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Birthday PartyOverview
Your child's first birthday is an event that you will remember for a lifetime. Unlike parties for older children, in which friends are invited over to play games and eat kid-friendly food, your one-year-old is still a baby who doesn't have a real circle of friends. Because of this, you can skip the games and prizes typical of parties for older children. And while your baby still will be the center of attention, planning for the party is somewhat different than it is for an older child.
Step 1
Prepare a guest list. You'll probably want to include grandparents and other family members, as well as your friends and neighbors. Consider inviting couples you met during birthing classes and their one-year-olds. Send out invitations several weeks in advance of the party, and be sure to ask guests to RSVP.
Step 2
Buy decorations for the party. You'll want the mood to be festive, but skip the cartoon characters on plates, cups and napkins. You'll have plenty of years ahead of you when your child will plead for them. Instead, choose simple but festive primary colors and create balloon bouquets to place around the room.
Step 3
Think about presents. One-year-olds don't understand the concept of presents. Even if they grasp the idea that "this is for me" at the moment, it's likely that the gift will be forgotten in the blink of an eye. Rather than buying yet another toy, consider establishing a college savings account instead. In addition, when presents are piled in front of a toddler with the "pressure" to open one after another, your sweet baby can become overwhelmed and cranky. One alternative is a charity party. Invite guests to celebrate the special event, but ask them to bring a gift for a worthy charity.
Step 4
Plan the menu. Because you are not spending money on party favors, take-home gift bags and game prizes, you can splurge a little on the food. Serve a buffet meal and include one or two festive punch bowls. A big part of the menu is the birthday cake. Order it well in advance or brush up on your baking and decorating techniques if you plan to make it yourself.
Step 5
Pick out the outfit your baby will wear. She will be the center of attention, so you'll want her to look her best. But, because one-year-olds still are prone to "accidents," which could occur minutes before the party, have another outfit on standby. Also buy a special bib for your child to wear while digging into that first piece of birthday cake.
Step 6
Be sure to have a camera or video camera on hand, and make sure the batteries are charged. If you don't yet own a digital camera, consider buying one. As your one-year-old grows, you will see countless photo opportunities. A digital camera in combination with your computer makes storing and sharing photos much easier than with traditional film and developing.
