How Long Should a Baby Shower Last

How long should a baby shower last? What’s the right amount of time for it? There are a couple of things you should consider in order to create a great baby shower that all guests will enjoy.

Duration of the average baby shower is around 2-3 hours. There should be plenty of time for guests to enjoy in all of the activities and games you planned. Factor in things like eating the appetizers and cake, gift opening, and catching up with family members and friends. 2-3 hours should give the guests enough time to have fun with the mommy-to-be and to get to know each other better. Keep in mind that the mom-to-be will probably be tired after 2 hours of celebration.

Baby shower timeline

It is important to have enough time for all of the guests to arrive, particularly if there are some family members with a habit of being late. The games begin about 30-45 minutes into the shower, when all guests have arrived. There are usually 3-5 different games, they last for another 30-45 minutes. After the games, mom-to-be should open her gifts. Then, it’s time for a cake. After the cake, the party ends.

How long should a gift opening last?

Opening of the gifts can significantly change the duration of the baby shower. Some expecting moms prefer not to have a gift opening at all – they find them too long and even a bit awkward. If there is a large guest list, you might want to think about leaving the gift opening for later. If you choose to do a traditional gift opening, be sure to have enough time for it. Consider opening them while serving cake or food. The recommended time for opening of the gifts is one hour or less.

For baby shower invitations, games and other items, check out our SHOP!