Overwhelmed by planning 1st birthday??

skigirl118 · June 2012

Am I the only one who is more overwhelmed than excited about planning my daughter's first birthday party? I know it'll be fun but she doesn't really know what's going on yet and all the planning is a bit daunting. Between invitations, food, cleaning and decorating the house, I think I'll be exhausted by the time it comes around. Plus, it just seems like an excuse to ask for gifts. Between the shower and her christening, everyone has already been so generous.

aimeewinn · June 2012

I wouldn't say I am more overwhelmed than excited, but there is alot to do. Just remember though, the 1st birthday party is basically for the adults, LO won't remember or know what's going in. We are doing a jungle theme and there is alot to get and food to plan but it will be worth it. You don't have to ask for gifts, you can mention that on the invite. But I'm sure the grandparents will buy gifts no matter what you say!

emmabug727 · June 2012

You mentioned LO won't know what's going on, so go simple! We're viewing her bday as a celebration for all of us having survived the first year I'm not going crazy with a whole theme - it'll be a backyard BBQ at our house, I think we might do pulled pork, cole slaw, baked beans, veggies & dip, fruit salad and cupcakes - all done in advance so we can enjoy ourselves. Send free online Evites. Our yard is hot in the daytime, so we aren't starting until 5pm and guests can come and go as needed (kids, no kids, etc). We'll keep LO on her usual routine, and then socialize with our adult friends after I put her to bed at 7pm.

Party prep in general can be a little stressful, so I'm not making it worse for myself for someone who doesn't even appreciate it yet! Other than cute coordinated plates/napkins and balloons, I'm going to make & order a Baby's First Year photo flip book (thru shutterfly) for guests to look at and see all the wonderful things that happen in that first year. The only other decor/crafty thing I may attempt is to make a cute 1st bday party hat for her (which she probably will refuse to keep on her head). I'll also hang out the Take Home outfit LO wore, and her baby book.

Save the themes (and all that hard work) for when LO asks for them!

babyAutumn · June 2012

In the past, we've had BBQ in the backyard with grandparents and our own immediate family...so about 15 people. We have friends that invite 30-40 people, which IMO is crazy given that the LO won't remember anything and might feel overwhelmed by all the people and commission. I say just keep it simple and small to enjoy it more and feel less flustered.

brewcitybride · June 2012

Yep, make sure to keep in mind that baby won't remember it. You can still make great memories and get great photos with a small gathering! DD's first birthday party was great. Her birthday is Dec. 30th, so it was very hard to plan, can't do anything outside (Wisconsin) people are partied out or getting ready for their own NYE parties yada yada...

So, we had about 20 people over, mostly family. The grandmas each brought a few dishes, I made the cake and ordered the hot shredded beef, and that was that! Kids played in the rec room, baby had a great time trying cake for her first time, and I was still exhausted:) But it was fun, and I'm glad I didn't do anything bigger.

HappyMama30 · June 2012

Am I overwhelmed by his upcoming 1st birthday? Absolutely not. Inviting family and maybe a few close friends by phone/Facebook. Food will be easy: BBQ, salad, refreshments, and cake. I bought a shirt from Walmart that says Birthday Boy. Not sure what is present will be yet, but something simple. Why stress over it? They are one! As long as your get a picture of them squishing cake into their face that is all that is required of a 1st birthday party. Trust me.

The post last week about the mom planning for bounce castles, loot bags, and cotton candy was pure overkill...

magnoliablossom00 · June 2012

I'm sorry, but if you're THAT overwhelmed, then you're focusing on the wrong things....You do not need to decorate your entire house or keep up with the Jones', so to speak.

Focus on your child, toast you and dh for surviving the first year, grill some hot dogs, have a cute cake, and call it day. It's supposed to be fun! That is the exact reason that we are only inviting our immediate families- I don't want the stress.

dairygirl19 · June 2012

Ditto the pp. I love to entertain/have people over. It's fun for me. I refuse to stress over it. You get what you get and that's that. Worrying about every detail and ridiculous little craft project stresses me the F out and nobody cares anyways.

We're taking LO to the zoo with her aunts, uncles and grandparents on my side the day after her birthday. We'll stop for dinner a long the way and let her have some dessert for picture's sake.

The day of her actually birthday the family and friends in the immediate area is more than welcome to come over for beer, pizza and a DQ cake after work. Cousins and friends kids can run around outside. I might get some cute plates depending on what's fun at the Target, but other than that...whatever.

I'll save the big deal for when she cares...if then.

