.
- Food left out too long. Keep cold food cold and hot food hot.
Helpful safety sources
- USDA: keeping food out of the danger zone: Why perishable food should not sit out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
- FDA: food safety for pregnant women: Foods the mom-to-be should avoid, useful when you plan the menu.
FAQ
What is a co-ed baby shower?
A co-ed baby shower, or couples shower, invites both women and men, so the parents-to-be can celebrate with all their friends and family. It is usually 2 to 3 hours, with more filling food and games that work for a mixed group.
How much food do I need for a co-ed baby shower?
Plan about 10 bites per guest if you are not serving a full meal. That is 120 bites for 12 guests, 200 for 20, and 300 for 30. If you serve a full meal, cut the amount in half.
What time is best for a co-ed baby shower?
An afternoon or early evening start works best, for 2 to 3 hours. Pick a time between meals, and plan more food if it falls at lunch or dinner.
What games work at a co-ed baby shower?
Choose games that do not need skill or knowledge of the other guests: guess the baby food, a baby price guess, advice cards, and a diaper raffle. Two or three games of about 10 minutes each is enough.
How much do decor and supplies for a co-ed baby shower cost?
Decor and supplies for 20 guests cost about $66: 40 balloons $12, a banner $8, a tablecloth $9, 3 centerpieces $15, 25 plates $8, 40 napkins $4, and 60 cups $10. This is a planning estimate, and it excludes food, cake, and tax.
What drinks should I serve?
Serve at least 2 drinks without alcohol, such as a mocktail or lemonade, since the mom-to-be should not have alcohol. Plan 3 drinks per guest and about 1 pound of ice per guest. If you serve beer or wine, put it on a separate table.
Related articles
- Gender Neutral Baby Shower Ideas
- Baby Shower Food Ideas
- Baby Shower Games
- Budget Baby Shower Decorations
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Recreate This Look: Complete Supply Checklist
Every prop, decor item, and material identified in our styled photos, linked directly to top-rated supplies on Amazon.
Napkins at 2 per guest.
Cups at 3 per guest.
Cloth for the food table.
Greenery for centerpieces.
Vases for centerpieces.
Tray for sliders.
For meatball and caprese skewers.
Board for cheese and crackers.
Bucket for the ice and cans.
For the guess the baby food game.
For the diaper raffle.
Cards for tips for the parents.
Allergen labels.
Box for the sheet cake.
