Green (eco-friendly!) baby showers
Clean drinking water, fresh air, unpolluted rivers and streams – these are the best gifts for any child. Do your part to help out Mother Earth and make your baby shower eco-friendly. Although traditionally believed to be more expensive, we have found a wide variety of ecologically sound party ideas, activities and gifts that are fun and innovative and won’t break the bank! From invitations to party favors, check out our great tips on hosting an eco-friendly baby shower. By even taking into consideration a few of our helpful ideas, you’re making the effort to preserve the natural world for your children, and for their children, too.
Invitations
As with any party, we begin with the invitations. Obviously, email invitations are the most eco-friendly, as well as being budget-friendly. By sending Evites you can quickly get the word out that you are having a party as well as keep track of who is coming. If you really want a more traditional invitation, remember to use recycled paper and non-toxic ink. In every invitation, alert your guests that this is an eco-friendly event and make some helpful suggestions. Remind them to car pool or to bring gifts in baskets or reusable storage containers for the nursery. When wrapping presents, you can suggest they use organic cotton diapers or baby blankets. Every tiny effort will make a difference and your friends and family will appreciate the ideas.
Decorations
No matter what time of year your shower takes place, seasonal fresh greens and produce are wonderful items to use for centerpieces or table arrangements. When watermelon is in season, you can have one sculpted to look like a baby carriage. Apples always make lovely and colorful centerpieces, as do squash and pumpkins in the fall. Then, after the event, you can share the bounty with your guests. Potted plants and flowers are wonderful additions to a shower. A special focal point of your decor may include a young tree that could be presented to mommy-to-be to be planted when the child is born so it can grow and flourish along with the new baby. If you would like to use more practical decorations, use vintage baby items like baby bottles or other items mom could use for the baby. Displaying baby clothes are a fun and festive decoration and a practical alternative to streamers or banners.
Menu
A baby shower is a great time to serve homemade dishes that bring nostalgic memories to your guests. From homemade breads, jams and jellies to organic dishes like eggplant parmesan, your guests will love stepping back into their past as they celebrate your future happiness. Fresh fruit and baked mini muffins are fun desserts that your guests will love, plus you can serve freshly made smoothies as a special and healthy drink for your family and friends.
Tableware
Although disposable tablecloths and dishes are easier, using real table cloths and tableware makes this momentous occasion even more special. Washable table cloths and napkins or even clean sheets to decorate tables add an air of elegance, plus you can use this as an excuse to use the ‘real’ china. If you are worried you don’t have enough silverware, you can ask to borrow a friend’s. Just as well, remember to use glasses, not plastic cups.
Games and Activities
As with any shower, an eco-friendly baby shower has its share of games and activities. Start out the event with a white organic cotton onesy to use as a guest book and have all your guests sign it. It will become a wonderful memento that Mom can cherish for years to come. Ask your guests to bring their own baby photos, and you can play ‘Guess the Baby.’ Another game for white onesies, which also works with clear baby bottles as well, is the ‘Make Your Own’ activity. Guests use soy-based colored paints to design their own onesy for the baby and mom gets to choose her favorite at the end of the night. Invite your guests to write a greeting to your new baby by passing out stationery so everyone can write a heartfelt letter to the baby-to-be. This is also a great time to start a library for the baby by asking everyone to bring a copy of their favorite book.
