The Baby Safety Shower How-to Kit was developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

and Gerber Products Company.

All the material in this document is in the public domain and may be freely copied.
Question: What’s fun and games — with lots of lifesaving information?

Answer: A baby safety shower!

If you’re looking for ways to help parents take better care of their children,

consider organizing a baby safety shower — a baby shower with a new twist. 

A baby safety shower is a learning party where all the activities revolve around

home safety themes. Parents and caregivers have fun — and leave with new ideas about

keeping their babies safe at home.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Gerber Products Company

developed this baby safety shower initiative to help good parents become even better

ones. After all, no parents are born knowing about safety for their babies.

Baby safety showers have been organized in all kinds of communities for all

kinds of audiences. As First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton said when she attended the

kick-off Baby Safety Shower in Washington, DC, “I hope families all over America will

have baby safety showers (to) educate each other about what we need to do to keep all

of our babies safe and healthy.” These showers are an especially good way for local

organizations to reach new parents and parents-to-be with important safety information.

You can arrange a baby safety shower for any number of people — from 20 to

200. At larger baby safety showers, parents can visit a variety of workshops where

volunteers illustrate important safety information with games, prizes, and other

activities. At smaller showers, a few volunteers can lead the group in safety games.

Your theme can focus, like the material included here, on keeping your baby safe

at home — or you can include additional issues, like nutrition and health.

Baby safety showers are also a good way to create and promote public-private

partnerships among many different organizations. By offering, for example, to distribute

donated baby products or health information, you can enhance your ties with the local

business community and build your relationships with local health and social service

organizations. All this creates community goodwill — and provides your invited parents

with welcome information, products, and services.

The materials you’ll need to get started are included in this Baby Safety Shower

How-to Kit. Take special note of the Baby Safety Checklist, in both English and

Spanish, which provides 12 important home safety tips that all parents should know.

Use your imagination to create a baby safety shower for your specific situation.

The key to success is providing important safety information in a festive and inviting

setting. So, roll up your sleeves — and have fun!

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Table of Contents

Part One: Planning Ahead

1. Getting organized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1

2. Following a timetable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2

3. Inviting your guests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4

4. Choosing the site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4

5. Recruiting and working with volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5

6. Working with businesses and organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6

7. Covering your costs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7

8. Arranging publicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 8

Part Two: Developing Your Shower Program

9. Shower theme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 9

10. Baby safety checklist masters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11

11. Game workshops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 19

Part Three: Putting Your Shower Together

12. Equipment and supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 26

13. Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 26

14. Exhibits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 27

15. Gifts and prizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 27

16. Shower day schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 28

Part Four: Attachments

17. Publication ordering information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 30

18. Sample press release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 31

19. Sample broadcast advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 32

20. Invitation and bingo game masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 33

21. Evaluation form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 41
PART ONE: Planning Ahead

1. Getting Organized

A baby safety shower should be fun for all involved. But it’s important to be wellorganized.

As your first task, put together a planning committee to help you. The more assistance

you get, the easier your job will be. Recruit representatives from groups and organizations that

are interested in baby safety issues and can do the job well. Discuss early on:

• Who and how many people you want to invite to your baby safety shower.

• Where you can hold the shower.

• Who in the community — volunteers, organizations, businesses — can help you.

• How you will cover any costs.

• What theme and safety messages you want to convey.

• What games and activities you can use to make learning fun. 

• Whether you want to enhance your shower with food, exhibits, gifts, and

publicity.

• How you will schedule the shower day.

Suggestions and ideas for all of these topics are included in this How-to Kit.

Delegate responsibility for broad categories of shower-related activities (getting

sponsors, publicity, food, program, decorations, etc.) to your committee members. Keep in

touch with everyone regularly to ensure that everything gets done.

Think about how you can use contributions from many different sources. For example:

• Your partners can help you plan and organize the event — and form the core of

your working committee.

• Your sponsors can contribute most of the goods and services for the event.

• Your volunteers — recruited from your organization and those of your partners

and sponsors — can staff the actual event.

Start planning early — and enjoy yourself!

1
2. Following a Timetable

Planning and organization are crucial to the success of your baby safety shower. This

timetable should help you plan a large event. A smaller shower can be organized more quickly.

