Pink is for girls. Blue is for boys. But for a planet-loving baby shower, green is the color of our time.
Throwing a green baby shower is a chance to cast that first tiny footprint in an emerald hue and at the same time tutor friends and family about all the eco-friendly choices out there.
As moms-to-be grow more aware of the impact each new infant will have on the environment, parents feel a growing sense of responsibility about reducing waste in the home, consuming organic and sustainable products and ridding living spaces of toxic materials and chemicals, says Eliana Eissler, a professional baby planner with Itsabelly of Chicago, one of about 40 baby planning companies nationwide.
“It only makes sense to put even more emphasis on green living when preparing for the arrival of a baby, not only to provide them with the most natural and healthy start in life but also to set a great example from the beginning,” she says.
Besides, Eissler adds, green baby showers are much simpler and less expensive than traditional celebrations.
Here is an Itsabelly primer on how to craft an environmentally savvy baby shower:
Reducing waste
- Go with ceramic or porcelain dishes, regular silverware and reusable glasses. Use reusable cloth table linens-not only are they eco-friendly, they add a touch of class to your table settings.
- Instead of balloons, go for fresh-cut flowers placed in empty glass bottles.
- If serving cocktails, use diaper pins to spear fresh fruit and garnish drinks, served in re-usable glassware.
Decorations
- Add ambience using soy candles in recycled glass jars or baby food containers.
- Decorate with articles that can be used by mom later, such as using clothespins to hang multicolored onesies on a string or placing wooden blocks and toys on tables. Be creative.
- Instead of a guestbook, have each guest sign a onesie with permanent marker. This is an original keepsake that mom is sure to treasure forever.
- The most eco-friendly way of inviting guests is to go paperless and use online invitations, such as Evite, www.evite.com
- Try “plantable invitations” from www.botanicalpaperworks.com, printed on special seed paper that, when planted in soil, produces wildflowers.
- Many local green baby stores offer gift registry service, which is an easy and convenient way to ensure your guests bring gifts truly needed and earth friendly.
- Give your own gently used baby clothes as a personal present.
- Find one of many online services that will plant a tree such as www.treesforachange.com in honor of the expecting family and baby.
- Green cleaning products, such as Seventh Generation, www.seventhgeneration.com, are also a great and practical gift since there will soon be many messes to clean up.
- Instead of gift bags or wrapping paper, use recycled green tote bags, bandanas, cloth diapers or baby blankets to wrap your gift.
- Have linen napkins monogrammed with the baby’s initials and wrap organic candies or almonds in them, finishing them off by tying up with organic ribbon.
- For more baby-planning advice, go to www.itsa-belly.com
Gifts and wrapping
- Many local green baby stores offer gift registry service, which is an easy and convenient way to ensure your guests bring gifts truly needed and earth-friendly.
- Give your own gently used baby clothes as a personal present
- Find one of many online services that will plant a tree, such as www.treesforachange.com in honor of the expecting family and baby.
- Green cleaning products, such as Seventh Generation, are also a great and practical gift, since there will soon be many more messes to clean up.
- Instead of gift bags or wrapping paper, use recycled green tote bags, bandanas, cloth diapers or baby blankets to wrap your gift.
- Have linen napkins monogrammed with the baby’s initials and wrap organic candies or almonds in them, finishing them off by typing up with organic ribbon
For more baby-planning advice, visit www.itsa-belly.com
