Baby shower in Morocco: ideas, games and gifts to celebrate the baby

In the cousins-and-friends group chat, the messages keep coming: who is bringing the cake, who is in charge of the balloons, should we invite the mother-in-law? The baby shower has found its place in Morocco, alongside much older traditions that were already celebrating the mum-to-be before the birth. With a little thought, it can bring the two together.

Here is how to plan it, which games to suggest, how to put together a pregnancy-safe buffet, how to reveal the baby's sex without any danger, and how to steer the gifts so they are genuinely useful.

Baby shower, khamoussa, laqmous: celebrating before the birth

The baby shower is an American invention. The Moroccan parenting site mamanmaroc.ma describes it as the passage from woman to young mother: a party organised by close friends in the third trimester, to share advice and experiences, spoil the mum-to-be, finalise the baby registry and sometimes reveal the baby's sex.

Morocco did not wait for this model to celebrate pregnancy. The same site describes two traditions:

• the laqmous, in the North, about two months before the birth: the maternal grandmother buys the newborn's first clothes and toiletries;
• the khamoussa, in Marrakech and other regions, in the seventh month: a small gathering of the family's women and friends, with henna, a lucky charm of the same name tied around the mum-to-be's ankle, first gifts and plenty of advice. The idea is to give her courage before the birth.

Elsewhere, the henna is applied in the eighth or ninth month. La Vie éco noted in 2021 that mothers and grandmothers used to organise a henna afternoon in the seventh month, with a nekacha (the henna artist) and a meal, long before professional event planners began offering "American-style" baby showers. Their clients often add a hennaya to the programme, precisely to keep the tradition alive.

When and how to plan it

The third trimester is still the right time, before tiredness really sets in. The UK's NHS points out that late in pregnancy the weight of the bump is tiring and sleep becomes harder; it advises resting, sitting with your feet up and accepting offers of help. A two- or three-hour party in the afternoon, where she can sit surrounded by loved ones, will suit her better than a long evening on her feet.

Questions for the hosts to settle:

1. Surprise or not? Quietly ask the mum-to-be what she would like, especially regarding the sex reveal and the henna.
2. Where? At home, at a relative's, in a garden or a tea room.
3. Who? Women only, as tradition has it, or with the dads-to-be as well: your call.
4. What budget? Set it before booking anything, and share the costs.
5. Who does what? Decorations, buffet, games, photos, tidying up: one person in charge of each.

The buffet: sweet, savoury and pregnancy-safe

Dessert tables have become the signature of baby showers: chocolates, sweets, cupcakes and American-style cakes, often joined by Moroccan pastries for the older guests, La Vie éco observed. Spare a thought for the one who is pregnant. Manger Bouger, the French public health nutrition programme, advises her to avoid:

• raw-milk cheeses;
• raw or undercooked eggs, which means homemade mayonnaise, chocolate mousse or tiramisu made with raw eggs;
• raw or undercooked meat, fish and seafood, smoked fish included;
• chilled cured and deli meats, unless they are cooked again;
• fruit, vegetables and herbs when you do not know how they were washed.

In hot weather, keep dishes with sauce or mayonnaise in the fridge: the advice shared by Médias24 during the July 2026 heatwave is a reminder that food poisoning is more common then. For the details, read up on what you can safely eat during pregnancy and how to protect yourself from toxoplasmosis. If the mum-to-be is keeping an eye on gestational diabetes, plan some low-sugar treats and fresh fruit too.

Baby shower games for every generation

The best games get everyone laughing without making anyone uncomfortable, and give the grandmothers as much of a voice as the girlfriends:

• The bump ribbon: each guest cuts a ribbon to the length she thinks will fit around the bump; the closest wins.
• Predictions: date of birth, weight, hair colour, first word, sealed in an envelope to open after the birth.
• Guess the baby: each guest brings a photo of herself as a baby, and everyone guesses who is who.
• The advice book: each guest writes a tip, a wish for the baby or a tradition from her family, and the pages are bound into a keepsake.
• The parents-to-be quiz: where did they meet, which name did they rule out, what was her pregnancy craving?
• Decorated bodysuits: using fabric pens, with nothing glued or sewn on that could come loose, since Quebec's INSPQ warns that small objects are a choking hazard for the future baby.
• The henna corner: a nekacha for the guests, as a nod to the khamoussa.

Gender reveal ideas, without the danger

The gender reveal, the party where parents announce the baby's sex, is often done with a cake that is pink or blue inside, balloons or coloured powders that burst, according to La Vie éco. Leave out anything that explodes. In Morocco, importing and selling fireworks is banned, which does not stop them from circulating. Doctors know the consequences: eye and face injuries that can lead to loss of sight, amputated fingers or hands, burns, Le Matin reported in the run-up to Achoura (the Islamic New Year festival on the tenth of Muharram) in 2023. We go through these risks in our article on the dangers of firecrackers for children.

Balloons also call for a little care if young children are invited: the INSPQ warns that latex balloons, whether inflated, deflated or burst, can choke them. Pick up the pieces after the party. The simplest option is still the cake, a box of paper confetti or a letter read aloud.

On the medical side, when an ultrasound can show the baby's sex, and how reliable it is, are explained in our article when the ultrasound reveals your baby's sex.

Gifts: pleasing the parents without duplicates

Finalising the baby registry is one of the reasons a baby shower exists, mamanmaroc.ma reminds us. A baby registry shared with the guests avoids three identical play mats and guides group gifts, such as a pushchair or a car seat. For those who prefer to improvise, our practical baby gift ideas and a sample baby registry offer ideas for every budget.

From the shop

Gifts the parents-to-be will love

A keepsake, a first outfit, a health-booklet cover or a practical bag: ideas to give alone or as a group, to check against the parents' registry first.

• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Magic Box baby print kit, square metal box – Tiny Love146 DHinstead of 160 DHView product
• −74 %Pureté du bébéEssentials velvet sleepsuit, girl, 3 months, cream beige – Pureté du bébé164 DHinstead of 630 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Simple Frame baby print frame, wood – Tiny Love209 DHinstead of 230 DHView product
• −48 %Pasito a PasitoCotton health record cover, white – Pasito a Pasito234 DHinstead of 450 DHView product
• −49 %LandArrow maternity changing bag, grey – Land228 DHinstead of 450 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations wooden double photo and print frame – Tiny Love291 DHinstead of 320 DHView product
• Mac IlusionTenderness 3-piece christening outfit, ecru, size 3 months – Mac Ilusion500 DHView product
• The whole aisle · Baby keepsakes6 products online, delivered anywhere in Morocco.Open the aisle

Products sold by La Maison du Bébé, publisher of this magazine. Prices as of 12 October 2026; please check the product page.

Think too about the gifts that cannot be wrapped: a meal delivered in the first week, a few hours of babysitting for the older children, help with the sbou3 (the naming celebration held on the seventh day after the birth). And if you love keepsakes, a handprint frame or box will capture those first days, while a going-home outfit makes a lovely first set of clothes.