16-18 weeks ahead:

• Recruit baby safety shower partners

• Form a planning committee

• Select tentative shower dates

• Decide whom to invite

• Select site and confirm exact date

14-16 weeks ahead:

• Choose shower theme, programs, activities, and workshops 

• Recruit volunteers

• Recruit local businesses and organizations to underwrite expenses or donate shower

goods, exhibits, and services

• Estimate costs 

• Develop master “to-do” list 

• Invite VIPs 

12-14 weeks ahead:

• Develop activity, game workshop, and program materials 

• Plan refreshments

• Plan site logistics with building management 

• List needed equipment and supplies

10-12 weeks ahead:

• Plan opening ceremony

• Plan schedule of shower activities

• Plan publicity

• Make transportation and parking arrangements

8-10 weeks ahead:

• Arrange baby-sitting or child care

• Recruit greeters, workshop leaders, food preparers and servers

• Prepare invitation list

6-8 weeks ahead:

• Assign volunteers to shower activities 

• Begin collecting donated items 

• Make, and/or duplicate shower materials (e.g., signs, fliers, posters, invitations,

games, Baby Safety Checklist)

2
4-6 weeks ahead:

• Invite shower guests

• Publicize shower through fliers, posters, and local media 

• Order publications (use order form in Part Four: Attachments)

• Confirm food arrangements

• Finalize activities and workshops 

2-4 weeks ahead:

• Finish collecting donated items 

• Reconfirm shower arrangements with partners and sponsors

• Hold orientation sessions for volunteers

• Distribute news release and broadcast ad 

1 week to 1 day ahead:

• Make final media arrangements 

• Check with volunteers to ensure that everything is on track

• Remind invited celebrities, partners, sponsors, public officials about the event

• Assemble workshop materials and equipment

• Reconfirm food arrangements

• Prepare gift bags for shower guests

Day of the event:

• Set up

• Enjoy the event!

• Clean up 

1 week after:

• Thank everyone who helped 

• Evaluate the event (what went well, what didn’t, what you’d do differently

next time)

• Complete and send in the evaluation form from Part Four: Attachments 

3
3. Inviting Your Guests

Decide which group you want to reach with safety information. For example, you may

want to work with teen mothers, parents-to-be, low-income parents, low-literacy parents, or

non-English speaking parents. The shower activities work best if developed around the special

needs of one group at a time.

Work with organizations and groups that serve the people you have targeted. They can

help you decide whom to invite and plan an appropriate program. They also can help you

determine how many shower guests to invite. For example, you can hold a shower for 20

people in someone’s living room or for 200 in your local high school gymnasium. 

Make your guests feel special by inviting each one personally — and encouraging them

to RSVP. This will communicate that you really want them at the shower and will help you

plan for the number of guests actually attending.

See “Part Four: Attachments” for a sample invitation.

4. Choosing the Site

Choose a site for the shower that’s familiar and convenient to your invited audience and

offers a warm, friendly environment.

Depending on the size of your shower, the site could be a community center, public

library conference room, church social hall, hospital or clinic reception area, school cafeteria,

gymnasium, auditorium, or a similar space in a professional office building. Check the

following points.

• The site is available at a convenient time for your invited guests.

• The space in the facility:

- can accommodate your audience for a variety of activities (greeting/

reception area, opening session, game workshops, refreshments, and

exhibits);

- has sufficient lighting and electrical outlets, a kitchen, conveniently-located 

rest rooms, and telephones; and

- has building staff to assist you when needed (e.g., to unlock the kitchen or

rest rooms or control lighting, heating/air conditioning). 

4
• You can provide transportation for your guests, if needed. If your guests drive to

the shower, be sure the site has free and safe parking. If your guests take public

transportation, nearby bus or subway stops should be safe and convenient.

• The space in the facility can accommodate child care, if needed, during the

shower.

• Any costs can be covered.

No matter where you hold your shower, keep a list of emergency or medical services

telephone numbers handy, just in case you need them.

5. Recruiting and Working with Volunteers

You’ll need plenty of volunteers to prepare for the shower and then help on the day of

the event. Start recruiting early.

Decide how many volunteers you want and what they will do. Volunteers can head

committees, solicit sponsors, collect donations, set up equipment, make decorations, greet

guests, run game workshops, serve food, clean up, and much more. Plan to line up more people

than you need, in case some drop out before the event.

To help volunteers, be very clear about what they must do. Provide orientation sessions.

If needed, schedule a dry run close to the event so all involved feel comfortable about their

assignment.

