1st baby birthday HELP!!

NIcole - posted on 08/24/2009

I would do a toddler buffet of bite sized snacks. Goldfish, cut up fruit, cheese, etc. If you want your baby to really get into eating their birthday cake, I recommend putting those "puffs" snacks or cheerios on the cake to get them started and then they should dive right in.

Trina - posted on 08/24/2009

my daughter just had my granddaughter 1st birthday party it was great...she put paint on the childrens hands as they got there and had them put it on her scrap book paper then took there picture(she making a scrapbook for her daughter for when she has a child to share)...she had water slide for older kids and a kiddy pool for lil ones put all her toys that can go outside for them to play...she served hot dogs, hamburger, chips, punch, cake and home made ice cream the children pretty much entertain themselves.. when they left she had goody bags filled with things they would enjoy..was a fun day for all that attended....i would suggest just let them be themselves and play it will be less stressful for you ...good luck

Cori - posted on 08/24/2009

fruit, mashed things and wings what fun

Jill - posted on 08/23/2009

I ditto on the no games because a 1 year old party really is for Mom & Dad and the everlasting "cake eating" photo. Give the kids some bubbles from machine and they will giggle. I do belive it is possible to have a 2 hour b-day party, just keep to schedule and open gifts while everyone is eating and then have cake and sing, because really - if you aren't related, others really don't want to stay, they just show up because you came to their 1-year old's party. Take tons of photos and enjoy just being with the friends and family...something to share later!

Ann - posted on 08/23/2009

no games, just a simple menu with finger fods and a wonderful cake for the 1 yr old and another for the crowd

Carianne - posted on 08/22/2009

I saw a really cool idea online. It suggested using a "ball theme" for young kids. Pretty much decorating with colored balls and buying some for the kids to play with in the house. With my daughter's first bday party we really didn't do games. The adults just watched the kids play as entertainment. :-) With my son's party though there will be older cousins there, so I think I'm going to have to do something. I second the not overwhelming your 1 year old too, though!

Michelle - posted on 08/22/2009

Unless you have several older kids coming to the party I would skip the games. The birthday child is not going to care. The child is little and you don't want to do to much. With all the guests you don't want to overwhelm him/her and cause a meltdown. Hope it goes well.

Kristen - posted on 08/22/2009

A great game, in my opinion, for a first bday party is to print up a survey of facts about your baby, example: What color is (your child's name) eyes? Or: What was (your child's name) first word? etc... On another note, I found a really cute idea for party favors while looking for ideas for my son's first bday. Here it is:



Recycle to Make Favors:

Baby-food jars become decorative candleholders. Embellish with a ribbon and a few words from the birthday star.

Simple how-to: Wash and dry one empty baby-food jar for each guest. Cut patterned paper into a 1 1/2" X 8" strip. Print or handwrite a message from your child onto solid paper. Cut into a 1/2" X 8" strip, and glue onto patterned paper strip. Then hot-glue layered strips onto jar, overlapping ends. Add a dab of glue to the bottom of a votive candle and place in jar. To finish, tie a ribbon around jar.



Hope this is helpful!

Avery - posted on 08/21/2009

I second the no games-thing, unless you have older children at the party who need more activity. My daughter's 1st birthday is in September and I'll be having about 6 kids (oldest is 4, youngest is 6 months) and their parents over, plus family. I'm just letting the kids go wild with whatever toys I have on hand. As for food, I've decided to have a "Toddler Buffet": cubes of cheese, cheerios, crackers and toddler puffs, yoghurt, applesauce, cut-up soft fruits, hummus and pita, possibly some veggies... that way the parents can piece together a meal or snack (even a parfait!) for them. Sandwiches for the parents (and sangria!), juice and water for the kids, small cake for "smashing", and cupcakes for all! I'm arranging lootbags for the kiddies with items such as crayons or chalk, bubbles (a HUGE hit with any kid), stickers, small tubs of playdough, a rubber duckie, a baggie of goldfish crackers, and a home made cookie. It sounds like a lot, but I picked up 90% of it at Michaels on clearance or on sale (you could also check out a Dollar Store). The infant gets a loot bag too, but with a teether and spoon instead of the playdough, etc. Have fun!!

