Baby showers are becoming more and more popular in the UK now. People have a baby shower to celebrate the new addition to a family, circle of friends and to the world. The only thing is, is that like any party they can have a negative impact on the environment. I have put together a few ways you can still celebrate this new bundle of joy and help out the environment as well!
Invites
The most Eco friendly want to invite people to a baby shower is through E-vites.
There are many websites out there that allow you to make, create and send invitations to your guest’s right over the internet saving paper and ink. You can even design them to match your baby shower theme. Alternatively you can also go onto a website, such as Canva, and design them yourself and then email the invitation. There is also Facebook, you can create an event and invite people to it.
Now, I am full aware that not everyone has access to the internet. You may also want to create a keepsake for people, so the next best thing is invites printed onto recycled paper. Some companies out there can make these for you if you don’t have the time to make them yourself, or you can easily find recycled paper at most craft stores to make your own or even in different fibres such as cotton or bamboo.
Gift Wrap
Wrapping paper is one of the biggest contributors to landfill. There are so many alternatives to it too, that still look just as pretty. You can decorate brown paper ( we do this for special occasions ) and decorate with ribbon. You can also use fabric or even a baby blanket to wrap up your gifts, that way the mama to be can use the blanket for the new baby as well as the goodies inside! Gift bags are also a fab alternative as they can be reused over and over.
Decoration
Decorating for any event is personally, one of the most exciting parts! However, it’s normally overloaded with single use plastics and a lot of rubbish to go in the trash after. Balloons seem to be a staple for any celebration. However there are some alternatives that are just as effective. Paper streamers, Paper lanterns or paper puff balls are just a few items that not only can be stored away and reused, but they are also recyclable! They are also cheaper!
Using flowers to decorate the tables can be a beautiful addition. You can even turn them into little party favours that the guests can take home and enjoy. Head to your local florist and I am sure they will be more than happy to help you with some ideas and suggestions.
Tablewear
Ditch the paper plates and the single use plastic cups and cutlery. Yes it may save on washing up, but it has a huge impact on the environment. Ask family and friends if they have any dishes you could borrow if you don’t have enough. Or, a really cute alternative if your throwing a afternoon tea style shower, is to head to your local charity shop. They are always overflowing with pretty tea cups and saucers – it doesn’t matter if they aren’t matching, it adds to the charm! Try to use a cloth table cover too, you can throw it in the wash and use it over and over.
Games
Games are one of the many fun things about a baby shower. They can still be incredibly fun without causing lots of waste! A few baby shower game ideas include;
Baby Pictionary.
Baby Pictionary is always a fun one..as well as a slightly competitive one. Take turns drawing items relating to a baby and have everyone else guess what it is. You can split into teams or do it as a whole group. Using a dry erase board or a chalkboard will save on the amount of paper that you use. If you do use paper, be sure to recycle it or use recycled paper!
Guess who the baby is game.
This game involves each guest to bring a photo of themselves as a baby to the shower. Lay them out on the table or have them up on the wall and have each guest guess try to match up each photo with the right person. Whoever guesses the most correctly, wins.
Baby Bump.
Guess the size of Moms belly with a piece of yarn or wool. You can also find string that is made from cotton or bamboo fibers. We did this at my baby shower and it was quite funny to see how big some people thought you were!!
Favours for Guests
It’s always nice to give your guests a little something to say thank you for coming. There are so many Eco-friendly gifts you can give, here are a few;
Reuse the décor.
As I said above, you can use the flowers that were used to decorate the tables as gifts. You can either have them already arranged and ready to go, or let people take which ever ones they wanted. If you are left with any, then you get to take them home and enjoy them a little longer yourself!
Seeds.
I have a thing for seed bombs. I think they are amazing and super cheap and easy to make. Using wildflower seeds also means that when planted, not only will they be visually beautiful, but they will help out the Bee population as well.
Edibles.
There are so many places these days that offer up edible treats to use as party favours. You could even make your own!
Ditch the Cards
For my shower with Molly, I knew I didn’t want to be inundated with greetings cards that would most likely end up in the trash over time. So I decided to ask each guest to purchase a book for Molly, and write a little message on the first page. That way, we will always have that little keepsake, and it kicked started a pretty decent book collection!
Guestbook
You can find guest books made with recycled paper which are absolutely beautiful. You can also purchase a picture frame and little wooden hearts for your guests to write on. Each heart is then placed inside the frame and the Mama to be can take it home and pop wherever she likes. You can also print out a image ( like a hot air balloon ) and get guests to put their fingerprints on the image and sign. The image can then be framed.
A beautiful keepsake!
Have you any ideas on how to keep a baby shower as Eco Friendly as possible?
