Moms..

with any first birthday party for children 1-3 years of age I just want to make a thoughtful suggestion......make it after nap time....

My son fell asleep at the begining of his 1st birthday party. and woke up as everyone was leaving. We winded up having a little family birthday party with just me, him, and his sister. It was still great because he had his own little cake which he proudly desplayed all over the house and his body.
but now I watch the time so it will be fun for him the first time around.

A. I dont think 1yr olds no to much about birthday partys.I think the most fun thing to do is just icecream and cake with a few kids over.I did this for my kids first birthday and watch them get all dirty with the cake and icecream,they had a ball and I had a ball watching them.The main thing is watching them have fun.B. F.

For my little girl's first birthday, I blew up 12 photographs fro each month of her first year (8x10 size) and hung them up, and then we just let the kiddos play and made some food. We also did the Montessori based birthday celebration. Here is a fun link:

http://www.preschoolbystormie.com/birthdays.htm

I know a lot of parents that go all out and spend a lot of money for the 1st birthday. And it is a momentous occasion. But, he will never remember it. I invited all that were special to my child and family (mostly adults). Let him help pick out the cake. He will love having everyone over and playing with the boxes that the gifts came in. If you're inviting a bunch of kids, then I would look up some creative ideas online or in a book. But, if it were me, I would just go out in the backyard and play some old fashioned games: duck, duck, goose; pin the tail; hide and seek; bean bag balance, balloons on a sheet (remember the parachute in P.E.?)etc. They will have a blast, and there is little to no expense. Older kids will help out the younger and enjoy it without being too embarrassed (since they are helping). The adults will love it as well, even if they just watch. My mom gave me a book which I love: The Wiggle & Giggle BUSY BOOK (365 fun, physical activities for toddlers and preschoolers). It's about $10 and has so many activities to choose from (if you like the backyard idea) from small group to large group and age ranges. There are also books on parties that will give you that more polished party if that's what you want. If you like my ideas and can't afford the book, email me and I'll give you more ideas from the book. But, the book is worth the expense.

S.

First birthdays are the best. Something simple at home. Take lots of pictures. They won't remember, but you will. As the children get older, don't forget about the good ole' fashion birthday games:
-pin the tail on the donkey
-dropping clothes pins in a bottle (most dropped in, wins).
-balloon relay. (two teams run across the yard and sit on their balloons and run back. First team to finish, wins).
Hope you have a splendid party!

Grammy in TX

Bubbles and rubber duckies was the theme for one of my little boys 1st birthday. I bought a cheap bubble machine, which kept the little ones busy for a very long time. My other son had a Cowboy theme. He was dressed as a cowboy with hat and carried around his stick-horse. I even bought him cheap cowboy boots from Wal-mart. He wore them for pictures only, as he had trouble walking in them. To stick with the theme, we barbecued for the family. Hope this helps.

Hi A. ... i have a friend whose grand daughter just turned 4 and the girls' mother did a party where all the invitees came dressed up as princesses. The party was based around that theme .... i thought that was a neat idea ... perhaps you can do a batman or whatever character he is into ... good luck and Happy Birthday to the little one!!!

I did the home party and NEVER again. It is too expensive.
We now go to the park. There is a pool that cost $1.00, lifeguard on duty & the kids can PLAY. That is so what they want to do. Make it simple, we pre-made sandwiches, a few bags of chips, a cooler of drinks & a cake.

Have fun....they only turn 1 once....
R. ethridge

We did the train @ Hermann park which was so much fun for the kids! I think it might be up & running, I know they are doing major improvements to that area. Then we walked down to the park & had food & cake! Park is free! Train was $2.50 per kid. under 1 free!
Cheap! AND SO MUCH FUN!

First birthdays are precious and should be about the birthday boy.

There is no reason you should have a party that will cost you money for everyone else to enjoy themselves on accommodations that your one year old will not be able to enjoy.

My tradition is first birthday is a house party with immediate family only (His Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and first cousins).

