7 Super Tips for Your Baby’s First Birthday
Congratulations!
You have hurdled the first year of parenthood. It’s time to celebrate your child’s first year with a smashing birthday party.
The One
Props to you for successfully surviving the first year of changing nappies, sleep deprivation, and the many other “firsts” that come with bringing a baby into this world. Especially if you’re new parents, the experience of taking care of a newborn babe can be quite challenging.
Your bundle of joy is now turning one and you deserve to celebrate this milestone. It hasn’t been a walk in the park for most, if not all, so this is an event that is worth your time, effort, and resources.
Surely, excitement is throbbing in your veins. You’d be busy thinking of ways to celebrate – what theme, whom to invite, the cake, the party decorations, and so many more. You can also ask for tips from experienced parents in your family or trusted friends to make sure it’s a birthday to remember.
To prepare for your tiny tot’s birthday bash, here are some top tips that can help guide you along:
1. Select a simple theme.
With a million concepts and ideas for a party, you would be hard-pressed not to get carried away. However, you need to calm yourself down and try to think rationally.
Your baby will be turning one. Your baby is so young and small, he or she probably won’t remember if there were unicorns floating around or space rangers trudging afoot during his or her first birthday party.
As most parents have experienced and already know, this first birthday is (in all honesty) for the parents’ enjoyment — not only to show off their cuddly little cherub (who wouldn’t, right?) but also basically to rejoice over the fact that they’ve made it past the one-year mark.
So if you can contain yourself, select a theme that is not too overboard. Have something simple that won’t overwhelm your baby but is still pleasing enough that you’d love to enjoy and remember it through photos and videos in the years to come.
2. Personalize your party.
Perhaps, more than choosing a specific theme, personalizing the event will be a more memorable move.
When you want to commemorate this special day, it will tug on your heartstrings more if you include props and accents that have significant meaning to your family or your baby.
Did you drive-thru before going to the ER? Include the snapshot of you holding that cheeseburger (that you belatedly found out was not allowed). Was it a full moon when the baby came out? How about using different phases of the moon as cut-out decorations?
Injecting a more personal flair into the celebrations will make it more meaningful and memorable.
3. Designate a quiet nook.
Whether you’re holding the party at your house or in a separate venue, make sure that you have a quiet little corner.
This corner or room will be your safe haven when you need to breastfeed or just calm the baby when it gets too boisterous outside. Your guests with little kids or even those who were young once can also use this space to get a moment of silence.
Make sure it is comfortable and private. It will also be a plus if you can stash some bottled water, wipes, tissues, and a blanket or two in this dedicated space.
4. Opt for outdoors.
If you can, choose to hold the party outdoors. Weather permitting, it would be an excellent way for little legs to run around and play.
You also run a lower risk of having your personal things disturbed inside the house. If it’s a private venue, a kiddie playground will already be a hit especially with younger guests. There’s space to move around and you won’t have to worry so much about making a mess.
5. Designate photographers.
If you want to beautifully preserve first birthday memories, then you should designate photographers. They can be friends, family, or better yet, professional photographers who know what they are doing.
It is advisable that you take portraits before the party so guests with kids still look fresh. Kids will be running around during the event so getting them to sit still for photos will be an exercise in futility. Make sure to ask the photographer to take candid photos as well. These are often the best bits as they capture raw emotions and you can reminisce over those moments in the future.
6. Choose cupcakes for smashing.
Yes, it’s a thing. You can do the cake smashing or not. But if you do, cake smashing can be an expensive (and really messy) way to capture the cuteness of your kid.
To save up on expenses and the cleaning after, you can opt for a charming little cupcake for your own little cupcake to smash. Perfect pun, right?
7. Don’t forget naptime.
Don’t let the exhilaration of the birthday bash make you forget the importance of sleep for your little one. Your baby is still pretty much a growing little person so make sure that he or she gets enough rest for the party.
Also, if your little one displays signs of sleepiness, get going to your quiet nook and indulge a little nap. This will help prevent tantrums and cranky displays.
Onward and Beyond
So there, you have your simple but smashing tips for a successful first birthday party.
Of course, it would help if you can get professional party planners to lend you a hand (since you already have yours full with the baby) during planning and on the day itself. Don’t hesitate to get the pros onboard so you can stress less and focus on having fun at this very special event.
You can throw a big shebang or choose a more intimate family celebration. Whatever scale it is, the most important thing is that you celebrate the life given to your little sunshine. It is the fact that you have this tiny human being as your own personal miracle and just having him or her is enough.
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About the Author
Lorate Hamzeh - Guest Blogger
In 2008, Managing Director and Founder of The Big Moo Events, Lorate Hamzeh, left a successful career in Human Resources to venture into the niche market of children’s entertainment. By introducing the UAE to Singing Telegrams, Lorate attracted the attention of the children’s entertainment market with a collection of fun mascots. Within a year, Lorate added children’s entertainers and bouncers to the company’s ever-growing list of services, and the rest was history.