Poll: What time for 1st birthday party?

MrsKLB · May 2010

What time of day did you/will you have a first birthday party? Brady doesn't really have a certain time he has to nap every day, so we can be flexible as far as he is concerned, but what time have you found works for most kids (since there will be other babies there)?

We want to do some outdoor activities (wagon rides, sprinklers, etc.) and it will be July - so hot - if that helps...

Daisygirl613 · May 2010

i think i scheduled Jax's at 4...so it was after naptime. that is the plan for bday #2 as well

slwprincess · May 2010

Do you plan to serve a meal or just do appetizers and cake and ice cream? If you are doing a full meal- then I would say lunch time or early dinner time (5 ish). Otherwise I would do mid to late afternoon so that if other kids are coming it will be after their naps and people will have already eaten.

maykat · May 2010

Because of the heat, I would do 10 am. That's the time we are doing for Alec's birthday in late June.

We have done both of our kids' first birthdays around 2-4ish (start time) and this is because it was mainly a party for adults.

DzsGirl · May 2010

If its going to be hot, I'd say early (like 11:00) or later (like 4:00 or 5:00). My boys bday are in August and we are doing an outdoor party, so we are doing it from 5-7.

hthomas02 · May 2010

I think both our boys parties were at like 4 or 430, we brought in fox brothers so it was kind of an early dinner kind of thing and playing and such

ebearwife · May 2010

Most kids nap from 12-2 at 1yo so I think we did Ps party at 2 or 3. I had to wake her from her nap (which I HATE) but she was good to go once she saw it was HER party, all the pools and ball pools set out and she got to ride the wagon into the party like a princess. I think 1yos are pretty flexible if you show them a good time and at least squeeze some nap time in beforehand.

FWIW, I don't take P to parties scheduled at 1PM bc that is smack dab in the middle of nap. Either she is taking a nap at that time or she desperately needs one. If you are doing a small lunch party in the yard, 11AM sounds perfect, 10AM even better, but I would wrap things up by 1230 or 1 at the LATEST. I would stay away from a party starting after 5PM for a 1yo. That is asking for a meltdown from somebody unless you are mostly inviting adults and the kiddos will only be there for an hour and you can get B to bed at his normal time without a whole lot of fuss. Recently we did a Gymbo party at 530 and I almost didn't take P bc of that time but she did great, but then she is almost two. The ride home was some drama, though. Whining, sugar crash, witching hour, all in the car...fun times.

AugustaBride04 · May 2010

For Hailey's first birthday we did 4:30 - 6:30 and served a full meal. I loved this time b/c kids could get their naps in. For her second, we did 11 am - 1 pm and served lunch. We had it at a jumpy place and had fewer time options. Then all the kiddos rushed home for naps. I like to plan things around nap time.

MLvK · May 2010

I think since it will be hot an early party is better. That and to accommodate Bailey's friends' naps. You're lucky he's flexible. Evie was the same way.

UGAbride · May 2010

For a 1st birthday, we usually do a 4pm party, since my one year olds were up from 2nd nap by then. Mornings did not work, because they both still took a morning nap. We do not attend parties that start at 2pm because it's such a nightmare to get them there...there is no way I can have them down and back up from a nap before that, and if I keep them up they just fall asleep in the car on the way there and then are complete monsters when we wake them. I can do 1pm, we will have lunch out and go straight there, or I can do 3pm b/c they can take a short nap beforehand, but I have never been able to make 2pm work.

amanda_holbird@hotmail.com · May 2010

With both boys, we started their parties at 11 a.m. I also served lunch, too. I was hoping to get everyone out of the house around 2 p.m., but it didn't work. Everyone stayed the entire day and it ended up being fine.

dbryson · May 2010

We did like 10:30 or 11 am. Evenings are kinda melty for us.

budgetbride26 · May 2010

I think you could either do morning or late afternoon depending on what type of food you wanted to serve. I'd just stay clear of the 12-3pm time due to the heat and nap times.

I can't believe Brady is going to be one!! He is such a cutie!

care99 · May 2010

Late afternoon because naps were over and out of the way. We did BBQ and an early dinner and it worked out great. However, we didn't have too many kids there. 1st birthdays are usually more of an adult thing (though this year a lot more of our friends have kids, so I'm not sure what I"m going to do). I plan around naptimes!

MrsKLB · May 2010

Thanks everyone! I think we'll do late afternoon... maybe 4-6 or something like that since we're planning to provide some food. It will be mostly adults but several of our friends have kids so we wanted to try to plan around nap time as much as possible.

kep · May 2010

Early, like, at 10 a.m.

OR

Late afternoon/evening ... around 5ish

JoelsGirl07 · May 2010

Honestly, I would take a poll of the people you expect to actually come. Everyone on here had good points for their time preferences, but they are all over the place! Eli's friends tend to be morning and late afternoon nappers so I think we will do his from 11-1 knowing full well that people will be late, and some will stay late.

Daisy22 · May 2010

The family one is going to be 11-2. This is Bailey's best time of day usually. If we do one for friends, we'll do it around 4pm and do a cook out.

OctoberGal2007 · May 2010

Jules birthday is in July as well so I am having her party between her nap times, from 11-2.

bridebabe05 · May 2010

naps are all over the place to predict with Amelia. But I would rec morning about 10am or late about 4 or 430. (based on my exp with Cammies 1st bday)

We are doing a combo this year for Amelias 1st and Cammies 3rd and its 1-3(so we will see how Amelia does with that-my guess is not...lol)

missmlp · May 2010

4:00pm that way he could get his nap. By then he was down to 1 nap so we needed to make sure he got that nap in. I think as he gets older I will do early morning parties so I can catch a break or have afternoon parties out of the house. I've noticed the later the party the later guest will stay which makes for a LONG day for me as a hostess. I would spend the morning getting ready, party in the late afternoon, and guest staying all night. Therefore it was an all day event with no break for me.

Want a personalized experience?

Poll: What time for 1st birthday party?

Re: Poll: What time for 1st birthday party?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards