Gender reveals were started fairly recently. And the trend took off like wildfire (in more ways than one). However my opinion has recently changed on them, particularly the pyrotechnic ones because large fires have happened that have cost people their homes, livelihoods, and even their lives.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to have a gender reveal and celebrate your baby’s genitals, that’s fine! I did with my little one in 2017. Do I plan to have another one with my next baby? Nope, but that’s just me.

However this is a list that doesn’t include pyrotechnics that can burn a state down or severely burn people 🙃

Gendered Reveals

Cake

YES. Have someone like a relative or even a baker, bake you a gender reveal cake! Have the inside blue/pink and the outside decorated however you want. It’s easy and a classic. Plus there’s cake. I mean who wouldn’t want to eat cake!?

Balloon Pop

This is what I did for my son. We ended up having two balloons for both my and my husband to pop. It was fun but also a little messy, because you know, confetti. Throw a party, have great food, great company, and a balloon pop!

Powdered Baseball

These ones are always fun when there’s bloopers 😂 But seriously, these are fun when you’re a big sports person! Have someone toss the ball and someone else hit it to have it explode either pink or blue powder everywhere!

Box Drop

Having a box securely attached above your head, and pull on the string to release balloons in the color of your baby gender! Simple and easy! If you have other children, you can have them decorate the outside of the box before it’s filled and hung as a great way to include your other children if they’re old enough!

Colored Water Balloons

This is a fun one to get your family in one it, or even your other children if they’re old enough to participate. Wear white clothing and let them gently throw water balloons at you! The color will splash on your clothing and it’ll be a fun time, especially on a hot summer day.

Colored Water in Water Guns

Same as above including family! Wear white clothing and let them spray you with the colored water! You’ll see what you’re having by the color on the water on your clothes! If you’re someone who likes mementoes, you can even keep a piece of clothing and place it in a shadow box for your little one for the future.

Non-Gendered Reveals (aka surprising your guests that you’re not announcing your baby’s genitals)

I’m Pregnant Party!

Throw a party when you announce your pregnancy! Surprise people then! Tell them it’s a BBQ or a celebration for someone’s birthday, or I don’t know, make up literally ANY excuse you can to get people to come over and celebrate. Then surprise them while they’re there! People will go bonkers and you will get showered with love and excitement!

An “All the Colors of the Rainbow” Party

Why? Because let’s be honest, no one cares about your baby’s genitals other than you. This celebrates whomever they end up being or however they end up identifying.

Name Reveal

This is a cute idea if the name you chose for your baby has significant meaning like if it’s a parents name or grandparents name. Throw a party, get everyone together, and reveal the name in a cute way: fortune cookies, hire a plane to fly over if you have the resources, drop a banner somewhere.

but honestly, do you really need to celebrate your baby’s genitals?

Because that’s all gender reveal parties are. And it shocked the shit out of me, when someone explained it this way for me the first time. That’s literally ALL IT IS.

You can throw a party and people will come. People like to hang out, drink, eat, and be merry. But your baby’s genitals may not even matter later in their life as that may not be how they identify 🤷🏼‍♀️ Some people don’t like the thought of that, but it’s 2021. Acceptance and support should be the norm.

Not burning down states in a field of pink or blue.