After the shower, be sure to thank everyone for making the event a success!

5
6. Working with Businesses and Organizations

Baby showers involve games, gifts, and edible goodies. Start early to enlist the help 

of interested health and safety organizations, companies doing business in your area, and

volunteers. There are probably many in your community eager to help.

Good places to start:

• Trade groups, local manufacturers, and merchants (e.g., grocery, drug,

department stores, and companies in the health care or safety business). Contact

the community relations managers for possible donations of baby-related goods

and services, refreshments, prizes, free advertising, etc.

• Community organizations (e.g., hospitals, auxiliary leagues, chambers of

commerce, foundations, local print and broadcast media). Contact community

relations or public affairs managers about speakers, or baby-sitting help.

• Government organizations (e.g., local CPSC offices, state and local health

departments, local offices servicing the community with federally-sponsored

health and safety programs for children). Contact public affairs or public

relations offices to alert them and solicit support. 

• Local elected officials (e.g., mayor, city or town council members). Invite

celebrity guests with an important link to the community you’re serving.

Tips for working with other organizations:

• Target organizations that have goods or services relevant to the safety and health

of babies, young toddlers, or new parents.

• Provide the company or organization with an incentive for contributing to your

event (e.g., good community public relations, potential new customers). 

• When contacting a company or organization, describe the purpose of the shower

and what valuable role this group can play.

• After an organization makes a commitment, send it a letter spelling out your

understanding of the agreement. 

• Identify a contact person (and a backup individual) who can get you the needed

goods or services in the time and quantities required.

• Keep in touch with the contact people about how plans for your event are

developing or changing.

6
• Try to arrange for these groups to deliver their goods to the event site.

• If an organization is providing an exhibit, get the name and phone number of the

person staffing it at the shower.

• Make arrangements at the shower site to receive and store deliveries for the

event.

• Make arrangements with either staff at the shower site or the organizations

providing exhibit booths to have the materials and props removed or thrown

away at the conclusion of the event. 

• Following the shower, write or call to thank everyone involved. Let them know

how important they were to the shower’s success. 

7. Covering Your Costs

A baby safety shower need not cost a lot, but you’ll probably have some expenses. Your

partners and sponsors may be able to underwrite your expenses or donate most of the goods and

services. Here is a list of possible expenses:

• Facility (electricity, janitorial services, tables, chairs, etc.)

• Game and program materials (game workshops, exhibits, etc.)

• Duplication and mailing of invitations (see Part Four: Attachments)

• Transportation for shower guests

• Food (snack or meal)

• Decorations 

• Prizes

• Audio-visuals (television and VCR, overhead or slide projector)

If you can’t cover these costs or arrange for donations, you may need to modify the

shower activities. For example, you can make your own invitations or duplicate the one in this

How-to Kit and hand-deliver them. You can ask volunteers to donate homemade food. You can

design your own decorations. Be creative! What’s most important is developing a warm and

friendly atmosphere where your guests feel comfortable and motivated to learn.

7
8. Arranging Publicity

Publicizing your shower can have many benefits. It can announce details of your

upcoming shower to your target audience. It also can alert businesses, local elected officials,

media celebrities, and other community leaders to your efforts and attract their support.

Notify the local media about your event. The sample press release and broadcast

advertisement in Part Four: Attachments should help you get started. Follow up with personal

calls to the news or community events director.

It helps if there is a well-known person associated with your shower. For example, you

may want to invite a well-known VIP, like the mayor or a local TV personality. Try enlisting a

radio or television show or local newspaper as a sponsor of the shower. These organizations

often are interested in supporting community efforts important to their audiences.

Don’t forget the value of fliers posted in grocery stores, drugstores, libraries, bus 

stops — any public location where your targeted audience is likely to see them.

8
PART TWO: Developing Your Shower Program

9. Shower Theme

Plan to select an overall theme for your baby safety shower. This How-to Kit is

developed around the theme of keeping your baby safe at home. Integral to this program is the

Baby Safety Checklist (see following pages), which presents 12 tips for keeping babies safe in

the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other living areas. 

While this is critical information for every new parent, you may want to include

additional health and safety themes. Choosing quality child care, selecting safe toys and

nursery equipment, ensuring immunizations and proper nutrition for infants and toddlers — all

of these would work.

