First birthday questions

l.m.k.

#1 - How far in advance did you send out invites?

#2 - What gifts are good ideas for a first birthday? I'd like to give my parents and in laws some ideas. Nora's pretty close to walking.

#3 - What time of day did you have the party? I can't decide if I should have it at 11 (after her morning nap) and serve lunch or have it at 4 (after her afternoon nap) and serve appetizers.  

Superchicy

1.  We sent out invites I think 3 weeks ahead, but we had some family that was coming from OOT.  Otherwise I think I would have sent them 2 weeks ahead. 

2.  DD's favorite gift from last year was the Melissa and Doug Noah's Ark.  She has played with it daily since.  Along with blocks, puzzles, crayons and coloring books.   She also likes the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Door.  She stopped playing with it for a while, and now she's back to loving it again.

3.  I honestly think either time would be good.  We had DD's at 1pm and still ended up putting out a lot of food.  I would pick when you think she would be happiest.  Do you think the party would run into her 2nd nap if you had it earlier?  We had a ton of family at ours so I think her party ran like 3 hrs just because everyone was talking and just hanging out, but DD was down to 1 nap at that point.

Klmorgan83

1.  I think I sent them out about a month to 3 weeks before.

2.  His biggest gift was a wagon.  He got a lot of books, puzzles, shape sorter things, a ball popper - loud and annoying but he enjoyed it!

3.  We had it at 1 I believe, right after one of his naps.  I'd just do it whenever you think she'd be happiest, because a cranky baby makes a party difficult!

kel716

1.  3 weeks.  But DS's first bday party was more of a party for us than for him. 

2.  Lately I've been giving this for 1st bday gifts, and every parent has come back to me a few weeks later and said it's the 1 toy they keep playing with.  https://www.amazon.com/Vtech-Pull-Learn-Car-Carrier/dp/B0027CS7B8/ref=sr_1_16?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1310309068&sr=1-16

That said, other favorites included his cushy McQueen chair, a small tool chest thing with drawers/balls and a shape sorter that I picked up at OUAC, and his cozy coupe.  He also got a set of TotSports toys from Little Tikes and still plays with them now.  The other really helpful gift was clothes... my stock of those had dwindled, so clothing was really helpful.   

3.  We had ours at 5 pm.  I had family coming in that day, so I had to do a later afternoon time, and I wanted to guarantee we avoided nap time.

 

Brougham7-15-06

1. about 4 weeks prior

2. I think anything that lights up, plays music etc.  I just bought Audrey that new Elefun toy that just came out. Super cute!

3. Ours is starting at 3:30 and we will have snacks and dinner

Brougham7-15-06

Klmorgan83:

1.  I think I sent them out about a month to 3 weeks before.

2.  His biggest gift was a wagon.  He got a lot of books, puzzles, shape sorter things, a ball popper - loud and annoying but he enjoyed it!

3.  We had it at 1 I believe, right after one of his naps.  I'd just do it whenever you think she'd be happiest, because a cranky baby makes a party difficult!

oh yea, forgot about this. Jacob got one for his 1st birthday...we still use it!