Jungle Themes for a Baby Shower

• Jungle themes are popular for baby showers and add a bit of excitement to the event. Steve Allen/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Sharing in the excitement of a new baby's arrival by celebrating with the mother and friends makes for a joyful event. Jungle-themed decor adds a bit of flair to the celebration and begins with invitations decorated with zebras, elephants and lions. Ask everyone to add a touch of jungle-themed garb to their outfits, such as pith helmets and sunglasses, or let their imaginations and outfits run wild. A jungle decoration theme for the party room, of course, is a must.

Light Jungle Theme

• Cut pictures of jungle animals out of magazines and hang them on the walls along with mosquito netting. Suspend toy stuffed animals from the ceiling and play popular jungle-themed songs, such as The Lion Sleeps Tonight and tracks from The Lion King. Borrow tall plants to place around the party room to create a jungle atmosphere and add pineapples and other fruits to the decor.

Heavy Jungle Theme

• Buy full-size posters of jungle animals to cover the walls. Hang strings of leaves, sold at craft stores, from the top of the front doorway so guests have to part them to get inside. Dim lighting and CDs of jungle sounds, such as lions roaring and monkeys howling, enhance your baby shower jungle theme. Dress up in full jungle dress including boots, tan riding breeches and a white shirt with a silk scarf and pith helmet. Naturally, the paper plates, cups and saucers will be animal themed.

Over-the-Top Jungle Theme

• This approach to your baby shower jungle theme begins in the front yard, with rented inflatable animals scattered across the lawn. Hire a jungle king or queen actor dressed in a loin cloth and holding a rubber spear to greet your guests at the front door. Turning the lights down low and playing an old Tarzan movie on the wall will add an entertaining touch. Recordings of jungle drums beating and parrots screeching enhance the drama. Serve animal crackers in large bowls. For a final touch, rent a fog machine to fill the party room with low-hanging, mysterious fog.