Then again, only on the internet does the overkill happen in my world. I had a friend rent a park paviliion at the city park and grill up hotdogs with a couple salads juice boxes for the kids and juice box wine for the adults. People thought she was all fancy..lol. It was simpe and fun!

tmwishful · June 2012

Keep it simple. You don't need a theme. He doesn't even know what a theme is. Cake, pictures and fun. People love giving gifts to little ones. He'll be needing new toys and clothes anyway.

2moms2twins · June 2012

skigirl118:
Am I the only one who is more overwhelmed than excited about planning my daughter's first birthday party? I know it'll be fun but she doesn't really know what's going on yet and all the planning is a bit daunting. Between invitations, food, cleaning and decorating the house, I think I'll be exhausted by the time it comes around. Plus, it just seems like an excuse to ask for gifts. Between the shower and her christening, everyone has already been so generous.

I am overwhelmed and have no idea where to start I am just doing family and that alone is 60 people !!! I do know its Hawaiian themed but I am not going buck wild with the theme in that i am not decorating and going crazy and i feel bad

katie4253 · June 2012

If you are overwhelmed you are planning too much or making it too hard. Get some balloons, get a cake, go to the party store and grab some decorations and slap them up.

DenverBride2005 · June 2012

I feel the same way about DS upcoming 1st bday in mid-July, so don't feel bad about feeling a little overwhelmed, but do try to keep it as simple in any way possible--I think sometimes anything outside of our normal somewhat packed routine can be a little overwhelming! We had our friends and their two kids over for dinner for a tiny bbq on Memorial Day weekend and even that was a little overwhelming--DH mostly feels that he can still socialize like normal while I am trying to do three things at once--cook, watch the baby, keep us on schedule, etc. So in planning for the bday I was trying to keep it as simple on myself as possible and just do immediate families for an afternoon/non-mealtime party (just snacks and cupcakes), but then DH really wanted there to be kids there so we are going to also invite our next door neighbors (and their two small kids) and our other friends and their two small kids. I am just going to do as much in advance as possible and if it doesn't get done, it doesn't get done--DS won't know and none of the other guests will either.

heymommy · June 2012

Don't over do it. If you set the bar too high you will feel like you will have to do the same for every b- day party for this child and every child you have after this one. By the time he/she turns 5 you will hate having parties. There is no need to go crazy. Clean the house, get some balloons, have a cook out, serve a birthday cake and take photos. Keep it simple.

ElatedMom2B · June 2012

I am overwhelmed only because both girls are in July - the beginning and end of the month. I am not sure whether or not to do a combined party, not sure where to do one/them since our backyard is currently in disarray since we're putting on a new deck and ripped up the backyard...there is no way that it is going to be seeded and grass start growing in time. We're looking at a local park which is beautiful with gorgeous pavilions, a huge park for the kids to play on, bbq and bathrooms...its just a ton of work and if the weather doesn't cooperate (rain or too hot) than we're pretty screwed. I would say just invite family but all of our family has left (moved out of state) so that doesn't leave much for family. I also know that so many of our close friends are going to be out of town a lot this summer (a lot of teachers so they travel a lot during the summer to visit their families). I think I should just pick a day in the fall and do it! LOL

Lithgirl · June 2012

i understand how and why you're overwhelmed. there's so much to do! i'm also a perfectionist and want to have all the details that make a birthday party look fun and let our guests have fun. i don't care if anyone notices them or not....i guess they ARE more for me! we are requesting that guests no not bring gifts....really, like you said, between the baptism and shower i can't stand to think of having someone buy them one more thing!

we're doing a fun theme bc that's what i do for birthdays. i want my babies to remember their birthday parties -- or to look back at photos and see what a great time people had celebrating their milestone!

try to schedule everything so that you get a little bit done each day and ask friends and family for help so it doesn't get too overwhelming!

Snapdragon750 · June 2012

I can help you re: decorations: STOP!!!

I went SUPER low key for DD's first birthday. I had the family across the street over plus a friend (3 adults, 1 little kid, 1 toddler). I bought special paper goods, a paper tablecloth, and a little "happy birthday" banner, and had a cake and 4 presents. That was it.

And DD almost completely freaked out when she came out from her nap and saw the banner and tablecloth! She is usually so interested in new things, but you just never know what's going to scare a baby I guess. And after having all those people in the house for a couple of hours, she was completely wiped out.

So don't do too much. It's not worth the stress, and your baby would probably prefer that you didn't!

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