Hosting an Environmentally Friendly Baby Shower
There are few celebrations today, which are as anticipated and enjoyed as much as the celebration of a new baby! Whether you are hosting this fabulous celebration or the guest of honor, something worth pondering is the environmental impact of such a celebration. What better way to celebrate a new life than by honoring all life, with an environmentally-friendly baby shower! No matter your level of interest or knowledge about “Going Green” the tips and suggestions below are easy to implement, fun to organize and we promise, the Earth will thank you! Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something!
Invitations
1. Go paperless and send email invitations. You can even use a FREE service to help keep things organized, such as www.Evite.com
2. If you do use paper, use recycled stock. If you print your own, buy and use recycled stock.
3. Include a note to invitees encouraging people to choose organic or environmentally-friendly gifts. Make it as easy and fun as possible by having the guest of honor hand pick all the organic baby clothing, toys and cloth diapers from 1 or 2 online boutiques (there are MANY good ones!), and then include a note on the invitation listing the sites and offering invitees to save TIME and GAS by purchasing online! The guest of honor also gets exactly what she wants!
4. Ask guests not to wrap gifts a great suggestion to include for the guests is the option of wrapping gifts in a baby blanket, burp towel or even in an eco-friendly onesie such as this adorable “I Will Change the World” onesie
5. Another fabulous eco-option is to use “Plantable Paper” invites and/ or shower favors. These clever little packets not only serve as invites to your celebration, but long after the party guests take them home, put them in dirt and watch them grow into flowers or plants! These are also available as shower favors for your guests!
Decorating
1. Use small potted native plants and flowers to decorate around the room and/or as lovely center-pieces that can also be given away at the end as prizes!
2. Use soy candles to create ambiance/ mood. You can put the candles in clean baby food jars for a cute effect.
3. Instead of using a guest book, use 1 or 2 (depending on the shower size) organic cotton onesies and have guests leave messages in permanent marker with non-toxic ink (if possible!) This fabulous little “Surya” onesie is perfect to welcome the newest little SUNshine in everyone’s life! After the shower, frame the onesie (s) for mom and baby!
4. Use gifts/ items for mom and baby as decoration for the actual shower! Using gifts is especially easy, and saves paper by NOT using streamers or other paper decorations! Avoid balloons, if possible, since they often end up getting eaten by animals.
Food & Drink
1. Serve fresh, organic fruit, and if possible, go to your local Farmer’s Market to pick out what is the ripest in your area! Another great idea is to use some of the same fresh, local organic fruit to make smoothies or even fresh squeezed juices, like lemonade or orange juice! Even if you can’t use local or organic or both, using fresh fruit as your food and drink are a fabulous idea since everyone, especially the guest of honor, can enjoy these healthy and delicious items!
2. If you want to serve more elaborate food, try to choose a local restaurant specializing in organic or even organic local foods to cater the event. If you have the time and would prefer to save the cash that can cost, get a few friends together and make the food together, using organic ingredients and recipes which are readily available on line.
3. Use linen tablecloths and china, crystal or silverware in place of paper or plastic items. Also, use linen napkins, which you can monogram with the honorees initials for guests to take as gifts if you want.
4. Throw a “Casserole Shower” where guests each make one healthy, delicious casserole and put it in a dish for mom to freeze and eat during those first couple of weeks when sleep, let alone cooking is just not an option. This can be a very touching and thoughtful theme for a shower! The key here is to make sure to suggest healthy, delicious recipes using natural and organic ingredients. Who can resist yummy healthy already made food?!
Gifts/Activities
1. Suggest guests bring hand-me-downs to be recycled. Most babies simply outgrow items rather than wear them out. Another spin on this is to actually theme the shower as a “mini-swap meet” where guests bring gently used items for the new mom OR to be exchanged amongst each other!
2. Suggest guests buy organic cotton clothing. Another fun activity is to have guests decorate organic Baby T’s using soy-based inks. This is a great activity that also allows guests to take their creations with them!
3. Fill a reusable shopping tote, or better yet, a fabulous organic cotton diaper tote, with a full range of household cleaning products and baby products. Or better yet, these delightful kits make it easy for the mom-to-be to be sure her baby and home is eco-friendly and gloriously green!
4. Another great activity is to have contests/raffle featuring green and eco-friendly prizes. You can also offer a prize to the moms who carpool OR if biking or walking are possible, encourage and award for arriving on bike or foot! One prize no one can resist is yummy organic chocolate chip cookies!
5. Hand everyone a gift to open together as a group.
6. One very thoughtful idea I came across for mother’s of second or third, etc. children is to suggest guests donate to a savings account set-up for the new baby. This is an excellent idea for mothers who already have everything they need!
7. One last suggestion is to ask guests to wrap gifts in alternative packaging, as mentioned previously, like a onesie, burp towel or even a cloth diaper or two!
Finally, before and after your gathering, clean the space with non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners to create a pristine environment, and then burn one or two lavender candles to create peace and tranquility in your space. Also, be sure and send guests home with ANY and ALL leftovers, so as little as possible is thrown away. A last suggestion that is a personal favorite, due to my avid love of recycling, is to set-up bins for glass, plastic and aluminum. Leave nothing behind, and try to recycle as much as possible! Have fun and feel the satisfaction and joy that a green baby shower brings!
-by Meghan Coyner