Buy a twenty dollar helium kit with balloons from Wal-Mart, a cake with vibrant colors and recognizable characters, and finger foods that your little guy will not have any problem picking up and eating. If you want games to play, the games should be games that require a lot of tumbling and games that your one year old will be able to do.

He will have a blast and sleep well that night.

People always use their kids for social events. So to make your kids bday truly about him do it at home or at the park. I rented games that from party store and all it was was stuff like putting a plastic ring on a hook, balls through little hoops, and the kids just entertain themselves and play with each other.

If weather permits parties at the park are always FUN and inexpensive. All you need are kids, parents, and cupcakes.

Mother of two 13 and 8.

This idea isn't really for the party part of things, but it is something neat to do for your son's future. As well know alot of family comes to the 1st party, there seems to be more adults than kids at this age. We had a book set up where family members could write a note to our child regarding the their thoughts of her birth. A memory or were they where when they heard she was born. It was a fun thing for the adults to do and some day our daughter can read notes about herself.
Have fun,
K.

Hello,
that's how we celebrated kid's birthdays when I grew up (I didn't grow up in the US) and how I plan to do my kid's birthdays:
Small setting and a home-made birthday cake. First we sing, eat and unpack presents and then we do some fun games, like an treasure-hunt type of game in the yard, ride-on-toy race, just sing and pop soap-bubbles.
As long as you keep them busy there should be a lot of fun.

Hi A.
when my daughter turned 1,i had her party at mcdoald's,and all the kids had a great time

hope this helps
D.

i have three boys and we always kept it small with family and close friends. very traditional: decorated with a theme that matched their preference at the time, crazy hats and noisemakers (parents wear hats too; the kids get a kick out of it), lots of balloons, and in addition to the pretty cake, we made a special cake for the birthday boy to just dig in -- makes for some GREAT pictures, just don't make a chocolate cake! served simple food, pretty fruit and vegetable tray, e.g. keep it short and simple so it doesn't overwhelm the b-day child. My kids always had a ball.

A.,

For my son's first birthday we had a cook out at the park. The older kids played on the play ground and there is stuff for the little ones to do. It's easy and you don't have much clean up.

S.

We just my daughters 1st birthday party on Saturday. I made it simple and had a pot luck dinner. We invited only our closest friends and I provided drinks, cake, ice cream and my pot luck dish. I did get a pinata since it is a tradition. The kids goody bags consisted of the contents of the pinata and I had bought some wooden cars that were on clearence at the celebrate express webite.

We had a great time.

So many great responses-esp.:
Keep it simple
Keep it small
Do what your son loves at this age-playground? bubbles? musical instruments?
Non-chocolate cake-definite photo op! (we just did cupcakes for my 3rd)

Takes tons of pics
For my first child, we had a book theme-those who came brought their favorite children's book. We still are enjoying those books today! My first is now 8 :)

Let us know how it goes~C.

For my son's first birthday, I had it outside, at our home. We brought out his little riding cars and push toys and had lots of bubble things for the kids to play with. Then we had hotdogs and chips. I had also set out little bowls with goldfish crackers, Chex cereal, and popcorn (some of my son's favorite snacks at that time). then we had a pinata, which kids of all ages could participate in. The younger kids got to his first without a blindfold, then some older kids got to have their turns blind folded. It was very relaxed, but by having some toys for the little ones to play with and then outside activities (like a volleyball net and soccer ball) the older kids, everyone was able to play and have fun. I wanted it to be more "organized" with specific b-day activities, but I quickly realized that 1-2 year olds have more fun doing their own thing. So with everyone happy it turned out great. For his cake, we brought his high chair out and had a little cake just for him and then cupcakes for the other kids. he really wasn't too into opening presents, so after a few, we let some of the other eager kiddoes help him open them. His first b-day just happen to fall on Easter that year, so we also had an egg hunt for the kids and the eggs were their party favors (along witht he pinata candy.) I hope some of these ideas help!

what i did for my lil ones 1st was just make cake icecream and candy bags for all his cousins and just them i had all the parents drop them off a lil before lunch... i bought stuff snacks that he liked to put in the candy bags and i also bought silly string which he loved spraying everywhere... it was a party but not too big as where he would have no fun... and he got to help me make his cake and candy bags so he loved taking part in doing everything...

