| Are you planning a baby shower for your eco-friendly | | | | equipment, but outgrow it. Or, they could exchange the |
| green Mama to be? Here are some tips to guide you | | | | gear amongst themselves. You can keep baby stuff |
| in giving her a fun and memorable day that will leave | | | | out of the landfill by hosting a mini swap meet. |
| her with happy memories and have minimal impact on | | | | Ditch Disposable - Instead of using disposable paper |
| mother Earth. | | | | plates and plastic cutlery, purchase inexpensive |
| Invite Right - Use electronic invites instead of sending | | | | melamine plates and encourage the guests to take |
| out traditional invitation cards, and encourage people to | | | | them home as a door prize. That way you won't have |
| RSVP via email. This will help minimize paper waste. | | | | to wash any dishes! You can also use attractive |
| Encourage Minimal Packaging - Encourage the guests | | | | heirloom dishes that don't match for a kitschy look. Or, |
| you invite to use reusable packaging, such as gift bags | | | | hold the shower in a restaurant (one that uses real |
| (remind them not to write on the bag itself but to put | | | | plates and cloth napkins) and let them do all the |
| their names on the removable card) or cloth wrapping. | | | | dishwashing. |
| Give a door prize for most creative eco-friendly | | | | Creative Gifting - Sometimes, the best gift for a new |
| packaging. Craftsy moms could even wrap the gift | | | | Mom is the gift of time. How many cute outfits does |
| inside itself, for example a baby blanket could be | | | | one newborn need? Not many. But giving Mom a |
| folded attractively to hold an outfit. Look in books on | | | | freezer full of healthy meals (in reusable freezer |
| Japanese wrapping for inspiration. | | | | containers, of course) is worth a million dollars. A new |
| Carpool Prize - Offer the moms who carpool to the | | | | Mom needs to eat healthfully, yet she also needs to |
| baby shower location an extra door prize to | | | | relax and enjoy her new baby. How about having a |
| encourage them to do so. If you live in an area where | | | | Casserole Shower instead of a traditional one? |
| bicycling is common, do the same for Moms who bike | | | | Encourage guests to cook a healthy casserole or |
| or walk to the party. | | | | other easy meal in a container that they don't mind |
| Responsible Registry - Thankfully, there are many | | | | Mom keeping (or tell them to put their name on the |
| online baby boutiques that offer a gift registry. | | | | dish to pick up later). |
| Encourage your guest of honor to choose one or | | | | Shower guests can also give the new Mom a gift |
| more so that she can pick all the organic baby clothing, | | | | certificate good for a week's (or a month's!) worth of |
| toys and cloth diapers she wants. Then let guests | | | | maid service, or cloth diaper service. Another idea is |
| know on the invitations that they can save gas and | | | | tickets that are redeemable for child care for the older |
| time by ordering just what the new mom's heart | | | | child, or a load of laundry or other household chore, etc. |
| desires - over the internet. | | | | And what about, in lieu of gifts, guests donate to a |
| Go Organic - Be sure to serve locally grown organic | | | | savings account that the Mother has set up for her |
| food. Fruit is always a winner for any baby shower | | | | new arrival? This might be especially thoughtful for a |
| because it goes down easy for a pregnant belly. | | | | Mom who already has children and plenty of baby |
| Swap Meet Themed Shower - With the permission of | | | | stuff but less cash. |
| the Mother-to-be, why not encourage guests to bring | | | | With a little forethought, you can give Mom a fun day |
| kid hand me downs that are still in great shape to the | | | | and set a good example of environmental |
| shower? They could give these to the new Mom - | | | | stewardship. |
| new babies typically don't wear out their clothing and | | | | |