Your child turning one is perhaps the most monumental occasion of his young childhood. It signifies several things; your baby becoming a toddler, you have survived the first year of your son or daughter’s eighteen years of dependency, and the beginning of many birthday parties.
Planning that first birthday party can be stressful, depending on what kind of party you have and how many factors are involved. Some moms choose to have a simple party with a few relatives and the oh-so-important cake. Others go all out, inviting their family, friends and all the kids in the neighborhood over for party games, food, and favors.
No matter what kind of first birthday party you’ve envisioned for your little one, your first priority should be to set a budget. Factor in that you’ll need money to feed guests, purchase decorations, and of course, buy a cake. Other expenses (such as favors) are optional.
Next, you should select a theme. Party supply shops and online retailers generally offer some preconceived themes, such as a princess party, Thomas the Train, or a gender-neutral 1st Birthday theme. You can decide how far you want to take the theme. Will it be simply the cake that is shaped like a crown, or will the plates, napkins and wall décor also follow the birthday royalty theme?
Make your guest list. Include close family and friends that would be offended if they missed your child’s first birthday party. From there, invite those you wish to, depending on your space and budget. If you do invite other small children, try to keep the number small and make sure to have plenty to occupy them. A variety of toys and kid-friendly snacks can keep them busy and happy.
Keep the birthday party relatively short. Young children don’t have long attention spans or the ability to withstand the attention of dozens of adults for hours, so keep your baby’s temperament in mind. Also try to schedule the party around naps, if possible. This will help ensure that your child is awake (and not super-cranky) when it’s time for the cake in the face photo opp.
Send out your invites, remembering to include all pertinent party information (time, date, place) as well as a phone number or e-mail address to RSVP to. Give guests a reasonable amount of time to receive the invite and check their calendar, but make sure that you have enough time to receive a response and plan accordingly.
Decide if you want to have party games. This will depend on the guests, their ages, and the likelihood that they’d be interested in playing. Some parties may need a little livening up while others can sustain themselves simply on relatives catching up and chatting.
Order food (or buy groceries to prepare dishes yourself) and find a cake. Make sure that you have beverages for guests, plates and silverware.
Try to prepare as much as you can before the day of the party. This will keep the day itself stress-free so that you can enjoy your child’s first birthday party. Designate somebody to take photos so that you can concentrate on your child and attending to party needs without fear of missing prime photo opportunities. Once the party is underway, relax and have fun!
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