TL;DR: Baby shower game prizes are a small thank-you for the winners — not a gift, not a favor, and not required at all. If you do play games, etiquette is simple: have at least one prize per game, keep each one cheap and universal (think $5–$15), and pick things any guest would happily take home. Gift cards, a mini bottle of bubbly, cozy socks, nice soap, or a candle all work. Below: how many to buy, how much to spend, and the prize-vs-favor mix-up that trips most hosts up.
The question sounds tiny but stalls a lot of hosts: do I even need prizes, and if so, what — and how much? Most search results bury you in 50-item product lists without answering the part you care about: the etiquette and the budget. Here's the short version first, then the lists.
Key takeaways
- Prizes are optional. Showers don't have to include games — but if you run games, a good host has a few small prizes ready.
- One prize per game is the rule of thumb; add a smaller second/third-place prize only if you want.
- Keep them cheap and universal — roughly $5–$15 each, things any guest would actually use.
- A prize ≠ a favor. Prizes go to game winners; favors go to everyone. Don't confuse the two budgets.
Do you even need prizes? (The etiquette answer)
No — not strictly. As Emily Post puts it, "showers to welcome a new child into a family don't have to include games," but a host often adds them for fun. If you do play games, the etiquette is to "have a few prizes on hand for the game winners who have participated with good humor and grace." So prizes are a courtesy that rewards the people who played along, not an obligation and not a status gift.
That takes the pressure off: you're not buying presents, just handing the room a small reason to lean into a silly game. A $6 candle does that as well as a $40 gift basket.
How many prizes to buy
Match prizes to games, not to guests. Pampers' rule is the one to use: have at least one prize per game you plan to play, and "consider giving a smaller prize for second and third place as well." So the math is simple:
| Games you're playing | Prizes to buy | Optional extras |
|---|---|---|
| 3 games | 3 winner prizes | +1–2 small runner-up prizes |
| 5 games | 5 winner prizes | + a "grand prize" for an overall point winner |
| 1 big game | 1 nicer prize | + ties broken by coin flip, not extra prizes |
Buy one or two spares — ties happen, and "we'll split it" is an awkward moment you can skip with a backup on the table.
How much to spend per prize
Prizes are tokens, so the per-prize budget stays small. A practical range:
- $5 and under: a nice bar of soap, a bath bomb, a fun pair of socks, a scratch-off ticket, a small candle. Greenvelope notes scratch-offs work "for any budget since tickets are often available for as low as $1, $2, or $5."
- $10 and under: a candle, a coffee mug + a treat, a small succulent, a mini bottle of wine or prosecco, a paperback.
- $15–$20: a gift card to a coffee shop or local store (Pampers calls $15–$20 gift cards "consistently crowd-pleasers"), a cozy throw blanket, a nice tumbler — save this tier for a single "grand prize," not every game.
Host tip
Set a total prize budget (say $30–$50 for the whole shower) and divide it across your games, rather than picking pricey items one at a time. You'll spend less and the prizes will feel more consistent.
Prizes guests actually want
The winning move is "universally appealing" — something a 25-year-old coworker and a 70-year-old grandparent would both be happy to take home. The reliable categories, pulled from Emily Post, Pampers, and Greenvelope:
- Gift cards ($15–$20) to coffee shops, bookstores, or food delivery.
- A mini bottle of prosecco or wine — tie on a "pop the bubbly when the baby arrives" note for a smile.
- Cozy comfort gifts: soft socks, a small throw blanket, a stylish tumbler.
- Pampering items: hand lotion sets, nice soaps, bath bombs, a box of chocolates (all Emily Post picks).
- Home touches: a candle, kitchen towels, napkin rings, a small votive holder.
- For a coed shower: a six-pack from a local brewery, a coffee-lover's gift set, or a gift card — gender-neutral is the safe call.
The mix-up that trips up most hosts: prizes vs. favors
Here's the line people blur. Prizes go to game winners — a handful. Favors are a thank-you for every guest — one per head. They have different budgets, and treating one like the other is how a shower goes over budget or runs short.
| Prizes | Favors | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets one | Game winners only | Every guest |
| How many | One per game (+ optional spares) | One per guest |
| Per-item budget | Can be a touch nicer ($5–$15) | Smaller, multiplied by everyone |
Greenvelope's clever overlap: many small items — succulents, mini soaps, treat bags — "work well as party favors" too, so you can buy one type of thing in bulk, hand the best ones out as prizes, and let the rest be favors. One purchase, two jobs.
What most people get wrong
They assume prizes have to be impressive, then either overspend on baby-themed trinkets the winner secretly won't use, or skip prizes entirely and let games fizzle. The truth in the middle: a few cheap, genuinely-useful, non-baby prizes (the winners aren't the ones having a baby) do more for the room than one expensive basket. Reward the participation, not the win.
Where prizes get easy: fewer, simpler games
If buying and wrapping prizes feels like a chore, it usually means too many games. Two or three well-run games need only two or three prizes. If you'd rather skip printing altogether, an on-screen game keeps score so you can crown a winner on the spot: see the play-it-on-the-TV game set or browse all 20 free games, and our guide on how many games to actually play will keep your prize count sane.
FAQ
Do you have to give prizes at a baby shower?
No. Games themselves are optional, and so are prizes. But if you run games, etiquette says a good host keeps a few small prizes on hand to reward the guests who played along. A $5–$15 token is plenty.
How many baby shower prizes do I need?
Buy at least one prize per game you plan to play, plus one or two spares for ties. You can add a smaller second- or third-place prize, but it's not required.
How much should I spend on baby shower prizes?
Roughly $5–$15 per prize, with maybe one $15–$20 "grand prize." Set a total prize budget for the whole shower (around $30–$50) and divide it across your games instead of picking items one at a time.
What are good baby shower game prizes?
Universal items any guest would use: gift cards, a mini bottle of wine, cozy socks, nice soap or lotion, a candle, or a box of chocolates. Skip baby-themed items — the winners aren't the ones expecting.
Are prizes and favors the same thing?
No. Prizes go to game winners (you need a few); favors are a thank-you for every guest (you need one per head). Some small items can double as both, but the budgets are different.
Sources
- Emily Post — Party Game Ideas for Baby Showers (showers don't have to include games; if you play them, "have a few prizes on hand for the game winners"; prize ideas: hand lotions/soaps, chocolates, kitchen towels, napkin rings, candles)
- Pampers — 32 Baby Shower Game Prize Ideas (have at least one prize per game, plus optional smaller second/third-place prizes; $15–$20 gift cards as consistent crowd-pleasers; under-$10 and under-$20 prize tiers)
- Greenvelope — Baby Shower Prize Ideas (scratch-offs as low as $1–$5; gender-neutral coed picks; many small prizes double as party favors)