Bobbing For Pacifiers
Introduction
If you’ve ever dunked your head in a bucket at Halloween trying to grab apples, you know how ridiculous bobbing games can be. Now swap the apples for pacifiers, and you’ve got a baby shower twist that’s just as silly maybe sillier. Honestly, nothing gets people giggling faster than grown adults leaning over bowls of water, trying to snatch tiny pacifiers with their teeth. It’s pure chaos in the best possible way.
The game looks simple at first, but that’s what makes it so funny. A couple of pacifiers floating in a bowl doesn’t sound hard… until the whistle blows and suddenly water’s splashing, people are squealing, and the cheering squad gets louder with every second. By the end, you’ve got soaked faces, uncontrollable laughter, and plenty of pictures everyone will be passing around later.
What You’ll Need
- Plastic bowls one per player. The bigger the bowl, the funnier the splashing.
- Pacifiers three to five in each bowl. Grab colorful ones or match them to your shower theme.
- Water enough to float the pacifiers, not drown them.
- Extras that make it smoother (and funnier): Whistle, bell, or even a baby rattle to kick things off.
- Towels or napkins because, well, splashing is guaranteed.
- Prizes keep them lighthearted, like candles, mugs, or even a goofy “trophy pacifier.”
- Fun idea: Number the pacifiers and hand out prizes with matching numbers. It adds a surprise twist you don’t just win, you get a mystery gift.
How to Play
- Before the Party: Setup doesn’t take much, but a little prep makes it smoother. Line up the bowls on a sturdy table (or outdoors if you’re worried about spills). Fill them halfway with water so the pacifiers bob instead of sinking. Keep a few towels nearby guests will thank you when their faces are dripping. If it’s hot outside, icy water makes the game twice as funny (and twice as shocking).
- How to Play: Give each player their bowl and pacifiers. Have them put their hands behind their backs no cheating! Blow a whistle, shake a rattle, or shout “Go!” Players dunk, bob, splash, and try to grab every pacifier with their mouths. The first person to collect all their pacifiers wins. It takes just a couple of minutes to play, but the laughter lasts way longer.
- Choosing Winners: Sure, the first to finish is the official winner but why stop there? Hand out silly side awards: Most Dramatic Splash → for the guest who basically turned their bowl into a fountain. Best Effort → for someone who maybe didn’t win but went all in. Cleanest Bobber → for the rare person who somehow managed to stay dry. More prizes mean more laughs, and it makes everyone feel part of the fun.
Fun Variations
Bonus Ideas: Relay Version: Team up! Each person grabs one pacifier before tagging the next teammate. First team done wins. Timed Round: Instead of racing for all, give everyone one minute to see who grabs the most. Glow-in-the-Dark Twist: Use neon pacifiers and black lights for an evening shower.
Why Guests Love It
- Why This Game Works: The magic of Bobbing for Pacifiers is that it gets people moving. So many baby shower games are table-based quizzes, guessing, trivia but this one? It’s all action. Guests are standing, cheering, competing, and splashing around. Even folks who don’t want to play love watching and snapping photos.
- And the theme fits perfectly. Pacifiers are baby 101, and seeing adults clumsily chase them around in bowls of water? That’s comedy gold. Best of all, anyone can play friends, coworkers, grandparents it’s a universal icebreaker.
- Cheering Section: Not everyone loves dunking their face in a bowl of water, and that’s totally fine. Give those guests a different role by letting them “sponsor” a player. They get to pick who they’re rooting for, cheer like crazy from the sidelines, and if their player wins, they share the prize. Half the fun is in the noise and energy from the cheering section it keeps the game lively for everyone.
Conclusion
Bobbing for Pacifiers has very little to do with speed. Nobody remembers who grabbed the last pacifier first they remember the splashes, the ridiculous photos, and the roar of laughter when someone accidentally dunks too deep. That’s why this game works so well. It loosens people up, gets strangers talking, and gives the parents-to-be a break from the seriousness of planning for a new baby. For a few minutes, everyone just gets to be silly together and those are the moments that stick. So grab your bowls, line up the pacifiers, and let the chaos begin. Just make sure someone’s on towel duty, because things are bound to get wet. So fill the bowls, line up the pacifiers, and let the games begin. Just… don’t forget the towels. You’re definitely going to need them.
🌼 Explore Our Baby Shower Games Collection
Explore a variety of sweet, funny, and unforgettable baby shower games to make your celebration shine!