✍️ Best Baby Shower Games Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

Guess the Belly Size

Each guest cuts a length of string they think will wrap exactly once around the mom-to-be's belly. She gets measured publicly while the room watches. Most modern hosts skip this one — for good reason.

😬 On our skip list

⏱ Prep: 5 min
👥 Best for: 6–25 guests
🍷 Coed: Better not
📹 Virtual: In person

What you'll need

A ball of yarn or thin twine — Michaels or Hobby Lobby for around $4
Sharp scissors — one or two pairs to pass around
A measuring tape from the sewing aisle at Walmart
Small name tags or sticky notes to label each guest's string
A clean basket or bowl to collect the cut strings
A small prize like a $15 Target gift card

Before the shower (setup)

A week before the shower, ask the mom-to-be in private — actually ask, don't assume. Send a text: "Is the belly-string game OK with you, or would you rather we use the toilet paper version or skip it?" Most moms-to-be will say no when given a real out, and that's the entire point of asking. The game depends on her standing in front of a room while strings are held against her stomach, and that's not something every mom-to-be wants on her shower day. If she says yes, lock in. If she says skip, swap in [[toilet-paper-belly-measure]] or another seated game without making it a thing.
Once the mom-to-be has cleared the game, pick up a ball of soft yarn or thin twine at Michaels or Hobby Lobby for about four dollars. Pick something lightweight — bulky yarn looks heavy when wrapped around a person, and the visual is awkward. Cut a length of yarn yourself ahead of time so you have a rough sense of what "too long" and "too short" look like. You're going to need to call winners on the fly. Grab a measuring tape from the Walmart sewing aisle (around $3) and a basket or bowl to collect the cut strings in.
On shower day, set up a quiet seating area with the basket, the ball of yarn, scissors, and small name-tag stickers. Have a private spot for the mom-to-be to be measured — even if she's said yes, doing the actual wrap in front of the whole room is the awkward part. Some hosts measure her in the hallway and bring the answer back. Tell every guest before they cut their string that they're guessing the circumference (the way around) not the front-to-back of her belly — half the room will get this wrong if you don't say it out loud.

Front-door setup for Guess the Belly Size — 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

Pass the yarn ball and scissors around the seated room. Each guest cuts off the length they think will wrap exactly once around the mom-to-be's belly. No measuring with hands, no asking neighbors — pure eye-guess. They write their name on a sticky note, wrap it around their cut string, and drop both in the basket. The mom-to-be can sit out of the cutting and watch, or she can guess her own number on a sticky note like everyone else (most moms underestimate by an inch or two — it's a funny detail).

When every string is in the basket, the mom-to-be has two options. The traditional way: she stands at the front of the room and the host wraps each string around her in turn while the room watches. The friendlier way (which we recommend): she goes into a quiet room with one or two trusted friends, gets measured with the tape, and the actual number comes back to the host on a sticky note. Then the host compares each guest's cut string against that measurement instead of against her body. Same game, no spectacle.

Lay each guest's string flat on a table. Use the tape measure to find which one matches the mom-to-be's actual belly circumference (typically 38 to 44 inches at full term, but it varies a lot). Closest guess wins. If two guests tie, the tiebreaker is whoever cut the most aesthetic string — a soft tie that lets the mom-to-be pick a favorite. Hand the prize to the winner. Wrap up quickly; the longer this game lingers, the more body-comment energy it builds in the room.

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

Variations to try

Write-only version (recommended). Skip the yarn entirely. Each guest writes their guess in inches on a sticky note. The mom-to-be measures herself privately later and reveals the real number. Closest number wins. No public wrapping, no body spectacle — and it runs in five minutes instead of fifteen. This is the variation most modern hosts pick.
Toilet paper version. Run [[toilet-paper-belly-measure]] instead. Same idea, but with toilet paper torn off a roll. Cheap, funny, and way friendlier. Most hosts have switched to this version entirely.
Ribbon keepsake version. Replace the yarn with pretty ribbon (sage or blush, from Michaels). After the game, the cut ribbons get pinned in a guest book or baby memory book labeled with each guest's name. The keepsake softens the body-comment vibe and gives guests a gentler way to participate.
Hand-measure version. Guests don't cut anything. They walk past the mom-to-be once, eyeball it, and write a guess in inches on paper. No yarn, no wrapping, no public stand-up moment for the mom-to-be. Less spectacle, same competitive guessing.

