Published on February 21st, 2020 and Updated on April 11th, 2024
Discovering a baby’s sex can have a profound impact on expectant parents, from kindling baby name brainstorming sessions to imagining the “life talks” they’ll share with them in 15 years. It’s no surprise, then, that gender reveal parties are becoming a mainstay of celebrating while pregnant—they’re just one way we’re welcoming new life into our lives.
Whether you’re planning a baby gender reveal party or you’ve just been invited to one, there are a few important party pointers to know when throwing (or attending) this modern event. In this complete guide to gender reveal parties, we’ll tackle party planning, gift ideas, and etiquette lessons so you can celebrate this first chapter of parenthood (for yourself and/or friend) as it unfolds.
What is a baby gender reveal party?
Whether you’re attending your first gender reveal party or have a mind to throw one for yourself, all gender reveal parties share one thing in common: announcing the sex of the baby-to-be.
But after the big announcement is made, how do gender reveal parties work?
Ultimately, the party agenda is up to the parents-to-be. However, most gender reveal parties are accompanied by some other signature activities, like:
- Playing games (like guessing the baby’s sex)
- Giving and opening gifts
- Sharing a meal
- Connecting with loved ones
While gender reveal parties chiefly revolve around the big announcement of the baby’s gender, their true purpose is a little more abstract—essentially, these parties are about cultivating a relationship with a baby before he or she arrives.
Gender Reveal Party vs Baby Shower: What’s The Difference?
Traditionally, baby showers—also called “stork showers” in the early 20th century—were thrown just for new mothers. They provided a way of:
- Bringing friends together to celebrate new life
- Preparing moms-to-be with the items they needed (e.g. diapers) to care for their little one
- Cultivating an extended social network of neighbors and family so mom and baby were emotionally and materially supported
Today, baby showers are a bit more inclusive, and often, Dad gets to join in on the fun.
But the main difference between baby showers and gender reveal parties comes down to timing: while baby showers are usually thrown in the third trimester, gender reveal parties can happen as early as the first trimester. With massive progress in the field of baby gender testing, parents today can start celebrating their little one as early as 6 weeks into a pregnancy through SneakPeek Gender Test.
Your Gender Reveal Party Planning Guide
Whether you’re pregnant and looking for a way to bring loved ones together or your mom-to-be best friend asked you to plan her gender reveal, there are countless ideas for making this special occasion fun, warm, and memorable.
Before you get started, below are a few questions you should ask yourself:
- How intimate do you want the gender reveal party to be?
- Would you prefer to celebrate at home or at a venue?
- Will kids (or big siblings) be invited to the party?
- Will you expect guests to bring gifts?
- Do you want to learn the sex of your baby before guests arrive, or alongside everyone else?
Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to start brainstorming ideas for themes and announcement ideas.
Gender Reveal Party Theme Ideas: How to Make The Party Festive
Choosing a theme for a gender reveal party can be a challenge—but a fun one! While you’ll want to maintain a degree of mystery before the big reveal, there are countless ways to stay on-theme without spoiling the surprise.
Let’s take a look at four fun ideas for gender reveal party themes:
- What will it bee? – Punny parents-in-training will love a bee-themed party centered around cheeky wordplay. Not only is spring the season of new life, new beginnings, and renewal, but there are plenty of décor options available, making decorating a breeze.
- Birth season-themed – Parents who already know their child’s due date can anticipate which season their baby will be born in—so why not take advantage of that knowledge and design a party around the not-so-distant future? Have a winter wonderland theme for a February baby, or an autumnal event for an October one.
- Call of the wild – Jungle themes are popular for baby showers and gender reveal parties alike. They’re especially wonderful if you have other little ones in attendance who can enjoy playing with any stuffed lions, tigers, and bears you use as décor.
- Rainbow-themed – Looking to buck gender stereotypes and throw an inclusive gender reveal? Invite more colors to the party and throw a tasteful rainbow-themed event. Make it a potluck and assign each guest a color.
Gender Reveal Announcement Ideas: How to Do A Gender Reveal
Once you’ve established the theme of your party, it’s time to plan the main event and decide how will the baby’s gender be revealed?
Here are four ideas for building suspense and making your baby reveal memorable:
- The Piñata Reveal – Whether you’re a kid at heart or have children in attendance, the piñata reveal idea is an excellent way to include all guests in the big moment. Fill a piñata with cloth gift bags brimming with pink or blue candy (colored M&Ms are available year-round!). Have guests line up (and stand back!), blindfold whoever’s at bat, and whack until the secret’s out!
- The Cake Reveal – Bake a cake and stir pink or blue food dye into the mix. Once cooled, top your cake with a thick, opaque icing to mask its color. Leave the confection sitting on the buffet all party long, and when it’s time to cut the cake, your baby’s gender will be revealed! A word of caution: make sure attendees know not to dig in ahead of time—especially any guests with a big sweet tooth!
