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Party Consultant Michelle Hylton

First Birthday Party Tips

Celebrating your child's first birthday is a milestone occasion.  Below I have outlined party guidelines and tips for creating a memorable occasion! 

When & Where
If you can’t have it on your child’s exact 1st birthday, then the first weekend after is fine. The best 1st birthday parties are at home, where the baby feels most comfortable by his/her surroundings. The noises and distractions from a public place may create anxiety for the baby. If you don’t have room in your home, ask a grandparent or family member if they can host it. Another option depending on the season is to rent a pavilion at your favorite park, maybe one that you and your baby frequent.

How long and what time?
Most children’s birthday parties are typically 2 hours long. For a First Birthday, this may work for small gatherings of a few family members and close friends. For those of us who celebrate this as a major milestone, that may include many family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors, the party may last 3 hours. Family may even linger longer. If you plan on serving a full catered meal, buffet or plan on grilling out with a large crowd than a 3-hour party is reasonable, where the meal is served at the top of the 2nd hour.

As for the time, this should be scheduled around your little one’s nap schedule. If he sleeps during midday, then either a brunch or early evening gathering is more appropriate. Changing your child’s sleep schedule for the party will probably create a cranky baby and that doesn’t make for memorable moments.

Make it Memorable
Plan on taking lots of photos or ask a family member or friend who is good with photography to be your official party photographer or videographer. Make sure all guests have been photographed with your baby or just enjoying the party.

To add to this memorable event try one of these ideas:

1. Make a time capsule that will not be open until your child’s 18th birthday. In your invitation or at the party, have a special piece of paper and ask all guests to write a special message to your baby or talk about a special moment they shared this year with your and your baby. They may also want to add a token of that memory. Seal up the capsule and don’t forget to take photos.

2. Plant a tree or evergreen, set up a whole ground breaking ceremony with Mom, Dad and baby posing with the shovel and making the first dig. After the tree is planted, take another photo in front or if it’s small on the side of it. Each year on your child’s birthday take a photo of him/her by her tree.

3. Take your favorite picture of your baby and make a custom party favor. Create a t-shirt iron transfer and purchase inexpensive t-shirts to put the transfers on. Or use a service to create a customized party favor like a mug, hat, mouse pad, etc.

4. Create a slide-show of your babies first year. Play at the party to look back on his first year. Also lay out your baby’s photo albums for guests to browse through.

5. Purchase a new matted frame to place your baby’s first birthday party photo in. At the party, using a permanent marker ask guest to write a personal message or sign their name on the matte. Hang the picture in your baby’s nursery later.

Another way to capture personal messages from your guest is to have a guest book or journal they can write a message to your baby.

Food & Cake Ideas
If your party is a small gathering then you may want to cater the event using your favorite restaurant.  Or opt for buying pre-made trays from your local grocery stores.  They offer  great party trays including small sandwiches, cheese and fruit platters, salads and more.  If you choose a brunch menu, choose simpler foods like bagels and cream cheese, hard boiled eggs, bacon, cheeses, fruits and muffins. If you expect a large crowd and it’s the right season, you may want to plan a barbeque. You can simply serve up burgers and dogs, lots of salads, chips, dips, fruit, etc. If you are having a family gathering and you have certain foods that are traditional for a milestone event then plan around that and maybe ask family members to bring a dish.  The key is to make it simple so that you are able to enjoy the party. Ask family members or close friends to help, if it’s a really big crowd.

Cake time is the most important event of the party, it’s when your baby gets to dig into his cake and hopefully make all your guests laugh. You may want to decorate the edge of his highchair with fringed crepe paper for an added effect.

You may opt for a small mini replica of your big cake, so that the baby can make a mess of it and your guests can still get a decent piece of cake or just cut a slice out of the cake for the baby. These days many people are doing cupcake trees, so that is another easy option, just peel the paper away and let the baby have his little cake. When deciding on the type of cake, if the baby and other little ones will be sharing the big cake, think plain and simple like white or yellow cake that is lightly frosted for the little tummies. If doing a separate cake for baby and guests or cupcakes you can add fillings to the guest cake. Match the cake decorating or shape to your theme or have a cake shaped like the number “1”.  Don’t forget your baby’s bib for this event!

First Birthday Themes
Today there are some popular themes surrounding 1st birthday celebrations. Of course the number 1 comes to mind but here are a few other popular choices:

1. Winnie The Pooh
2. Elmo or Sesame Street
3. Baby Einstein
4. Little Mermaid
5. Ducks
6. Teddy Bear
7. Cars, Trucks & Airplanes
8. Sugar & Spice
9. Puppy Dog Tails
10. Pebbles & Bam Bam for twins (girl/boy)
11. Barney
12. Care Bears
13. Little Tikes
14. Disney Character
15. Circus
16. 1st Harvest
17. Winter Wonderland
18. Candy Land
19. 1st Splash Bash– Pool Party
20. Zoo

Another option is to follow your baby’s nursery theme; you could use some of the toys or décor as props for your party as well. Again, your baby may not appreciate the theme, but your guests and your photos will be more memorable with one.