For my daughter's first birthday I lined up several tables in a row and placed colorful table cloths on them. Her theme was polka dots so I sprinkled 2" diameter dots in coordinating colors all over the table cloths. Then I took pictures from birth until her first year of her doing various things with various family members and typed captions to go under them. I placed them along the length of the tables and covered each table with a clear vinyl table cloth. It was the hit of the party...focused on the birthday girl and everybody loved looking for themselves with her in the pictures. When the party was over I was able to use her pictures for an album with captions below them.

M.

Keep it simple. HEB and WalMart usually have little one year old birthday cakes. You could do something at your house with pizza and cake or maybe something at a park.

Hi A.,

For my son's first birthday back in November, I ordered the "I Dig Being 1" plates and napkins and some other matching items. It was a huge success and he had a great time. Also, I ordered a cake from H-E-B that had a construction theme. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
L. D.

For my sons 1st birthday it was small, just a few friends children. We did a music them party and I got cheap marraccas, drum, little toy piano, flutes on the novelty item shelves at walmart for .97. And set them all out in the middle of the floor and let the kids make beautiful music together. Target has a music set by Parent that comes inside and drum and has different music intruments for about $10.

I would recommend that you do something "memorable" -- one idea is to have guests write "Wishes for ---name---" in a little homemade book (you could get a cute composition notebook) -- or if a lot of his relatives are out-of-town, have them mail him birthday wishes and glue the cards into the booklet (or tape them). It will make a great souvenir for years to come and it's wonderful to read the sweet messages! As for the party itself, if you really want HIM to have a lot of fun, keep the guest list VERY small, let him play in his piece of cake (and take lots of pictures), and be sure to avoid having it during his naptime. Singing "happy birthday" and helping him blow out the candles will make it a special time for him. His older siblings can help him open his gifts. Avoiding a huge party will also avoid a huge meltdown. If he is very active and mobile, consider taking him to a park or indoor playground on his special day. Just some ideas... hope this helps.

Hi A. I'm a grandmother with not much money and it was my grandsons first birthday and I wanted to do something different for his birthday and this is what I did. I packed us all a picnick lunch then I took him to the zoo. Seeing he was only 1 years old I did not have to pay for him. We were at the zoo for 6 hours and he had a ball. We did the petting zoo we seen the birds and the lions,tigers and bears. We had such fun and he whats to go back again so I think I made it past the chuckie cheese birthdays I just wish I would of done it for my kids for their B day.Turely Yours C.

I have 3 boys. My youngest is 15. They are great kids. I never even gave my youngest a birthday until he was 4 or 5. He doesn't remember. Don't waste your money on a one year old. Have the family over for pizza and cake. If you must do something special, find a nice park and have everyone go there.

I have found that usually one year olds are overwhelmed by big parties with lots of people anyway. I always say at that age the smaller the better. The pictures are what you will remember anyway right...just take lots of em and put them in that baby book. Good luck and Congrats!

We just had our son's 1st birthday and we took it to the park. It was PERFECT!! Our friends brought their kids (some toddlers & babies) and we all enjoyed the great weather. My son's not walking on his own yet but likes to walk with his truck so we brought that along. Afterwards, everyone said that it was a great idea and we need to get out and do that more often. Have fun!!

Try these sites:
http://www.kidspartyfun.com/pages/themes/1stbirthday.html
http://www.evite.com/app/party/ideas.do
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/
http://pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/resources/party...
http://www.birthdayexpress.com/bexpress/Search_Landing.htm
http://www.celebrateexpress.com/celebration/default.aspx?...
http://www.orientaltrading.com/

Good Luck!

