Gender reveals: the good, the bad and the ‘don’t try this at home’

Gender reveal parties have become a popular way for parents-to-be to find out the sex of their baby, while family and friends watch on. 

If you’re thinking about having a gender-reveal party, here’s a list of ideas to get you started (and some that should definitely be avoided). 

The good

Gender reveal lasagne

A gender-reveal idea we can get on board with! Parents are ordering a lasagne complete with pink or blue coloured cheese to reveal the exciting news.

A restaurant in the US shared a video of the lasagne on Facebook, which looks perfect for those who don’t have a sweet tooth. 

Cakes

Who doesn’t love cake? There’s a reason why this gender-reveal option is so popular – it’s delicious and something everyone can enjoy. 

Gender Reveal Balloon Pop

A balloon with coloured confetti is another popular way to reveal the sex of your baby with friends and family, like this couple did.

The bad

Inflatable babies fighting

Video footage was released last year showing two inflatable babies (a girl and a boy), fighting it out to reveal the gender. In this case, it was the boy. Watch the video here. 

Hippo eating a watermelon

One couple filled a watermelon with blue jelly and fed it to a hippo to reveal the sex. Sharing a video of the event on Twitter, Ana Bretón wrote: “I did it. I found the worst gender reveal.”

Do not do this

“Burnout” gender reveals 

This type of reveal involves a car being fitted with special smoking tyres that releases pink or blue smoke. Last year Queensland police issued a warning about this stunt after a car burst into flames – it’s dangerous and parents-to-be should just stick to the cake. 

Smoke-generating pyrotechnic device

Another high-risk option that should be avoided is a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device. A couple in California fired a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device that is designed to reveal the baby’s sex in a coloured smoke haze. However, instead of revealing whether they were having a boy or girl, they started a wildfire. Read about it here. 

Read more:

• 8 fun baby shower games everyone will enjoy 
• 7 thoughtful baby shower gifts
• Depression and anxiety: how to mentally prepare for a baby