When you are a young parent, your baby's first Christmas is just as important as his first birthday.
It is a moment that we want to be magical and unforgettable.
Christmas is also a time to think about your loved ones in particular, a time for family gatherings, big parties, lots of banquets, and all this with the aim of creating wonderful memories.

So this is a time when consumerism is at its peak!
During this exciting time, we have the annoying habit of doing a lot (too much)!
What if this year you concentrated on organising baby's first Christmas by focusing on the essentials?

It's time to make good resolutions and above all to be an exemplary figure for your little koko or the baby you want to please.

How to make baby's first Christmas an eco-friendly event?

Let's be honest, it's hard to resist the temptation, at Christmas even more than during the rest of the year we are overwhelmed by a colossal offer of gift ideas, Christmas decorations etc....

We suggest you go into sustainable Christmas mode for baby's first Christmas and focus on the essentials!

We called on Morgane en vert et rouge, facilitator and trainer in ecological transition, to give us advice to make this Christmas as beautiful as it is responsible!

What eco-friendly Christmas decorations ?

What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to decorate your home!

It's easy to imagine decorating your window panes with pretty hand-painted festive designs. A creative and fun activity to do as a family under the amazed eyes of our little ones.  Morgane gives us the recipe for her Meudon white paint, it's simple:

You will need 2/3 of blanc de Meudon and 1/3 of water.

You can also go for a walk in nature with your little koko and collect some branches of fir trees, mistletoe, holly and pine cones and create pretty garlands, wreaths and other bouquets. However, be careful not to put these plants (mistletoe and holly) within the reach of P'tit Koko as they can be poisonous. Pine cones are a great base for many decorations.You can paint them in the colour of your choice to decorate the house, the tablecloth or the tree.
You can also make little Christmas trees or elves Elves out of them.

Learn how to make a pretty  party mobile for your livingroom..

The advantage of these decorations is that they are compostable and recyclable once damaged, and for those who like to renew their decorations every year, no waste, it's economical, without plastic, it's simply fantastic!

What kind of  ecological Christmas tree ?

And what about the Christmas tree? The very symbol of Christmas magic that will make the eyes of the little kokos shine, what ecological alternatives should you choose?

Morgane explains it all in her instagram post :
*The artificial tree :
Its advantages :
-You can keep it for several years
-Various choices of size and colour, it can even be colored!
Its disadvantages :
-Long circuit, often made in China from plastic
- It is often packaged
- Recycling is very complex
- It pollutes our interior with plastic particles
=High C02 impact

In short: An artificial plastic tree pollutes our homes.  The Ademe advises to use it for at least 20 years to amortize its ecological impact

*Le natural tree :

Its advantages :
-Planted in France
-Planted especially for the holidays
-Organic label, flowers of France, red label
-Can be recycled as mulch or animal feed
Its disadvantages :
-It only lasts one Christmas and can get damaged quickly
-It has to be bought again every year, so it is not profitable

In short: The natural tree is the favourite of the French. When buying, choose labels or choose the option of renting a pot. Avoid taking it coloured or with artificial snow because it cannot be crushed and used as mulch in public gardens.

It can be recycled, so please don't throw it away on the roadside on Boxing Day, but if you were planning to save money in the long term, you won't!

Our suggested addresses: in France: La société protectrice des végétaux , Noël vert. In Belgium : Sapin Belge, In Switzerland : Ecosapin

*The do it yourself tree :

Last solution, handmade! Yes yes, there are a lot of DIY's available on the internet, a craft activity to do with the whole family that will allow you to create a unique tree! It will stimulate your little koko and it will be the moment to disconnect from everyday life!

It has only advantages, good for the morale, good for the family, good for the wallet and good for the planet!

If you don't have the time or the inclination, you can also buy a wooden tree, here are some eco-responsible brands made in France:

-La fabrique des Potirons
-Quark
-Botaki
-Carton lune
-Paké

How to decorate your ecological Christmas tree?

Morgane recommends LED lights that will consume almost nothing but will light up your little koko's eyes for sure!
Avoid candles on the tree in vintage mode! We don't want to set fire to baby's first Christmas!

We prefer wooden or fabric Christmas decorations that are not fragile, that will last over time and above all that are safe for baby if they are within his reach! 

