There's nothing more exciting than seeing a plus sign appear on a pregnancy test for the first time. Well, aside from seeing that first flicker of a heartbeat on the ultrasound. And telling friends and family you're pregnant. And registering for baby clothes while imagining the itty bitty newborn that's going to occupy them. OK, let's be real — it's ALL pretty exciting! And some might say the cherry on top of it all is finding out whether there's a baby girl or a baby boy growing inside that belly. Yep — the gender reveal is pretty huge. And with all that mounting anticipation, it's no wonder that gender reveal parties have become increasingly popular in recent years.
I'm not talking about just gathering some family members in the kitchen and cutting into a cake to reveal if it's blue or pink inside. (Though that's pretty fun, too.) These days, parents-to-be are throwing full-on backyard bashes complete with smoke and confetti bombs that announce the gender in one epic display. They're teeing off with golf balls made of pink or blue powder and watching in awe as they explode into the air in all their pink or blue glory. They're knocking around pinatas stuffed with pink or blue glitter and other fun surprises, and squealing with excitement as they crack open to reveal whether it's a girl or a boy. And even though it all may seem a tad overly millennial (because, well, it kinda is), it's undeniably fun.
In the end, those moments of anticipation and excitement aren't really all about the gender. They're about bringing friends and family together to celebrate that amazing little life that's growing inside. They're about imagining the future and all its possibilities. And they're about envisioning who and what that little guy or gal is going to grow up to be one day. And honestly, what's more fun than that?
Gender Reveal Smoke Bombs
Talk about Instagram-worthy. These gender reveal smoke bombs help break the news by releasing a cloud of gorgeous pink or blue powder that will fill the air with color and excitement.
Gender Reveal Smoke Bombs (Gender Reveal Celebrations, $9.99)
Confetti & Powder Gender Reveal Cannon
Want a little more than just a cloud of smoke to announce the gender? This gender reveal stick adds in glitter confetti for an extra special touch.
Confetti & Powder Gender Reveal Cannon (Etsy, $4.95)
Ginger Ray Large Gold Foiled PInk (or Blue) Gender Reveal Compressed Air Cannon Shooter
Want a pretty-looking confetti shooter that creates way less mess? This gold foiled confetti cannon is the perfect pick.
Ginger Ray Large Gold Foiled Pink Gender Reveal Compressed Air Cannon Shooter or Ginger Ray Large Gold Foiled Blue Gender Reveal Compressed Air Cannon Shooter (Target, $5.99)
Gender Reveal Party Pinata
Everyone loves a good old fashioned game of smash the pinata (even if they're just watching it)! This shimmering question mark will explode into a burst of pink or blue confetti once Mom or Dad cracks it open, to reveal the mystery everyone's been waiting for.
Gender Reveal Party Pinata (Target, $16.99)
Gender Reveal Scratch Off Cards
This is the best kind of scratch-off there is! Guests may not win money, but the surprise of learning whether it's a boy or it's a girl (and shouting it faster than anyone else can) will be the ultimate prize.
Gender Reveal Scratch Off Cards (Party City, $4.19)
Gender Reveal Exploding Golf Balls
Got some golfers in the fam? They'll love watching as that line drive shoots down the lawn, exploding into a burst of color.
Gender Reveal Exploding Golf Balls (Walmart, $9.99)
Gender Reveal Balloon
One part decoration, one part surprise! Pop this big gold balloon and let the confetti spill the news about whether a girl or a boy is on the way.
Gender Reveal Balloon (Etsy, $11.99)
Gender Reveal Baseball
Hitting a home run with this one will be easy. Just like the gender reveal golf balls, these baseballs explode upon contact and spill pink or blue powder inside for an exciting reveal.
Gender Reveal Baseball (Sparklers R Us, $12.95)
Gender Reveal Candle
Perfect for small, intimate gatherings, this gender reveal candle takes a bit of time to get going, but once it does, it'll be well worth it. After lighting, the black strip on the front of the candle will turn pink or blue, as heat activation works its magic.
Gender Reveal Candle (Homesick, $29.95)
Gender Reveal Silly String
Gender reveal parties are for having fun — and getting silly! What better way to honor that theme than with a little silly string? Inside, pastel pink or blue silly string is just waiting to be unleashed to surprise guests.
Gender Reveal Silly String (Etsy, $4.50)
Gender Reveal Confetti Roulette
Get everyone in on the fun! This set allows multiple guests to hold confetti cannons (in addition to Mom and Dad). Have each person set it off one by one, or all at once, and see whose cannon holds the truth inside!
Gender Reveal Confetti Roulette (Etsy, $49.95)
Gender Reveal Balloon Box
Before the party, have a trusted friend or family member fill this cardboard box with pink or blue balloons. Then, once all of the guests have arrived, open it up and let the balloons float on out to reveal the surprise.
Gender Reveal Balloon Box (Oriental Trading Company, $9.99)
Gender Reveal Party Guest Book Game
Let friends and fam wager their best guesses before the big news is revealed! Then frame it to hang up, or save for later in a baby box or memory book. Another idea? Give loved ones with the winning guesses a prize before they leave the party.
