Celebrating your Child's 1st birthday

Whether you're planning an intimate gathering of friends and family or an all-out bash, your baby's first birthday celebration is bound to be special — at least for you and the other adults and older kids in his/her life!

Yes, a first birthday party is really for parents and their guests. Your baby won't remember this party, and may even be overwhelmed by it. But that doesn't mean you can't all have fun. For party planning suggestions and tips on keeping your baby (and young visitors) comfortable, read on.

Who to invite:

Your 1-year-old may be fearful of strangers, and make strange in new places. Despite liking other babies, he/she might not understand how to play with them yet. He/she will enjoy individual attention and likes to make you laugh. These factors often convince parents to opt for an intimate, low-budget family party or small gathering of relatives, close friends, fellow parents, and neighbours.

But no matter how many guests you have, keep in mind that your 1-year-old will want a lot of your undiluted attention. This is especially true if he/she's feeling overstimulated by a large crowd of well-wishers.

How much to spend?

The amount you spend is up to you, and depends on what kind of party you want to have for your child. Keep in mind that food is the main thing that drives costs up, followed by decorations and the cake. Don't feel pressured to spend more than you can afford — small is beautiful at this age!

Choosing a time

Your baby will probably still be taking a morning and afternoon nap when his/her first birthday rolls around. If so, it's best to plan your party around nap times if possible. Once one child starts crying, they all might! You may want to keep the party brief — an hour or so is probably long enough at this age.

Choosing a place

Home is usually the easiest place to host a first birthday party, and it's where your baby will feel most secure. But if your home is too small for the number of guests you want to invite, consider a local community centre, a kids' museum, a restaurant (you may want to go with a kids'-themed place or a fast-food restaurant with a play space), a relative's house, or, if the weather is nice, a park or zoo.

Choosing a theme

Party themes aren't important to your 1-year-old or his/her baby guests. You might want to aim for a colour-coordinated look, or pick matching plates and napkins with a favourite cartoon character, but it's more for the benefit of the keepsake photos than your baby at this stage.  Check out www.thepartypeople.ie for fun 1st birthday balloons and decorations.  Below is an example of the lovely "Hugs & Stitches" 1st birthday balloons that we currently stock:

Food

Keep food simple — a lot of it will probably end up on the floor anyway!

Finger foods work well for both babies and adults, and eating them won't interrupt play or socializing. Some babies may have quite a few teeth and be able to bite into food; others may still be toothless, so cater to both extremes. Tiny sandwiches with cheese spread (you can cut them into shapes), cubes of mild cheese, cut-up fruit, pasta spirals, and mini yogurts are good options. You can also try animal crackers or graham crackers broken into small pieces.

Your small guests will probably eat very little, so aim for a variety of tastes, textures, and colours rather than quantity. (Get more finger food ideas here.) And avoid serving nuts, hard sweets, popcorn, raisins, marshmallows, and other foods that may present a choking hazard to little ones.

As for beverages, it's a good idea to have water, milk, and diluted fruit juices around for the kids and soft drinks for the adults.

Don't forget a wonderful birthday cake. Homemade treats are special, but supermarkets have a great variety available, or try a bakery. You may need to order the cake or cakes in advance. And don't let your baby get too close to the candle as he/she'll want to grab it, not blow on it.

 Games and activities

Loud bangs from party poppers and bursting balloons may frighten your baby, and discarded poppers and balloons are a serious choking hazard until age 3. Why not have some musical fun, such as dancing with your baby, or a nursery rhyme tape on in the background? He/she'll also enjoy peek-a-boo games and finding toys hidden in a box or under a cloth. And, of course, he/she'll enjoy helping you open presents (although the wrapping paper will be far more fun than the gift!).

Goody bags

Goody bags aren't really necessary at this age, and the usual treats like sweets and balloons can be dangerous for the babies at your party. If you want to give a going-away present to your little guests, opt for something safe to chew on.

Birthday presents

By now your baby will appreciate toys that make noise or light up, or both, so activity centres are a good choice. It's never too early to read, and textured board books are great fun for your tactile baby. A push-along toy to aid walking skills may be a hit, and new bath toys are always welcome. You may want to consider a big, lasting present, such as a baby swing for outdoors or a rocking horse. And if you already have loads of toys, your baby won't object if some people buy her clothes!

General tips

·         Have somewhere clean, handy, and well-equipped for nappy changing.

·         Breastfeeding mothers may appreciate somewhere quiet and private to feed their baby.

·         It's crawling, walking, and climbing time — safety gates and other childproofing devices are essential.

·         Hide away precious ornaments and breakables.

·         Keep pets well out of the way (for their own protection!).

·         Keep a watchful eye on the party area for hazards, such as forks and small swallowable objects, and clear them away quickly.

·         Babies will play alongside each other, so keep a variety of toys available within a large, safe floor space.

·         Relax — let your baby and her guests set the pace.

·         Make sure you have a willing volunteer to take plenty of photos and video. You may be too busy, and you don't want to miss those shots of your baby digging into her first birthday cake!