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Belly Painting Contest — baby shower game

✍️ Best Baby Shower Games Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

Belly Painting Contest

Body-safe washable paint, the mom-to-be lounging in a comfortable chair, and three to four artistic friends each get ten minutes to paint a design on her actual belly. A small panel of judges picks the winner. Photos make the keepsake.

  • 💝 Sentimental
  • 🤝 Low-pressure
⏱ Prep
30 min+
👥 Best for
4–12 guests
🍷 Coed
Better not
📹 Virtual
In person

What you'll need

  • FDA-approved body-safe washable paint kit from Amazon (Snazaroo or TAG Body Art — $25 for an 8-color set)
  • Mixed brush set (fine, medium, wide) from Michaels ($10)
  • Pack of unscented baby wipes from Target ($3)
  • Soft cotton towel and warm-water bowl for final cleanup
  • A sturdy chair with a pillow for the mom-to-be to lounge comfortably
  • Phone or DSLR camera to capture close-ups of each finished design

Before the shower (setup)

  1. Confirm with the mom-to-be at least two weeks before the baby shower that she's genuinely comfortable with belly painting. Not lukewarm — actually enthusiastic. If she hesitates or seems polite-but-unsure, swap the activity for [[belly-cast-decorating]]. This game lives or dies on her comfort. Once she's confirmed, ask which friends she wants as painters (two to four) and which three guests she'd like as the judging panel. The dad-to-be is a natural pick for the panel.
  2. About a week before, order a body-safe paint kit from Amazon. Snazaroo Classic or TAG Body Art are the two reliable brands — both FDA-compliant for skin contact, both wash off cleanly with warm water and soap. Skip anything labeled "acrylic," "craft," or "face paint" without a body-safety certification. Get a brush set with one fine, one medium, and one wide brush so artists can do detail work and broad fills. The belly painting contest baby shower game lives on the paint choice — bad paint ruins the photos and irritates skin.
  3. Morning of the shower, set up a small painting corner with good natural light — south-facing window, or a well-lit lamp if it's evening. Put the mom-to-be's chair against a clean wall so photos come out clean. Drape a soft sheet or towel over the chair for comfort. Lay out the paints in a small basket, the brushes in a cup, and the wet wipes within arm's reach. Run a warm-water bowl in the kitchen for the final cleanup pass.
Front-door setup for Belly Painting Contest — basket of clothespins and a chalkboard rule sign by the entryway
Set up at the front door so the game starts the second guests walk in.

How to play

Time the belly painting contest baby shower game for the middle of the shower, after gifts but before cake. The mom-to-be settles into the painting chair and rolls or lifts her shirt to expose just the belly (she chooses how much). Each of the three or four pre-selected artists gets ten minutes with one or two brushes and the paint set. They can paint anything she's pre-approved — a sunflower, a tiny ocean scene, her future baby's name in cursive, a constellation, a koi fish. Coordinate so designs don't overlap.

While each artist works, the rest of the guests stay back and watch quietly. Set a clear "no touching" rule at the start. Have a host take close-up photos of every design and one wide shot of the mom-to-be from the chest up smiling at the finished art. The dad-to-be can hold her hand or sit beside her if she wants company. The whole game runs 30 to 45 minutes for three artists, longer for four.

After every artist has finished, the judging panel walks around and picks a winner — first by design, second by likeness to what the mom-to-be wanted. The mom-to-be also picks her favorite, which can match or differ from the panel's pick. Hand prizes to both winners. Then move the mom-to-be to a private area with warm water, soap, and the soft towel for cleanup. Body-safe paint comes off in two minutes. Save the photos as a print or photo book for the parents.

A hand lifting a clothespin off another guest's shirt — the steal moment in Belly Painting Contest
The moment of the steal — someone slipped, someone caught it, pin changes hands.

Variations to try

  • Belly cast swap-in. If the mom-to-be opts out of live belly painting, run [[belly-cast-decorating]] instead. Same painting energy, applied to a plaster cast made the week before. Photographs just as well, none of the personal exposure.
  • Gender reveal twist. Two artists each paint one color theme (pink and blue, or two themes chosen by the parents) and the audience votes which painting they think "matches the baby's gender." Reveal happens after. Only run this if the parents have explicitly asked for a gender-reveal element.
  • Full belly-art block. Run this game right after [[belly-cast-decorating]] for a complete 60-minute belly-art block. The cast becomes the 3D keepsake; the live painting becomes the photo memory. Both pieces tell the same story from different angles.
  • Solo artist version. Skip the contest entirely. One artistic friend (or a hired body painter) does the whole design while guests chat. Less rotation, less awkwardness, cleaner finished look. Best for moms-to-be who want the experience but not the spotlight rotation.
  • Henna-only version. Use natural body-safe henna paste instead of paint. Designs last several days, which doubles as a lasting keepsake. Hire a local henna artist on TaskRabbit or Yelp — usually $80 to $150 for a one-hour session.

