✍️ Best Baby Shower Games Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

Stroller Push Relay

Push a stroller through a cone course, stop at a "diaper change" station to swap the doll's diaper, dodge an imaginary phone call, then sprint to the finish. Fastest clean run wins. Dads-to-be lose every time.

🏃 Active
✅ Crowd-pleaser
🍷 Coed-friendly

⏱ Prep: 15 min
👥 Best for: 10–20 guests
🍷 Coed: Yes
📹 Virtual: In person

What you'll need

One umbrella-fold stroller borrowed from a friend (don't buy one — Costco or Walmart sells the cheapest if you have to, around $30)
Two soft baby dolls from Target or Amazon ($10 each)
Six orange sports cones from Walmart or Dick's Sporting Goods ($12 set)
A pack of Pampers Swaddlers newborn-size diapers — you'll use four during the relay
Folding chair or step stool to act as the "phone call" obstacle
Phone with a stopwatch to time each runner

Before the shower (setup)

Borrow a stroller instead of buying one. Almost every household with a kid under five has an umbrella-fold stroller collecting dust in the garage — text three friends and one will say yes. If you absolutely have to buy, Walmart and Target carry the basic Cosco Umbrella Stroller for around $25. Skip jogging strollers (too wide for cone gaps) and travel systems (too heavy for guests in heels). Grab a soft baby doll from the toy aisle at Target or Walmart for $10 — Cabbage Patch dolls work great because the weight feels right.
Map out the course on a flat driveway, sidewalk, or backyard patio. You need about thirty feet of clear ground. Set six sports cones in a zigzag pattern — slalom-style, three feet between each cone. At the halfway mark, set up the "diaper change station" on a folding table or upside-down storage bin. Stack a small pile of clean newborn diapers there with the baby doll already strapped into the stroller. Twenty feet farther, set a folding chair sideways across the path as the "phone call" obstacle to dodge around.
Brief the dad-to-be and any uncles or grandpas you want to embarrass first. Pull the mom-to-be aside and let her know she's not running — she's the official judge. Hand out water bottles before the first runner goes, especially if it's a summer shower. The stroller push relay baby shower game looks easy until guests realize how tight the cone gaps are with a real stroller's wheels.

Front-door setup for Stroller Push Relay — 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

Line up runners single file behind the start line. The first runner grips the stroller's handle and waits for "go." The stroller push relay baby shower game starts the timer the second they take off. They push the stroller through the slalom cones — touching a cone or knocking one over adds a five-second penalty. The crowd will yell every time a wheel grazes a cone, so the mom-to-be doesn't have to keep score.

At the diaper change station, the runner stops, pulls out the doll, swaps the dirty diaper for a clean one, and re-fastens the tabs (yes, both sides — guests cheat constantly). The diaper has to actually close. They pop the doll back in the stroller, then keep pushing toward the finish. Halfway between the station and the finish line, they dodge around the folding chair (the "phone call") — touching the chair adds another five seconds.

When they cross the finish line, stop the timer. Write the time on a scorecard or yell it out loud. Reset the diaper, reset the cones, line up the next runner. Disqualifications: dropping the doll on the ground, leaving the diaper hanging open, or skipping a cone entirely. Fastest clean run wins. For a team variation, split into four-person teams and add up each team's total time.

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

Variations to try

Real-life parenting stations. Add a coffee chug at the start (a small espresso shot or a sip of cold brew), a lullaby station where the runner sings four bars of "Twinkle Twinkle" before moving on, and a snack stop where they have to feed the doll a goldfish cracker. Adds two minutes to each run but doubles the laughs.
Team relay handoff. Split everyone into teams of four. Each player runs one leg of the course — slalom, diaper change, phone-call dodge, sprint to finish — and hands off the stroller to the next teammate. Lower individual pressure, way more chaos.
Stroller olympics block. Run this game first, then move into [[baby-stroller-olympics]] which adds three more events on the same course. A solid thirty-minute block for outdoor coed showers with a big guest list.
Solo speed run. Skip teams entirely. Each guest runs solo and the fastest individual time wins. Best for groups of six to ten where teams of four would be awkward.
Dads-only round. Run one round with only dads, brothers, and uncles. The dad-to-be runs last. Funniest twenty seconds of the whole baby shower — every single dad ends up arguing about the diaper tab.

