Unique & Inexpensive 1st Birthday Ideas for Children

Celebrate a child's first birthday with a low-stress celebration.

Celebrate a child's first birthday with a party that is festive, yet simple. The end of the first year marks a significant milestone, one that parents and grandparents will remember for years. However, there is a tendency to overdo a baby's first birthday. Lavish parties are expensive for the parents and tiring for baby. Keep the party simple from the food to the gifts. Mark this important day with a low stress party that includes family and friends.

Party Food

Make small cakes so the birthday boy can enjoy his own personal cake.

Make small cakes or cupcakes so the birthday boy have his own. Before the cake is served, make nutritious snacks available so he does not over-indulge in sweets. Healthy options may include cheese sticks, animal crackers, peanut butter finger sandwiches, applesauce and hummus on pita bread.

Gift Boxes

One-year-olds love to play with empty boxes.

Give a large box with small toys inside. Children this age love to sit inside empty boxes. The empty cardboard box becomes their castle or race car. They may love the box even more than the toys inside. A rubber ball, small car or set of building blocks can easily fit in the box as extra surprises to go with the real treat of having a cardboard box.

Record a Story on CD

Record a child's story on CD.

Record a story on CD to be given with the book. Be creative and use animated voices to keep it interesting. This may soon become a favorite at nap time or on car trips.

Family Photos

Capture memorable friends and family in a book for the birthday child.

Copy pictures of familiar family members and pets. Mount these in a photo book for the birthday child. Be sure to include pictures of her, since babies love to look at pictures of baby faces.

Hats Galore

Small children love to play dress up with hats in a variety of styles.

Surprise the birthday child with a gift of many hats. Peruse local thrift stores and vintage shops to find hats in a variety of styles and colors. Carefully choose hats that are child safe and washable. Wrap them in inexpensive tissue paper and place in a reusable shopping bag. This gift is truly eco-friendly and sure to please any one-year-old.

Music Makers

Jingle bells sealed in a safe container make a great recycled shaker.

Make shakers with recycled items in your kitchen. Put jingle bells, purchased from the craft store, in an empty oatmeal container. Seal the lid securely to the carton with duct tape. Cover the whole thing in fabric or contact paper. An empty coffee can becomes a drum with a new coat of spray paint.

References

• Parents Magazine: Holidays and Your One-Year-Old
• Parents Magazine: A Frugal First Fest

Resources

• Martha Stewart: Memory Box