If you’re the parent of a child turning one, it’s time to start planning their first birthday party! Ideas for a baby’s first birthday party can be overwhelming, and there are many different opinions on what is best.
That’s why we’ve put together this blog post with all our favorite ideas – from decorations, food, activities, and more. Sit back with your cup of tea or coffee (or wine!) and read through these helpful tips to make sure that you have everything planned out just right!
1st birthday party ideas: Invites
Before you consider anything else, you need to think about who you want to invite to your child’s birthday party.
This will influence everything else, including what food and drink to buy and prepare and what kind of entertainment or games you’ll want to organize.
In this section, we take a look at how to write a guest list, invite ideas, and how to deal with any awkwardness if you need to limit the number of people coming to your child’s birthday party.
– Ideas for Baby’s First Birthday Party
Ideas: Ideas for a baby’s first birthday party can be overwhelming, and there are so many different opinions on what is best.
That’s why we have put together this blog post with ALL our favorite ideas – from decorations, food, activities, and more.
Sit back with your cup of tea or coffee (or wine!) and read through these helpful tips to make sure that you have everything planned out just right!
1st birthday party ideas: food and drink
It’s not a party without party food, and there’s an excellent opportunity to impress guests with some tasty treats.
When it comes to catering for little ones, it’s best to opt for finger foods and soft foods that are easier to eat. An excellent approach to party food is buffet-style, so guests can help themselves choose what they want to eat. This way, you can ensure you’re catering for both children and grown-ups.
– Ideas for Baby’s First Birthday Party
Ideas: Ideas for a baby’s first birthday party can be overwhelming, and there are so many different opinions on what is best.
That’s why we have put together this blog post with ALL our favorite ideas – from decorations, food, activities, and more.
Sit back with your cup of tea or coffee (or wine!) and read through these helpful tips to make sure that you have everything planned out just right!
Food/Drink Ideas: It isn’t a party without some tasty treats; when catering for little ones, consider finger foods that are easier for them to eat.
An excellent approach to party food is buffet style – allowing guests to help themselves and choose what they want to eat. This way, you can ensure that you are catering to both children and grown-ups.
Activity Ideas: Ideas for a baby’s first birthday party include everything from decorations, food, activities, games – the list goes on! But how do you know what activity is best?
To help make it easier, we have listed some of our favorite ideas below, including age-appropriateness, so you can be sure that everyone will enjoy them.
Do you make or buy a cake?
An essential part of the party is, of course, the cake. While your baby will probably get more on the floor than in their mouth, you will remember your baby’s first cake forever.
Older guests will likely get more out of the cake than your little one, but it’s always nice to get a showstopper that’s impossible to forget.
Whether you make the cake yourself, hire a professional, or pick one up from the supermarket, it’s entirely up to you.
But whatever you choose, there’s plenty of options out there to make your baby’s first birthday a special one.
Check out this roundup of the most impressive first birthday cakes we’ve ever seen. They won’t be easy to replicate, but they’re sure to impress if you can manage one!
Should you have alcohol for a first birthday party?
Alcohol is a tricky topic, and discretion is advised when it comes to making the call. We doubt your guests will expect a fully stocked wine bar or a fridge full of beers, but a glass of prosecco or some non-alcoholic cocktails could be an excellent way to toast the special occasion without overdoing it.
Michael says, “I’m always of the mindset that a children’s party should be for children. If you’re doing alcohol, then the grown-ups will no doubt appreciate this, although I don’t think they expect it.”
1st birthday party ideas: games and entertainment
Keep planned activities to a minimum at your baby’s first birthday party. One-year-olds are unlikely to have the attention span or skills to participate in many games, so don’t worry too much about organizing anything unless you have some older children coming too.
If you want to include entertainment at your party, there are plenty of options that will keep both the children and adults entertained! Ideas for a baby’s first birthday party can be overwhelming, and it’s important to know what suits both groups.
