This post shows you the best and sunniest beach baby shower ideas to celebrate your little mermaid or merman! It’s such a fun theme with so many cute DIY opportunities.
I’ve always loved beach days, summer, the smell of the ocean, and swimming in warm, salty water. Every year, shopping for our summer vacation is one of my favorite things to do! I head to my local store and pick up a coconut-scented sunscreen. The moment I smell it, I know summer has officially begun.
I can’t wait to take my daughter to Greece one day, to my favorite beach on my favorite island, and show her the exact spot where my husband and I first started talking about having her, years before it actually happened. I even got engaged on that island, so it holds a really special place in my heart. In the image above, you can see Porto Katsiki beach on the Lefkada island in Greece, where we got engaged and where so many magical things happened for us!
That’s why beach baby shower ideas feel so personal to me. As a total summer lover, I’ve gathered the sweetest beach-themed ideas over the years, and I’m so excited to share them with you here!
In this post, I’ll share the best beach baby shower themes, easy-to-make foods, fun drinks and mocktails, and the cutest decoration ideas. I really believe you can throw an amazing beach baby shower without going overboard or spending a fortune!
1 Under the Sea Baby Shower
This one feels a bit more like a beach baby shower for a boy, but it’s absolutely universal, and you can follow this theme for a girl as well.
The color palette includes lots of blue, cerulean, and turquoise, as well as beige and soft tones. You have to have lots of sea creatures, including whales, squids, dolphins, crabs, and tropical fish!
I love the idea of DIY jellyfish lanterns for the main table! You can also add fairy lights for a glowy vibe and to make the entire main table shine in the evening.
There’s a lot you can do with color alone to make everything pop! Also, this is a perfect time to make “Sea You Soon” baby shower invites!
Dress code for mom: sandy tones, yellow or pale blue dress with seashell hair pins!
2 Mermaid Baby Shower Ideas
Now this is something that girl moms will love. A mermaid baby shower can also have lots of sea creatures, but also lots of pink, gold, and purple!
You can go with a Disney theme and include Ariel and her friends, or just create a whimsical experience with seashell macarons for dessert, mermaid sugar cookies with edible glitter, and a mermaid beauty and pampering station where you can have fun!
For the pampering station, I’m thinking seashell hair pins, mermaid nail stickers, colorful glitter highlighters, and body mists!
When it comes to dessert, you have to make clam wafer cookies or seashell macarons with little pearls inside.
Dress code for mom: pastel colors like pink, lavender, or blue, body glitter, and wavy mermaid hair! Colorful nails and a flower crown would look amazing here!
3 Little Surfer Dude & Baby On Board Baby Shower
I love the TV show Outer Banks (the treasure hunt theme is one of my favorites!), but what I really love about the show is the surfer and summer aesthetics. Especially the retro van and how they’re all dressed in such chill surfer clothes!
For the Little Surfer Dude baby shower ideas, I’m thinking surfboards, retro vibes (like a 70s color theme with lots of orange and mint), and a relaxed backyard BBQ feel.
You can also make the main table feel like a beach picnic with a casual flair. Add cold drinks, mini surfer cupcakes, and dress in florals.
You can’t miss the “Baby on Board” shower invitations and a cute “Welcome on Board” sign!
For food, think mini burgers, crab croissants (don’t forget the googly eyes), and fun finger foods like hot dog octopus snacks, or jellyfish bites.
Dress code for mom: comfy flip-flops, floral dress, or a skirt with a white top and fun coconut girl hair accessories like flower clips.
4 Beach Babe or Beach Bum Baby Shower Ideas
You can throw this beach baby shower for both a girl and a boy! This one is a bit more colorful and not that toned down, so it can work in any setting! In your living room or backyard!
If you’re a fan of minimalism, then you can go with sandy tones and coastal minimalism with seashells and light blue hues.
But for a beach babe or a beach bum, you have to add lots of colors! Think colorful parasols, lots of snacks in beach buckets, inflatable toys, balloons, and flip-flop cupcakes!
The highlight can be a beach ball cake in classic red, yellow, and blue!
Dress code for mom: modified beachwear so you’re super comfy but all the fun stuff you wear at the beach!