If you invite a small group, focus on one theme. If your group is larger and you have

the space, consider broadening the scope. Bring in other partners to work with you. For

example, get the health department or local hospital to offer an immunization clinic. Ask a

local supermarket to sponsor a nutrition booth — with appropriate games and prizes.

Pick your theme early, so you can better plan your program and activities. Coordinate

your work with all involved, so that everyone knows what to do to make each activity

successful.

9
10

10. Baby Safety Checklists

(English and Spanish)

The following four pages are masters for handouts. They can be removed from the kit

(at the perforations) and photocopied so that each of your shower guests can have one. We

recommend that the Checklist be printed on one side and The Reasons Behind the Checklist on

the reverse side of 8

1

⁄2" x 11" paper.
❤ Always put your baby to sleep on her back

on a firm, flat, tight-fitting mattress in a

crib that meets current safety standards,

and remove all soft bedding and pillow-like

items from the crib.

❤ Make sure your baby’s crib is sturdy and

has no loose or 

missing hardware.

❤ Never place your 

baby’s crib or furniture

near window blind or 

curtain cords.

B e d ro o m B a t h ro o m

K i t c h e n L i v i n g A re a s

❤ Don't leave your baby alone in a 

highchair; always use all safety straps.

❤ Use your stove's back burners and

keep pot handles turned to the 

back of the stove.

❤ Lock household cleaning products,

knives, matches, and 

plastic bags away from 

children.

Always put your baby to sleep on her back on a

firm, flat, tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets

current safety standards, and remove all pillows,

quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and pillow-like

bumper pads and toys from the crib. Follow this

advice to reduce the risk of sudden infant death

syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation.

B e d ro o m B a t h ro o m

K i t c h e n L i v i n g A re a s

❤ Coloque siempre a su bebé para dormir

sobre la espalda en un colchón firme,

plano y bien ajustado en una cuna que

cumpla con las normas actuales de

seguridad, y retire de la cuna toda la

ropa de cama blanda y artículos

similares a almohadas. 

❤ Asegúrese de que la cuna del bebé sea

resistente, y no le falten herrajes o

piezas, ni estén flojos.

❤ Nunca coloque la cuna o 

los muebles del bebé 

cerca de los cordones 

de persianas o cortinas. 

❤ Mantenga los medicamentos y los

productos de limpieza en envases con

tapas de seguridad y bajo llave, lejos 

del alcance de los niños.

❤ Cerciórese siempre de que la

temperatura del agua para bañar al bebé

no esté demasiado friá, ni caliente,

tocándola primero con la muñeca o el

codo de usted.

❤ Nunca jamás deje a 

su bebé solito 

en la tina o bañera,

ni cerca de agua.

❤ No deje al bebé solito en su silla alta

y póngale siempre los cinturones 

de seguridad.

❤ Al cocinar, use los quemadores

traseros y mantenga los mangos de

las sartenes o calderos, hacia la 

parte de atrás de la estufa o cocina.

❤ Guarde bajo llave lejos del alcance

de los niños, los productos de

limpieza, cuchillos, cerillos 

o fósforos y bolsas 

de plástico. 

❤ Instale detectores de humo en cada

planta o nivel de la casa, especialmente

cerca de las áreas donde se duerme.

Cambie las pilas o baterías cada año.

❤ Coloque rejillas de seguridad en las

escaleras y tapas de seguridad en los

enchufes eléctricos. 

❤ Mantenga todos los objetos pequeños,

incluyendo juguetes y globos, fuera del

alcance de los niños pequeños.

❤ Coloque siempre a su bebé sobre la espalda en

un colchón firme, plano y bien ajustadoen una

cuna que cumpla las normas de seguridad, y

retire de la cuna todas las almohadas, edredones,

colchas, pieles de cordero y retenes similares a

almohadas y juguetes. Siga este consejo para

reducire el riesgo de que se produzca el síndrome

de muerte infantil repentina (SIDS) y asfixia.

❤ Asegúrese de que la cuna del bebé sea resistente,

y no le falten herrajes o piezas, ni estén flojos.

Esto evita el peligro de qu el bebé se asfixie o se

estrangule al quedar atrapado entre piezas rotas

de la cuna.

❤ Nunca coloque la cuna o los muebles del bebé

cerca de los cordones de persianas o cortinas.

Esto evitará que el bebé se estrangule con el lazo

que se forme en los cordones. Para evitar que el

bebé se caiga por una ventana, manténgalo

alejado de ventanas.