That’s why we have put together this blog post with all our favorite ideas – from decorations, food, activities, and more. Sit back with your coffee or wine (or tea!) and read through these helpful tips to make sure that you have everything planned out just right!
1st birthday party ideas: Costumes
A one-year-old won’t appreciate fancy dresses, but they will look cute – and provide some great photo opportunities you can look back on for years to come.
If you want to get really into a fancy dress theme, you can buy all sorts of costumes for babies – such as animals, superheroes, fairies to suit any theme. John Lewis and Amazon have excellent, affordable options.
If you’re trying to keep costs down or aren’t that keen on fancy dress, a few party hats will make for some nice pictures on the big day.
1st birthday party ideas: Party bags
Party bags are a fun way to give back to your guests, but, likely, babies won’t get much from them. With this in mind, there’s no need to spend a fortune on its contents. Small, meaningful gifts are much more appropriate for a 1st birthday party.
As well as a slice of cake, you could also give other babies some bibs or socks, a little book, crafts like crayons or chalk, bubbles, and something like a rattle to play with.
Thank you cards are also a nice gesture and can easily be added to the party bag at the end of the event. Michael adds, “It’s not essential, but it’s a nice touch.
Parents will often appreciate it. Froogle’s Parties have free resources on their website that parents can use to thank guests.
1st birthday party ideas: Venues
It’s a good idea to hold your baby’s first birthday party at your house or a relative’s house, as it’ll be a familiar and comfortable setting. You don’t want your little one getting too overwhelmed in a strange location.
However, you might fancy something a bit different or want to avoid the cleaning up! If that’s the case, there’s a couple of ideas you could consider to celebrate with your little one.
Indoor soft play center: Any indoor soft play center with a baby area is a great idea for a first birthday party! Babies will be able to play on the delicate shapes and in the ball pit too.
You could enquire if the center does special party deals, including food and a party bag at the end.
The park: If your baby was born in warmer months, a trip to the park is a great option. Get some friends to all bring a different food and have a little picnic – babies can play with outdoor toys, roll around in the grass and have a go on the swings!
Don’t forget to always take your litter home with you, and not leave it bags up by any overflowing bins.
What is a good time of day for a 1st birthday party?
Babies rely heavily on routines, so it’s a good idea to plan their birthday celebrations around nap time and feeding time. You know your baby better than anyone, but experts suggest hosting it at around 10 am, if that’s possible.
A 10 am party means you can serve brunch for your guests, and little ones will be wide awake and ready to enjoy the party fun.
It also means you can wrap things up earlier, so you can set the baby down for their nap and get on with the cleanup. Of course, that might not always be possible – if you have guests traveling some distance or you’re unable to set up at a booked venue.
How much should you spend on a 1st birthday party?
Everyone’s budget is different, but Michael notes that spending loads on a party don’t necessarily mean it will be better or that children will enjoy it more. He said it’s a common misconception that many parents can have.
Michael says, “The more you spend doesn’t necessarily equate to the more children enjoy the party. It is often the opposite.
“Often parents will spend heaps of money on an overload of activities that are just too much for kids to absorb all at once. e.g., an entertainer on one end of the room while also having a bouncy castle
in one corner, a face painter, a mobile pet party for another part of the party, a candy floss machine somewhere else, etc. Many parents often assume that having all these things will make it a wonderful party to remember. But that isn’t the case.”
Instead, he recommends focusing on one or two things that will keep them entertained and allow them to enjoy the party. When it comes to little ones, they love giving their attention to one thing and enjoying it.
Conclusion:
Ideas for a Baby’s First Birthday Party: Ideas for Baby’s Third Birthday Party, Ideas for a Childs (sic) Second Birthdays (sic), and Ideas to Celebrate My Son on His Second Year Old Birthday.
– To save time, it’s possible to send out cards after the party has taken place with their name in them. Parents can use some great free resources from Froogle Parties as thank you cards, too – so have fun!
