STMs - first birthday advice

LisaLisa1980 · January 2014

Looking to hear from Moms who have been there, done that for the first birthday.

I have free access to a big room at a center & had originally planned to have a big bash there including friends and family but now I'm not sure??? Should I have 2 separate ones, one for friends and another for family? Keep it small at our place (my house can only comfortably hold about 13 ppl and we have more family than that for both sides)

The room we have access to is big and has a parking lot, kitchen & bathrooms.

Also, how do you know what time to set it for? Are naps more predictable by then? Right now at 8 months he's sleeping 2-3 hrs in the afternoon anytime between 1-2, and ending around 4.... But having a party at 11 seems early?

Are goody bags still a thing?

Any other advice would be great. I know it's still 4 months away but time goes by fast & I would like to start planning.

runningwild · January 2014

I'll try to answer all your questions from my experience. For my DD1 first bday, we did her party at a park at noon. We kept it pretty low key and only invited our closest family and our best friends. Her naps were pretty predictable by that point. She did a short morning nap and a longer afternoon nap. We didn't do goody bags at this age because all our friends' babies were younger. But at 5, they're a pretty big deal! Lol So yes to the goody bags if you have older kids coming.

In my opinion, the 1st birthday party is mostly for the parents. Baby doesn't really get what's going on. If you have free access and you're into it though, I'd say go for it!

Hope that all made sense! And helps a little!

teach1008 · January 2014

Yep the 1st birthday party is just for the parents (and I'd say the 2nd one too!). We did a combo of friends and family. I was part of a big play group, so there were probably 10-12 1 year olds crawling around my house. It was fun though and we did goody bags with bubbles and I can't remember what else. I'd just do one party and get it done.

I planned ours for later in the day after both naps. You'll be able to pinpoint a time of day when baby is that age.

WeAreSmalls · January 2014

I would just do 1 big party. We still do that as a matter of fact, but I'm thinking about splitting out into 2 parties next year (DD will be 7). You are lucky to have access to the big room so take advantage! I would do goody bags for any kids 3 and over then maybe have something in lieu of a goody bag for the babies (a little board book from the $ section at Target for example). I think we had DD's first birthday party late in the afternoon after her "big" nap of the day but sometimes that is hard to predict. She was asleep when the guests arrived little cranky for the first half our or so. It was really more family than friends at that age and we typically have birthday parties later but DD has been invited to friend's parties as early as 11. At age 1 do what your friends/family normally do in terms of time and party length. Once kids get to be older and the party is focues on their activities, I've noticed the average party is about 2 hours.

LisaLisa1980 · January 2014

What kind of food would you serve?

WeAreSmalls · January 2014

My DD's b-day is around Labor Day so we tended to have a cookout when she was younger. If you are having an inside party, you could do pizza (include a salad for the adults) or get frozen lasagna with salad and garlic bread (it's easy but more of a real meal than pizza). You could also do finger foods (veggie tray, fruit tray, chips and dip) or get subs/sandwhiches (party trays from subway). It's really up to you and how much food you want to provide and how much money you want to spend.

teach1008 · January 2014

The first year when we did ours in the late afternoon we grilled burgers and had salad, veggies, etc. We had pasta for the kids. The past two years we have done a mid-day party from 10-12 and we did bagels and fruit. That was the easiest!

Christmasbaby18 · January 2014

I'm all about picking a theme and going with it. For DD's first birthday we did a winter one-der-land. That won't work in the spring of course. The party is definitely more for the adults depending on if your friends have kids and what ages though. We did DD's party between her two naps around noon and we'll probably do that same time this year for DS. I've already planned his party in my head. I'm doing the hungry caterpillar theme and serving the food from the book. Fruit tray with apple, pear, plum, strawberries, and oranges. salami and cheese tray. and watermelon pops. I'm making a caterpillar shaped cake and probably cupcakes too. I'll have to make DS his own cake since he has allergies but most people do that anyway ( a smash cake). I'm going to put all his monthly photos on a caterpillar with the title "watch me grow".

carrotcake06 · January 2014

We do small family parties - one w my family and one w the ILs since they don't live close to one another.

We do not do themes. Our families don't have small children, so it's really more about the socializing, cake and presents. Adults don't need goody bags, so it's a non issue for us.

I'm big on cakes - I make the cakes for bdays. It's my thing - like other people go all out on the decorations and themes - I go all out making and decorating a cake.

Early afternoon timing is best. I'd do lunch food.

ovaoffice · January 2014

All of the first birthdays I've been to were more about the adults than the kids. I agree with other people who posted that. I wouldn't bother with favors.

We threw a rather large (50 people) combined birthday for my daughter and my grandmother (first and 100th). It was an early dinner, and we ended up putting the birthday girl down for the night mid-way through the party. There were a handful of kids there, but it was mostly about us seeing our friends and family and thanking them for all of the support we received in that first year. One thing I might suggest, which we didn't think of, is to say "no gifts, please" if you do have a huge thing because the avalanche of toys might be more than your home can handle. That was the case with us!

MattysGirl81 · January 2014

We had our older son's first birthday at a neighborhood pool (it's a great pool for little kids). None of our family live in the area, so that wasn't an issue. I had joined a playgroup when DS was 3 months old, so I invited all his baby friends from that group, as well as several other of my friends who happened to have older kids. The party is really about celebrating that everyone made it to a year, the child doesn't know what's going on. I didn't do goody bags. We did do a small "smash cake" for DS which was super fun!
As I remember, I think the party either started at 10 or 11. We had the room for 2 hours, but people could stay and swim as long as they wanted. We get lots of invites for parties that start at 10am even now (DS is 4.5) so that's not a huge issue.

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