- The Confetti Reveal – Purchase party poppers filled with blue or pink confetti, and hand them out to guests before the big moment. Have everyone count down together from ten and unleash their poppers at the same time to reveal your baby’s gender.
- The Balloon Release – For this method, you’ll need a box large enough to hold 1 dozen balloons. Visit your local party store, choose pink or blue balloons, and have them filled with helium so they float. Seal them in your box, and when it’s time for the reveal, take the lid off to unbox your baby’s gender.
Surprises aren’t just for the adults. If you have kids in attendance—especially big siblings—make them feel special with one of these joyful, kid-friendly reveal activities:
- Have them break open a heart-shaped chocolate geode with pink or blue candy filling for a kid- (and sweet tooth-) friendly boy or girl gender reveal.
- Give them pink or blue silly string to spray on expecting parents (parents consenting, of course!)
- Prepare your toddler for a new baby with a fun gender reveal scavenger hunt, where they follow clues hidden in pink or blue balloons, leading them to a surprise announcement of their new baby sister or brother.
- Have mom stand in front of them in a plain white maternity T-shirt. Blindfold the big sibling(s), have them dip their hands in pink or blue paint, and ask them to put their hand on mom’s belly. When they take off their blindfold, they’ll see whether they’re getting a new baby sister or brother—and mom will have a sweet hand-printed memento to wear postpartum.
Gender Reveal Party Gift Guide
It’s up to the parents whether guests should bring presents to their gender reveal party, but if you’re attending one and insist on showing your excitement in gift form, there are a few options that can make mom’s life easier early on in pregnancy.
For the new mom, consider gift ideas such as:
- A back massager
- A spa gift card or maternity massage coupon
- Plush house slippers
- A cozy robe
- Maternity clothes
- Books about parenting and motherhood
- Matching clothing for Mom and Dad
If you’d prefer to help mom prepare for baby’s arrival, you could also bring:
- Items from her registry (if already created)
- Crib linens
- Onesies
- Baby bibs
- Milk or formula bottles
- Pacifiers
- Stuffed animals or soft baby books
Gender Reveal Etiquette 101
So you’re going to a gender reveal party—is there anything else to know before you arrive?
While there isn’t a strict code of conduct when it comes to gender reveal parties, there are a few things to expect before savoring this special moment in early pregnancy:
- The guest list may be on the shorter side – Earlier on in their history, many gender reveal parties were stylized as spectacles—but that trend seems to be quieting in recent years. These days, gender reveals are typically more intimate, smaller-scale events to ensure privacy among parents and attendees.
- The event is usually held at home – There’s no hard and fast rule saying gender reveal parties can’t be held at a nice restaurant or events venue, but most are typically hosted at home. Hosting on the home front gives parents adequate freedom to execute the big announcement on their own terms.
- Someone else may be in on it – There are several ways to pull off a gender reveal. Sometimes, parents themselves reveal the sex of their baby. Other times, they entrust the responsibility to a close confidant who’s in charge of planning the big reveal.
- Early pregnancy is a tender time – Even though baby gender can be discovered as early as 6 weeks into a pregnancy, gender reveal parties are typically reserved for the second trimester. This ensures mom and baby are both confirmed to be in good health before any celebrations take place.
There are countless touch points along the path to parenthood, from curating a baby’s nursery to asking loved ones for their advice on raising children. Gender reveal parties are just one of the ways parents can start dreaming up what life’s newest chapter might look alongside the cherished loved ones who’ll help them welcome that little girl or boy into the world.
Plan Your Party Early with SneakPeek
Years ago, parents had to wait until their anatomy scan ultrasound to discover the sex of their baby (around 18 weeks into their journey). But today, DNA-based tests like the SneakPeek At-Home Gender Test can reveal the sex of your baby in less than half the time—at just 6 weeks into your pregnancy.
SneakPeek is OBGYNs’ first-in-class pick for at-home gender tests, with over 99% clinically-proven accuracy1, complete privacy protection, and single-day turnarounds through SneakPeek FastTrack.
Whether your pre-baby plans include an all-out gender reveal party or you want to stay more private about your soon to be child, SneakPeek gives you the freedom to learn about your baby on your own terms, in your own time.
Sources:
- Huffington Post. Baby Showers, Now and Then. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/baby-showers-now-and-then_b_5527222
- Huffington Post. How Gender Reveals Became Such A Thing. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-gender-reveals-became-such-a-thing_n_5b4fa97be4b0b15aba8b3e46
- VeryWell Family. Ultrasound Signs for Determining Baby’s Sex. https://www.verywellfamily.com/finding-out-the-sex-of-your-baby-2758376
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