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Just a thought - I'm sure your DD will love tissues, but if you are trying to teach her not to empty them out of the box then suddenly letting her go mad with a box of tissues might give her a mixed message and mean that she is going to try to play with boxes in the future. At 1yo, she won't understand the difference between 'her box of tissues' and 'mummy's box of tissues'.

Hmm, I think "no presents" will be ignored. It is annoying because you will probably end up with loads of small things you do not need, but then they are her presents iykwim. She will enjoy playing with them.

We tried this with our first, it was ignored... next time we asked for donations to children's charity - about half and half went with that.

Now we "ask" for books, usually a note on the bottom that says if you're looking for a present idea, that X loves books, maybe a theme if slightly older and people want clearer idea (fairies, diggers, gardening etc).

During the next year she will start enjoying toys a lot more though. And books! Especially books. I really think it is normal to bring a present for a birthday party. Give out little party bags too, if you like, to the childre who come. At that age, bubbles, one of those little windmill things that go around when you blow, a balloon and a fairy cake are fine. Just invite people and go with the flow - you can't really control their actions, no matter how good your intentions!

I don't think presents are 'bad', it's just that I feel a bit odd with the concept that if I provide an invite, I'm also asking for a present. DD isn't old enough to have friends who will enjoy picking out presents for her, and we don't really need anything. Her GP shower her with more than enough items!

Although very good point about saying no presents and having everyone ignore it, except a few who would then feel bad. We'll have to rethink. If our family weren't all overseas we'd prefer just a little cake with dinner and family, but it seemed like this might be an opportunity to be a little more social.

But oh, she'll love the tissues! It seems like Xmas/birthday is a good time to provide her with something special. I wouldn't normally let her tear all the tissues out of a box -- it makes a mess and is a waste. But for a special day, she could enjoy herself. Most 'real' toys she doesn't seem to enjoy any more than any other household object. But things she can tear up, lovely!

I'd be happy to bring a present.

I'd take a present too and would also find the tissue thing a bit weird ! There are lots of lovely things you could buy for a 1 year old if she likes tissues just buy her a box with the weekly shop ! Not as a first birthday present

I'd take a present too

I asked people not to bring presents to my twins' first birthday party and set up a charity page for Save the Children instead. Got pretty much ignored by 70% of guests who brought a present anyway... As others have said, people tend to like buying gifts for babies and children.

In my defence I wasn't trying to be precious, it's just that the twins were lucky enough to receive LOADS of gifts over their first year and having two just doubled the amount of stuff we had. I wanted to use their birthday to do something positive for other children and I don't care if that sounds cheesy.

Tissues for a 1yo is inspired. Most have enough toys already.

I would expect to bring a present, yes. I would normally bring a book (eg a classic my DCs have enjoyed from a similar age like That's Not My or The Very Hungry Caterpillar).

Some people have "we survived the first year" parties. The gifts are therefore more likely to be split between wine/flowers and toys/clothes/books.

My dd used to love wipes and would just pull them out the pack endlessly so I get the tissues -we had toys too, she just preferred the wipes!

I think it's a bit precious of you OP. You're making a "thing" out of gifts...as though they're bad...or shallow. Your baby will only be 1 once...let people bring gifts and buy her a gift yuorself...a ball wrapped up or a doll or bear..they only need to cost a pound! It's the idea of giving her a box of tissues in place of a gift that's odd..just spend the pound the tissues would cost on an actual toy...why not?

I got my DD a jemima puddlduck toy on her 1st birthday...it is very much treasured by her now she's 5.

I like the idea of tissues . Mine always loved the wrapping paper and the boxes better at that age and still do.

But yes I would bring a little something (not tissues though!) even if told not to.

Oh - and they are especially likely to bring gifts if they know that the child only got a box of tissues from their parents. Your guests will feel that your child is missing out somehow, they will assume you are stony broke and will be grateful for some 'proper' toys, they will think that you can put some of the toys away and bring them out when your DD has removed all the tissues from the box.

i would expect to bring a present to any party, even if asked not to!

im also a bit at a box of tissues and napkins though. what made you give them?

I think people will decide to ignore the parents and go ahead and buy a present anyway. It's all about wanting to get something enjoyable for the child, and the parents don't really come into, I'm afraid.

I love buying presents for babies too, especially older ones as there's so much choice, so I would probably ignore you if you said no presents
Don't worry that people will think you're trying to present grab, I have never thought of birthday parties like that even though presents are inevitable. They are just a celebration of your child, presents are a nice bonus

Why would u not bring a present? It's a birthday party! Tis rather traditional at any age, including just born.

It's weirder to go to a house where the parents proudly proclaim they gave their child a pack of napkins for Xmas. And intend to do the same for birthday.

I'd bring a gift anyway. I like buying things for little people. Usually bring a book, so not clutter and can be re-gifted if the birthday child already has it.

Everyone will bring presents.

A box of tissues? Why?

Yes I love shopping for presents for babies

I'd expect to bring a present to a 1st birthday party.

I went to the first 'first birthday' in our group of friends and the invite said no gifts, so I didn't get one.

Everyone else did, and I felt like a right idiot! Especially by the time it was my DS's first and she brought a present for him.

You can ask, most people will probably bring something little though.

Invite them to "DDs present free party- just bring yourselves". They'll either take heed or they won't.