Guide

How to run a baby sweepstake

At work or in the family, a baby sweepstake is a great British tradition: everyone picks a date, guesses the weight, and the closest wins. Here's how to set one up, the two formats that work, how to pick a fair winner, and why you don't need any money for it. On paper, or with My Baby League.

Updated October 20, 2026

1. Pick a format

Date squares

Draw a grid of dates around the due date, one square per day, and let everyone claim a square. Two weeks either side of the due date gives you 28 squares: quick, simple, and perfect for the office, where nobody wants to fill in a form.

Full guesses

Each player guesses several things: the date, the time of birth, the weight, the length, the name, and a few just for fun, like the hair colour or who'll cry first. It takes a little longer, and it's much more fun with family. For inspiration: every baby pool idea, with the scoring.

Whichever you choose, close the guesses a few weeks before the due date: babies don't always wait for everyone to play.

2. Keep it money-free

You don't need any money for a baby sweepstake, and it's simpler without: nobody collecting coins, nobody left out, and grandparents and children can join in too. The bragging rights are the real prize.

If you'd like a little something for the winner, keep it symbolic:

• The first cuddle with the baby, right after the parents.
• Picking the baby's first book.
• A framed photo with the baby, signed.
• Cake for the office, baked by the runner-up.

3. Work out the winner

With date squares, the square with the baby's birthday wins. If the baby arrives outside the grid, the closest square takes it.

With full guesses, the closer you are, the more you score. For the date: 200 points for the exact day, 100 within two days, 50 within five days. For the weight, in pounds and ounces as on most birth announcements here: 200 points within 4 oz, 100 within 8 oz, 50 within a pound. Add everything up, and the highest score wins. If there's a tie, crown joint winners.

4. Run it on paper or in the app

On paper, print the free template: a card for each player, and a results sheet with the scoring. It's in US Letter size and prints perfectly on A4: just choose “Fit to page” when printing.

In the app, everyone plays from their own phone, which is ideal for teams spread across several offices. The guesses stay secret until the birth, the app nudges the latecomers, and on the big day it adds up the points and sends the birth announcement to everyone. You choose the units when you create the league: pounds and inches, or kilograms and centimetres.

Frequently asked questions