Entertaining Little Ones
If your party will include other babies and toddlers, set up a safe area for them to play. If the party is inside, set up a gated corner with toys that aren’t your baby’s favorites. If this is an outside party, you may want to set out some blankets and toys for the little ones to play on. Of course you should expect all parents to watch their own kids, but you may want a helper to keep an eye on that area. A teenager who babysits is a great party helper.

Entertaining the bigger kids
Here is another job that a teenage helper is great for. You may want to plan on 2-3 games for the older kids to play that go with your theme. You may want to set up a craft table for the kids to make something memorable to take home (always make sure names are written on back of craft before starting or provide a take home bag with their name already on it). You may want to set out balls or other toys that they can free play with in the yard or park. If you have a Wii, the teenagers may want to play this. A piñata is also a fun game for all kids. They have pull string ones that all ages can enjoy and are safer. Rent an outdoor inflatable.

Entertaining the adults
Trivia is one of the easiest, you can set up a trivia on your baby, “How well do you know (baby’s name)”. You could hand out little papers with questions and answers for them to choose from or make it harder and only put the questions. Have a review time and go over all answers and see who guessed the most right! Give them a fun prize! You can also set up a guessing game, fill a large jar with cheerios or pink or blue M&M’s and let them guess how many. The one closest wins a prize or all the M&M's!

Music
Background music is great, have a mix of children’s, kids and adult contemporary music. If you choose a specific theme, you may have some fun music to go with that theme.

Party Timeline (2hrs)

  
Party Timeline (3hrs or more)

Invitations & Thank You’s
If you are crafty you can craft your own invitations using a picture of your baby or you can order pre-printed invitations to match your theme. Invitations should be sent out 3-4 weeks in advance of your party. If your party falls during the holiday season, then send them out 6 weeks ahead to get your date in before holiday parties are scheduled.

A simple thank you is taking a hand print of your baby using washable paints onto a blank postcard or blank folded card. Use the reverse side or inside to write your thank you message.

If ordering pre-printed theme invitations, most have matching thank you cards. Thank you cards should be sent out no later than 2 weeks after your party unless during holiday time where 3 weeks is acceptable.

Party Decorations
Capture your guest's attention as soon as they arrive by placing balloons on your mailbox.

Add a lawn sign, a door sign or line your driveway or sidewalk with twisted crepe paper attached to sticks to create a roped entrance effect. If at a park, make fun signs to direct your guest from the parking lot to your pavilion and add balloons. Decorate the pavilion with streamers and danglers.

Balloons are the cheapest way to brighten any celebration, but with little ones around you need to make sure they are out of reach of little hands due to choking hazards of popped balloons and the strings. Mylars are safer than latex balloons.

Party banners are becoming popular and you can personalize many with a photo of your baby.

Match partyware with your chosen theme. You can also mix solid colors and theme items together. When serving large crowds, opt for a solid color plates and table covers and then add themed napkins.

Use toys you may have as party decorations. For example, if your doing Sesame Street and you have several stuff characters, add them around the party room or use them for balloon weights.

Use danglers, banners, and the newest wall add-ons for inside parties. The key is to make the theme engage your guest so they can get caught up in the celebration!

Don’t forget to set up a small table or corner of the room for you to put guest gifts.

Party Favors
For a 1st Birthday celebration you will have various age groups attending, so you will have to create various party favors. The adults can get a small picture of your baby in a frame or  a baby bottle filled with candy and tied with ribbons. For guest under 3, a small bath toy is appropriate like a rubber duck or themed Sippy cups. Place it in a silk pull string bag. For toddlers fill a treat sack with animal crackers, crayons, coloring pad, finger puppet, stickers or a board book. For older kids, you can use various toy party favors. Keep in mind your theme when selecting the favors.

Gift Opening
It will be your decision whether you want to open gifts at your party or wait to open them later after the party is over. If you choose not to open them, then just let guests know when they arrive so they are not anticipating the event. If you choose to open gifts at the party, ask a family member to hold your baby while you open or let a few younger relatives open the gifts for you. Always assign a helper as a recorder to mark who the gift was from and what the gift was. Have a notepad or paper on a clipboard ready before the party. Also, tuck cards back into gifts if possible to help remember who gave you that particular gift.
 

Start planning your celebration at least 8 weeks ahead of time and you will be sure to have a memorable and fun first birthday celebration!

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Author and ezine editor Michelle Hylton shares her passion of celebrating and gift giving.  Her complimentary newsletter provides party tips, gift ideas, recipes, contests and more.  Start your celebration today at:

http://www.PartyShelf.com

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Links:

First Birthday Party Theme Supplies

Personalized Birthday Banners

Custom Birthday Pens

Pink 1st Birthday Frame

Blue 1st Birthday Frame

Pink 1st Birthday Sippy Cup

Blue 1st Birthday Sippy Cup

Cutlery Packs

Everyday Design and Color Tableware

Party Favors

Crepe Streamers

Balloons

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