Gender reveal parties: What are they?

SYDNEY, NSW - JUNE 07:  A pregnant woman holds her stomach June 7, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. Australia is currently enjoying a baby boom, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics registering a 2.4% increase in births from 2004 to 2005, which represents the highest number of births since 1992. The Australian Federal Government has been encouraging people to have more babies, with financial incentives and the slogan by treasurer Peter Costello to "have one for mum, one for dad, and one for the country". The Federal Government has identified falling fertility rates and the ageing population as long-term problems for Australia's growth and prosperity.  (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Credit: Ian Waldie

Credit: Ian Waldie

SYDNEY, NSW - JUNE 07: A pregnant woman holds her stomach June 7, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. Australia is currently enjoying a baby boom, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics registering a 2.4% increase in births from 2004 to 2005, which represents the highest number of births since 1992. The Australian Federal Government has been encouraging people to have more babies, with financial incentives and the slogan by treasurer Peter Costello to "have one for mum, one for dad, and one for the country". The Federal Government has identified falling fertility rates and the ageing population as long-term problems for Australia's growth and prosperity. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Most people know and understand what a "baby shower" is for expecting parents. Lots of silly, baby-related games are played, while friends and family members provide gifts for the eventual newest member of the family.

In the past decade or so, a different type of party is now being associated with pregnancies: gender reveals.

After learning of the gender themselves — sometimes even the father being left in the dark — the expectant parents invite family and friends to a party where they reveal the baby's gender.

Gender reveal parties can feel a lot like baby showers — minus the gifts. There are usually games where attendees guess the baby's gender before the big moment.

BLACK-ISH - "The Name Game" - Dre and Bow have a gender reveal party, and Dre is thrilled because it's his turn to name the baby. He decides on a culturally significant name that Bow and Ruby aren't a fan of. Meanwhile, Zoey's plan to have an anti-Valentine's Day with her friend Shelly is thwarted when Junior asks Shelly out on a date, so Diane tries to fill in as Zoey's BFF, on "black-ish," WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 (9:31-10:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network. (Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images)
JENIFER LEWIS, MARCUS SCRIBNER, MILES BROWN, TRACEE ELLIS ROSS

Credit: Kelsey McNeal

icon to expand image
icon to close expanded image

Credit: Kelsey McNeal

Gender reveal parties can feel a lot like baby showers — minus the gifts. There are usually games where attendees guess the baby's gender before the big moment.

Often times, there’s a cake (or cupcakes) that, when bitten into, reveals the gender dictated by the color of the icing (blue for a boy, pink for a girl).

A quick search of the Internet reveals numerous other ways to reveal the baby’s gender with confetti, balloons and other creative methods.

Videos of the big reveal are often shared by families on social media.

About the Author