As far as party planning goes, the tableware issue always pops up, shall we use the disposable tableware or not? This issue appears particularly in planning baby showers wherein getting the green light from the future mom to use disposable baby shower tableware is crucial.

Some people are okay with using disposable utensils during a party. On the other end of the spectrum, you have people who are opposed to using plastic spoons, forks and knives. To help you decide, here are some things to consider.

Pros of Disposable Tableware
First pro to consider is the cleaning time. Using disposable tableware during the party cuts your clean-up time considerably once the celebration is done. Your choice of plastic tableware could be plain or fancy, but once everyone has left it’s the person in charge of the cleaning who will be stuck with the tedious job of tidying up the place and make sure all traces of the party are gone. With your choice of plastic tableware, there is no need for washing as these can go the recycling bin right away.

Second thing to take into account is the party theme. Plastic tableware comes in a plethora of colors some of which are sure to fit your chosen theme perfectly like Disney’s Little Mermaid which calls for some funky green, blue, yellow and red cutlery that only the disposable plastic kind can deliver.

And thirdly, disposable tableware is inexpensive.

Cons of Disposable Tableware
Number one on this list is the environmental concerns some folks may have, especially as people become more environmentally aware. If your guests are environmentally conscious people, then using regular dishes might be a good idea to consider.

Next point is some of these cheap utensils are not too sturdy. Sometimes the plastic prongs on forks can break off into the food and if people are not careful, then these parts can be ingested. Also, it is sometimes harder to use plastic utensils than silverware to eat with.

Ultimately, whether you use disposable tableware or not is up to you. If the thought of cleaning up afterward is stressing you, then by all means go ahead with the disposables. For smaller parties, regular dishes will do just fine.

If children are present, an adult can be asked to keep an eye of the little ones who aren’t quite used to feeding themselves yet to make sure they don’t break their plastic forks and spoons in their food. Also, remind the older children to be careful lest they become too excited and start running around with plastic forks and knives.

What ever your party plans, don’t dwell too much on the tableware issue as the constant worrying might dampen your mood. Talk to the other people that are planning the party with you and decide on which is the best choice for your party.

Criss White is an avid baby shower enthusiast and writer. For more ideas and baby shower tableware or to check out some diaper cakes, visit My Baby Shower Favors.