Guest Post: How to Do a Mixed Gender Shower Theme for Twins

When it comes to twins, everything is double – double stroller, double car seats, double diapers and double feedings. Luckily, the baby shower doesn’t have to be double the stress, even if the Mommy-to-Be is having a boy and a girl. Even if you are celebrating mixed gender twins, there are many ways to incorporate both genders into a theme for your baby shower without creating double the work.

Pink and Blue

While pink and blue are the typical colors for girls and boys, it is easy to incorporate both colors into your décor. If you are decorating with balloons, get equal amounts of each color. Get both pink and blue, napkins, plates, and table center pieces. A baby shower for mixed gender twins doesn’t mean you need double of everything. It just means you need to use either a mixed or neutral color scheme.

Shower Themes

No matter the gender, there are many ideas for twin themes. It is fun for both guests and the mom-to-be to have the twin theme throughout the shower. Start off the introduction of the theme in the invitation. I really love owls, for example, and it’s easy to build a theme for your baby shower around an icon like an animal. Make it obvious that your shower is for twins and include the theme because the invitation sets the tone for the event.  Here are a few theme ideas:
Double Dipped – Fondue Party
“Double Stuffed” – Oreo-related theme
Two Peas in a Pod
 

Or you can simply take to pre-set themes focused on boys and girls. As long as they have a similar look and feel, you can do a mash-up that in which one complements the other.

Go Neutral

If you are concerned about doing a shower for mixed gender twins choosing a gender neutral theme is always safe. You can use colors like yellows and greens so that no gender is really intimated. A lot of themes are leaning away from traditional pink or blue anyway, so this might be a good time to go avant garde with your color scheme. If you are looking for a defined theme you can use themes like “cute as a button”, “ready to pop” or “fairy tales” that are great for both genders.

A gender neutral theme doesn’t mean the shower is plain and colorless. Rather, it is staying away from things that scream girl—like pink, flowers and butterflies—and things that scream boy—like blue, sports and fire trucks. Twins are kind of a great excuse to break out of the ordinary!

Traditional Games

Games are a part of traditional baby showers that I really miss when people decide to skip them or do a Sip & See; they can be a lot of fun with the right group. Many Games keep the shower interesting and to give people something to do. Here are a few traditional ideas:
A relay race that includes dressing/undressing a doll and changing a diaper.
Quizzing the Mommy-to-Be about her cravings and making predictions about the babies.
List of pairs – unscramble a list of words of things that come in pairs.
 

I always recommend having a specific person in charge of games. That way, they can really put their heart into and get everyone excited about the whole thing.

Alternative to Shower Games

Not everyone enjoys your typical shower games. Some may find it tacky and boring; sometimes it’s just not their thing. If that is the case, plan a few alternative activities to make sure guests stay entertained. Here are a few ideas:

• Have a BBQ. This is less formal and let people just mingle. If you have a BBQ outside set-up a few things to do in case guests get bored such as croquet, horse-shoes or a banana-split bar.
• Do activities that aren’t necessarily games. Designing DIY onesies are a great idea. Provide guests with plain onesies and any needed materials to decorate their own personal outfit for one of the babies. Be sure to provide a few examples to get their imaginations going.
• Ask everyone to bring their favorite children’s book as a gift for the babies. Have them share their childhood memory of the book they chose to bring.

As the hostess, it’s really your role to put all of the traditional elements together in a way that makes Mommy-to-Be feel loved and supported. With twins, there’s really not too much different from a regular baby shower, but you’ll need to take special care with the theme to make sure it stays gender-mixed or neutral.

Have you ever been to a mixed-gender baby shower for twins? What was the theme?

Diane Vaugn writes for BabyShowerStuff.com on topics ranging from parenting, to etiquette to party planning. When she isn’t planning weddings and baby showers, you can find her curled up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.