The invention of the baby shower gift registry has made gift-giving an easy but sometimes thoughtless process. Here are some ideas to bring a little more green to your gift-giving. I don’t advocate giving a green gift if it’s something they aren’t going to use or just for the sake of it being “green.” Sometimes it is best to stick to the registry, especially if you don’t know the person well. But if you have a bit of freedom, here are some gift ideas that you might consider.

Diapers are always an appreciated gift. They’re expensive and much needed. If the person you are shopping for is interested in or has decided to do cloth diapers, a great gift would be a gift certificate to a diaper service - it offers someone a way to ease into the world of cloth diapers. If the parents-to-be are planning on using disposables, purchase Seventh Generation diapers and wipes, one of the greenest options out there in the disposable diaper market.

Put together a green toiletries kit. Fill a basket with baby shampoo, soap and lotion from California Baby. Also include an organic wash cloth and towel. You can check the ZRecs Guide for other baby care products that are free of harmful chemicals.

If the mother-to-be has an interest in breastfeeding, create a breastfeeding support kit which could include items such as your favorite breastfeeding book, milk storage bags (if they are going to pump), lanolin cream, and a nursing shawl or Hooter Hider. Breastfeeding is the greenest way to feed your little one, it’s a local food source for your baby!

I know that one of the last things that seem to get done when you have a baby is housekeeping. When you are sleep-deprived, the little energy you do have goes towards your baby and just surviving day to day life. The house doesn’t have to be clean in order to survive, but it would sure make your day more pleasant and easier to deal with. Why not pay for some post-natal housekeeping by a service that uses non-toxic chemicals? Maid Brigade is one company that provides green housekeeping services. Another gift idea is to offer your own elbow grease. Bring green cleaning supplies if they don’t have them and when you have finished, leave the supplies there for them to use.

Buy local and handmade items. A great place to do this is at my favorite handmade site, Etsy, an online marketplace for crafters. You can find a great selection of baby items such as handmade bibs and blankets, wooden toys, and onesies. One of the many great features of this website is that you can search for sellers by location, enabling you to support local crafters.

If the baby shower is for someone who is not a first-time mom, they may already have enough stuff - the last thing they really want is more baby stuff taking up room in their home. There are a lot of great ideas, including the housekeeping gift that I mentioned above, that would be very appreciated but don’t contribute to the accumulation of unwanted stuff. It’s hard to find a women who wouldn’t be excited about a gift card to a spa for a pregnancy massage, or a post-pregnancy spa trip. How about offering to babysit their other kid(s) on several occasions? Make a gift certificate book that has coupons they can redeem for you to run errands for them such as grocery shopping, getting the oil changed on their car or picking up some more diapers and wipes.

Do you have any green baby shower gift ideas? Have you been given any green gifts that you have really appreciated?