❤ Mantenga los medicamentos y los productos de

limpieza en envases con tapas de seguridad y bajo

llave, lejos del alcance de los niños. Esto evitará

el peligro de envenenamiento.

❤ Cerciórese siempre de la temperatura del agua

para bañar al bebé tocándola primero con la

muñeca o el codo de usted. Esto evitará el peligro

de quemar la delicada piel del bebé. 

❤ Nunca jamás deje a su bebé solito en la tina o

bañera, ni cerca de agua. Esto evitará el peligro de

que el bebé se ahogue. Además, manténgalo

alejado de recipientes con agua, incluyendo el

agua en santiarios/inodoros, cubetas/baldes y

albecas/piscinas.

❤ No deje al bebé solito en su silla alta y

póngale siempre los cinturones de seguridad.

Esto evitará lesiones o muerte ocasionadas

por caídas. Use siempre los cinturones de

las carriolas/cochecitos y columpios para

bebé. 

❤ Al cocinar, use los quemandores traseros y

mantenga los mangos de las sartenes o

calderos, hacia la parte de atrás de la estufa

o cocina. Esto evitará lesiones o muerte

debido a quemaduras. Además, mantenga a

los niños lejos de manteles, para evitar que

los halen y les puedan caer encima

alimentos o líquidos calientes. 

❤ Guarde bajo llave, lejos del alcance de los

niños, los productos de limpieza, cuchillos,

cerillos o fósforos y bolsas de plástico. Esto

evitará el peligro de envenenamiento,

lesiones, quemaduras, y asfixia. 

❤ Instale detectores de humo en cada planta o nivel

de la casa, especialmente cerca de las áreas donde

se duerme. Cambie las pilas o baterías cada año.

Esto evitará el peligro de lesiones o muerte dibido

a incendio. 

❤ Coloque rejillas de seguridad en las escaleras y

tapas de seguridad en los enchufes eléctricos. Esto

evitará el peligro de lesiones debido a caídas y a

choques eléctricos. 

❤ Mantenga todos los objetos pequeños, incluyendo

juguetes y globos, fuera del alcance de los niños

pequeños. Esto evitará que se sofoquen y puedan

inclusive morir.

11. Game Workshops

Games and other fun activities are an effective way to teach and reinforce safety and

health messages. The games included here focus on the theme of keeping your baby safe at

home.

These games are based on the safety messages found in the Baby Safety Checklist.

There is one suggested game for each area of the home: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other

living areas. 

Below is a brief description of each game.

Adapt these games to your needs or develop new ones. Be sure you have more than

enough materials for every participant to play each game.

• For the bedroom: Can You Answer This? The game leader asks each team

questions. The team that answers the most questions correctly wins the round.

• For the bathroom: Safety Sayings. Each team calls out letters that spell a safety

message. The team that first guesses the safety message wins.

• For the kitchen: Picture Safety. One person on each team draws an image based

on the Baby Safety Checklist. The team that first identifies the image and tells

why it’s important wins the round.

• For other living areas: Safety Bingo. Each guest marks an answer to each

question asked on her bingo card. The winner is the first to mark three answers

in a row and call out “bingo!”

If you only have time for one game, play Safety Bingo — it includes safety tips from

each area of the home, it’s easy, and it’s fun!

19
BEDROOM SAFETY GAME: “Can You Answer This?”

Game Tips:

• Before playing this game, review the relevant bedroom Baby Safety Checklist

tips and reasons 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 answers the question correctly wins.

Game Questions (1 point for each correct answer):

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 slats that are too far apart

Q: What is the safest sleep position for your baby in a crib? 

A: (1) back (safest) (2) side (less safe) (3) stomach (unsafe)

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

20
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?

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

21
BATHROOM SAFETY GAME: “Safety Sayings”

Game Tips:

• Before playing this game, review the relevant bathroom Baby Safety Checklist

tips and reasons with shower participants.

• Decide whether your guests can peek at the Checklist for the answers during the

game.

• After each game, review the Checklist again.

Materials Needed: Flip chart or blackboard, markers. 

Game Rules

Participants are split into two teams. On the flip chart, draw the number of blank lines

(similar to the game of hangman) corresponding to the number of letters and spaces in the

safety saying. Each team in turn guesses a letter to go in the spaces; correct letters are written

in the appropriate blank(s). To make the game go more quickly, you may want to fill in the

vowels beforehand. When one team thinks it knows the saying, it calls out the answer. The

team correctly guessing the most safety sayings wins.

