http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-ways-to-celebrate-a-new-mama-without-all-the-stuff.html
8 Ways To Celebrate a New Mama Without All the Stuff
Many websites offer tips on hosting a “green” shower, but I’ve found that most focus on reusable cups, crafty decorations, and organic food choices. For me, an earth-friendly shower leaves the “stuff” in the background and focuses more on celebrating the journey of childbirth and child-rearing.
When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I viewed baby showers as a distasteful extension of the baby paraphernalia onslaught now accompanying the arrival of so many urban babies. I was determined to boycott, but my husband persuaded me to have one. And I loved it.
I realized a baby shower didn’t need to be about the “stuff” any more than a birthday party needs to be about presents. I now appreciate the help that new parents can receive not just from a few thoughtful gifts, but perhaps more importantly, the significance of friends supporting a new mother, the strength provided for the journey ahead, and the incredible mothering wisdom imparted by thoughtful participants.
So, after hosting several baby showers and celebrating many others with earth-inclined mothers like myself, I have ended up with eight ideas to help celebrate and support new mother and baby with less stuff:
1. Create a Homemade Mobile
Supply crafty materials like feathers, tissue, glitterglue, cardboard shapes, pretty stickers, and ask each guest to create an object to dangle from the mobile. You can also invite guests to bring a meaningful object or photograph in advance. (Tip: Many new babies like black and white patterns.)
2. Share Mothering and Breastfeeding Tips
On your invitation, ask guests to bring with them a note that shares the parenting tips most helpful to them. Things they wish they’d known earlier, or thoughts they were so glad they had in advance. Collect them in a pretty basket and present them to the new mother. (In addition, nursing mother guests are invaluable - it’s so helpful to actually see what a latched baby looks like and would be wonderful to share with the mom-to-be.)
3. Baby Wrap Demo and Lending
Ask guests to bring their favorite baby wraps and demo them. If possible, write names on each carrier and lend them to the new mother so she can test them out with the new baby to see which works best before buying her own.
4. Make or Paint a Belly Cast or Henna Belly Tattoo
Belly casting is usually a two part process. If the mother is interested, guests can participate in either casting the mothers pregnant belly or in painting the dried cast with poetry and images. Henna belly tattoos could occur during the event.
5. Share Positive Mothering and Birthing Stories
Light candles and invite each guest to introduce themselves, invite them to tell a story of inspiration about their birth experience or parenting their babies, or perhaps just share an inspirational poem. (Stress in advance that the guests refrain from telling stories of negative birth experiences.)
6. Create a Blessing Necklace
Ask each guest to bring an inspirational bead for a necklace for the mother. Share the story of each bead and why guests chose the bead they chose. For example, I might choose a piece of turquoise because it is believed to protect against pollution and environmental assaults.
7. Organize a Weekly Meal Signup
Ask friends to sign up to provide meals to the new family the first couple of months after the baby is born. Load it into excel and email it to everyone, and then adjust once the baby arrives.
8. Green Baby Gifts
I admit it - it’s fun to shop for new babies. So, if you’re uncomfortable shunning gifts completely and want to provide earth-friendly items for the new mom and babe, hundreds of websites offer outstanding ideas for green baby gifts, from organic baby wraps to wooden rattles to wool cloth diaper covers. You could also ask guests to bring gently used items, or perhaps use silk scarves or baby blankets to wrap the gifts. (I think my silk scarves are the most valuable “toy” my children own - even at age 5.)
Some parents I’ve known have shared the cost of a month of cloth diaper services, or perhaps the purchase of one large item. Many mothers I know are trying to buy organic mattresses (very expensive) for their babies. Pooling resources to purchase gifts like this reduces the volume of baby products while also helping new parents cover the costs of greener parenting choices.
Got other ideas? Share yours below!
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17 comments
add your comment »The weekly meal sign up is a great idea and will always be appreciated. In the past I have given babysitting certificates (I make them up myself) and they have ALWAYS been used. Just recently I have started to give what I call a coffee shower. I drop in for 15 to 45 minutes every day, watch the baby and drink coffee while New Mom gets to go for a guilt and stress free shower or bath.
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I love Wondertime! Great layout, interesting and thought provoking articles, fun tidbits. My favorite part is a pull-out page that has questions (and answer area) for you to ask your kid(s). Very clever and not preachy, mag.
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My sister is holding a shower for a bunch of friends to meet my new little one, but we already have been given much of what we 'really' need, most hand me downs from family and friends, and since not all of our friends have alot of money, we are asking that people just bring a gently used item, clothing, hosehold or baby stuff, to donate to the local emergency family shelter. This doesn't cost anything but will not only benefit some family in need but it raises awareness of not only how some are struggling to provide for their families, but just how much we all already have.
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When I had my son we deliberately DID NOT HAVE a crib, changing table, playpen, baby bath, highchair or any diaper equipment such as disposals or wipe warmers. We only purchased a stroller and car seat (both were passed on for someone else's use) and a youth chair that my son used throughout his childhood and well into adolescence. Please think about what babies actually need to thrive, some very basic necessities and loving care. We must stop thinking as consumers and start thinking as humans.
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Here is a sweet "mindful mama" blog, if you haven't discovered it yet:
http://www.ecohearth.com/eco-blogs/eco-parenting.html
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Silk is a product of the boiling alive of silk worms, unless you buy ahimsa silk.
Just something to think about
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My niece wants burp cloths. I only shop rummage sales, and I haven't seen any that weren't in realy bad shape. If I want to make my own, what kind of fabric is best? Old t-shirts, sweatshirts, what? Having no kids, I don't know what texture and thickness is best.
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I'm a bit embarrassed...I just read my post, and I obviously forgot to proof read it! Sorry for the typos!
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Great ideas! And please, check into natural bedding for your baby. There is growing concern that off gassing from plastic mattresses may contribute to SIDS. And also please read the label on the lotions, soaps, powders that you will put on your precious baby's skin. They are so tiny and their little bodies can't handle the toxic additives like artificial fragrances and petroleum products. Please read more at:
www.organic-eden.com
Go to the Personal Care page or the Harmful Ingredients to Avoid page. There are a lot of links to safe products for you and your baby. Please don't put something on your baby's delicate skin just because it smells nice. My wish is that all babies can be strong, healthy and safe.
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I agree. You could also ask all the attendants who want to shop for baby to use Craigslist as their resource instead of a baby store. Recycled? Yes. Cheaper? Yes. Kid-and-mother-tested? Yes.
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