The mommy and daddy game is any baby shower game where guests guess how the parents-to-be would answer a question, and it comes in five common versions: Mom or Dad, Who Knows Mommy Best, He Said She Said, the shoe game, and a parenting predictions round. They all share one setup step. Ask the parents to answer questions ahead of time, separately, so nobody can coach anyone.
Our free starter pack includes a ready-to-print Mom or Dad card with a Host Guide, and the bigger printable baby shower game packs add many more games. For the wider list of crowd-pleasers, head to the baby shower games homepage.
What are the five versions?
1. Mom or Dad (Who Said It)
Write 10 to 12 “who is more likely to…” questions: who will cry first at the hospital, who reads the instructions, who is going to give in to a toddler tantrum. Each parent answers privately. On the day, the host reads each question, guests vote Mom or Dad, and the host reveals the real answer. Score a point for each correct vote, and have the parents sit with the group so they can react.
2. Who Knows Mommy Best?
Ask the dad-to-be ten questions about mom (her favorite snack, the first thing she’ll buy for the nursery) while she’s out of the room, then compare his answers to hers. Guests bet on whether he got it right. It’s sweet and sometimes embarrassing, and it works best with a couple comfortable being teased.
3. He Said, She Said
Print a sheet of statements about the pregnancy (“She craved this first,” “He picked the name”) and have each parent mark true or false before the shower. The host reads the statement, guests guess, and the parents’ marks are revealed. It gives the couple the spotlight without asking them to perform.
4. The Shoe Game
Borrowed from newlywed games. The parents sit back to back, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s. The host asks a question and both hold up the shoe that answers it: “Who’s the better driver?” A tie is a score for the room, a mismatch is a debate.
5. Parenting Predictions
Guests guess who will do what first: change the first diaper, google a symptom at 2am, buy the toy nobody needs. Reveal the answers at the next family visit or after the baby arrives. It sits somewhere between a game and a keepsake, much like the cards in our free printable baby shower games set.
What questions can you steal?
Start with these and edit them to fit the couple. Keep half of them funny and half sweet.
- Who is more likely to cry at the first ultrasound?
- Who will be the strict parent, and who will cave first?
- Who will be up at 3am with the baby more often?
- Who is going to read every parenting book?
- Who will take the first embarrassing photo of the baby?
- Who will say “because I said so” first?
- Who will spoil the baby more?
- Who is more likely to lose a pacifier in public?
- Who will take the longest to pack the diaper bag?
- Who is more likely to sing the baby to sleep?
- Who will be the first to say “when I was your age”?
- Who will secretly love bath time more?
How do you set it up so it works?
Send the questions two weeks out, in a shared doc or text, and ask each parent to answer on their own. Keep the questions light; this is a baby shower, not a deposition. Mix one funny question with one sweet one. Then plan 10 to 15 minutes, because the game drags at 20.
It pairs naturally with other couple-centered rounds, which we cover in baby shower games for couples, and it’s a fixture in most coed baby shower games lists for a reason. For a broader laugh, see the funny baby shower games roundup, and grab our free 5-game starter pack if you want the Mom or Dad card ready to print.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the mommy and daddy game at a baby shower?
Ask the parents-to-be to answer questions separately before the party. At the shower, read each question aloud, let guests guess how each parent answered, and reveal the real answers.
How many questions should the mommy and daddy game have?
Ten to twelve is the sweet spot. That runs about 10 to 15 minutes and keeps the energy up without wearing out the couple.
What if one parent can’t be there?
Have them submit answers in advance by text, and read them aloud. The game works fine when only one parent is in the room.
Is the mommy and daddy game good for coed showers?
Yes. It needs no baby knowledge, which makes it one of the few games that every guest can play on equal footing.