This post serves two purposes. 1) I am planning a baby shower for a friend who is expecting at the end of year. 2) My friends are planning a baby shower for me (I just don’t have any of the details). So I have found some cool ideas for planning an eco-baby shower that I want to include in my friends shower (and hopefully my friends will get some cool ideas too).
Invitations:
*Use www.evite.com or other online invitation web site.
*Print your invitations on recycled or other environmentally friendly paper.
*Print your invitations on plantable paper.
Decorations:
*Use potted plants for table decorations.
*Use actual baby gifts as decorations and give them to the guest of honor.
*Don’t use disposable decorations.
Food:
*If you are making or catering the food use local and/or organic food.
*Select food that serves well at room temperature so you don’t have to use electricity to keep things warm.
*Don’t use disposable plates, silverware, napkins, and cups.
Games:
*Select games that don’t create waste.
*Select games that use actual baby products that the guest can take home.
Gifts:
*Instead of disposable diapers buy the guest cloth diapers.
*Buy gifts that encourage the guest to make their own baby food.
*Wrap gifts in other baby products like sheets, blankets, and diaper bags.
*Remind guests to think green when they make their purchases.
Just because you go green doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. The guest of honor will love the special touches to her day. Have any other ideas? I’d love to hear them. Just leave me a comment.
organic diaper cakes make a terrific centerpiece for an eco friendly baby shower. your guests will be in awe, and whats great all the ingredients are natural and can be used by the new mommy, check out http://www.growinstyle.com
I threw my sister-in-law a eco-friendly shower.
The overall concept of the party was for friends and family to bring my sister-in-law items for the baby that they were no longer using but she could use. Many times people have things their baby barely wore, didn’t wear at all since it was the wrong season, barely played with, etc. Some people don’t feel comfortable with having their baby or child use items from strangers, but if they are gently used items from friends they are thrilled and grateful.
To make a long story short, she received probably ten times the baby items someone would receive at a traditional shower. (Side note: She did have two showers, which I suggest. Every new Mom wants new things for her baby too!) Her friends and family were absolutely elated to give her all the almost new things they couldn’t bare to just see drive away on a second hand store truck. They were excited to tell how their child used each item. It made for great conversation versus what can sometimes be the mundane conversation of a traditional shower.
Hope that helps!
Jeanne Reslan
http://www.ecolabelfundraising.blogspot.com
http://www.ecolabelfundraising.com
Hi Calley! For an authentic eco party for your friend, ask guests to cycle, walk, take public transit; part of the gift for the new baby should be the act of reducing carbon footprints. I’ve chatted with dozens and dozens of moms about this topic, most will agree nothing is greener than homemade meals and desserts, and visits where friends hold the baby so the tired mama can shower or eat a meal without having to hold a squirming child.
Ok.. now you are making my life complicated.
I will see what I can do.
Looks pretty hard to do but possible.
Looks pretty hard to do but possible.