How to Plan a 1st Birthday Party
A baby's first birthday is the milestone when his parents stop counting his age in months and begin counting it in years. It's also the first opportunity to celebrate his life with a birthday party, and to that end, some preparation is in order.Babies don't require much entertainment or have much of a tolerance for long events, so the ideal party is short and simple. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Make a guest list. Many babies this age are shy or overwhelmed by a large group and tend to stay close to their mothers, so consider keeping the guest list short and intimate. Include family, close friends and neighbors, and their babies or children.
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Pick a time of day for the party. Consider your baby's sleeping and eating schedule as well as those of invited babies. Many 1-year-olds take both a morning and afternoon nap, so try to plan for a party between the two. A party of no longer than two hours is recommended to prevent over-stimulation. Plan to bring the celebration to an end about a half an hour before afternoon nap time.
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Pick a location. Unless you're inviting a lot of people, opt to hold the party at home. A familiar place is reassuring to babies, especially when more people are around than usual. Other location ideas include a local park, the zoo, a child-friendly restaurant or a children's museum.
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Pick a color scheme or decorative theme for the party. Hanging crepe paper streamers, a "happy birthday" banner and oversized paper pompoms is sufficient for photo-taking. If you'd like to decorate with a theme, choose one based on what delights your baby. If your baby loves his stuffed monkey, the goldfish in the kitchen, or Winnie the Pooh--choose your theme accordingly.
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Make a food and beverage list. Cake is, of course, the highlight of the party food. Consider serving cupcakes so your baby can dive into his worry-free. Keep baby-friendly snacks on hand for before cake time. Some options are fruit salad, cheese sandwiches made with soft bread, animal crackers and yogurt. Avoid popcorn, grapes, hot dogs and nuts, since they're choking hazards. Serve fruit juice, water and milk to the little guests, and carbonated beverages to the adults.
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Consider planning an activity. If your baby is happy playing on the floor alongside other young guests while the adults chat, don't try to force an agenda. Playing your baby's favorite music and having a little dance is one idea, but opening presents may take up enough party time that you don't need further activities.
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Ask a friend or relative to take pictures and shoot video so you can experience the moment with your baby. Make sure the person you ask is camera-savvy--you'll want to have the milestone documented in crisp, clear images.
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Tips & Warnings
Adults dressed like characters tend to frighten babies at this age, so it's best to save that for a later birthday.
Don't decorate with balloons, they are a choking hazard once deflated.
References
- Photo Credit baby eating cupcake image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