Pro tips from hosts who've actually run this

Pavement or short-cut grass only. Long grass eats stroller wheels and the runner ends up dragging the stroller instead of pushing it. A driveway is the gold standard.
Have the diaper change station pre-loaded with diapers facing the right direction. Half the runners struggle just to figure out which side is the front. Set them open and ready.
Use Velcro-tab newborn diapers (Pampers Swaddlers or Huggies Little Snugglers). Tape-tab diapers tear and slow the round down — Velcro lets the runner re-fasten in two seconds.
Borrow the stroller from a friend. Don't buy one for the game — wasteful and the friend will love the excuse to clean theirs out.
Time each runner with a phone stopwatch, not a wall clock. Real seconds matter when two runners are within a few seconds of each other.
Skip this game for late-pregnancy guests and for anyone in heels. A bridal-shower-style outfit + cone-dodging is a sprained ankle waiting to happen.
Pair with [[baby-stroller-olympics]] right after for guests who want more. Same setup, more events — a clean thirty-minute block.

Common mistakes to avoid

Setting up on long, soft grass. Stroller wheels bog down and the game becomes a slog instead of a race. Driveway, sidewalk, or short patio grass is the right surface.
Forgetting to use Velcro-tab diapers. Tape-tab diapers tear when a panicked guest yanks them open and the runner ends up holding a useless diaper. Always use the Velcro kind for the relay.
Spacing cones too far apart. Three feet between cones is the sweet spot — wider than that and the slalom barely registers. Tight cone gaps are what makes the game funny.
Skipping the doll's safety strap. If the doll isn't strapped in, every runner drops it on the first turn and the game stops constantly. Buckle the doll like it's a real baby.
Running the relay right after a meal or in heels. Both are sprain risks. Schedule the stroller push relay either before food or as a tail-end outdoor activity once shoes are off.

Best prize for this game

Match the prize to the dad-energy of the game. A $25 Home Depot gift card lands well for the new-dad winner. A six-pack of craft beer from Trader Joe's or a $20 Starbucks gift card is the safest coed bet. For a softer prize, a Yankee Candle in a forest scent or a Bath & Body Works gift set works too. Avoid baby-themed prizes since most runners aren't expecting and the winner is rarely the dad-to-be himself.

→ More baby shower prize ideas, by budget

Our verdict

Outdoor or driveway hit, especially at coed baby showers where the dads-to-be and brothers need a physical game. Pairs naturally with [[baby-stroller-olympics]] for a longer stroller-themed block. Skip on uneven grass or for late-pregnancy guests.

Stroller Push Relay — FAQ

How do you play the stroller push relay baby shower game?

Push a stroller with a doll through a six-cone slalom course, stop at the halfway station to change the doll's diaper, dodge a folding chair (the imaginary phone call), then sprint to the finish. The fastest clean run wins. Knocked cones and unfastened diapers each add five seconds to the time.

What kind of stroller works best for the relay?

A standard umbrella-fold stroller is ideal. The wheels are small enough to fit between cones and the frame is light enough that anyone can push it. Skip jogging strollers (too wide) and full travel systems (too heavy). Borrow one from a friend instead of buying.

Is the stroller relay a good coed baby shower game?

Yes, it's one of the strongest coed picks because the dad-to-be, brothers, uncles, and the mom's male friends all want to compete. Frame it as a team event rather than guys-versus-girls and it plays even better. Most coed showers find this is the loudest, most-photographed game of the day.

Can pregnant guests play the stroller push relay?

Skip the running version for late-pregnancy guests. A slow walking variation (no time pressure, just complete the course) is fine for early and mid-pregnancy if she wants to participate. The mom-to-be is best as the official judge — it keeps her involved without the strain.

How long does the stroller push relay take?

About one to two minutes per runner including reset between players. For a group of twelve, plan a twenty to thirty minute block. If you run team relays of four, the whole game takes about fifteen minutes.

Can you play this game indoors?

Only if you have a long hallway or open basement. Most living rooms are too cramped for cone slalom plus a folding chair. Outdoors on a driveway is the right surface for the stroller push relay. Save indoor showers for [[baby-emoji-pictionary]] or [[advice-cards-for-parents]] instead.

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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.