Safety Sayings:

• Keep baby safe

• Use child-safety caps

• Keep medicines locked up

• Babies and water don’t mix

• Never leave children alone in water

• Check bath water with wrist or elbow

22
KITCHEN SAFETY GAME: “Picture Safety”

Game Tips:

• Before playing this game, review the relevant kitchen Baby Safety Checklist tips

and reasons with shower participants.

• Decide whether your guests can peek at the Checklist for the answers during the

game.

• After each game, review the Checklist again.

Materials Needed: Two flip charts, markers, 3" x 5" cards (for safety clues).

Game Rules

Participants are split into two teams. The teams sit or stand facing each other. The flip

charts are positioned back to back between the teams. The moderator selects a safety clue card

and shows it to one person from each team. When the moderator says “go,” each person draws

a picture of the safety clue on her team’s flip chart. The first team to guess the picture wins 5

points. The team can win 5 more points if it correctly describes how the clue is safety-related.

The team with the most points wins.

Safety Clue Cards: Safety or Hazard Issue:

Cabinet safety latch Prevents children from getting into cabinets where

harmful household products are kept.

Dish detergents Can be harmful if children swallow them.

Highchair with safety straps Prevents children from climbing or falling out and 

getting injured.

Pots and pans on stoves Can burn children if they reach handles and 

spill hot liquid or food on themselves.

Knives Can injure children if they reach them and cut 

themselves.

Plastic trash bags Can cause children to suffocate if the bag gets 

over their noses and mouths.

Matches Can burn and start fires.

23
OTHER LIVING AREAS SAFETY GAME: “Safety Bingo”

Game Tips:

• Before playing this game, review the relevant Baby Safety Checklist tips and

reasons, as well as the clues on the bingo cards, with your shower guests.

• 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) and 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

picture box on her bingo card. The winners are those who first correctly cover all the boxes on

their cards 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 from fires.

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 round game part is a choking hazard to young children who put things in their

mouths.

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.

24
Q: This is the best position for babies to sleep.

A: On their backs.

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.

25
PART THREE: Putting Your Shower Together

12. Equipment and Supplies

Plan far ahead for all the materials, equipment, and supplies you’ll use at the shower.

Your own list of needed materials will reflect the specific activities planned for your shower.

Here are some suggestions:

• Reception area: welcome signs, tables, chairs, name tags, markers, and

information packets/bags for guests.

• Opening session: chairs and podium for VIP guests, microphones, and colored

posters illustrating shower themes.

• Game workshops/exhibits: tables, chairs, table coverings, signs and posters for

exhibit booths, tabletop displays with props and literature, lighting, decorations,

TV monitor/VCR, colored markers, and game materials.

13. Food

No party is complete without food! Whether you serve snacks or a full meal, make

it a festive and sociable part of the shower. What you serve depends on the time of day, your

resources, and the generosity of your sponsors. Here are some basics. 

• Table/food center: Be sure you have ample space for food preparation and

serving and a place to seat your guests. You also may need a refrigerator for

storage; a coffee maker, stove or microwave for hot foods, as well as the

following items: tables, tablecloths, napkins, plates, cups, eating utensils,

trays, serving dishes, ice, and plastic trash bags and trash cans for cleanup.

• Healthy snacks: Fruit and juice reinforce good nutrition messages.

• Box or bag lunches: Try to get a local supermarket to contribute food, such as 

sandwiches, drinks, and fruit.

• Decorations: Baby-related centerpieces and other decorations will brighten up

your shower.

26
14. Exhibits

If your shower includes exhibits displaying health and safety information or babyrelated products and services, be sure your facility can accommodate this. Provide each

exhibitor with this list:

• Set-up and take-down times. 

• Space dimensions.

• Table dimensions allowable (whether provided by facility or by exhibitor).

• Dimensions of backdrop allowable (whether provided by site or by exhibitor)

and if items can be hung from it.

• The number of items (literature, samples, etc.) needed based on the number of

guests expected.

15. Gifts and Prizes

Everyone loves receiving gifts, and your shower guests are no exception.

Supermarkets, drug stores, baby stores, and specialty shops are great places to ask for

contributions of gifts and prizes. Remember that your invited guests are potential customers

— and merchants are always looking for ways to establish a good reputation in the community.

