Celebrating your baby's first birthdays
I remember my son's first birthday party. It was my husband, daughter, my beloved dog Cody and of course, the birthday boy himself....covered in frozen yogurt and vomiting something green and slimy. It was precious in many ways...a milestone for us as parents and I wouldn't have shared it for all the world with anyone else, mostly because a one year old doesn't have the patience for fancy dinner parties and I don't have the patience for a one year old at a fancy dinner party. I smile looking back at that day, despite it's brevity. Cole was born 2 months early and we endured many months of sleepless nights and driving back to the Nicu. Like many parents, I was a mess and was in no condition to host a party. On the other hand, if I could have trotted him out for photos and celebrated his birthday for an hour, then tucked him in for a nap while I enjoyed the conversation of adult friends and relatives - anywhere other than my messy house - that would have been grand indeed. In other words, toddler birthday parties are not usually for toddlers, unless you are going to Chucky Cheese.
The first year of a child's life is a milestone and you, as the parent, deserve a celebration. This is your celebration! But, only if you can hire someone else to cook, entertain, and clean. If you have the resources to hire caterers and a venue for your child's special day, it would be a great way to celebrate this milestone! Looking back, I wish I had taken the time to celebrate those precious milestones in my child's life.
Should I invite close family or a bigger circle of friends?
Your baby's temperament may determine who you invite. He may cry when strangers approach or he may be happy go lucky and enjoy a good time with lots of action. These factors frequently persuade parents to choose a modest, low-cost family party or get-together of neighbors, close friends, other parents, and relatives.
Yet, regardless of the number of visitors you have, remember that your 1-year-old will want a lot of your undivided attention. This is especially true if a sizable group of well-wishers has overstimulated her.
Get answers to all your birthday party planning questions from parents in our Birthday Ideas community group.Amount to spend
The amount spent on a baby's first birthday celebration ranges widely, from less than $50 to more than $500, according to our survey of more than 5,000 parents. Parents typically spent $200 or less, 25% spent $200 to $500, and 11% spent more than $500. The majority (61%) of parents spent $200 or less. selecting a time
When your child turns one, she'll probably still be sleeping in the morning and the afternoon. If so, it might be preferable to schedule your event around nap periods. Check with their parents about their children's nap hours if you're inviting any other young guests. If one begins to cry, they all might! You might want to keep the party short; at this age, an hour or two should be adequate.
choosing a location
A first birthday party is typically easier to have at home because that is where your child will feel most secure. However, if your house is too small to accommodate all the guests you wish to invite, think about holding the event at a nearby community center or church social hall, a children's museum, a restaurant (you may want to choose one with a children's menu or one with a play area), a relative's home, or, if the weather is nice, a park or zoo.
selecting a theme
Your one-year-old and the infant attendees at the party don't care about party themes. Aiming for a color-coordinated aesthetic or choosing coordinating plates and napkins with a beloved cartoon character may be a good idea, but at this time, it's more for the benefit of the memento images than your child.
Food Make things simple because most of it will likely end up on the floor anyhow!
Both babies and adults can enjoy finger meals, and eating them won't interfere with play or social interaction. Provide for both extremes because some babies may have several teeth and be able to bite into food while others may still be toothless. Cute little sandwiches with cheese spread, mild cheese cubes, and fruit sliced into pieces.
As for beverages, it's a good idea to have water, milk, and maybe diluted fruit juice around for the kids and mineral water and sodas for the adults.
Don't forget a wonderful birthday cake. Some parents like to have a small separate cake for the birthday baby - this way she can smash into it to her heart's content. (It also works to serve cupcakes to everyone, including your baby.) Homemade treats are special, but supermarkets have a great variety available, or try a bakery. You may need to order the cake or cakes in advance. And don't let your baby get too close to the candle as she'll want to grab it, not blow on it.
Recreation & Entertainment
This depends on weather your guests are adults or other children of course!
Party poppers and burst balloons can scare your infant, and leftover poppers and balloons pose a major choking threat to children under the age of three. Why not play a nursery rhyme cassette in the background or dance with your infant while enjoying some musical entertainment? Also, she will take pleasure in hiding toys in boxes or beneath cloths and playing peek-a-boo. Of course, she will appreciate helping you unwrap her presents, even though the fun will be in the wrapping paper rather than the actual item.
Some final tips for your party
Have a spot that is spotless, convenient, and furnished for changing diapers.
Moms who are nursing may appreciate a calm, private place to do so.
It's time to start walking, climbing, and using safety gates and other childproofing tools is crucial.
Store breakables and priceless ornaments away.
Pets should be kept well away from traffic (for their own safety!).
Keep an eye out for potential dangers like forks and other small, ingestible objects in the party area, and swiftly remove them.
Keep a range of toys accessible within a big, secure floor space because babies like to play alongside one another rather than together.
Let your baby and her visitors decide the tempo; take it easy.
Make sure you have a volunteer who is willing to shoot a lot of pictures and videos or a photographer.
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