Gender Reveal Party Guest Book (Etsy, $8)
Gender Reveal Darts
Everyone will love watching an old fashioned game of darts — and this one comes with a twist! Compete with your partner for who can hit the balloon quicker, and watch as it pops to release the pink or blue powder into the air.
Gender Reveal Darts (Gender Reveal Celebrations, $19.99)
Gender Reveal Pokemon Ball
Rejoice, gamers! The Pokemon-inspired ball can be tossed in the air or bounced again a wall to release the bright powder inside to complete any gaming-themed gender reveal party.
Gender Reveal Pokemon Ball (Etsy, $35)
Color-Changing Dragon Egg
Still sad that Game of Thrones is over? Indulge that (slight) obsession with a GoT-themed gender reveal, complete with color-changing dragon eggs that will reveal whether it's a little Jon Stark or Daenerys on the way.
Color-Changing Dragon Egg Gender Reveal (Etsy, $45)
Colored Smoke Tires
This one's for the mama or papa whose love for their pickup truck might just rival their love for their spouse. Peel out of the driveway to reveal pink or blue smoke, as friends and family cheer from behind.
Colored Smoke Tires (Gender Reveal Celebrations, $14.99)
Gender Reveal Bath Bombs
These bath bombs might be best for an intimate gender reveal between partners, rather than a party — but they'll definitely make a splash. (Sorry, had to go there.)
Gender Reveal Bath Bombs (Gender Reveal Celebrations, $12.99)
Gender Reveal Push Pops
These confetti push-pops can be handed out to guests before the reveal, so everyone's in on the surprise. Then have a countdown to when everyone can release theirs at once, and watch as everyone jumps in excitement.
Gender Reveal Push Pops (Etsy, $9.90)
Dylan's Candy Bar Gender Reveal Bash Cake
For the mom and pop with a sweet tooth, this bash cake will hold a yummy — and exciting — surprise inside that's good enough to eat. (Literally.)
Gender Reveal Bash Cake (Dylan's Candy Bar, $50)
Gender Reveal Cake Pops
Speaking of a sweet tooth … Another option is to have a trusted friend keep the baby news a secret, and either make or order cake pops with pink or blue inside. When it comes time to reveal the gender, hand one out to each guest and ask everyone to wait to take a bite all at once.
Color-Changing Lightsaber
This one goes out to all the Star Wars fans of the world …
This color-changing lightsaber can be a fun way to reveal the news to friends and fam, while staging a mock "battle" in the living room (and simultaneously living out all your childhood fantasies).
Color Changing RGB Lightsaber (Etsy, $79.99)
Squirt with Paint Inside
If Mom and Dad are big kids at heart, this might be the perfect public reveal.
First, dress in all-white clothing (nothing fancy, though — this stuff has to be OK to get dirty). Then have a trusted friend or relative fill a squirt gun with washable paint that's either pink or blue. Next, go stand out on the lawn and fire away at each other!
Gender Reveal Balloon Dart Board
If the singular balloon dart game isn't enough, this board game will build the anticipation even more. Mom and Dad can aim darts at the board filled with balloons, slowly trying to pop them all. One balloon should be filled with colored confetti, so that when either parent strikes it, it reveals the gender of the baby.
Gender Reveal Balloon Dart Board (Etsy, $69.99)
Colored Sparklers
This idea is perfect for a nighttime party! First, have a friend buy sparklers that change color after being lit. Then, light up the sky with pink or blue to reveal the big news!
Golden Gender Reveal Ball
Toss this golden ball in the air, and watch as it comes crashing down to explode in a gorgeous haze of blue or pink! It doesn't get much more exciting than that.
Golden Gender Reveal Ball (Etsy, $15.99)
Gender Reveal Fireworks
Hosting a gender reveal during the summer or on a holiday weekend? Fireworks might be in order! These explode into sparkling embers of blue or pink that'll let the whole neighborhood know the good news. (Follow any laws regarding fireworks in the community.)
Gender Reveal Fireworks (Superior Celebrations, $179.99)
Gender Reveal Sparkle "Fountain"
If setting off loud fireworks is too much, these fireworks fountains will stay put on the ground without causing a ruckus, and still sparkle and pop to get guests excited. Keep safety in mind when setting it off.
Gender Reveal Sparkle Fountain (Fireworks.com, $24.99)
Gender Reveal Confetti Eggs
Spring or Easter family parties will get even better with an exciting gender reveal! Use these pastel-covered Easter eggs to spill the news by letting a few guests of honor crack them to reveal their confetti inside.
Gender Reveal Confetti Eggs (Etsy, $24)
Gender Reveal Bingo
Does anyone ever not love Bingo? (That's what I thought.) But this fun version will be even better than most, because winning players will reveal the gender of the baby!
Gender Reveal Bingo (Etsy, $16.95)
Gender Reveal Mystery Dough
If the gender reveal is for kids, hand them this fun Play-Doh-like putty to play with. When they first open the container, the white dough won't appear to be special at all. But slowly but surely as they play with it, it'll begin to turn either pink or blue!
Gender Reveal Mystery Dough (Etsy, $7.99)
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