Pro tips from hosts who've actually run this

Ask the mom-to-be in advance — privately, with a real out. If she says no, switch to [[toilet-paper-belly-measure]] or the write-only version without making a fuss.
Use the write-only or toilet paper version unless the mom-to-be specifically asks for the yarn-wrap. The yarn version is what gives this game its reputation.
Never push the mom-to-be into the public wrap if she hesitates. Her comfort beats the game every time.
Skip this game entirely if she's mentioned body-image concerns or postpartum sensitivity. Pick [[guess-the-due-date]] or [[guess-the-baby-food-jar]] instead.
If you're going with the yarn version, use thin twine or soft yarn — not bulky chunky yarn, which looks heavier than it is when wrapped around a body.
Frame the cut strings as a keepsake. Pin them in a baby memory book with each guest's guess written next to it. Softens the moment.
Pair with [[guess-the-due-date]] for a guessing-games block — same energy, no body comment.

Common mistakes to avoid

Running the public-wrap version without asking the mom-to-be first. She'll either fake-smile through it or quietly resent the host. Always ask in advance.
Picking heavy chunky yarn instead of soft twine. The visual of bulky yarn wrapped around a person reads way worse than thin string.
Letting the game linger. The longer the public wrap takes, the more body-comment energy builds in the room. Run it fast or skip the public part.
Skipping the recommended variations. The write-only and toilet-paper versions are friendlier, faster, and get bigger laughs — there's no reason to default to the awkward version.
Pairing this with another body-comment game. Don't run it back-to-back with anything that focuses on the mom-to-be physically. Spread the seated games out.

Best prize for this game

Match the prize to the casual, low-tension version of this game (which is the only version you should run). A $15 Target gift card hits. A Bath & Body Works mini-lotion three-pack ($15) is the safe coed pick. A Yankee Candle classic (Vanilla Cupcake) works for any age. Wrap the prize in a clear bag so guests see it from the start. Skip wine here — the prize doesn't need to be big for a game most hosts shouldn't be running anyway. If you're going to award something, keep it warm and small.

→ More baby shower prize ideas, by budget

Our verdict

Most moms-to-be hate this game and the body comment that comes with the public measuring — the [[toilet-paper-belly-measure]] version is the friendlier cousin and almost always the better call.

Guess the Belly Size — FAQ

Is Guess the Belly Size appropriate for a baby shower?

Sometimes — but only with the mom-to-be's blessing, asked privately and in advance. Many moms-to-be hate it because the public wrapping focuses attention on her body in front of a crowd. The write-only version sidesteps that entirely, and the toilet paper version is friendlier. Always ask first.

How do I run this without making the mom-to-be uncomfortable?

Skip the public wrap. Have each guest write their guess in inches on a sticky note. The mom-to-be measures privately later (in a hallway with one friend) and reveals the real number to the host. Closest number wins. Same competition, no body spectacle.

How big is a typical third-trimester belly?

Around 38 to 44 inches around at full term. The number varies a lot based on body type and baby size — there's no "right" number. The exact measurement isn't the point of the game; the closest guess is.

Why do most modern baby-shower guides recommend skipping this game?

Because it puts focus on the mom-to-be's body in front of a crowd. Even when she says yes, the moment can feel uncomfortable, especially for moms with body-image concerns. Modern guides recommend [[toilet-paper-belly-measure]] or the write-only version, or skipping it for [[guess-the-due-date]].

What's a better alternative game?

[[toilet-paper-belly-measure]] is the friendly cousin — same idea, more laughs, less body-comment energy. [[guess-the-due-date]] is even better if you want a guessing game with zero body focus. Most hosts pick one of those two now.

Can the dad-to-be play?

Yes — and dads usually undershoot by a lot, which is the small running laugh of the game if you run it. Have him guess publicly to break the tension if the mom-to-be is willing to do the wrap version.

Similar baby shower games

Browse by category

Diaper Classics baby shower games

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.