Rhonda - posted on 08/21/2009

If thats your 1st child its kind of hard to know what a 1yr old can eat. I would suggest soft foods like noodles, pastas,mash potatoes.But to me it depends on how many teeth she has. But i like how you are throwing her a Fairy tale themed party that sounds cute.My 1st babies were twins @ like you I try to figure out what they should eat, what to do how to handle certain situations @ everything.My best advice to you is talk to your family they can probably givea lot more helpful advice.

Janine - posted on 08/21/2009

dont do games just get multiples of the same toy at this age they want what the other has and this stops the trouble before it starts. they can take them home as favors

Wanda - posted on 08/21/2009

agree first birthdays are a celebration of family and survival of sleepless nights, teething and firsts. i tell my girls think back to your favorite birthday, what do you remember., all the answers evolve around fun with friends and family not extravagant foods or crazy time consuming gimmicks. enjoy this first birthday this is just the beginning of great memories

Julie - posted on 08/21/2009

Ask yourself this: IS the birthday for me or my little princess?

At age 1 they barely understand a party let alone a birthday.

I always did family only with dinner followed with the opening of gifts and then ice cream and cake.

At age 1 it is a stressfree way to go for everyone... in fact, it is that way until they are school-age and really grasp what things are all about! THEN the teacher gave me the last 1/2 hour of the school day for a party that left no one out -

Kristy - posted on 08/21/2009

Your baby's first birthday is really more about you as a Mom & a celebration of your baby - I wouldn't expect a 1 year old to get super involved, they might even nap through the whole thing. There is an adarable "Fairy in the Woods" party theme on Cookie Magazine's Website you could look at for motivation and you can also find amazing ideas from other Mom's on BirthdayPartyIdeas.com - you just enter your theme and they will examples of food, invites, games, for different age ranges - very helpful. About the food - the First Birthday is a great time to try your first bite of cake and you could do some cute little ladybug, flower bite foods (Strawberries cut in half with chocolate chips for the dots and licorice for the antennaes) - look on FamilyFun Magazine or Parents Magazine - they always have a ton of cute kids foods. I would decorate cute, take care of your guests with great food, the perfect fairy cake (take a picture from your favorite book to the cake decorater), get some cute fairy wings and a little soft flower crown and tutu for your cutie, take lots of pictures & just enjoy! Love the theme idea - you can do such enchanting things with it). Have fun and don't stress too much - it is such a special time!

Barbara - posted on 08/21/2009

Just a couple of things. If you start parties with having food then people tend to expect food for all the other parties. If you want just snacks, cake, and ice cream, then time of party should not fall at lunch or dinner time. I always have food and the parties are at 1pm. I do not do games. I get a pinata and no gift bags, less time and the kids love to hit it. The kids at the party play together and it is too hectic for games. When I have been to other parties they have had pin the tail on the donkey or make your own craft of some sort. Apple bobbing would be fun and is the time of the season for October. I have 4 kids and the oldest is 9. I have had many birthday parties. If you do food, cake, ice cream, you will be tired and won't have time for games. If you have enough children/people at the party they will make their own fun. Good luck and choose wisely. Our parties are always over 3 hours and no set games.

Traci - posted on 08/20/2009

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with games for a first bday party. We've thrown 3 now. We did food (fried chicken, mostaccoli, beef sandwhiches, potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, baked beans, marshmallow salad, chips, veggie trays, etc), opened gifts, and then cake and ice cream. With our second, we had a huge bouncy house for the kids, which was a hit. Then, on the way out the door, all the young guests were given goody bags (which were LOADED with fun stuff). I love throwing bday parties...

Abbie - posted on 08/20/2009

We just did our 16 month olds in april, we didn't do games. We just did the happy first birthday ( which there are tons of that in boy and girl) then we just did cheese & Crackers, chips & Dip, cake and ice cream plus it was over in 2-3 hours, much longer and they are too tired! Plus so is MOM and dad.

Krista - posted on 08/20/2009

I don't really think games are gonna be a hit at a one year old's party. I'd just let her do her thing.

Sharon - posted on 08/20/2009

Try google. There are like a gazillion fairy party things out there.