I have two kiddos and for both of their first birthday parties I invited family members and family friends at our home with balloons, cake, and took a lot of pictures. At each event there was a group cake and then there was just the kiddos cake and we would let them sit in the highchair and dig in to their cake(great pictures). Both of them loved their 1st bday parties, I am sure yours will too.

This is from Stacysme

I think you need to decide if you want it to be more about him, or about you all as a family.

If you truly want it to be all about him, I'd nix the party idea altogether. He won't remember or appreciate any of it, it'll probably get him cranky, and you'll be forcing him to do a lot of things he could care less about. What we did was make it a whole birthday weekend. The only people there were family - mostly grandparents, which my son loved. We did stuff HE wanted to do - go to the zoo, play in his wading pool, and check out his new toys (without anyone else grabbing for them). If he was cranky, he napped. He got special treats for snacks and meals - his favorite foods. He won't remember any of it, but for those 2 days he was one spoiled kid!

Hey A.,
I just had my sons first birthday party last weekend and we had a great time. I just invited family and friends with little ones. We had a wet day in our back yard. I bought a slipping slide and a pool (which i will use this summer) and we bought some squirt guns and water balls. We had children from 9 months to 10 years and they all loved it. Just an idea!

B.
www.MoreForMyBaby.com

If you have a computer you can make all the invites and a banner announcing his 1st and if you have a printing program you can make all kinds of fun decor for the table. You could also make a colage of pictures on a poster board from birth to his 1st bd for all to see. Also be sure to make a large and a small cake. One for him only to indulge on and one for your guests. If you have a outlet mall near you you can get balloons blown up very reasonably priced as well as the plates and napkins. Just make a punch for drinks, keep the party somewhat short because he will be very tired after the activities, you may plan it just before his nap time, or just after so he'll be refreshed. I am a 55 year old grandma and my youngest grandson, 1 of 6 grandchildren, just turned 2 and we did his 1st and 2nd bd at home. So hope this helps a little, good luck with your party and tell him "Happy Birthday" for me. God Bless.

Hello A.,

My my son is now 19 but he had the best parties, if you are able to get a jumping gym, you prepare the food (hot dogs, nachos, or sandwiches) you bake his cake and let him help with putting on decorations. Of coarse that could be a little messy, but take pictures and besides its his birthday. He will be surprised with all kids having fun.

Y. Marshall (Houston)

For my daughter's first birthday, we had only family and very close friends. We decorated her high chair with balloons and bows and made her a little cake so she could just dive in. We put her in an adorable little pink dress with the #1 on it, knowing full well that it would be ruined. (We cut off the #1 stains and all and put it in her scrap book.) We sort of themed it around the family and the bond each person had with her. Each guest got a framed photo that had been taken earlier that year of her and them together laughing or reading or playing.
We didn't get to it the first year, though I would have liked to, but on her second birthday we had a storybook theme. We set up a camera in her room and so anyone that wanted to could take her upstairs and read her a book on DVD. It is one of her faves now.
Mostly have fun! He won't remember so take lots of pics.

I enjoyed doing face painting with acrylics at a carnival recently. Easy fun ideas onine to achieve this! Also games are great, like musical chairs, we're thinkin of a one year old, hmmmm for him alone a cowboy outfit to run around in. Dollar stores have inexpensive outfits like hats and fake gun belt sets. A pair of boots and he will be the hit of the party! Don't forget a hanky around his neck! OR any cute creative idea like that to dress him up special! Let me know hid favorite character and I can try to put some more ideas into it! I used google for party themes and found lots of cool ideas online when I put together a slumber party. It was a group of girls tho, but boys could enjoy kareoke, freeze game where you stop the music. Fun themed cakes just let me know what he would be intersted in and we can put together more detail. Think of his favorite make believe characters on tv or something he enjoys around the house. ~C.

