In a baby-shower “Guess the Due Date” game, what date are guests asked to predict?

In a baby-shower “Guess the Due Date” game, guests are asked to predict the baby’s expected birth date.

Guests usually write a date on a calendar, card, poster, or prediction sheet. The host may award a prize to the person whose prediction is closest to the actual birth date. Some versions also ask for the baby’s birth time or weight, but those additions are optional and are not part of the core game.

The predicted date is the estimated due date supplied by the healthcare provider, generally based on the pregnancy’s timing and medical measurements. It is an estimate rather than a guarantee: many babies are born before or after it.

This game is different from guessing the baby’s sex or choosing a name. Those are separate shower activities with different answers and, in some families, different cultural sensitivities.