Gregory Stahl · Jun 16, 2026

Treasurer Mode is here. And it solves the single most common worry parents have about running a baby pool: making sure the pot actually gets collected.

Since we launched Guess the Baby, parents have told us the same thing again and again. They love the idea of a baby pool, especially when they can split the pot with the winner. They love that participants get competitive, that the leaderboard becomes a running commentary across the whole pregnancy, and that someone walks away with a cash prize once the baby arrives. But there is one nagging concern: what if people promise to pay and never do?

We designed the original experience to keep expecting parents as hands-off as possible. Participants settle up directly with each other after the baby is born, so mom and dad do not have to manage money during pregnancy. Thousands of families have loved that approach, and it is still the default.

But we also heard from parents who wanted more certainty. They wanted to know the pot was guaranteed, that every participant who joined had actually paid, and that the winner would walk away with cash in hand.

That is exactly why we built Treasurer Mode. It is a more hands-on option. And for parents who want that guarantee, it is the right one.

What Treasurer Mode Does

Treasurer Mode lets the pool organizer (or a trusted co-organizer) act as the pool's treasurer. Instead of participants settling up between themselves after the birth, the treasurer collects every buy-in before the pool locks, confirms payment inside the app, and knows exactly who has paid and who has not.

Here is how it works:

• The treasurer sets a buy-in amount when creating the baby pool.
• Participants see the buy-in before they join. There is no surprise halfway through sign-up.
• Participants pay the treasurer directly through Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Cash App, or whatever method the family prefers.
• The treasurer confirms each payment inside the app with a single tap. Only confirmed participants can place bets and appear on the leaderboard.
• After the baby arrives, the treasurer sees exactly who won and pays the winner directly from the collected pot.

The result is a seamless finish. The winner gets paid right away. Nobody has to chase anyone. And the parents know their pot is guaranteed before the first prediction even locks.

Why Parents Asked For This

We heard three versions of the same story:

• "I do not want to be awkward about money while I am pregnant." Treasurer Mode removes the awkwardness. The financial part is handled up front, not in the hospital.
• "What if someone says they will pay later and forgets?" With Treasurer Mode, unconfirmed participants cannot place bets. The app itself enforces payment before play.
• "I want to run a pool but I need to know the prize is real." When every confirmed participant has already paid, the final pot is a locked number. The winner's payout is guaranteed.

Who Can Be the Treasurer

The pool organizer is the default treasurer. But parents can also assign the role to a co-organizer, a sibling, the grandma-to-be, or a best friend. Whoever is most comfortable handling payments and wants to take it off the parents' plate.

The treasurer does not need to be tech-savvy. The confirmation flow is one tap per participant. And because the app shows the full participant list with payment status, nothing gets lost in a group chat.

How This Changes the Participant Experience

For participants, the difference is minimal and positive. They see the buy-in amount upfront. They pay the treasurer through a method they already use. And because the pot is pre-collected, they know the prize is real and the payout after the baby arrives will be instant. No uncertainty about whether the winner will actually get paid. Just the same fun, competitive baby prediction pool experience with the financial side handled cleanly.

Available Now in Guess the Baby

Treasurer Mode is included with every paid baby pool. If you are already planning to run a baby arrival pool and want the financial side to be as smooth as the game itself, this is the feature we built for you.

As always, if you have feedback or ideas for what should come next, we read every note sent to hello@guessthebabyapp.com.

Ready to start your baby pool?

Download Guess the Baby and let the predictions begin!