1 Yr Old Party!

Birthday parties are only rewarding when spent with those you are close to. Celebrate the wonderful 1st year gone by in a way you can enjoy as a family. My suggestion- the Childrens Museum downtown has a wonderful play area for infants and toddlers, then maybe a meal. Don't forget a smash cake!

You can always just have a party with the three of you only. He can open a present and try to blow out a candle at the end of dinner. I don't think you have to make a huge deal out of it if you don't want to.

Y.

Just my opinion, I had a big expensive one year party for my first son, and when it came to my second one, I decided it wasnt neccesary to spend all that money and go to all that work. They dont remember it at that age anyway, and they are just as happy to play, so for my second son, I just had some family over and had a cake. I would personally rather have a bigger party for their 2nd or 3rd birthday where they will understand more what is going on. I think having a small party with just the three of you with a cake would be perfectly fine!

I had a one year birthday party of both of my kids. It really depends on how you and your husband feel about it. As for me I was living in a townhouse for my son's first birthdya and I rented out the indoor pool they have for his party. My parents and in-laws came down from NY for the party. For my daughter's I just had a little family get together with cake and coffee. This way both families were able to take part in it. If you want just have some cake and coffee for your family. Take lots of pictures and this way you won't feel guilty later on down the road that you didn't do anything for the First brithday. It doens't have to be anything big.

Hope that helps.
T.

You should have a party for him. It doesn't have to have a bunch of people. Just a cute cake and a lot of pictures. My ex and I were in a new town and in the middle of ending the marriage when my son turned 1. The only people we really new were our neighbors in our complex. Most of them CSU football players. At first I was sad to not have real family and friends but it turned out to really be fun. I think if I didn't have a party for his first, I would be regretting it now. So invite your friends, get a cake and a few balloons and maybe BBQ. Enjoy !

I don't think you need to make a huge ordeal out of it. Sure, give him a couple gifts and let him coat himself in cake, but I think people go too over the top with 1st birthday parties. Your son is too young to remember whether or not he had a party. Save the big parties for when he is older and has friends to invite.

If you have the extra couple hundred of dollars it would cost to throw a party, use it to buy him a savings bond...he'll get more out of that in the future than he would a party now.

My son is 20 mos. old now. We went all out for a party and it wasn't worth the money. My son was over-whelmed by all the people, decorations, and activities. Your son will never remember whether or not he had a first birthday party. Maybe you and your family could just plan a fun activity that you all would enjoy...Chuckie Cheese, aquarium, etc.

Trish,

While I don't think it is necessary to have a birthday party for a one year old, I think years down the road you might regret it if you don't. It is a happy milestone that people like to share and remember later on. I always enjoyed looking at the pics from my first birthday party. That being said, I don't think it has to be big or expensive. At one year old, your child won't care. And the purpose is to celebrate the child and the love you have for that child. Another thing to consider...I've been to plenty of parties where the young guest of honor didn't like all the fussing over her, didn't sit still long enough to open all her presents and insisted on a nap in the middle of the party. I think your best bet is to keep your child in mind and make it fun and comfortable for him and easy for you. Enjoy your son's special day!

Celebrate but do it in a way that makes you, your husband and son happy. You can have a special dinner at home and give him a cupcake with a candle in it to blow out. Or you could take him out somewhere special you and your husband would like to go. Make it simple and happy for all of you. If you feel like you should have a party, invite a friend or two over (even if they don't have kids) for dinner and a slice of cake to celebrate your son. Your son won't remember who was there. His only knowledge will be of what you tell him and the pictures you took. So take a lot of pictures of him enjoying his cake and the boxes his presents came in. =) At this age, they enjoy the wrapping and boxes more than the gifts themselves.

There is no right or wrong here. You do what is best for your family (you, your husband, and your son) and don't worry about anyone else.

just have the party i did with my 1 yr girl she love to play with her friends let them eat befor play

hello there,
hope i am not to late to add my two cents..lol...i dont think it is necessary to have a one year old birthday party...they wont remember it AT ALL...and quite honestly, they will probably either be cranky or sleeping through most of it anyway..lol...i personally, had a party for my son at 1 and will have one for my daughter who will be one in august but i just have it lowkey at the house...because i do have(while not alot)both families and friends with kids...but i dont do games or anything.......however, i know people who think that the first birthday is huge....and they go all out..and they do less in future years..i dont understand that way of thinking..my mindset is that if my kids cant remember it, im really doing it all for me...sure, they can see pictures and hear about it from the other people who were there...but seriously,in ten years are people going to be talking about that one party...???i dont even think the second birthday party is necessary..it really is more for the parents and the fact that you get gifts...now,when my son turned three i rented a moonbounce at our house..had some crafts and games and such...my motherinlaw went off talking to everyone about how i went overboard for a three year olds party...this year she will really freak cause i am having it out at a gymnastics place..lol...if you dont want to have a party, than i would say dont have one..that doesnt mean you cant spend the day with your son doing something special(taking him to the park,or a kids play place) or even staying home and making cupcakes or something ...the important part is that the day of his birth is celebrated in some way...and that doesnt have to be by way of a party..thats my two cents...lol....take care...and i know your son will have a very happy birthday because he has such a loving mom who cares about him!!! R.

I don't think you need to go all out and have something huge, but you should definitely do something special for you guys. We had our close family and friends over (there were only 4 kids and they included 2, 3 year olds, a 10 year old, and a 12 year old) and the party turned out great. My husband and I are big football people and since we like 2 different teams and since we had twins, we did it as a Steelers/Falcons party. Everything turned out great! Everyone wore jerseys and it was laid back and fun! The boys were a little overwhelmed, but loved having a lot of people around to hold and baby them and they tried opening presents. They didn't dig into their cakes like we thought they would because they don't like getting messy and I had never given them anything like cake (no juice, no sweets, just fruit, veggies, and meat). So they didn't know how to act. We eventually had to feed them some, but we didn't give them a lot because a lot of babies can't handle a ton of icing, especially if they aren't used to it (just a warning, you don't wnat a baby puking up icing!). If you do decide to have a birthday party, you can get free cakes for them to dig into at wal-mart, weis, sam's, giant, etc. Just call around ot local stores and find out. Some require a birth certificate, some require that you buy a regular cake there, etc. It's definitely worth it to have a party, but don't worry about having a huge bash that they won't even understand!

Well the first birthday party is for you as parents its the one you will remember forever its a milestone. A big party isn't neccesary he won't remember it in a few days let alone for the rest of his life its not going to scar him or anything so if you just want to have a something small you your husband and him as long as its what you want to remember forever it will be great.

Hi! This is funny, because about 20 minutes ago I was talking with my friend on the phone about this! My son is turning one in April, I have decided to have a party. You mentioned that you nor your husband have friends with little kids and your families aren't close. Just remember that the day is for celebrating your son being here, not to celebrate the people coming. We're planning a little party...if people come, great. If not, still great. We as a tiny family will have just as much fun celebrating our son's first year even if nobody else comes. Hope this helps!

Hi T.. I am of the opinion that a huge party for a one year old is waste of time and money. The child is too young to remember it, and the party is more for the adults anyway. I know when I throw a child's party, I am more worried about what the adults think of the decorations, food, etc. I think for very small children, cake, ice cream, gifts, and lots of picture taking with the immediate family is what is most appropriate. Enjoy your baby's birthday, and worry about big parties later on when they actually have little friends to invite.

T.,
I think that a party is unnecessary. My advice is for you and your husband to have your own party/celebration for your son: have a special dinner with a dessert (and a candle), sing "happy birthday", give your son a present and take some pictures for the album. He will be just as happy (maybe happier!
N.