Did you know that nearly 80% of guests say the refreshments are what they remember most about a party?” It’s true! Planning a baby shower is so much fun, but let’s be honest, it can be a little overwhelming when you start staring at Pinterest boards for hours. I’ve been there. You want everything to be perfect for the mom-to-be, right? Of course you do!
When it comes to 7 baby shower drink ideas, I have learned that presentation is just as important as the taste. We aren’t just pouring soda into cups here. We are creating memories! Whether you are looking for something blue, something pink, or just something downright delicious, I’ve got you covered. In this guide, I’m going to walk you through my absolute favorite beverage stations that are trending right now. Let’s dive in and make a splash!
1. Create a “Mom-osa” Bar That Everyone Can Enjoy
You know, I have to be honest with you—the first time I hosted a baby shower, it was kind of a disaster. I was running around like a headless chicken, trying to mix individual drinks for twenty people while also making sure the quiche didn’t burn. By the time I sat down, my feet were throbbing, and I hadn’t spoken to the mom-to-be once. It was awful! That’s when I learned the hard way: you need baby shower drink ideas that allow you to actually enjoy the party.
Enter the “Mom-osa” bar. This has been a total lifesaver for me in recent years. It’s basically a self-serve station where guests can mix their own non-alcoholic sparkling drinks. It looks fancy, tastes amazing, and best of all, you set it up once and walk away.
Choosing Your Bubbly Base
Don’t just grab plain soda water and call it a day. I made that mistake once, and it tasted like watered-down sadness. You want something with a bit of flavor to act as the “champagne” substitute.
I usually go for sparkling white grape juice or a dry ginger ale. If you want to get really wild, mix club soda with a splash of white cranberry juice. The key is to keep it bubbly! I always tell my friends to buy two more bottles than they think they need. There is nothing worse than running out of fizz halfway through opening presents.
The Fruit Factor
Here is where you can make it look like you spent way more effort than you actually did. I like to set out little bowls of fresh fruit for garnishes. Raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries are classic, but orange slices are a must for that authentic mimosa look.
Pro Tip: Freeze the fruit beforehand! I learned this trick after serving warm drinks on a hot July afternoon (yikes). Frozen berries act like little ice cubes without watering down the drink. Plus, they look super pretty floating in the glass.
It’s All in the Presentation
You don’t need expensive crystal to make this work. I literally bought a set of plastic champagne flutes from the dollar store for my sister’s shower, and nobody cared. It’s really about the arrangement.
Put the juices in clear carafes if you can—store-bought plastic bottles just kill the vibe. And get a cute sign! I hand-wrote “Mom-osa Bar” on a small chalkboard I stole from my kitchen, and it looked adorable. Trust me, people love a good sign.
When you put this all together, you get a gorgeous, interactive station that gets people talking. It’s one of those baby shower drink ideas that looks expensive but is actually super budget-friendly. Plus, the mom-to-be doesn’t feel left out of the toast, which is the whole point! Just make sure you put a towel down under the juice carafes—things are gonna get sticky, and you don’t want to ruin your tablecloth.
2. Serve Themed Blue or Pink Punch for a Pop of Color
I remember going to my cousin’s shower years ago, and she had this amazing blue punch. It looked like melted Smurfs, but in a good way! If you know the gender of the baby, making a color-themed punch is such an easy win. It’s one of those baby shower drink ideas that screams “party” the second you walk in.
For the Boy Mamas
If it’s a boy, that blue punch is a classic for a reason. You just mix Blue Hawaiian Punch with some Sprite or 7-Up. The secret trick? Add scoops of vanilla ice cream right before the guests arrive. The ice cream melts a little and creates this foamy white layer on top that looks exactly like clouds in a blue sky. I tried doing this with whipped cream once—don’t do that. It just gets oily and gross. Stick to the ice cream.
Thinking Pink?
For the little girls, I love doing a sherbet punch. You grab a gallon of pink lemonade (or fruit punch if you want it redder) and mix it with lemon-lime soda. Then, instead of ice cream, you scoop in raspberry or rainbow sherbet. It creates this frothy, creamy texture that is just so good. My kids beg me to make this for their birthdays, but I save it for special occasions.
