Yay my sons first birthday! I'd love some tips & pointers!?

Question

Hello! This is my first child, and first ever one year old party. I was wondering what you do for a first bday! I'm so excited!

Answer 1

The very best advice I can give you is “Don’t sweat it.” Have a small party that doesn’t last too long. A one year old won’t appreciate themes, activities and the like. Just getting a big fat piece of cake is really all they could ever want at age one.

They’ll enjoy opening presents, but not like next year! (Even at two, crazy expensive parties are just too much for the guest of honor! Cake, balloons and decorations are all you need.)

Answer 2

Not to throw cold water on you, keep in mind, the first birthday is exciting.... for the parent.

Your kid will not show much excitement through most parts of the party.

Past that, if you are inviting friends and relatives with kids, have some kind of activity for them, even though the baby is too young. This can just as easily be a video playing in another room, or my sister has a swimming pool so older kids could swim.

Have it fun and get all your photo ops (cake, presents, birthday candles, etc.) but the usual issue of over-stimulation doesn't take a break for this one event, nor does it end after the baby is 364 days old. Have the party be relatively short, expect very little from the birthday boy, plan it around his schedule (not when he's usually napping, fussy, being breastfed if you still do that, etc.)

I realize this makes me sound like more of a party pooper than smelly result of chocolate birthday cake, but the more you try to "make it special" for your son, the more likely you'll be disappointed, and the more likely he'll be tired and fussy.

My last advise is to have a camera and preferably a video camera, particularly during the cake-eating part of the party. Strip him down to his diaper, put him in the high chair, give him a mini version of the big cake, and sit back and watch what he does. Every child goes into the cake differently, and every one of them are funny.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Whatever theme you decide on, keep it simple! Your son will have plenty of attention and new things to do without going overboard on games and such! Save that for when he's a few years older. One helpful tip I can give is on the cake. Many bakeries will give you a small cake in addition to the sheet cake for a one year old birthday (I know most Walmarts do). This is good so that he can dig in real good- be sure to have the camera ready!! It also helps to put a large bib on him, or better yet do what I did for both my kids, undress him right down to the diaper. Trust me, you'll thank me later! Most of all have fun & keep it simple!

Answer 4

For my daughters first birthday we just had a few relatives over with a cake etc. There is no point in going crazy with a big party with a bunch of kids your son won't know the difference. I would keep that for his second or third birthday.

Answer 5

Both of my kids are August babies 2 years apart - for each of them, I had an outdoor party - and used it as an excuse to get all the family and close friends together - we don't get to do it often, we're spread out over 2 hours (travel time). This worked great. Mostly adults - everyone young to old had a great time and were glad to get together. They got their own little 6 inch cake to go wild with and the rest was adult oriented. The kids had a great time, new toys, played with cake, tons of attention.

Answer 6

lol.....my daughter could care less.....lol If I could do it all again i would do things differently.
1. Invite more grown-ups than children
2. Give birthday invitation explaining that's it's an adult party but gift for the baby are expected
3. BBQ and no finger foods for baby!
4. Regular bedtime and crank it up after that.

things I would do the same.
1. Get her own little cake and spread out garbage bads putting them both on the floor and letting her have at it. Great for pictures.

Answer 7

congratulations and happy birthday. just keep it simple this time. I really don't like it when the parents give the baby a whole cake to play in. that's personal opinion, though. I'd invite close family or friends and just have a simple party.

Answer 8

I think this is so cute for a boy, have a party with a fishing theme. On the invitation write please help ______catch the big ONE! and you can give out gummy fish, have a little fishing pond made with a plastic pool, ect.
other things to keep in mind:
keep it down to about 5 kids (if possible) have mostly adults
have the party outside
Try not to stress yourself out over it
Take lots of pictures!! and Have FUN!!

Answer 9

With my son I bought him a small cake and I let him go crazy with it. They love that. other than that theres not much more for a 1 year old

Answer 10

Whatever you decide make sure you plan the party time according to his nap schedule. Either way before or an hour or so after he wakes. There is nothing fun about it for him or you if he is overtired.