5 Nautical Baby Shower Ideas
This is such a stylish beach baby shower idea, and the best part is you can decorate with items you’ll actually want to keep and reuse!
A nautical theme calls for a navy, white, and red color palette. I love this as a dress code for the mom-to-be (and maybe the guests, too, if they’re up for it!). Think pinstriped dresses, or all white with red lipstick and a blue scarf. Very French Riviera chic!
For decorations, you can’t go wrong with rope textures, anchors, and little sailboats.
Add a fun DIY activity like a “message in a bottle,” where guests can leave you notes and their best parenting advice to read later.
It’s a sweet way to encourage people to share thoughts they might not feel comfortable saying out loud. It can even be anonymous.
Don’t forget a cute “Ahoy, It’s a Boy” cake topper and some red and white lighthouse decorations!
For food, think seaweed dip served in boat-shaped bowls, nautical-themed cupcakes, seaweed sticks (those gummy bear-style snacks), and blueberry cheesecake jars that look like mini sandy beaches.
Dress code for mom: super chic nautical dress code, stripes, gold accents (think buttons and hair pins), red, white, and blue!
6 Under the Stars Baby Shower (Beachside Edition)
This is such a dreamy idea for anyone who loves summer evenings, glowing lanterns, and the sound of waves at night. If you’re planning a baby shower on the beach, why not time it for golden hour or sunset and let it turn into a magical night under the stars?
Picture cozy blankets and beach chairs, a bonfire or small firepit (if allowed), string lights, and lanterns swaying in the breeze. You could even hand out mini flashlights or sparklers as party favors.
It also works beautifully as a sunset baby shower picnic! Bring charcuterie boards, fresh fruit, and a thermos of something warm like decaf tea or beachy mocktails.
For decor, keep it simple: driftwood accents, white flowers, shells, and soft lighting. A “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” cake topper would be perfect for this one.
Dress code for mom: white, sandy, toned down, and boho flowy dresses with romantic hair waves.
Playlist for a Beach Baby Shower
I like the idea of summer bossa nova with covers of the most popular songs. You can find a free YouTube playlist here!
But you can also add the most popular summer/beach songs to boost the mood!
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
- “Surfin’ U.S.A.” – The Beach Boys
- “Wave” – Meghan Trainor
- “Summer” – Calvin Harris
- “Waves” – Mr. Probz
- “Sunshine” – OneRepublic
- “Better Together” – Jack Johnson
- “Summer Feelings” – Lennon Stella ft. Charlie Puth
- “Ocean Drive” – Duke Dumont
- “Cake by the Ocean” – DNCE
- “Good Day” – Nappy Roots
- “Summertime Sadness” – Lana Del Rey
Beach Baby Shower Ideas for Table Decor, Centerpieces, and Backdrops
For the backdrops, think blue, gold, navy, and white balloons! Then DIY backdrops with driftwood signs and surfer vibes. For the mermaid theme, you also want to go with pink and purple balloons and decor, and in most of these themes, you can include my favorite paper lantern jellyfish.
For the table decor, you can fill in mason jars with sand, seashells, and fairy lights. Then get star-shaped napkins or nautical napkins with blue and white stripes.
Other fun table decor ideas to try: you can scatter mini sea glass or shell confetti across the table for a simple but beautiful coastal touch. It gives that soft shimmer and texture that looks amazing in photos.
To add a pop of color, go for teal or coral table runners, something that brings in that beachy vibe.
I also love using small wooden crates flipped upside down as table risers. You can place little vases or coconut-scented candles on top, and it instantly adds height and a rustic coastal look.
One of my favorite little touches is placing a mini message-in-a-bottle at each guest’s seat. You can write their name on a tiny scroll or leave a sweet message inside. It doubles as a name card and a keepsake favor, which is always a win!
Here are some centerpiece ideas that really bring the beach baby shower vibe to life. A glass bowl filled with water, floating candles, and a few orchids or frangipani flowers creates such a soft, elegant feel. It’s perfect for an evening shower like the Under the Stars or anything with a “coastal chic” vibe.