We had our son's first birthday party at home. One year olds get enough entertainment from the people they love just being there for them. I made it a bug theme. Made a worm cake by cutting a homemade bunt cake in half and positioning it so that it looks like an "S" (or a worm). Colored the frosting lime green and decorated the entire thing in gumballs. Used Junior mints for the eyes and licorice for the legs (from the front to the back). I made bug antennas from cheap girl's headbands that I purchased at Walmart. I wrapped 2 pipe cleaners around the headbands and glued foam paper (found at any craft store) to the tips (decorated them like eyeballs, fun designs and such with puff paint). Leave plenty of pipe cleaner sticking up in the air so the eyeballs bounce around. Hope this makes a little sense. I also laid gummy worms on the table with grilled cheese sandwiches for the kids and sandwiches and pasta salad for the adults. It was a ton of fun and very inexpensive. Good luck to you!

No matter how much you want the big day to be about him he's still too young to really enjoy it. So everyone else ends up having a great time at your expense. A more intimate gathering is better and I think the best for the birthday boy will be the cake! Hope he has a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

as for a theme... try Arnie's. When my 8 yr old had his first birthday we did the theme of the 'big 1' it was real cute and resonable in price. they had the party hats, napkins, balloons and such... then we did the cake from kroger in his favorite character... That made it lots fun for him.

we just had a few friends and family over and did presents cake and ice cream! it was fun.

You can do it at home. The 1yo will not remember the moment you will. Make it special for family and friends to gather. Make or have a small cake made for just him, put him in the highchair/booster chair and let him go at it - it's all his. Take lots of pictures. Be yourself & have fun. If it is going to be mixed ages of children not just 1 yo's have a pinata, games, & goodie bags for them to have when they leave. Maybe have it at your neighborhood park.

Hey A.! Have you heard of the Big Bouncy Bus? It's located out of Lake Jackson & it's a pretty cool thing!!! I know there's one similar to it in the Clear Lake area as well.There's all kinds of parks to go to & rent a Funbounce, too!! I did this for my oldest son's birthday & ALL of the kids loved it!! Good luck in your search!

"Candice"

i have 3 children and i really like mc donalds as a first birthday party they cater to the child and all kids love mc donalds so i think that may bea good idea

My son's birthday is in August so I got a cheap inflatable pool, and some cheap pool toys. I also had a bag of sand (not sure how much they cost 'cause my mom bought it) & some cheap buckets, shovels, etc. Then I bought a few things of bubbles. I printed out some cute pictures for decorations. Then I made & decorated the cake myself. If you aren't skilled with cakes maybe someone in your family is or maybe you can find someone who doesn't charge too much.

Hi A. don't panic my name is L. and I have been planning my daughters birthday party's for the last 7 yrs. I've learned hhow to make it memorable and keep the price down at the same time.
*Pick a theme...If you don't know what to pick go to Arnies Wearhouse they have tons of themes and ideas for any party.
*Arnies is a great place to keep cost down because they have so many alternatives.
*I always pick a theme and pull the general colors from that theme.(instead of the items with the charachters)
*Candy can be purchased for the candy bags at the dollar store and even some of the decorations.
*Sams is great for soft-drinks and juice packs. If you don't have a card to get in go with a friend...
*E-vites are so easy to make and send. People respond quickly and you have good idea of how many people are coming and if there are any changes updating and alerting people is so easy. Don't forget FREE....
*I have a cake lady that does amazing cakes for as low as $20.00/25.00... They are homemade and the icing is not the one from the store that sticks to the kids clothes. Her name in Blanca Trevino :###-###-####
*Are you planning to do anything for entertainment?
I have a friend that owns a moonwalk company tell him L. referred you: www.partyrentalusa.com
*What about food? What are your plans for that?

Pick a theme he likes, such as Dinosaurs, Cars, Tools, Sports. Make him a cake and decorate with a toy of that theme and serve hot dogs and chips to the guest. The gift/souvenir bags can have a piece of fruit and few candies. Don't have a lot of people over. He will get tired out and end up falling asleep anyway! Take lots of pictures.