Try to get some donated items related to baby safety, such as cabinet locks or electric

socket plugs. Also include products every parent can use: baby bath items, disposable diapers,

baby food, toys, and baby clothing. Moms also may welcome special treats for themselves —

like a makeover or gift certificates from local stores.

You may want to give a prize to game winners, or even better, to all participants in a

game. A “goody bag” filled with product samples, discount coupons, gift certificates — and

safety literature — would delight all your guests.

Save your best and biggest prize for a raffle or door prize. Finish off your shower with

an exciting finale!

27
16. Shower Day Schedule

Whether you plan a large or small event, develop a realistic schedule for the day. The

suggestions below may help you with a large event. Make arrangements ahead of time with the

building management to reserve the room, tables, chairs, partitions, kitchen, and other facilities

or equipment at the site. Allow sufficient time before and after the shower for setup and

cleanup. 

Room Setup (1-1/2 hours)

Make sure volunteers help set up the room. Consider traffic flow around room

entrances, game workshops, exhibits, food tables, and child-care area. Room arrangements may

include:

• Registration table. Provide chairs for volunteers helping with registration. Have

name tags, paper, and pens for signing in. Keep “goody bags” of prizes,

products, and other materials here.

• Refreshment table. Use simple table decorations that reflect the shower theme.

• Game workshops. Make sure there are enough chairs, tables, and materials for

each game area.

• Exhibit booths. Arrange enough floor space for each booth. 

• Signs. If needed, post signs to designate game workshops, exhibits, and

rest room locations.

• Audio-visual equipment. If used, make sure all equipment works before the day

of the shower. Provide extension cords and duct tape. Tape loose cords to the

floor to prevent tripping.

Registration and Welcoming Activities (1/2 hour)

Register each guest, hand out name tags, and provide materials about the day’s event.

Consider including refreshments and entertainment as ice-breakers.

Opening Remarks (15 minutes)

The primary organizer welcomes the guests, sets the theme, and reviews the overall

shower program. Consider asking a parent to relate a human interest story based on the

importance of child safety in the home.

28
Game Workshops (1 hour)

At the start of the shower, each guest is assigned to a game workshop focusing on one

topic or room area. Throughout the hour, guests rotate to each of the other game workshops.

Or, if your group is not too large, you might hold one session where all the games are played.

Closing Remarks (15 minutes)

The primary organizer summarizes the game workshop messages, encourages guests

to use the products and materials given out, and thanks all the sponsors and organizations who

contributed to the event.

Other Options

Meal (1/2 - 1 hour)

If time and resources permit, serve a meal, like lunch. This allows time for further 

exchange of information with your guests.

Exhibits (1/2 - 1 hour)

Schedule time for guests to visit exhibits for additional health and safety information.

This can be done during the lunch hour or after the program’s closing remarks.

Finally

Cleanup (1 hour)

After the guests leave, clean up! Make arrangements with the building management for

janitorial services or tell your volunteers ahead of time what they need to do before leaving the

facility. A simple checklist might include such duties as packing up unused workshop

materials, sweeping the room, cleaning kitchen facilities, and removing trash. Be sure to leave

the facility in clean condition.

29
PART FOUR: Attachments

17. Publication Ordering Information

From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Your organization can order up to five copies of the How-to Kit and up to 100 copies each of

the other materials listed below. Complete this form and send it to CPSC at the address shown.

Be sure to include your name and address. Allow at least three weeks for delivery.

Title Item Number Quantity

Baby Safety Checklist Growth Chart* CPSC 206 (Eng.) _______

Baby Safety Checklist Growth Chart* CPSC 206S (Span.) _______

Baby Safety Shower How-to Kit* CPSC 207 _______ (up to 5)

Child Care Safety Checklist* CPSC 242 _______

Protect Your Child CPSC 241 _______

Safety Alert: Soft Bedding May be 

Hazardous for Infants* CPSC 201 _______

The Super Sitter CPSC 243 _______

Think Toy Safety Coloring Book CPSC 283 _______

(Combined English and Spanish) 

Tips for your Baby’s Safety CPSC 200 (Eng.) _______ 

Tips for Your Baby’s Safety CPSC 200S (Span.) _______

* Available over the Internet at http://www.cpsc.gov

Mailing Address

Publication Request

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 

Washington, DC 20207 

30
18. Sample Press Release

Recommended Use: 5-7 days prior to event

For Immediate Release Contact: (your name)

(date of release) (your phone number)

(Your organization) Launches Baby Safety Shower Event

(Your city, state, date) — (Your organization name) plans to launch its Baby Safety

Shower event on (date), teaming up with (names of partners involved in program) to reduce the

risk of injury and death to infants and children at home. This (length of shower event) Baby

Safety Shower event is designed to encourage young parents to make their homes safe for

children.