You could also do a fun and personal centerpiece like a miniature surfboard propped in a tray of sand. Add the baby’s name or due date to the surfboard with Baby on Board.
Another adorable idea is filling a beach bucket with rolled-up baby clothes, mini toy shovels, and pacifiers. It looks like a baby shower bouquet, and it’s such a sweet mix of practical and decorative. You can ask for these as a present from your closest friends.
If you want something with a bit of texture and height, coral or faux coral centerpieces are beautiful and can be reused later. You can even hang tiny name tags or little notes with baby wishes from the coral branches.
Food and Drinks
Beach food is all about simplicity, cold dips, lots of fruit, and creamy desserts that feel light on the stomach!
Main Table
- Shrimp cocktail cups
- Fish-shaped tea sandwiches
- Mini lobster rolls
- Grilled mahi-mahi or fish tacos
- Watermelon and feta skewers (mermaid-shaped)
- Greek salad skewers
- Seaweed dip (spinach and cream cheese)
- Fish-shaped chicken sliders with cucumbers
- Crab croissants with googly eyes
Beach foods are always finger foods that are easy to eat, so people can mingle and talk!
Shrimp cocktail cups are a classic party favorite, and they work so well for a beach baby shower. You can serve them in little clear cups with a slice of lemon and a mini fork, it feels fancy but is super easy to prepare.
Fish-shaped tea sandwiches are adorable, especially if you use a cookie cutter to shape them. You can fill them with cream cheese and cucumber or go more savory with tuna salad or egg salad.
Mini lobster rolls are a fun coastal treat if you want something that feels a little more special. Serve them in buttery toasted buns, and they’re guaranteed to be a hit.
For something fresh and flavorful, grilled mahi-mahi or fish tacos are always a crowd-pleaser.
You can prep a little taco bar with toppings like cabbage slaw, lime crema, and mango salsa for a casual serve-yourself setup.
If you’re doing a mermaid or under-the-sea theme, watermelon and feta skewers shaped like seashells or mermaids are so cute. Just use a small cookie cutter and add a mint leaf for a refreshing touch.
Beach sandwiches or sliders are a must, especially if you make them with chicken, cheese, and cucumbers.
Beach food reminds me of Greece and Italy, where they eat a lot of olives and feta, so you can make Greek Salad Skewers with cucumbers, tomato, feta, red onion, and olives.
I already mentioned that the seaweed dip is just spinach and cream cheese, but it looks so cool.
And, for a more playful vibe, you have to have some fun with octopus hot dogs and crab croissant sandwiches.
Dessert Table
- Seashell sugar cookies
- Beach cake (with brown sugar sand and ocean blue frosting)
- Coconut cupcakes with tiny beach umbrellas
- Salted caramel treats
- Beach ball cake pops
- Popsicles or frozen yogurt cups
When it comes to beach baby shower desserts, I like to keep things playful and sweet, but not overwhelming, as too much sugar doesn’t feel good in the summer!
Seashell sugar cookies are so pretty and easy to decorate. You can use pastel icing or a light dusting of shimmer powder to give them that pearly, ocean look. Arrange them on a tray with edible sand (just crushed graham crackers) for extra charm.
A beach cake is such a showstopper! You can frost it with ocean blue swirls and use brown sugar for sand. Add little fondant seashells, a beach umbrella topper, or even tiny flip-flops to tie it all together.
Coconut cupcakes are another favorite of mine. I love topping them with toasted coconut flakes and sticking in those tiny colorful drink umbrellas.
For something a little more indulgent, salted caramel treats are always a hit. You can make them as bars or mini bites, and they pair really well with summery mocktails.
Beach ball cake pops are super fun and add a pop of color to your dessert table. Just decorate them in red, yellow, and blue stripes to match the beach theme.
And of course, if it’s warm out, you can’t go wrong with popsicles or frozen yogurt cups. Set up a little cooler or mini freezer station so guests can grab one whenever they need to cool down.
Drinks
It’s all about staying cool and refreshed!