A Quick Tip on Serving
Please, for the love of clean floors, use a drink dispenser with a spigot if you can. Punch bowls are nostalgic and pretty, but that ladle is a recipe for disaster. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen sticky red punch dripped all over a white tablecloth because someone tried to ladle it into a tiny cup. If you do use a bowl, put it on a tray to catch the spills. You’ll thank me later!
3. Design a Refreshing Cucumber and Mint Water Station
Okay, listen. I love sugar as much as the next person. But after eating a piece of cake, two cupcakes, and a handful of those butter mints, sometimes you just need some plain old water. But plain water looks kind of boring on a pretty table, right? That’s why I started doing this spa-water setup. It is honestly the cheapest thing on this list of baby shower drink ideas, but people always act like it’s super fancy.
Keep It Fresh
The trick to making this actually taste good and not like old salad is how you prep the ingredients. I used to just chop big chunks of cucumber and throw them in. Wrong. You want to slice that cucumber super thin. If you have a mandoline slicer, use it (but watch your fingers!). The thinner the slices, the more flavor gets into the water.
For the mint, don’t chop it up! If you chop it, you get little green bits stuck in your teeth, and nobody wants that in photos. Just take a sprig of fresh mint and give it a little smack between your hands before dropping it in. It sounds weird, but it releases the smell without making a mess.
It Looks Expensive
There is something about green floating in clear water that just looks classy. It reminds people of a spa day. I usually put this in my nicest glass dispenser. If you use a plastic one, it can sometimes look a little cloudy. Glass makes the green colors pop.
Also, make sure you add a ton of ice. This drink needs to be ice cold. If it gets warm, the cucumber starts to taste a little funky. I usually keep a bag of ice in a cooler under the table so I can top it off without running to the kitchen freezer every twenty minutes. It’s a small detail, but it keeps the drink refreshing instead of gross.
4. Warm Hearts with a Gourmet Hot Chocolate Bar
If you are planning a shower in November or January, let me tell you, iced tea just isn’t going to cut it. I went to a winter baby shower once where the host served slushies. We were all shivering in our boots! It was not comfortable. A hot chocolate bar is the perfect fix for chilly weather, and honestly, who doesn’t like chocolate?
Keep It Warm (The Easy Way)
The biggest worry here is serving lukewarm cocoa. Nobody likes that. My favorite trick is to use a slow cooker. You can make a huge batch of hot chocolate right in the crockpot. Just dump in your milk, cocoa powder, sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate chips. Turn it on low a few hours before the party starts.
It smells amazing! As soon as guests walk in the door, the whole house smells like chocolate. It makes the place feel super cozy instantly. Just remember to leave a ladle nearby (and maybe a spoon rest because it gets messy).
Go Crazy with Toppings
The drink itself is simple, so the fun part is the toppings. This is where you can really show off your baby shower drink ideas. I like to get those three-tiered trays and fill them up.
You need the basics like mini marshmallows and whipped cream. But if you want to wow people, add some crushed candy canes or peppermint sticks. I also love putting out those long Pirouette cookies—you know, the wafer ones with chocolate inside? They look fancy sticking out of a mug, but they are pretty cheap at the grocery store. Caramel sauce is another good one to drizzle on top.
Mugs as Favors
Here is a cute idea if you have the budget: let the mug be the party favor. You can buy plain white mugs in bulk online pretty cheap. If you are crafty, you could use a Cricut machine to put the baby’s last name on them, or just leave them plain. Guests pick a mug, fill it up, and take it home at the end. It saves you from washing forty cups later, which is a win in my book!
5. Mix Up Some Floral Lemonade with Edible Flowers
I used to think eating flowers was weird. I mean, they belong in a vase, right? But then I saw this floral lemonade at a friend’s garden party and I was totally converted. If you are going for that “cottagecore” vibe or just having a backyard shower, this is stunning. It’s one of those baby shower drink ideas that makes people stop and take a picture before they take a sip.
Don’t Drink Perfume
The trick here is the flavor balance. You can buy elderflower syrup or rose water at most fancy grocery stores or online. But be careful! If you add too much rose water, your drink is going to taste like your grandma’s soap. Nobody wants to drink soap.
I usually start with a regular lemonade recipe—fresh squeezed is best if you have the patience—and then add the floral syrup little by little. Taste it as you go. You want just a hint of flower, not a mouthful of bouquet.
