Smooth Sailing: Baby Shower Nautical Ideas

I’m sure you’ve seen every baby shower theme under the sun. Unisex themes are great because they can be thrown for both boys and girls. One of the best unisex themes are of the nautical variety. Decorating with anchors, stripes and water themed elements will make this shower one to remember.

Chalkboard Love

Greet your guests with a homemade chalkboard sign. You can buy one or make one very easily. Just take a trip to the craft store and buy some chalk paint. Then you can paint anything you want: a silver platter, old picture frame or an old sign. Place the new chalkboard sign outside your home, welcoming everyone to the shower.

Favors

Fill up some baby shower favor boxes with saltwater taffy. What’s not to love! These delectable treats aren’t only a favorite treat to most, but also tie in wonderfully to the nautical theme. For a simple, fresh look use brown boxes and enclose them with some twine.

Food & Drink

Take the usual desserts (cookies, cupcakes) and decorate them with nautical touches: anchors, sailboats and life preservers. For some fun snacks for adults and children, get some Goldfish crackers in a clear container labeled “catch of the day.” To satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth display a candy bar and fill it with ocean inspired treats: gummy sharks, gummy life saver “preservers,” Swedish fish and chocolate candy balls.

Simple, but so cute is the nautical silverware. Wrap plastic utensils in blue napkins and wrap them with twine. Next, tie a life saver mint onto the twine.

Stripes, Stripes, More Stripes

Make a banner out of burlap or stripped fabric in blue, red, and white to welcome guests to the shower. Try using “Ahoy, Matey” or “Anchors, Away” as the message on the banner. For the string, keep with the nautical theme and use rope or twine.

Wishes in a Bottle

At every baby shower, it’s tradition to have guests write their well-wishes and advice for the mother-to-be. For a fun twist, have guests write their message in a bottle. You can find a variety of bottles at any local craft store as well as a cork topper. Just have guests write their wishes and advice on a piece of paper and place it inside the bottle. The mother-to-be can take all the messages and place them in a scrapbook then use all the bottles for future craft projects.

Rope-Wrapped Flower Vases

For a fine, floral centerpiece, use old wine glasses, mason jars or any other type of glass container wrapped with different sizes of twine and rope. If you’re having a girl, opt for pink and white flowers. If you’re having a boy, purple and blue flowers will do. Use accent floral vases filled with bunches of baby’s breath.

This is a guest post by Heather Green

Heather is a former teacher, but now operates as a stay-at-home mom and PTO president who writes for several parenting blogs and education websites. She has four children that attend the school where she used to teach.