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Gender reveals have been in the news lately and, unfortunately, for the wrong reasons. An idea that started as a fun way to share the exciting details of your baby-to-be’s gender seems, of late, to have turned into a constant one-up environment with a lot of disastrous results.
More: Are Gender Reveal Parties Problematic?
Ten years ago, when I had my first son, as far as I know, gender reveal parties weren’t a thing yet. My reveal consisted of posting a sonogram photo and the caption, “It’s a boy,” on Facebook. I did the same thing with my second son three years later.
Now ten years later, gender reveals and gender reveal parties have taken on a life of their own. People are always looking for exciting and unique gender reveal ideas. But sometimes these party plans go too far. There have been many reveals lately that have resulted in injuries and even deaths. The good news is there are plenty of simple, responsible, and fun ways to pull off a gender reveal with your friends and family.
We did our research and have pulled together 10 great ideas for a simple and responsible gender reveal party.
10 Responsible Gender Reveal Ideas
1. Gender Reveal Candy or Cotten Candy
I love this gender reveal idea, plus everyone gets a yummy snack! The way you pull this off will depend on whether you and your partner already know the gender or if you are using it to surprise your loved ones.
If you already know the gender of your baby and are having a party to surprise your family and friends, you can purchase jelly beans, M&Ms, or another candy of choice in the traditional colors of blue or pink. Or, if you’re like me and not into the traditional colors, choose two of your own! Just make sure your guests know what the colors mean!
Fill tiny bags or containers with the color of choice and pass them out to all your guests. On the count of three have everyone open their container at the same time. If you want to be surprised, too, talk to a local candy shop to see if they will pre-fill the containers for you.
Colored cotton candy also makes a fun party option and will look super sweet in your gender reveal photos!
2. Gender Reveal Squirt Guns
This one is a little bit messy, so if you plan to go with this option, head outside! Purchase some heavy-duty water guns and fill them with your color of choice for the big reveal. Have you and your partner put on some white t-shirts and get ready to make a mess.
Instead of saying boy or girl, countdown and then let loose on your partner with your paint-filled squirter.
You may wish to set yourselves apart a distance from your quests or film this one to save others from mess.
3. Gender Reveal Pinata
I love this idea, and it is an excellent one if you want to be surprised as well! Ask the doctor or technician to write your baby’s gender inside a sealed envelope. Visit the local candy shop and hand them your baby’s gender envelope and ask them to fill the pinata with the candy color of choice.
At the party, you and your spouse can take turns whacking the pinata, or you can allow the guests to participate too. Either way, it’s a fun flashback way to reveal the gender of your baby!
4. Gender Reveal Cakes
Gender reveal cakes might be the least exciting and most common way parents do gender reveals, but it’s fun nonetheless; it’s also delicious!
To accomplish this simple gender reveal, provide your bakery with the gender sealed in an envelope and ask them to create the cake for you.
If you don’t want to pay a bakery to do this, consider asking a close friend or relative who can keep the secret until the time of the big reveal.
Cake reveals can also be a fun way to surprise siblings once you know the gender. What kid doesn’t like cake!?
5. Gender Reveal Basketball
This gender reveal idea is excellent for the sports enthusiast! You can purchase these basketballs online at Amazon for about $22. The ball comes with both pink and blue powder, so you can pre-fill the ball to surprise all your guests.
The basketball will split open when it hits the hard ground. It’s up to you whether you actually dunk it through the net or simply bounce it on the ground!
6. Gender Reveal Balloon Pop
The balloon pop idea is another standard one, but the suspense of popping the balloon adds extra excitement!
To pull this idea off, ask the party store to fill dark or black balloons with the appropriate colored confetti. Then at the party, pop the balloon open and let the colorful confetti rain down on everyone.
I especially like this idea for parents expecting multiples because the excitement builds with each balloon pop.
7. Music Gender Reveal
There are so many songs out there that have lyrics centered around “boy” or “girl. Choose one of your favorites, “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel or “Small Town Girl” by Journey would be perfect! For a boy, you could use “Let’s Hear About the Boy” by Deniece Williams or “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy.
Have the song cued up and ready to go and press play when you are ready for the big reveal!
8. Gender Reveal Confetti Party-Poppers
Another fun way to involve all your guests is to purchase confetti party-poppers that explode everyone in a cloud of blue or pink confetti.
Depending on your budget, you can buy some for just you and your partner, or if your budget is a little bigger, you can buy one for each of your guests. You may wish to do this reveal outside because it can cause quite a mess. To keep this responsible, look for biodegradable confetti when buying.
9. Gender Reveal Balloon Drop
The balloon drop is not a new idea; it’s been a party staple for years, but adding the fun twist of a gender reveal is exciting for everyone!
You can purchase a complete kit on Amazon with everything you need to have the big reveal via balloons. Once you receive your kit, pump up the color needed, fill the giant drop bag, and wait for the party to begin!
10. Scratch-Off Reveals
Order a custom-made scratch-off reveal card from Amazon. With this method, everyone at the party can join in the fun. Unlike scratch-off lotto cards, everyone’s a winner with the results on this bet!
Obviously, you will need to know the gender of the baby, or you will need to let someone you trust in on the secret so they can order for you.
Curious about your baby’s gender? Check out The Most Popular Gender-Predicting Old Wives’ Tales of All Time.
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