Building blocks of education and safety are the themes for these baby shower games which also teach some very important lessons.

We got these great baby shower games with a purpose from the National Child Care Information Center, where you can get the Baby Safety Checklist tips referred to in the games.

Bedroom Safety: Can You Answer This?

Game Tips:

• Before playing this game, review the relevant bedroom Baby Safety Checklist tips with shower participants.
• Decide whether your guests can peek at the Checklist for the answers during the game. Award points for other common-sense answers not included in the Checklist.
• After each game, review the Checklist again.

Materials Needed:
Flip chart or blackboard, markers for scoring

Game Rules:

Participants are split into two teams. The moderator asks Team A for three answers to each game question. For each correct answer, Team A gets one point. If Team A is stumped, Team B gets a chance to answer. The moderator then asks Team B one game question -- and so on.

When the four game questions are answered, the moderator simultaneously asks each team a bonus round question. The team that first rings the bell and answers the question correctly wins.

Game Questions
(1 point for each correct answer):

Q: What are the three possible safe or unsafe sleep positions for your baby in a crib that are?
A: (1) back (safe) (2) side (safe) (3) stomach (unsafe)

Q: Can you name three things that describe an unsafe crib?
A: (1) missing hardware (2) not sturdy (3) loose hardware
Also correct: mattress that doesn't fit snugly; corner posts; decorative cutouts in head or foot boards; crib slat spacing that is too wide

Q: Can you name three examples of soft bedding?
A: (1) pillows (2) soft, fluffy comforters (3) quilts
Also correct: sheepskin

Q: Can you name three things you should never place near a window with blind or curtain cords?
A: (1) crib (2) playpen (3) highchair.
Also correct: other children's furniture

Bonus Round Questions
(2 points for each correct answer):

Q: Can you name three small objects that are choking hazards for children under three years of age?
A: Accept answers like: buttons, balloons, marbles, foods like grapes, peanuts, hard candy, cut-up hot dogs

Q: What are three safety concerns to look for in and on your child's toy box or toy chest?M
A: Accept answers like: toys with sharp edges or points; toys that are too small; toys with detachable small parts; hinged lid toy boxes without safety lid supports

Q: What are three common hazards found on children's clothing? A: Accept answers like: loose buttons, drawstrings, loose snaps, small decorations that detach

Safety Bingo

Game Tips:

• Before playing this game, review the relevant Baby Safety Checklist tips with shower participants.
• Let your guests peek at the Checklist for the answers during the game.
• After each game, review the Checklist again.

Materials Needed:
Bingo game cards (see the attachments section)
Several "chips" or buttons for each participant.

Game Rules:

This game is similar to bingo. Each participant is given a game card with a picture in each box. The moderator reads a safety clue aloud, and each participant covers the appropriate box on her bingo card. The winners are those who first correctly cover all the boxes on their card in a row across, down, or diagonally and call out "bingo." This game can be played many times, with the questions read in different order.

Safety Clues

Q: One of these should be on every level of the home for protection.
A: Smoke detector.

Q: One of these will prevent children from falling down stairs.
A: Safety gate.

Q: Stops children from poking fingers and inserting objects into electrical outlets.
A: Safety plugs.

Q: This child's game poses a choking hazard to young children.
A: Small toy ball and jacks set.

Q: If burst or uninflated, these can be a choking hazard to young children.
A: Balloons.

Q: These may look like candy to small children. Keep in container with safety cap.
A: Medicine pills in bottles with safety caps.

Q: This is the best position for babies to sleep.
A: Back or side.

Q: Stops children from opening cabinet or cupboard doors where cleaning products or medicines are stored.
A: Cabinet lock.

Q: In a smoke detector, this should be changed every year.
A: Battery.