1st Birthday Party Ideas

Looking to make your baby’s first birthday a very special event? Here are some 1st Birthday Party Ideas all of which have been carefully researched from many leading books & internet sites together with first hand tips & ideas from all you parents.

1st Birthday Party Ideas & Tips:

Keep the party simple and flexible. Let your baby set the pace of the party.

1 year old’s love having your attention as they are closely attached to their parents at this stage. So keeping the party small and intimate with just a few close friends and relatives may help your baby to enjoy their special day.

Time the party just after a nap time, afternoon may be best. Check with other parents for nap times of their babies, to make sure they are not tired!

Provide a nappy changing area for guests.

Provide a private quiet area for parents who may want to breast-feed.

Keep an eye out for your pets!!!

1st Birthday Party Ideas - Baby riding dog

In fact it might be a good idea to remove pets, ornaments and any other breakable items.

Stairgates and fireguards may be needed to stop access to dangerous areas.

Cater for older siblings who may attend; organise an older child or adult to help with some simple party games.

Keep the party short - up to 1 hour and a half is usually enough for little attention spans.

Find out if there are any food allergies before the party.

1st Birthday Party Ideas - Take Photo's

Hire a professional Photographer or a volunteer to take pictures so you appear in some of the photos!

As a keepsake, start a book in which family/friends can write comments, or make a time capsule to keep until your child turns 18. Include notes or messages from family/friends, photos, favourite toys etc.

Remember - Be flexible and have fun!

1st Birthday Party Ideas

1st Birthday Party Invitations:

If you have already chosen a theme for your party it could help you with the design of your invitations. If you plan on making your own here are a few ideas for you: (courtesy of Photobucket.com)

Use a picture or clip art of a character relating to the theme and stick it on the front of the invitation.

Birth announcement invite “….is now one year old…”etc, ditto

1st Birthday Party Ideas - 1st Birthday Party Invitations

Have a photo of the birthday baby on the front of the card.

1st Birthday Party Ideas - Birthday Invites

Another wonderful idea I have seen are 'Nappy Invites': Fold a piece of white paper into the shape of a nappy for a fun invitation.

Or if you’re not feeling creative or you are short on time don't worry there are plenty of stores online & offline to buy packs of 1st Birthday Party invitations already themed for you.

1st Birthday Party Ideas

1st Birthday Party Theme & Birthday Party Decoration:

Home is where your baby will feel most comfortable so put a few colourful decorations around the party room.

Party themes are not important to a 1 year old, although you may want to decorate for the photos and to create an atmosphere for the adults.(e.g. Teletubbies, Rainbow colours, Teddy bears picnic).

You could also hire a baby ‘ball room’ or provide in a corner of the room, an area set up with a variety of suitable toys for other baby guests.

Decide whether you want to use balloons as these could pop causing distress amongst little ones and burst balloons can be a choking hazard. I always think it best if having balloons to hang them up for decoration out of harms way and then give them to the parents at the end of the party.

1st Birthday Party Ideas

1st Birthday Party Food:

1st Birthday Party Ideas - Party Food

Finger food is best for parents holding babies, keep it simple as most will probably end up on the floor! Some babies may have teeth, others not!
Go for a variety of shapes and textures but keep food simple in bite sized portions to help make it easier to feed the babies.

Foods you could think about: small sandwiches, mild cheese squares, little pots of fromage frais, pieces of avocado, banana, apples, carrot sticks (part cooked), hard boiled egg cut in half, little grilled cheese toast slices (cooled), watermelon slices, plain biscuits, or even ones with icing on the top

Foods to probably best to stay away from: grapes, hot dogs, nuts, popcorn, seeds or peanut butter (choking or allergy risk)

Chocolate can be very messy when held in little hands.

Keep the cake cutting towards the end of the party to minimize mess, and make sure babies don’t go near any lit candles.

More 1st Birthday Party Ideas

1st Birthday Party Gift:

- picture books, or textured board books
- bath toys
- clothes
- toys which light up or make a noise, such as activity centres.
- Push along toys to aid with walking

1st Birthday Party Games:

Babies love music so put some children’s nursery & party music on in the background and try some dancing.

Row the boat: Get all adults and babies to sit on the floor and sing and rock together whilst all singing the song - Row, Row, Row, your boat gently down the stream; Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is but a dream.

Peek-a-boo games; hide objects under blankets or wrapping paper.

Round and Round the Garden, with plenty of tickling!

If there are older children attending you might like to look at the Party Games section.

Try to avoid loud noises which may frighten your baby, or party poppers which may be a choking hazard.

Opening presents and playing with the wrapping paper at this age is a huge hit on its own!

1st Birthday Party Favors / Party Bags:

Provide a little teething toy, soft toy or small book (steer away from balloons and sweets/lollies which may be dangerous)
Treat the parents by providing a bag with some adult chocolates as a novelty idea!

Thankyou for visiting kid theme parties 1st Birthday Party Ideas page. If you would like to send any ideas and share any experiences it would be most appreciated.

SBI!