First Birthday party...how Elaborate Does It Need to Be?

I've seen some really cute Sesame Street items in the dollar stores around me (Ocean County) You could probably find some fun decorations and goody bag stuff there for cheap!

I think the first party is more for the parents than the child. I had 30 people at my girls first birthday and hind site? I would have done a cake and simple dinner with those close to us. The kids don't remember. Although it is special, you can make it very special and NOT elaborate.

Over the years I have learned that simple and small is better when it comes to these types of things. Less fighting, less stress, less cleanup and MORE fun for sure.

You do mean that she'll look back on the pictures and think "that must have been fun" don't you? Because she won't remember it at all. You could have a cocktail party, serve everyone martinis, and as long as she has a few favorite people and some wrapping paper she'll be thrilled. I have a friend who actually skipped the party and just faked some pictures. He doesn't know the difference.

We had about 25 people, family & close friends, catered pasta and sandwiches, and a cake. Simple 1 year old theme. It was for us/family.

My suggestion - get the kids pizza or something simple and an age appropriate set of games to play. Then throw an otherwise adult party. Figure out easy hors d'oevres or food platters, provide drinks and don't worry. Definitely skip any kid entertainment.

For the first birthday, we had a theme - farm animals - for decorations (maybe $20 worth), I made a lion cake, and we had family and friends. We served pulled pork, and other than watching him eat cake for the first time, it was really just a kick back bbq. This is about your daughter, not the relatives, so who cares what they think. There is no reason to overwhelm her.

Also, if you can save the present opening until later when she can relax and open as she wants, it is SOOO much easier.

We plan to do something similar for my daughter's first too.

My oldest son's 1st bday was pretty elaborate. We had catered food (my friend and I are caterers so we went with horderves vs simple foods), a moonwalk, pinata, and Spongebob and Winnie the pooh walking around. I think we had somewhere around the range of 75 ppl show up and a huge mess left behind as well and my son doesn't remember any of it. For our second son we decided to go a little smaller. Mainly family with a couple of friends, chocolate cake that he ended up with half all over him and lots of pictures. We had a blast and just as fun. For the ppl coming you can still do small but do hordurves vs snack foods and throw lots of decorations up. It will make it a little more elaborate but still not break the bank. For the goodie bags you can do more items or nicer items than just candy so the parents of the other children coming feel like they "got their money's worth". Good Luck!

Instead of gift bags, why not set up some crafts for them to do? It will keep them busy and then you don't have to buy crappy toys or candy to go into bags. Make water bottles? Decorate shirts? Tie-die? Please don't go with sesame street. The kids that age don't care and will be slightly embarrassed by it. Me? I would spend the "big money" on catering bbq or nice pasta dishes from a local restaurant.
I don't get this whole "I want them to know I went allllll out for them!" attitude. You do realize that you are setting yourself and your child up for a lifetime of disappointing birthdays, right? I would rather have something small that I can afford and teach the kids about what, you know, really matters.

I just love parties ...........so I make a big deal about the 1st birthday.
I do think it is more for the parents for sure.

For my daughters 1st we made a big deal out of it. Nothing too expensive but big none the less. Her first theme was Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I bought a banner online that said "Happy 1st Birthday Ashley and it had mickey mouse on it. I had matching invites and thank you notes, plates, cups, napkins, tablecloth, centerpiece, balloons, and a Minnie cake. I went all out cause this is her 1st. And even though she wouldn't remember it we had tons of pictures taken so she will see that we made a big deal for her. We even bought a small extra cake so that she could smash it. Birthdays are a big deal on my side of the family. Not my husbands they could care less. Especially all the "important milestones" It is up to you what you want to do. Don't worry about what other people think. Do what you want. As for gift bags we did coloring books, crayons, bubbles, notepads all the mickey-minnie theme. I know that the party's are mostly for the adults but it makes a great memory for you and make sure to take lots of pictures so that your little one can look at them when she is older and say "wow look at what mom and dad did for me." Keep the meal short and sweet. At my daughters 2nd birthday we ordered pizza's and wings and just had small starters. Like cheese and veggies. It really is fun to have baby parties. Good Luck

We lived far away from family when my son was one.
It was just us, some party hats, cupcakes, about 10 presents and I took lots of pictures. With the exception of his ride on zebra we got him, he wanted to play mostly with the boxes and we had to keep him from chewing on the ribbons. Save the more elaborate parties for when they are older ( like > 3 yrs).

Your daughter will respect you for keeping within your budget and modeling that behavior a lot longer than photos of spending more than you can afford to potentially appease people who don't share your values. Photos of you all together and enjoying each other is what matters - you need to be confident in what you are doing and let the others deal with their own reactions. Just be yourself. And make is nice out of love for your family, not out of fear of what they will think.

A birthday is about being together and celebrating life. A Sesame Street cake is a good idea. Have a craft the cousins can do. Make a budget and stick to it. Crepe paper streamers and balloons you blow up are fun and inexpensive.

Do YOU ever look back on your first birthday party and feel excited/disappointed by it? My older child's first birthday was bigger, but still just maybe 20 people (relatives). Just ordered pizza and made cupcakes (Elmo and Cookie Monster ones). For my younger child's first birthday we had just immediate family, one set of grandparents, a great grandparent and a godmother. This is the one birthday party that you can definitely keep low key. And don't worry about the reaction from the relatives that like to go all out. They probably won't care at all what your celebration is like, and if the do make comments just look at them like they are insane and point out that the child is only one yr old!

Hi! I agree w/everyone else to stick w/a budget you can afford! When my 1st daughter turned one we did a ladybug picnic. It was adorable and we didn't spend a ton of money! If you get creative, you can get away w/spending less! I did a TON of balloons, just because I like them and I thought they would be fun. I also did a ladybug cake foe my daughter. What a riot to see her eat that!!! I had a sheet cake w/ladybug on it for everyone else. I also made "dirt dessert". A garden w/ladybugs, worms, icing flowers, etc...It was a huge hit! That is a great Halloween dessert and looks elaborate, but is so easy! (You can google it, or I can send you a recipe.) My daughter does not remember it, but still loves to talk about the pictures! Everyone thought it was a big bash, but really it cost very little! Enjoy time w/your daughter and family. That's what is important!

If the family is very local, it's fine to invite them over for dessert, but if they are travelling from a distance, I think you need to offer something more substantial. Also, the elementary school aged cousins are going to need something to do. Cake takes about 20 minutes. I would invite everyone for dinner and cake, and be sure you have something for the big kids to do in between. It does not need to be an elaborate or expensive meal - pasta with sauce, garlic bread and salad is sufficient or order a few pizzas if the budget allows. Kids dont' get excited about what their first birthday was like, trust me (mine are 15 and 11). Save cool for a few years when she can really understand and remember the event! Don't feel pressured to do something over the top or that you can't afford.