The pacifier game for a baby shower isn’t one game; it’s a family of five, and most hosts mean the first one: every guest wears a pacifier on a ribbon, and anyone caught saying the word “baby” loses it to whoever heard them. The other four versions use the same prop for a hunt, a pass, a toss, and a blindfolded pin-the-prop game. All of them cost almost nothing and need no explanation beyond one sentence.
Buy a bag of mini pacifiers (the cheap party kind, not real infant ones) and you can run several. If you want the printable version of pin the pacifier, it’s one of the games in our printable baby shower game packs, and the broader baby shower games collection has plenty more where this came from.
How do you play the pacifier necklace game?
Thread a pacifier onto a ribbon or a length of elastic cord and hang one around each guest’s neck as they arrive. The rule: you can’t say “baby.” If you hear someone say it, you point it out, and they hand over their pacifier. Whoever holds the most at the end of the party wins a prize.
It’s the same idea as a clothespin game, only cuter and easier to see across a room. Mention the rule when people arrive so nobody feels ambushed, and have a few spares for late guests. You’ll also want a prize ready; see our list of prizes for baby shower games if you’re stuck.
What are the other four versions?
Pin the Pacifier on the Baby
The baby shower version of pin the tail. Tape a poster of a baby’s face to the wall, blindfold guests one at a time, spin them twice, and have them stick a paper pacifier on the mouth. Closest placement wins. Pin the pacifier works best with groups under 20, since each turn takes about 30 seconds.
Pacifier Pass
Seat guests in a circle and pass a pacifier while music plays, hot potato style. When the music stops, whoever is holding it answers a question about the parents-to-be or sits out the next round. The last player in wins.
Pacifier Hunt
Hide 20 to 30 pacifiers around the room or yard before guests arrive. Give everyone two minutes to find as many as they can. Number a few of them to match prizes so the hunt matters for more than bragging rights.
Pacifier Toss
Set a baby bottle or a small bucket on the floor. Players stand about six feet back and toss pacifiers in; three throws each. Move the line back for a tiebreaker.
Is it safe to use real pacifiers?
Use new, clean pacifiers and don’t give them to the baby afterward. Skip the game entirely if toddlers are in the room, because a ribbon around the neck and small parts aren’t a good mix, and pick the hunt or toss version in that case. Count the pacifiers at the end of a hunt so none go missing under a couch.
If you like the necklace idea but want something louder, baby shower games with no supplies includes several verbal games that run the same way. For a more offbeat option, try the rice and safety pin game, and our funny baby shower games and fun baby shower games lists have a few others that get laughs. You can also test the waters with our free 5-game starter pack before you buy anything.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the pacifier game at a baby shower?
Give each guest a pacifier on a ribbon to wear. Anyone who says the word “baby” has to give their pacifier to the person who caught them. The guest with the most pacifiers when the party ends wins.
How many pacifiers do I need?
One per guest for the necklace game, plus a few spares. For a hunt, plan on 20 to 30 total so there’s enough to go around.
Is the pacifier game the same as Don’t Say Baby?
The necklace version is. Both use the same rule, and the pacifier simply replaces the clothespin or bracelet.
What age group is the pacifier game for?
It suits teens and adults. With small children around, choose the hunt or toss version and keep ribbons off necks.