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How to Do a Baby Pool?

Published in Baby Prediction Game 4 mins read

Organizing a baby pool is a fun and engaging way for friends, family, and colleagues to celebrate a new arrival and participate in the excitement leading up to the birth. At its core, an online baby pool is a game where each participant guesses what the birthdate, gender, length and weight your beautiful child might be. Whoever's guess is closest, wins the game.

Setting up and running a baby pool involves a few simple steps, whether you choose an online platform or a more traditional manual method.

Steps to Organize a Baby Pool

Here’s how to set up and manage your baby pool:

1. Decide on the Platform or Method

  • Online: Numerous websites and apps specialize in hosting baby pools. These platforms often automate tracking guesses and determining winners.
  • Manual: You can use a simple spreadsheet (like Google Sheets or Excel), email, or even a physical sign-up sheet at a gathering like a baby shower.

2. Determine the Guessing Categories

Based on the definition, the standard categories are:

  • Birth Date: The specific date the baby will be born.
  • Gender: Boy or Girl (or confirm if already known/not being guessed).
  • Weight: Baby's birth weight (e.g., 7 lbs 5 oz or 3.3 kg).
  • Length: Baby's birth length (e.g., 20 inches or 50 cm).

You can also add optional categories for extra fun:

  • Time of Birth
  • Eye Color
  • Hair Color
  • First Letter of Name (if name isn't decided)

3. Set the Rules and Entry Details

  • Entry Fee (Optional): Decide if there will be an entry fee to create a prize pot. This is completely optional; many pools are just for bragging rights.
  • Prize: What does the winner (or winners) receive? This could be the collected entry fees, a gift card, or a small trophy.
  • Deadline: Set a clear deadline for submitting guesses, usually a few days before the baby's estimated due date.
  • Winning Condition: As per the definition, the winner is typically the person whose guess is closest. You'll need to define how "closest" is measured, especially if guesses are close in multiple categories. A common method is to award points for each correct or closest guess in a category, or simply declare the winner based on the birth date guess being closest. You can also have multiple winners for different categories.

4. Invite Participants

  • Send out invitations via email, social media, or messaging apps.
  • Include a link to your online pool or clear instructions on how to submit guesses manually.
  • Clearly state the rules, categories, deadline, and prize information.

5. Collect and Track Guesses

  • Online: The platform will handle this automatically.
  • Manual: Create a system to record each participant's name and their guess for each category. A table works well for this.

Here’s an example of a simple tracking table structure:

Participant Name Guessed Birth Date Guessed Gender Guessed Weight Guessed Length
Sarah M. October 15th Boy 7 lbs 8 oz 20.5 inches
David L. October 18th Girl 7 lbs 0 oz 19 inches
... ... ... ... ...

6. Announce the Winner(s)

  • Once the baby is born and you have the actual birth date, gender, weight, and length, compare them to the submitted guesses.
  • Determine the winner(s) based on your pre-defined winning condition (closest guess wins).
  • Share the actual birth stats and announce the winner(s) to all participants.
  • Arrange for the prize to be delivered.

Tips for a Successful Baby Pool

  • Keep it simple: Don't make the rules too complicated.
  • Communicate: Keep participants updated, especially after the baby arrives.
  • Have fun: The main goal is to share the joy!
  • Consider privacy: If using a manual method, be mindful of sharing participant information.

By following these steps, you can easily host a baby pool and add an extra layer of excitement to the anticipation of the new arrival.