Halloween 1St Birthday Party

My suggestion is make sure you let everyone know its only happy, fun costumes. Nothing scary!!!

Have cupcakes and you can let the little ones decorate them :) It will be messy but it will be fun!

As far as decorating, the little mini pumpkins are cute and fun--you could put them around the house and do a few light up pumpkins outside.

1 year olds are not huge fans of people in costume, a lot of times. i'd be careful with that.

very cool that his birthday is around halloween, halloween is the best! i see a ton of fun parties in your future.

just something to consider though...maybe keep it tame this year. 1 year old parties are rarely much fun for the 1 year old. think of him. a few close friends and family that he knows and loves. i'd keep it simple. they get overwhelmed easily and tired quickly, as you know. a huge blowout wouldn't be fun for him.

Our DS has an october B-day. For his first, we threw a "monster party." The invite read - "our little monster is turning one, join us at our apartment (details re: time and location) for a monstrously good time. costumes optional." We had a monster pinata; pin the ears, nose, fangs, fur on the two headed monster game; a feed the monster bean bag toss; a make a monster craft (tie pillows from oriental trading company); a monster birthday cake, and smashcake. We served pizza, fruit and vegetables and clear beverages, such as ginger ale, white grape juice and white wine. About half the kids came in costume, hubs and I wore costumes too. We had monsters inc. on in the background.

DS was overwhelmed and clingy throughout the party, but not frightened as such. At one, parties are really more for our benefit and enjoyment than for theirs.

Have fun, and goos luck to you and yours,
F. B.

Fun. If the other kids attending are a little older, these snacks will work:
-Martha Stewart had these ghost crackers (you serve w/guacamole)
-tombstone graveyard cake (you could do cupcakes)
-eyeball soup (tomato soup w/floating tortellini)
-spiderweb cheesecake
-pizza dough lady finger complete w/red fingernail tips (red peppers)
-bloody lasagna

-hanging bats from the ceiling w/fishing line
-black & orange crepe paper
-haunted mansion cutout along one wall (you make out of a big cardboard
box (like for a fridge) that you cut open, lay out flat, cut out windows &
spray paint black
-dry ice bubbling out of your punch bowl
-spider rings on the table for decorations & for the older kids
-spider web cotton decorating all the corners

Hope that helps. Happy birthday!

Updated

Fun. If the other kids attending are a little older, these snacks will work:
-Martha Stewart had these ghost crackers (you serve w/guacamole)
-tombstone graveyard cake (you could do cupcakes)
-eyeball soup (tomato soup w/floating tortellini)
-spiderweb cheesecake
-pizza dough lady finger complete w/red fingernail tips (red peppers)
-bloody lasagna

-hanging bats from the ceiling w/fishing line
-black & orange crepe paper
-haunted mansion cutout along one wall (you make out of a big cardboard
box (like for a fridge) that you cut open, lay out flat, cut out windows &
spray paint black
-dry ice bubbling out of your punch bowl
-spider rings on the table for decorations & for the older kids
-spider web cotton decorating all the corners

Hope that helps. Happy birthday!

He's only one so keep it very light and fun and magical. Nothing with ghosts or bats or worse. Have pumpkins, fresh flowers for fall time and harvest kinds of things out instead of the scary stuff.

Make sure everyone knows it's not scary. Babies really don't like costumes at this age and often get very afraid even of a clown or fairy costume -- I've seen it happen many times.

Have Fun

Careful with costumes on adults. 1 year olds frighten easy. Keep it light on the decorations too, for the same reason. Pumpkins and black and orange balloons for sure. Little ones love balloons.