Baby Birthday Gift Ideas From a Planet Conscious Mom

by L.A. Brock

(The following is an email from a Frankfort artist and mom sent to her extended family before her daughter Eva’s first birthday.)

Dear Sweet Family,
We want to thank all of you for your love, support and enthusiasm now that little Eva is here with us.
We couldn’t have gotten where we are today without your love and support.
Having a child is life-changing. One way it changes you (for the better I think) is that it forces you to think more about the kind of future you want for your child.
Dire climate reports continue to emerge, and unless bold actions toward sustainability are taken by world governments, it’s not looking good.
Rather than being part of the problem, we’d like to be part of the solution to ensure that there is a healthy planet for Eva.
Inspired by the book, “The Zero Footprint Baby,” which talks about
how parents can reduce their family’s carbon footprint, we’d like to ask that you refrain from buying anything new for Eva unless we specifically request it.
We’d also like you to consider that, in lieu of gifts, you give money that we can put in an education fund for Eva.

When it comes to presents, these gifts are always welcome:
 Pre-loved, gently used baby clothes from consignment stores (feel free to shop in the boys section as well since the girls section can be obnoxiously pink and princess themed!)
 Gift cards for baby books. Eva loves books – and they are biodegradable!
 For toys, we prefer ones that are made from natural, fair-trade materials. Avoid plastic, unless it’s used.

We also prefer simple/no-tech/no battery-operated toys. Please, no toy cell phones, computers, talking toys, brand/icon toys, Barbie’s or toy guns.
Open-ended toys that encourage Eva’s imagination and creativity are great such as art supplies or building blocks.
Here is a link to a great video and blog post for minimalist toy ideas that encourage open-ended play.

www.theparentingjunkie.com/minimalism-the-only-10-toys-you-need/
Thanks again for being part of Eva’s life and keeping these ideas in mind.