pregnancy - eco baby showers:

Baby Showers are back and they've gone green!

Here are some tips for throwing your eco-baby shower:

Gifts:

If you want to be really eco-friendly, keep gifts to a minimum and focus on the celebration... suggest to guests they only bring one small item which is used to play the games below, then given to the mum-to-be.

If you would like gifts (particularly if this is your first child). Let your guests know that your shower has an eco-friendly theme and you ask for the organic/eco-friendly items that you really want.

• Make it easy for your family and friends by planning your list visiting our Gift Gallery
  
  

• For a practical checklist, check out our Suggested Layette.

• Give your baby shower an eco-flavour by including suggestions for help ie cooked meal, grocery shopping etc. You might also like to suggest that you are happy to receive recycled gifts (that friends' children have outgrown!).
  

• Reusable Gift baskets! Instead of a Gift basket, why not put it all together in an Eco Nappy Bag.
   
  Cloth nappies, organic muslins or baby blankets also make great wrapping paper!

Diaper/Nappy Cakes:

Diaper cakes are very popular in the US. You can find instructions on You Tube.

We recommend you use eco-disposables or prefold nappies

Other cloth diapers can be used but work out to be fairly expensive for a whole cake!!!

Invitations and Thank You Cards:

• Electronic - Send out electronic invitations to save paper.
  
  
• Recycled - Alternatively, use recycled paper invitations and thank you cards.

Tableware:

• Napkins - Use washable napkins or recycled paper towels.
  
  
• Utensils, Plates, and Cups -  Use washable plates, and cups. Or provide recycled paper plates and cups and disposable utensils made from corn starch that compost in about half a year and biodegrade in a year and a half.
  
• In NZ, Potato Pak plates are available from Moore Wilson's and most good organic stores.

Food and Beverages:

• Healthy and Organic - Serve as much organic, local, and in-season food as you can. It's better for the planet and your guests.
• If you have wine at the shower, opt for organic.

Decorations:

• Use natural materials to decorate. 
  Tables centrepieces can be a simple arrangements of flowers or small potted plants that guests can take home (www.ecoseeds.co.nz).
  
  Vases containing natural stones, or fruit or soy candles also make great centrepieces.

• Balloon Free - Don't use balloons, which are fun but often end up in the ocean where they are frequently consumed by sea life. Animals such as sea turtles often die from balloons blocking their digestive systems.
  
  Flags made from fabric scraps make a good alternative, and the baby's name can be added (after the birth) so that it becomes a birthday banner and keepsake! 

Activities/Games:

• Create a momento!
  Take a organic bib or bodysuit and get all the guests to sign their name with fabric pens. Great keepsake for the mum-to-be.
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• Baby Memory Game
  Each guest brings a small baby item which is put onto a tray and covered with a teatowel or baby blanket. Uncover for a minute for guests to memorise. Then cover, and the guests have to write down as many of the items as they can remember! The tray of baby items can be given to the Mum-to-be at the end.
  
  
• Diapers in the Dark
  Each guest is blindfolded and then has to put a cloth nappy/diaper on a toy doll – the best time wins! The Cloth nappy/diaper can be given to the Mum-to-be at the end.