The Magic Ice Cubes
This is the part that actually looks cool. You freeze flowers inside the ice cubes! It is surprisingly easy. You just need to buy edible flowers. Please don’t go picking random dandelions from your front yard unless you know they haven’t been sprayed with chemicals. I usually order pansies or violets online to be safe.
Put a small flower in the ice tray, fill it with water, and freeze. Teacher Tip: If you want the ice to be crystal clear so you can see the flower better, boil the water first and let it cool down before freezing. It gets rid of the air bubbles. My science students loved that fact!
Serving It Up
Since this drink feels a little old-fashioned, I love serving it in mason jars. You can put a bunch of colorful paper straws in a jar nearby. I know, I know, paper straws get soggy after a while. But they look so cute for the first twenty minutes! Just maybe keep some plastic ones hidden in a drawer for the slow sippers.
6. Delight Guests with Nostalgic Milk and Cookie Shots
Okay, this one is barely a drink, but it is so cute I had to include it. It’s basically dessert and a beverage all in one. If you want baby shower drink ideas that make everyone say “Awww,” this is the one.
The Cookie Cup Challenge
You can bake these little cookie cups yourself using a special muffin tin. I tried it once. Let me tell you, it was a bit tricky. If you don’t bake them long enough, the milk leaks right through the dough and you end up with a soggy mess.
I learned that you have to coat the inside with melted chocolate. It acts like a seal so the milk stays inside. If you don’t have time for that science project, just buy them from a bakery. No shame in that game!
Pick Your Poison (Just Kidding, It’s Milk)
The fun part is the milk color. For a girl shower, strawberry milk is perfect because it’s pink. For a boy, you could do plain milk or maybe color it blue, but sometimes blue milk looks a little weird to drink. I usually stick to white milk or chocolate milk. It feels like being a kid again.
Make It Sparkle
To make them look like party food, dip the rim of the cookie cup in melted chocolate and then dunk it in sprinkles. It adds a little crunch and looks festive on the tray. Just warn your guests to eat it quickly. You can’t nurse this drink for an hour or it will literally disintegrate in your hand. It’s a “cheers and eat” kind of situation.
7. Brew a Large Batch of Southern Sweet Tea with Peach
If you live in the South (or just wish you did), you know you can’t really have a party without sweet tea. It is a staple. But for a baby shower, plain old Lipton can feel a little bit boring. That is why I started making this peach version, and let me tell you, it disappears faster than the cake.
Peaches Make It Fancy
You don’t need to be a mixologist to pull this off. I usually brew a massive batch of regular black tea. While it’s still hot, that is when you add the sugar so it dissolves. Do not try to add sugar to cold tea—it just sinks to the bottom and feels gritty.
For the peach flavor, I cheat a little. I buy a bag of frozen peach slices. I put half of them in the blender to make a puree and stir that into the tea. Then I throw the other half of the frozen slices right into the dispenser. They act like ice cubes and look so pretty floating around.
The Sweetness Debate
Now, here is a teacher tip for you: label your drinks! I learned this the hard way. Some people have dietary restrictions or just don’t want a sugar rush. I always set out two dispensers side-by-side. One is the “Southern Sweet” version, and one is “Unsweetened.”
You can put a little bowl of stevia or sugar packets next to the unsweet one for guests who want to control their own sweetness. It saves you from having to guess what everyone likes.
The Finishing Touch
To make it look like a baby shower drink idea from a magazine, garnish is key. I slice up a few lemons into wheels and toss them in. A few sprigs of mint look nice too, but honestly, the lemon and peach combo is plenty. It’s refreshing, it’s cheap to make in bulk, and it pairs perfectly with little finger sandwiches.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Seven different ways to keep your guests happy and hydrated without losing your mind in the kitchen. I hope this list helps you narrow down what you want to do.
Honestly, don’t overthink it. Pick one or two of these baby shower drink ideas and roll with it. I used to stress out so much about every little detail, thinking everything had to be magazine-perfect. But the truth is, the most important thing is that the mom-to-be is surrounded by her favorite people. Nobody is going to remember if the ice melted a little too fast or if the napkins didn’t match the straws perfectly. They will remember the laughs and the good times.
If you decide to try the Mom-osa bar or that tricky cookie shot, let me know how it goes! I always love hearing about other people’s parties. Good luck, you are going to do great!
Don’t forget to save this pin to your “Baby Shower Planning” board on Pinterest so you can find these recipes later!
