Baby Shower - Low Cost Gift-Theme?

Would be awesome if anything they brought to the party was a reused gift!

There are GREAT thrift shops in the PNW, and if some people you're inviting have already been Mommies, there should be lots of stuff they'd LOVE to get rid of, but you would also LOVE to have.

I have never heard of anybody doing that, but that would be too cool.

I shudder sometimes when I think of all the plastic s*%& that ends up in the landfill from a baby's first two years :)

diapers and wipes to build your stash.

you'll be glad for it.

I went to a shower where we brought our favorite children's book.  It was a lot of fun.  Both picking out the book and seeing what everyone else brought.

There was a lot of great conversation about the books, why we chose them, etc.

I wouldn't be able to choose just one!

My oldest had this book and the cassette tape and wore out the tape 2 times!

I love this!!!

When you send the invites, be clear that you don't want gifts more than $X ($5, 10, 20).  People won't generally show up empty handed, so saying "no gifts" isn't going to help much. 

The other thing to do is ask them to provide a story behind the gift they provide.  Why this book, or this toy.  Ask them to bring the story on a note card so you can keep/remember it and that you expect them to share it during the shower. 

I've brought 6-month clothes (babies outgrow the newborn clothes in 2-3 months, and they might have worn each item twice in that time).  I've also brought bath toys (a plastic boat) again, for later. 

"Your presence is the present; no gifts please"

Ask them to donate baby food/toys/clothing to a food bank?

Ask them to commit to cooking a meal when the baby comes, or walk the dog.