Tips for Throwing a Green Baby Shower

An eco-friendly baby shower - that sounds kind of crunchy, right? Not so fast! When you think about parties you've thrown in the past, remember all of the waste. Plastic cups, plates and utensils, bottles, cans, decorations and bags and bags full of wrapping paper - what a mess!

Chances are you didn't take the time to sort out all of the recyclables and it all wound up in the trash. In this day and age, who can afford to be so wasteful? For the next baby shower you throw, why not consider going green? It's easy and here are some helpful tips:

Register “green”: Consider registering at a green-minded store. There are so many options for green items nowadays that stores that focus on being eco-friendly can offer a wide range of necessities. Check out our website for lots of new green items: http://www.littlegreenbabychicago.com/

Green your invites: Email baby shower invitations are your greenest bet, but after that recycled cards are good too. eVite.com has fantastic templates that allow you to link to your gift registries. Another great option is seed embedded paper – check out Green Field Paper Company for some beautiful, eco-friendly cards.

Non-disposables: Using real tablecloths and real dinnerware - instead of paper and plastic products -- adds to the effect. For a unique look, search out unmatched plates and saucers, as well as table linens, from flea markets, second hand stores, and consignment shops. There are also great biodegradable options out there now as well.

Organic menu: Serve organic foods and drinks with a nature theme. Think flowers as cake decor.

Decorations: Forget crepe paper streamers and latex balloons – these decorating ideas are fresh, hip and oh-so-eco-friendly! Depending on when you’re throwing your baby soiree, you can opt to decorate tables with potted plants and flowers that guests (or mom-to-be) can take home. And unless you have a completely black thumb, your potted plants will last way longer than cut flower bouquets.

Games?…an alternative: One idea I love is to do an organic baby-clothes customization station. For very little money you can purchase a selection of undyed, very basic organic baby clothes (Under the Nile onesies & pants $12.00 ea; Gerber organic onsies 4-pack @ $8.00). All you need is a selection of permanent fabric markers and your guests’ imaginations. Hang up a clothesline and display the finished creations so other guests can admire the decorated wardrobe. At the end of the shower, fold up all the clothes and place them in a wicker basket with a bottle of gentle, eco-friendly detergent (Charlie’s Soap; Mrs. Meyers Baby Blossom). This makes a very personal and useful gift for the mom-to-be.

Party Favor Ideas: Hand out a burlap-wrapped baby tree completed with a note reading “As our friend’s son/daughter grows up, so will this tree, helping to ensure a cleaner, brighter and better future for him/her!”

Throwing a green baby shower is a fun and creative way to give back to the earth. It's also a great way to introduce friends and family to a greener, cleaner living lifestyle. Don't be afraid to go all out. Crunchy? Maybe a little bit, but green is good so be proud and have fun with it!