How to Plan a Fun First Birthday Party

First birthdays only come around once. Here's how to make your child's first one special, memorable, and (maybe!) stress-free.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Invitations
• Decorations
• Food
• A one year old!
• Cake
• Camera for all the priceless moments!

1. Pick a time of day based on when your child naps. Nothing else matters. Forget what is more convenient for your mother-in-law, your aunt, and you cousin's boyfriend. The best time to have your baby's first birthday party is right after his or her normal nap time.

2. Pick an easy theme, and something that won't look dated in pictures. I don't like character themes for first birthdays. I chose a color scheme as my theme for each. My daughter was a bright pink and green and for my son, red, yellow and blue. This makes it much easier to find decorations and reduces stress caused when you can't find Elmo napkins to match your plates!

3. Plan a kid-friendly menu. You can do spicy chicken wings for the adults, with chicken nuggets for the kids. Or a taco bar for the adults and taco salad for the kids. Keep it simple and adaptable to the younger crowd!

4. Toddlers love their Cheerios! Put out a bowl of cheerios next to the bowls of chips for the adults!

5. Order a cake. There's nothing as frustrating as trying to get a cake ready, decorate, and get baby down for that much needed nap all at the same time. Save yourself at least one headache and order a cake. Many bakeries will gladly make a miniature matching cake for baby to have all to himself. These are wonderful!

6. Let baby eat when he's hungry, even if the guests haven't arrived yet. Baby being in a good mood is the priority!

7. Let baby open his presents while the adults eat. Mommy and daddy might think it's adorable to watch baby take 15 minutes tearing one corner of the wrapping paper, but your guests are going to get bored - fast. I usually arrange chairs around the living room for people to sit and eat and have baby sit in the center of the room opening presents at the same time.

8. 
    

   Save the cake for last. That way if baby wants to grind frosting into his hair, it's OK, the party's over! Let baby make a mess. Don't worry about cleaning it up later, this is his one and only first birthday cake and he should enjoy it!

9. Take a million pictures, someday your baby will want to look at the pictures!

[Rockney]

on 12/5/2008 Great tips for first birthday parties for your kid!