- Ocean water mocktail (blue sports drink + Sprite + citrus)
- Pineapple coconut slushies
- Frozen lemonade with mint
- Infused water: cucumber + lime or blueberry + mint
- Virgin mojitos with fresh lime and sugar rim
The ocean water mocktail is such a fun idea and super easy to make. Just mix a blue sports drink with Sprite and add a slice of citrus or two. It looks just like ocean water, and you can serve it in clear cups with a little paper umbrella or striped straw for that beachy touch.
Pineapple coconut slushies are perfect if you want something tropical. Blend frozen pineapple chunks with coconut milk and ice for a creamy, frozen treat that tastes like vacation in a cup.
Frozen lemonade with mint is one of my personal favorites. You can use store-bought lemonade or squeeze your own, blend it with ice, and add a few fresh mint leaves for that cooling, crisp flavor.
For a healthier option, make infused water in a big, clear dispenser. Cucumber and lime are such a refreshing combo, or go with blueberry and mint if you want something slightly sweet and really pretty to look at.
Virgin mojitos are always a crowd-pleaser. Use fresh lime juice, mint leaves, soda water, and a sugar rim on the glass. It’s light, fizzy, and looks like a real cocktail without the alcohol. If that’s okay with you, you can get small rum bottles and offer your guests an option to spice things up, if they are up for it.
Activities and Party Favors
Activities
- DIY seashell frame station
- Beach bingo or “Message in a Bottle” baby advice game
- Mini sand art station
- Tie-dye towels or beach bags
You don’t need a ton of complicated games to make a beach baby shower fun. A few well-chosen activities that match the theme and let guests get creative are more than enough!
I also prefer not to play games, so any activity that includes talking, sharing experiences, and giving useful advice to new mom and new parents sounds really good to me.
But, sometimes you’ll need an icebreaker, and in those cases, I’ve come up with a few suggestions!
A DIY seashell frame station is always a hit. Set out plain wooden frames, glue, and a variety of seashells, tiny starfish, pearls, and sand. Guests can decorate a frame to take home, or you can use them later to display photos from the baby shower.
Beach bingo is a great way to keep things light and interactive. You can create a custom bingo card with beachy icons, baby items, or pregnancy phrases. It’s a fun icebreaker and easy for all ages to join in.
Another sweet alternative is a “Message in a Bottle” baby advice game. Set out little slips of paper and have guests write down their best parenting tips, wishes, or funny memories. Later, you can read them all or keep them sealed to open once the baby arrives.
You can also do a 100% honest advice game (works great as a message in a bottle) where you can ask your guests to write deep and honest advice that helped them with a new baby, during newborn trenches, or just what helped them work on their marriage. This blog is full of conversations to have before the baby comes, and I love getting real and honest advice from people who already have kids.
Party Favors
My favorite part of baby showers is preparing party favors! And when it comes to the beach theme, we have so many options!
- Mini beach candles (sea salt, coconut, or ocean breeze scents)
- Sunscreen sticks or SPF lip balm
- Shell hair clips or beach-themed scrunchies
- Saltwater taffy in jars or ocean-themed goodie bags
- Personalized beach tote or pouch
What I love are personalized lip balms and sunscreens! And coconut-scented soaps are always a favorite. You can reach out to a local small business and order homemade soaps made with shea butter and vitamin E, then pick a sea or ocean theme for the scent and packaging.
You can also order a bunch of cute hair clips and scrunchies with seashells, pearls, or nautical prints.
Another great idea is to include mini beach candles or bath salts, packed in small mesh or cotton bags for a sweet and simple gift.
Once your guests RSVP, I suggest printing personalized tote bags and filling them with all the goodies. They can reuse the bag later for shopping or beach hopping, and it becomes a lovely long-term memory of your special day.
I hope you loved my simple ideas for a beach baby shower! It’s such an amazing theme, with so many cool opportunities to decorate and be creative.
Baby showers are all part of the Pre-Baby Talk. That’s why, when the baby comes, you’ll be ready and prepared for…
…all the love in the world.
What are your favorite beach baby shower ideas? Let me know in the comments!
Don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll always have these beach baby shower ideas handy!
This post showed you 6 Beach Baby Shower Ideas With Playlists, Decor, and Food You’ll Love.
You may also like:
Leave a Reply