Host your own dad baby shower
![Cartoon of a dad singing at a dad baby shower.](https://ideas.hallmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dadchelor-image.jpg)
Celebrating the arrival of a new little one isn’t just for moms: The dad baby shower is a thing, and we’re all in. After all, new dads are just as excited—and just as nervous—as expectant mothers. Maybe you’ve heard of Dadchelor Parties, Huggies and Chuggies, and Pack Parties…so we’d like to present our own version: Bootie Camp.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
What is Bootie Camp?
Bootie Camp combines a dad baby shower with new parent challenges, groan-worthy puns, and themed snacks. It’s an excuse to turn the back yard into a training ground and the patio into a mess tent. And it’s all about fun.
Dad baby shower game: Create a New Parent Obstacle Course
The New Parent Obstacle Course is the ultimate dad baby shower game and the centerpiece of your Bootie Camp: a series of silly-but-educational tasks and traps for the Dad-to-Be to overcome.
But first! Prepare the Dad-to-Be for life with baby by outfitting him in a baby carrier and filling it with one of the following: life-sized baby doll, 10 pound sack of potatoes, or your small, very chill dog.
OK. Now the obstacle course stations:
- Complete as many bicep curls as possible with a car seat containing a 15 pound weight.
- Find a pacifier as quickly as possible in a diaper bag filled to the brim with random objects.
- Sing “Rock-a-bye Baby” all the way through while friends cry loudly and tell you you’re doing it wrong.
- Successfully put pigtails in a doll’s hair—while a friend wiggles the doll and tries to take it away.
- Read a bedtime story while answering ridiculous questions shouted by other guests.
- Eat a hot dog with one hand while dicing a second hot dog with the other hand.
- Holding a guest in your lap, “feed” them a can or bottle of the fizzy beverage of your choice, then pat them on the back until they burp.
- Effectively swaddle a grown man in a full-sized blanket.
These are just to get you started. The New Parent Obstacle Course is the perfect opportunity for the experienced fathers on your list to create their own challenges, and to personalize the dad baby shower for your guest of honor.
Additional fun:
- Send everyone through the obstacle course—not just the dad to be. Compete individually or in teams. Award prizes.
- Appoint experienced dads (or moms!) to act as judges and award points for skill, style, speed, and creativity.
- To simulate the experience of changing a baby boy’s diapers, give one guest a water gun filled with warm water. That person may squirt competitors in the face at any time.
Dad baby shower food: What to serve in the Bootie Camp Mess Hall
This is the place to practice your word play. A few to get you started…
- DOD (doody on a diaper) instead of SOS (stuff on a shingle)
- MRSU (Meals Ready to Spit Up) instead of MREs (meals ready to eat)—we suggest smoothies and veggie purees.
- Burp-inducers (carbonated soda and beer)
- Bib-soakers (ribs with sauce or hot wings)
- Ba-bas (bottles of beer)
- Binkies (lollipops)
- Bootie Camp Camo mix (green and brown, or blue and pink, m&ms with surprise raisins)
- Little Bombs (sliders or sandwiches wrapped diaper-style in white napkins or parchment paper)
Dad baby shower gift: Deliver Marching Orders
After all the silliness, give the Dad-to-Be’s pals a chance to offer sincere wishes and words of wisdom. Start with a notebook or journal—or punch holes in the corners of a stack of 3x5s and gather them with a binder ring. Make a cover sheet that says “Marching Orders for the New Dad” (or new family). Ask your guests to write things like:
- The best part of being a dad
- Why they know the guest of honor will be a great father
- Words of advice—from experience
- Their favorite dad jokes
- Tips and tricks for life with baby
We’d love to see your dad baby shower pictures from Bootie Camp! Tag @HallmarkStores when you post on social media.
Looking for more dad-related articles? We’ve got plenty to choose from.
Shop Baby
See allYou may also like
See more-
Care & Concern How to support a friend going through a divorce
How to support a friend going through a divorce directly from people who went through it.
-
Care & Concern Ways to support friends with disabilities (there are more of us than you think)
Ways to support to friends with disabilities, suggested by people who live with a range of mental and physical illnes...
-
Father's Day Father’s Day breakfast decorations: DIY superhero toppers
Make these superhero Father’s Day breakfast decorations— but they’re great for any of your heroes and any occasion.
-
Arts, Crafts & DIY DIY party decorations for all of life’s celebrations
A collection of super-cute DIY party decorations—cake toppers, a garland, favor pouches and more—that you can easily ...
-
Halloween Halloween paper crafts to celebrate scary season
Carve out some fun with our three easy Halloween paper crafts. Includes patterns and instructions.
-
Halloween Bake a scary-good Halloween gingerbread house...if you dare!
With a few ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, your crew can construct this goose bumps–worthy Halloween gin...
-
Father's Day Father's Day desserts
Sweeten Dad up with these Father's Day desserts.
-
Lifestyle Empathy quotes
Beautiful, hand-lettered empathy quotes for sharing (and inspiration), reminding us we’re all in this life together.
-
Spring History of Nurses Day
Learn more about the history of Nurses Day.
-
Care & Concern How to support caregivers of parents
The reasons for being a caregiver and the experiences of each person vary. Read on to learn how to support caregivers...
-
Family Making home a healing place
Joy is the North Star I point my family towards daily. Because that’s the way to freedom, wholeness and healing.
-
Birthday The perfect summer birthday party theme
We’ve put together everything you need for a summer birthday party theme, complete with all the sprinkles.
-
Drinks Easy, refreshing beer cocktails
You don’t have to remind yourself it’s 5 o’clock somewhere: The red beer, beermosa and radler are perfect beer cockta...
-
Lifestyle Fun road trip games
You gotta love a good road trip. These fun road trip games will keep brains busy for hours on end.
-
Gift Wrapping 3 unique and creative birthday gift wrapping ideas
It’s almost their birthday, and this year, you’re going to totally nail it. You’ve picked out an amazing gift they’ll...
-
Sympathy How to support a grieving friend
Advice on how to support a grieving friend, directly from people who went through it. Get ideas to show you care here.
-
Love Expressing love: The power of words
Love is a verb. It’s an action we choose. Get tips, perspective and advice for expressing love to yourself and your f...
-
Baby Help for new moms: 10 thoughtful gestures
Help for new moms, on the way! Check out these low- or no-cost gift ideas.
-
Sympathy Sympathy gift ideas for offering your condolences and support
Many times, we don’t know what to say after a loss. It can be difficult to determine what will comfort a hurting frie...
-
Wedding Wedding toast examples and ideas to make their special day even more memorable
Just picture their wedding day—beautiful flowers, beautiful music, everyone looking their most beautiful while two pe...