I thought that since brides have a bridal registry, why can’t a mother to be have a baby registry.

With hundreds of resources literally at our fingertips, it would be very hard NOT to find a site that offered eco-friendly baby products.

You could find the site you like and approve of and e-mail them to ask about a Baby Registry if you do not see a tab for it.

When you send out your invites, include the site and the name you are under.

Like me, most people are always at a loss as to what a mom-to-be needs and always fret over wether or not what they got is right or if someone else purchased it already.

With the registry, it helps your guests out so they are not guessing what you need and avoids duplicate gifts.

I am not that familar yet with a lot of sites but I came across BabyEarth.com (they have an EcoFriendly tab devoted entirely to eco-friendly products for the baby). Not sure how you may feel about the rest of what they offer so I provide them as just an idea to get you going.

They do have a Baby Registry and with over 800 products in the eco-friendly section alone, I am pretty hopeful you will be able to have a guilt free baby shower.

This statement is also in their “Check Out More about Organic Baby Products”

( ‘BabyEarth’s delicious selection of green baby gear and products, like organic baby bedding, bisphenol-A (BPA) free baby bottles…) and much more that includes a list of the companies offering Organic products in their store.

I hope that helps a little so that you can have a wonderfully ‘green and beautiful’ baby shower.

)

Another thought, use “go green” as a shower theme: use recycled items, ask attendees to donate gently used baby clothes instead of buying new, maybe offer a prize for the person who is most green at home, and maybe do a twist on a scavenger-hunt game but have people look at household items for dangers or try to find earth-friendly items (prizes could include safe cleaning products like Seventh Generation brand for example, or offer phthalate free body care items like Burts Bees brand.)

One way I’ve tried to tackle the shower gift issue is by registering online with mygiftlist.com. The website offers a form to fill out where you can list the product price, description, and where to buy. I personally registered for LuSa Organics and Safe Mama Angel Baby products on my registry.

Also, Target.com offers “notes” and you can add your concerns and hope people actually read the notes on your registry.

After reading more comments, looks like others have touched on these ideas. Take care.

Also, I wanted to mention that there is a web-site called the hunger site that has a store with a section called “gifts that give more” and in this section they have gifts like helping to build a school in Nepal or feeding an American family. They have one in particular that I gave to some friends at their shower and that was: “African Infant Feeding Mercy Kit”. And I made the donation in their new baby’s name. This could be another possibility to mention in the invitation insert and it is a wonderful way to help others in our world and at the same time reduce amount of “stuff”.

Here is the link

Cheri )

it’s been a yr since my family has completely changed our lifestyle. last yr, at my showers there were a lot of naysayers. but now, i have people coming to me all the time asking for advice on how they can incorporate this lifestyle into their lives.

think of this as an opportunity to learn and to teach others.

good luck and have fun at your shower!

Wrapping was not a big issue as most women were reusing packaging that they got for their own showers and I will reuse them for someone else’s.

You may be asking what a “green” baby shower is. Being “green” means making choices that are simultaneously good for both the environment and our health, especially
our children’s health. Joan and John are excited to be able to provide a healthy non-toxic nursery to their newborn
and are eager to be able to share this incredible experience with you.

Here are some ways you can help:
Previously loved items are appreciated. Shop for used baby items in resale shops or give baby items that you have used and loved and no longer need! However, safety items,
such as car seats or swings, are not recommended.

Save money and produce less waste by not using wrapping paper opting instead to wrap your gifts in organic baby blankets or recycled brown paper bags that you or your
kids can decorate.

Help protect their newborn son’s skin by purchasing organic cottons that are grown and manufactured without harmful pesticides, chemical treatments, and toxic dyes that
are used to create baby clothing, blankets, toys, etc.

If you are unsure how to help, purchase an item off the baby registry. John and Joan have taken the time to make sure that all the items listed on there are safe from harmful chemicals and toxic BPA plastics.
————
I don’t come from the most educated of families and none of them knew what organic was until I became pregnant, but with guidance they have been huge supporters of my choices. And all the guests at the shower did amazing with wrapping the gifts in baby blankets or paper bags.

For decorations, we did potted flowers as centerpieces and my sisters bought a ton of used and new organic baby clothes and hung them from clotheslines around the room. No other decorations were needed.

Instead of wasting paper and supplies on games, instead I took the extra time when opening gifts to have the person who gave it help me open it and I would tell how I knew this person and why there were special to me.

My sisters and best friend splurged a little to have it catered, and it was simple chicken/tuna salad sandwiches, pasta salad, salad, and veggies. So the caterer supplied glass place settings and silverware. I was really adamant about a zero or very little waste shower. So, if they hadn’t gone that extra mile I was going to use different mismatched wedding china that I have from my great-grandmothers and grandmother’s.

I registered for the bare minimum at Babies R Us. The list they gave me of supplies I would need was so long and included things that I knew I wasn’t going to use. So, by limiting the amount of unnecessary items I was able to focus solely on organic and baby safe things and it worked!! I had almost nothing to return back that was unsafe or that I wouldn’t have bought for myself.

I also made sure that everyone new beforehand that I was going the cloth diaper route and to not buy any diapers. Therefore we didn’t need to include this in our invitation insert.

*I absolutely LOVE the shower invite idea by Robyn!!

You can also find a way to suggest gifts of help – whether it’s someone coming over to watch the baby so you can nap, or to wash the dishes, or a dinner service. A group of people can go in together on a cleaning service for a couple of months, for example.

I came up with:
Jen and Jason are totally keen
on raising their little one totally green.
Hand-me-downs welcome, gifts need not be new.
They know when the baby comes, they’ll need help too.
Time and attention, if you’ve some to spare,
are gifts from the heart we’d love you to share.