Put favors and game prizes on separate lines of your shopping list. Favors thank the people who came to the shower. Prizes reward the winners of the games you decide to play. The same item can suit both roles, but you need a separate quantity for each.
Decide who receives a favor before counting. You might give one to each adult guest or one per household. A prize count comes from the game plan: the number of games, winners per game and the way you will handle ties.
Make two small count sheets
Suppose you expect 23 adult guests and want two spare favors. That gives you 25 favors. Four games with one winner each, plus two spare prizes for ties, gives you six prizes. These are illustrative counts; your host should choose the rule before shopping.
| Purpose | Count from | Example quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Guest favors | 23 adult recipients and two spares | 25 |
| Game prizes | Four planned winners and two tie prizes | 6 |
If guests play in teams, decide whether the whole winning team receives something. Include guests joining from elsewhere in the plan if you want to send them a favor or prize afterward.
Choose guest favors for the people attending
A baby shower favor is a gift for the guest, not necessarily an item for the baby. Think about what the adults attending would use and how they will carry it home. A personalized bottle opener magnet may suit that audience; it should not be presented as a baby toy or handed to a child for play.
For a small order of Magnetica event favors, the minimum is 20 pieces in one design with the same personalization. Quantities move in steps of five. That can suit a group thank-you gift, while six individual game prizes may be better purchased separately. Avoid buying a bulk quantity solely to fill one winner's bag.
Let the prize budget reflect the games
Choose the prize budget after confirming how many people could win. One larger prize for a single game and several small prizes for quick rounds call for different shopping lists. Ask the host whether repeated winners can receive more than one prize.
Keep dietary preferences and practical use in mind if you consider food, drinks or personal-care items. You can also use gift cards or another option appropriate to your group. A guest favor does not have to match the prize.
Label the two handoffs
Put game prizes with the person running the games. Keep guest favors at a separate table or place them at the planned seats. A sign such as "A thank-you for each adult guest" gives a clearer instruction than an unmarked basket beside the prizes.
Pack any spare favors and prizes in different labeled containers. Before guests leave, have the host check that people who did not play still know where to collect their favor.
For design, name and date choices, use the baby shower favor selection guide. Then browse personalized baby shower bottle opener magnets for your guest-gift quantity.