Would you like to make a scented garland? Save your citrus peels or cut them into slices. Would you like to make a scented garland? Save your citrus peels or cut them into slices. You can use them on a garland with cinnamon sticks for example. You can also use them in your Christmas biscuits.

You can still use the treasures collected in nature with your little koko

>>>Morgane's favourite decoration :

A little bonnet made from recycled material = 1 roll of toilet paper and some wool 

How to prepare an ecological Christmas meal?

And now for the cherry on top, here are the tips for a successful eco-friendly Christmas meal!

The table :

Avoid all disposable items and favour reusable or compostable ones!

Cloth napkins, glassware, natural decorations (holly, mistletoe, pine cones and fir branches...) 

The activity to do with your little koko: find decorations on flea markets and attics and give a second life to forgotten objects.

You can also, with baby's help, make little origami, cardboard or biscuit Christmas trees for example.

Christmas menu : :

Only local and seasonal products!

Give preference to local producers and use your small shopkeepers. Take into account the age of your little one if he is not yet allowed to taste everything. If your baby is in DME, make him happy and share the festive meal with him!

What ideas for a sustainable baby advent calendar?

For the pleasure of p'tit koko why not make your own advent calendar?

Here is an idea for a super cute advent calendar to discover on instagram : Minireyve.

For the gifts inside, give preference to useful objects, such as textiles or consumables, for example socks, solid soap, gloves, a bodysuit, palm oil-free chocolate (if baby is old enough), homemade biscuits and a sweet note.

For older children, you can put Playmobils from your childhood or found second-hand in the boxes.

You can also slip in a voucher for an activity with your baby: For example, baking a cake together in the shape of a Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music or singing a Christmas song, going for a walk in town to see the Christmas decorations and lights, taking a ride on the merry-go-round, taking a photo with Father Christmas... This will allow you to create beautiful memories of your little one's first month of December, make it a ritual, take a break from your daily obligations and reserve a moment of one-on-one sharing with baby.

What are the alternatives to disposable gift wrapping?

Now that you're ready with the decorations and Christmas dinner, it's time to talk about alternatives to disposable gift wrap! 

What's the point of producing pretty wrapping paper, going to great lengths to make a perfect fold so that it's reduced to waste in 10 seconds? Tons of paper are thrown away during the Christmas period...

Here are Morgane's tips on sustainable gift wrapping:

-Do you know furoshiki? It's the Japanese art of wrapping gifts with fabric, it's the zero-waste alternative without tape just with bows! You can use scraps of fabric or old clothes that will end up in the bin and give them a second life by creating a furoshiki .
You can also kill two birds with one stone and wrap the gifts of little koko with our 60x60cm swaddle !

-Morgane also likes the idea of Santa's top (a jute bag for example) or a simple bulk bag on which you can add colourful fabric ribbons.

-If you receive gifts wrapped in disposable paper you can always open them carefully and reuse them the following year, as far as baby is concerned he will be happy to tear them up so don't forget to sort them, all paper is now recyclable!

-We offer you our multifunctional bags that can be used as reusable gift wrapping for Christmas, but also as laundry bags, transport bags, toy bags, etc. ....

All these alternatives remain practical and do not take away from the desire to open the Christmas gift!

What baby Christmas gift ideas for baby's first Christmas?

Don't forget that baby doesn't need much material, at less than a year old he quickly focuses on 1 toy and quickly forgets the pile of gifts to open... The best gifts will be to spend time with him and to share a lot of love!

In our article « Need inspiration for a baby Christmas gift ?»   we offer you only essential gift ideas for baby, useful, practical and durable!

Now you have all the keys in hand to make this Christmas a lasting one and create new wonderful memories!

As Morgane would say: "The best present you can give your little koko is to leave him a cleaner planet!

Need support in your ecological transition?

Morgane, mother of a little girl, is an animator and trainer in ecological transition. She helps you to reduce your impact in a playful and caring way with workshops, conferences and training. Under the name of  d’en vert et rouge Morgane offers you lots of tips, recipes and good ideas to be responsible in your daily life, at work and even when your baby arrives.

Morgane is committed to building a fairer world for our little ones.

photo credit: J. Carter