Pro tips from hosts who've actually run this

  • Confirm the mom-to-be is genuinely enthusiastic about the belly painting contest. Polite-but-uncertain is a no. This game requires real opt-in to land well.
  • Snazaroo Classic, TAG Body Art, or Mehron Paradise body paints only. Anything not labeled FDA-compliant for skin contact can irritate pregnant skin, which is way more sensitive than usual.
  • Set up in good natural light. South-facing window or a soft daylight lamp. Phone camera flash on body paint at night washes the colors out.
  • Photograph every finished design before cleanup. Get a close-up and a wide shot. The mom-to-be will want both for a baby book or print.
  • Set a no-touching rule loud and clear before the game starts. Guests get excited and forget the painted belly is still a person.
  • Run the cleanup in a private area — bathroom or bedroom — not in front of guests. Warm water and a soft towel get all the paint off in two minutes.
  • Pair with [[belly-cast-decorating]] for a 60-minute belly-art block. The cast is the keepsake; the live painting is the photo. Both stories live forever.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Pressuring the mom-to-be into agreeing. This is the worst version of this game. If she's not enthusiastic going in, the photos look strained and the day ends with regret. Always swap to [[belly-cast-decorating]] when in doubt.
  • Using craft or acrylic paint. Not skin-safe, doesn't wash off easily, irritates pregnant skin. Body-safe paint is the only acceptable medium.
  • Running this game with grandparents, in-laws, or religious family present. The audience matters as much as the painters. Close friends only, or rework the whole thing as a cast-decorating activity.
  • Skipping the photo step. The point of the contest is the keepsake. Designs wash off in five minutes. The photos are the only thing that lasts.
  • Letting one artist hog the whole belly. Tell each artist up front: one design, one section, ten minutes. Coordinate so paintings don't overlap or cover each other.

Best prize for this game

Two prizes — one for the judges' winner, one for the mom-to-be's pick. A $25 Michaels or Hobby Lobby gift card lands well for the artist winners since they clearly enjoy crafts. A $20 Trader Joe's gift card, a Yankee Candle, or a small bottle of wine work as the secondary prize. For the mom-to-be, gift the printed photos in a small Anthropologie photo album as a thank-you for being the canvas.

→ More baby shower prize ideas, by budget

Our verdict

Best for close-friend showers where the mom-to-be has explicitly opted in. Skip for multi-generation family showers, religious gatherings, or anywhere she might feel awkward. If in doubt, run [[belly-cast-decorating]] instead — same idea, none of the personal exposure.

Belly Painting Contest — FAQ

Is belly painting safe during pregnancy?

Yes, when you use only FDA-compliant body-safe washable paints like Snazaroo Classic, TAG Body Art, or Mehron Paradise. These are the same paints used at children's birthday parties and are safe for pregnant skin. Avoid anything labeled "acrylic," "craft paint," or "face paint" without explicit body-safety certification. When in doubt, swap to [[belly-cast-decorating]] which uses a plaster cast instead of the mom-to-be's actual belly.

How long does the belly painting contest baby shower game take?

About 30 to 45 minutes for three artists with 10-minute slots each, plus 5 minutes for judging and another 5 for cleanup. A four-artist version pushes it to 60 minutes total. Schedule it for the middle of the shower, after gifts but before cake, so the timing fits the natural arc of the party.

What if the mom-to-be doesn't want her belly exposed?

Run [[belly-cast-decorating]] instead. It uses a plaster cast made the week before the shower, so the actual belly is never exposed at the party itself. The painting energy and keepsake value are identical. Many hosts default to the cast version because it works for any guest list.

How do you clean up after belly painting?

Body-safe paints (Snazaroo, TAG, Mehron Paradise) wash off in two minutes with warm water, soap, and a soft cotton towel. Have an unscented baby wipe available for any stubborn spots near the navel. Do the cleanup in a private room (bathroom or bedroom), not in front of guests.

Is belly painting appropriate for a coed or family baby shower?

Best for close-friend showers only. Skip for multi-generation family showers, religious-family showers, or any guest list where the mom-to-be wouldn't already be comfortable in a bikini. The audience matters as much as the painters. For coed showers, swap to [[belly-cast-decorating]] which fits every guest list.

What's the best prize for the belly painting contest?

Two prizes work well — one for the judges' favorite design and one for the mom-to-be's pick. A $25 Michaels or Hobby Lobby gift card is perfect for the artist winners. A bottle of wine, a Yankee Candle, or a $20 Trader Joe's card covers the second prize. Wrap them in clear gift bags so guests see what they're competing for.

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About the author

Best Baby Shower Games Editorial Team — Party planners, parents & writers. We’re a small team of party planners and parents who’ve hosted — and been guests at — dozens of baby showers. Every game here is sorted by what actually lands in a real room, not by what just looks cute on a Pinterest board.