How to Plan a Baby Shower at Work (Office & Remote Teams)

A work baby shower is short and simple: ask the parent-to-be first, keep it to 30 to 60 minutes during work hours, collect for one group gift with no pressure on amounts, and play one or two quick games. Hold it two to six weeks before their leave starts.

Step 1: ask first, privately

Some people love a fuss; others would rather not mention the pregnancy at work at all. Ask quietly whether they'd like a shower, a card and gift, or nothing, and whether the date, the gender or the name can be shared. Check with their manager about timing and the room.

Step 2: the group gift

• Make giving voluntary and private. One person collects; nobody sees who gave what.
• One bigger gift beats twenty small ones. A pram, car seat or a big nappy stock-up is more useful than twenty soft toys.
• Ask for their registry. If they have one, the team can buy from it, or put money towards one bigger item.
• A card everyone signs, passed round or sent online for remote colleagues.

Step 3: a 45-minute plan

1. 10 to 10 minutes: everyone arrives, cake and drinks.
2. 210 to 25 minutes: one or two quick games.
3. 325 to 35 minutes: hand over the group gift and the card.
4. 435 to 45 minutes: a few words from the manager or a close colleague, then back to work.

Office-friendly games

• Guess the baby photo: colleagues send in their own baby photos; match them to names.
• Due date and weight sweepstake: a small sheet on the wall; winner announced after the birth.
• Baby advice cards: everyone writes one piece of advice or a wish. Good for colleagues who don't like games.
• Office baby trivia: ten baby-fact questions everyone answers on their phone.
• Name suggestion box: only if the parent is happy for people to suggest names.

Skip anything personal or physical at work: measuring the bump, nappy races, or quizzes about the couple's private life. For more ideas, see 30 baby shower games.

Remote and hybrid teams

• Schedule 30 minutes in work time across time zones, and record nothing without asking.
• Play a game on everyone's phone rather than a slideshow one person controls.
• Use an online card and a registry link, so remote colleagues can give without posting anything.
• Have the gift delivered to their home, timed to arrive before the call.

If the colleague is having a gender reveal and wants the team involved, see our guide to a gender reveal for coworkers.