“We want to help educate parents about home safety,” (quote from well-known figure

who supports the event). Parents who attend the shower will learn through games, fun, and

other activities about home safety. Each participant will receive free gifts to take home,

courtesy of (partner’s name).

In (your community), the shower is (description of Baby Safety Shower activities and

events). Call (phone/times to call) for information on how to register for this free Baby Safety

Shower to be held at (exact date, time and location).

“We are proud to sponsor this event” (quote from well-known figure who supports the

event). “Working together, we can ensure that every home is a safe home, and that our babies

have a safe start in life.”

31
19. Sample Broadcast Advertisement

Medium: Radio

Length: 60-second Spot

Topic: General Event Announcement

Recommended Use: Use 5-7 days prior to event; may use as public service announcement

Baby Safety Showers are coming — no need for an umbrella! Expectant mothers, new

parents, and day-care providers are invited to attend this free (time) event. The shower will be

held at (location) on (date/time).

Parents who attend will learn through games, fun, and other activities how to make their

homes safe havens for their babies. This information will help reduce the risk of injury and

death for our smallest, most vulnerable citizens.

For more information about home safety for your child, come to the Baby Safety

Shower at (location). Pre-registration is required. Call (name and phone) during (hours) to

register for the Baby Safety Shower. (Free baby-sitting will be available.)

Safety for children is everyone’s business. Working together, we can ensure that every

home is a safe home, and that our babies have a safe start in life.

{Optional: This message is brought to you as a public service by (your organization)

and this radio station.}

32
20. Invitation and Bingo Game Masters

The following three pages are masters for the invitation and bingo game. They can be removed

from the kit (at the perforations) and photocopied on 8

1

⁄2" x 11" paper. The two-sided invitation

folds in half and the bingo masters should be cut between the two game cards.

33







21. Evaluation Form

AT CPSC, we’re always trying to improve. If you’d like to help us make the Baby Safety

Shower program and materials better, you can use the space below to tell us what you think

about them. 

Baby Safety Shower How-to Kit. Check each one you used:

____ Timetable ____ Publication order form ____ Sample broadcast ad

____ Shower day schedule ____ Invitation ____ Bingo cards 

____ Baby Safety Checklist ____ Sample press release

Which parts of the kit did you find most useful (+)? Least useful (–)?

____ Timetable ____ Publication order form ____ Sample broadcast ad

____ Shower day schedule ____ Invitation ____ Bingo cards 

____ Baby Safety Checklist ____ Sample press release ___________________ Other

Please specify

What additional information would you have found useful?

Shower Event. Please send any special materials you developed for your shower.

Who was your target audience? (Check each that’s appropriate.)

____ Parents-to-be ____ Low-income parents ____ Middle-income parents ____ Mixed

____ Low-literacy parents ____ Ethnic minority parents _____________________ Other

Please specify

How many attended? ____

What were your theme and activities? 

How did your guests like the event? ____ Not at all ____ Some ____ A lot ____ Not sure

Additional Comments

Optional Information

Your name

Title/phone no.

Organization

Address

[Please fold this over and mail it to the address on the other side. No postage is necessary if

mailed in the United States.]

41
.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

ashington, D.C. 20207

________________________

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

An Equal Opportunity Employer

POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

BABY SAFETY SHOWERS RM 708

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20207

NO POSTAGE

NECESSARY

IF MAILED

IN THE

UNITED STATES

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL

FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 12064 WASHINGTON, DC
CPSC HOTLINE

If you have any questions related to the safety of a consumer product or want to report a

safety problem with a consumer product, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission! 

The toll-free Hotline number is 1 (800) 638-CPSC/1 (800) 638-2772. The TTY number

is (301) 595-7054. You can contact CPSC any time, day or night. 

CPSC also offers several Internet services @ http://www.cpsc.gov, where you can:

- Get product recall information 

- File a product complaint or report an injury

- View CPSC publications
Brought to you by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Gerber Products Company

009911

CPSC 207