Green Baby Shower Themes
The basic premise behind any green baby shower is to minimize the party's impact on the planet while celebrating the expecting mom and her new baby. Here are a few theme ideas for green baby showers:
The No-Gifts-Please Party
It is possible (and sometimes preferable) to have a party with friends, family, and games without involving gifts. If this is not the new mom's first baby, she may not need all of the stuff that a first-time mom might need. But that doesn't mean that she shouldn't have a baby shower to welcome this baby. Nor does it mean that guests need to go out a purchase items that may just wind up in the trash can.
In lieu of gifts, you might want to ask guests to bring wish-list items for a favorite charity such as blankets, toys, or books for children in a nearby children's hospital. After the party, the guest of honor can deliver the donations and take a picture to include in her thank-you notes.
Some expecting moms may wish to circumvent the baby shower ritual altogether and involve friends and family in a picnic, hike, or other decidedly non-showery celebration.
Or they may choose to have a traditional baby shower gathering without all of the traditional gifts. Skip gifts altogether by suggesting “no gifts, please,” on the party invitation. Without the hassle of gifts, party goers can come together to celebrate the new mom and her baby without worrying about who gave the best present. The downside is that not everyone will abide by your request.
Blessingways
A blessingway is an old Native American tradition that honors a mother-to-be. During this type of shower, attendants gather together to tell stories, sing songs, share birth stories, and offer parenting wisdom. Participants can also write out wishes or blessings for the new addition that the host can make into a keepsake book. To learn more about blessingways, check out www.blessingwaybook.com.
Share-the-Love Party
A share-the-love party is a great way to green a baby shower and still ensure that a new mom receives all of the items she will need and want while raising her baby. For this kind of shower, simply request that attendants bring along secondhand gifts, passing along treasures from their own babies. Guests that haven't had babies in the last few years could be encouraged to bring gently used toys, clothes, or books from a local thrift store.
It would be helpful if the host of the shower coordinates gifts to avoid duplicates. If there is one main thrift store in your area, you may even be able to ask them to keep a running register of gifts to help guests make better choices about what to purchase.
Baby-Book Party
At a green baby-book shower guests can bring along one or two of their favorite children's books. A baby will treasure books long after she grows out of those cutesy clothes or noise-making bouncy seat.
Food-Freezing Fete
Another great idea for a green baby shower is one in which the attendants bring along prepared foods such as casseroles, desserts, or snacks that can be frozen until the baby is born. That way, the new parents won't have to worry about cooking for those first few sleep-deprived weeks of caring for a newborn.
