Hosting a 1 Year Old Birthday Party.

My son will be turning one in November as well and we're planning a small party at home for him. Family, a couple neighbors and a few friends he knows will be invited. We'll do cake (or cupcakes- I can't decide) and do some sort of activity that he enjoys like swinging outside or catching bubbles or air up our inflatable baby pool and fill it with plastic balls for a homemade ball pit. Then we'll open gifts before guests leave. Being a November birthday and with weather a bit unpredictable, plan for stuff to do inside and out so your options are open for good weather or bad.

Good luck with your planning- I'm sure he'll love it no matter what you do!

Hi G.,
I am a child entertainer and have seen all types of wonderful celebrations for 1 year olds up to teens.

Depending on your budget, the nicest 1st birthday party I ever witnessed was a private party reserved at a nice restaurant (Maggianos up in Plano). It was not too big of a party, but the mom decorated the private room really nice (all in 1's type stuff), had a beautiful cake made, had a very nice dinner served, and then me as the entertainer (I am like Build-a-Bear, but I come to your party and I do not use a machine to stuff the animals as the kids stuff the animals themselves. It makes for a nice entertainment AND take home gift for your guests).
Other one year old parties we just family ones at their homes. Which were also very nice. There is a ton of 1's type decorations.
I will say that most 1's parties do tend to be more family and close friends, though, as to not overwhelm the birthday child.
R. B.

Hi, The best thing I like to do with the first birthdays is to have lots of family and a lunch like a bbq or spagetti from the olive garden in pans or what ever you like and just have a fun casual family and friends party... if there are other children there decorate and have bubble machine and some kid friendly snacks like goldfish, teddy grams and juice boxes. I love to get my cakes from the Cake stand in down town McKinney ( www.thecakestand.com ) and if you need any favors or custom gifts then let me know...

A. J
www.celebritypartyfavors.com

I agree to keep it simple, and to not stress. It is mainly for you and the family, b/c he won't remember it. But still make it fun and memorable for you! I have a friend who makes cakes, and can do pretty much anything! They are delicious, and she gets real creative with them! Check out her website www.alloccasioncakes.vpweb.com, or call Mindy at ###-###-####.

What I have learned from my 3 kids' 1st birthday parties is that they are really just for the guests. All my kids were clueless that the party was something special for them. They were also overwhelmed by all the people that filled out house. The first one I went theme-crazy and invited a bunch of her friends and their families and had favors for every single guest along with a full meal. It was such a waste of time, energy and money. A cute cake and a light meal would have been so much easier. For our 2nd and 3rd kids(who are now 3 and 19 mo.) we invited only close family. We did have cute themes and cakes, some helium balloons and small party favors for my other kids and their cousins. I would save all your major plans for a later birthday ... probably 3. Before that, a birthday party is pretty much just a playdate with cake. Congrats on your little one turning 1.

Don't over plan. My son slept through this first Christmas and it really upset me that he was no there. As said below, they are unpredictable, may spkie a fever, throw up all his cake, etc. Just don't stress. Have a good time and take it as it comes. I would def keep the location at home for those unexpected surprises.

My two cents: This party is more for you than for him. You are celebrating one-year as a family. And 1-year old's are unpredictable. So my general advise is to keep in simple, whatever you do. Congrats on your upcoming bday!

I know that having a first birthday is VERY special, been there done that 3 times! Speaking from experience, you might want to think about keeping it simple - at least for this birthday. Invite just a few kids over, (and their parents, of course!) for a BBQ or even just cake and ice cream. Your son won't remember any clowns, bounce houses, ponies, or any other stuff like that. Remember, this party is for your son, NOT for the guests. Have some toys for the kids to play with, but I wouldn't make a big show of it. That is just my opinion, but it worked for us. Good luck with your plans, and congrats on the first birthday!!

Hi G.
It is my daughter's second birthday today and we are still keeping it simple. She loves balloons, so we filled a small room with balloons for her to play in. Like a giant ball pit! We prepared it last night while she was sleeping so it was waiting for her when she got up this morning. It was fun to watch her discover the balloons! A little later we will have a family with three little children around her same age over for cake and coffee and to play. (Our family is overseas.) This afternoon after her nap she will find her present, which is a rocking horse. And then we will go swimming. We try to fill her day with things she loves, without making it too much of a drama! And I have time to type messages in stead of cooking or running around ;-)

We had a big party for my eldest's first and boy, was it miserable. By the time the fun started (presents, ofcourse! :) ) she was cranky and over it.

With our second, we had a small family gathering. MUCH better. The cutest thing was getting a small cake just for her & letting her play in it naked. She LOVED squishing that thing with her hands & feet, even sitting in it. It was so much more enjoyable for everyone, having a small get together rather than the big deal we made of our eldest's first birthday.

What about a puppet show? I took my kids to a 1 year party and they had a puppet show and I was amazed that the kids were all paying attention.. afterwards they were all given items to make their own puppets but of course the little ones needed help but it was fun!

How about shaved ice or sno-men? www.candisno.com

I stumbled across this website the other day and really liked it. www.birthdaypartyideas.com It has every theme imaginable and what the parents did for invitations, games, decor, etc. By each idea they list the age the party was for.

Hi G. - I'm a first time mom also. All of my family is on the east coast, so we really didn't do anything special for the 1st B-day because he has NO idea it's his B-day. It was more of a warm-fuzzy in my heart than a party. I'm going to "save" the special party for when he's a little older, perhaps 3 or 4 for a couple of reasons - because he'll have more friends to share it with, and he'll understand that it's his special day.

It's a special day for you, and since he won't understand that, but your friends/family will, have a birthday gathering for him that is special for you :) Enjoy & Congrats!