First birthday party ideas...

[lilmssunshine84]

Hi i am busy organising a birthday party for my DS who will turn 1 in June.

So far we have booked a magician, got a chocolate fountain, planned to make cookie favours in my sons initials, cupcakes with his initials and a projector with photos of him this past year.

Is there anything else i can add? I want it to be very special and memorable.....i cant think of special little touches which will be nice ...any advice will be great thank u

[LoonyRationalist]

Lots and lots of wine. Seriously at 1 your ds would be super super happy with a helium balloon & a cake :)

[notnowbernard]

Blimey!

Have you checked out the PFB thread

[lilmssunshine84]

no i will do that....what does PFB stand for?

haha i know, DS wont really remember, i guess its for the family and we have a huge family who are always trying to out do one another-

i want a special touch- i got 100 balloons floating , starcloth around the hall
.....but something is missing....that added bonus and i cant think what

[BiscuitNibbler]

DD's 1st birthday - I just blew up a few balloons for the few kids there and spent the money on wine and nice food for the grown-ups!

[bbface]

Helicopter rides?

What I really suggest is that you throw your competitive family a curveball and do something simple, small and entirely DS focussed i.e. forget about the chocolate fountain, the magician and all the other stuff and just get a ball pit and a few balloons.

Each to their own, but this party sounds like the 1st birthday equivalent of a big fat gypsy wedding!

[QuietNinjaCameBackToLife]

Ds got a pack of 50p balloons from asda and we blew up about 5 of them and we had friends over for lunch. That was it. He didn't even get cake as he was allergic to egg. Obviously he got presents but we didn't go mad.
Op sounds like you have more money than sense.

[jjazz]

I think OP is conduction a very elaborate wind up.

Incase not i would suggest she forgets all but the 5 balloons and donated £100 to the NSPCC- and no I dont work for them

[jjazz]

sorry....conducting

[BigHairyFlowers]

I second jjazz

[lilmssunshine84]

Hi in my family we have big parties, my cousin had one in December for 150 and they hired some circus acts. Her daughter was loving it, she was the centre of attraction.

For those of you who think it is a wind up- perhapes speak to a few Sikh families in Chigwell - my event will seem like a day in the park in comparison.

This is our first child and he spent 6 weeks in NICU, this party is the least we can do, we are thankful he is alive

[Kizza2]

For my DD we had 180- hired a marquee with clowns and sorts. we have a big family and friends- she was spolit all day

If you can afford it- go for it, give your kid the best. Dont listen to the ppl on here- they don't know anything about sikh culture

[Kizza2]

some suggestions- some swans? can give you the number to bombay dancers and cabaret if you like, pm me

[Octaviapink]

Yes, I think OP is trolling. How about hand-embroidered wrapping paper? Dancing lamas? Whoever said swans was probably on the right track.

Make sure it's something you enjoy, because your child won't notice, care or remember.

[Kizza2]

OP said it was mainly for family......

its sad that people who cant afford things make judgements on people who can. I gave my DD a big birthday party and will do the same for my DS......if you can afford things, then why not?

[lilmssunshine84]

thanks everoyone for your feedback...much appreciated Kizza

I had a big birthday party many moons ago and it is custom to have big first birthday parties- as any parent, we want to give our son the best. It is not fair if all his cousins have big parties and he doesnt.

sorry if i upset anyone...i didnt think that big parties were uncommon- we have a large family and we are all very close and celebrate together- I am sorry if yuou dont have a big family or people who love your child- i do, and i intend on celebrating with them that my son is 1 and is entitled to the best of everything i can possibly give him

[MumOfAPickle]

Yes anyone who didn't get swans for their child's first birthday clearly does not love them. Priceless.

[BigHairyFlowers]

Shit. Now I have Swan Guilt.

Better start saving for DS's inevitable therapy sessions. He's bound to remember his first birthday when he's older and be forever wounded by it

[MyDogShitsShoes]

Oh my poor neglected child.



Clearly he has no love in his life

He's only 8 months old so I still have time to correct this tragedy. Please tell me I have time!

I was going to invite whoever fancies coming and make them some butties. They'll be celebratory butties though, i'll cut them into 4 and everything. And my mum wants to make a cake. And i'll probably have it at my nanna's house cos it's bigger than mine and she's got a nice garden.

I am a terrible parent, how could I have thought of neglecting him so.

[Octaviapink]

It's definitely true that the amount of love you have for your child is directly related to the amount of money you spend on them. Broke people can't afford to love their children.

[Magic69]

where has sunshine mentioned swans?

MyDogShitsShoes- "I was going to invite whoever fancies coming along"

how does family fit into that catogery? they are not 'whoever'......unlike sunshine I am Hindu and I have an extended family of over 200 worldwide- Asian families are big and they celebrate occasions together. Its a community of love and trust and support.

Otaviapink- are you jealous?

"It's definitely true that the amount of love you have for your child is directly related to the amount of money you spend on them"


that is not what sunshine said- she said, "as any parent, we want to give our son the best"- dont parents want to give their kids the best of what they can afford? if sunshine can afford a big party- then good for her, I am sorry you are so poor and insecure you need to pick on sunshine.

We gave our son a big party and had lots of entertainment and presents we were unpacking for days- it was spectacular and i dont regret it for a second because he is our whole world.

[Octaviapink]

Jealous?? Good god I can't think of anything worse than such a huge and stressful event. I just think it's mad. My sarcasm was in response to the money/stuff-equals-love equation.

[Magic69]

Are you from a big community? If you are, then stressful events will be common. I presume sunshine is from a community, as me and for us, big 1st birthdays are common- it is uncommon NOT to have a big first birthday.


Money does not equal love- where did sunshine say that?

if you have money then why not spend it as you see fit? Isnt that a right...?

I know relations who have had 1st birthday parties for 500 people, in comparison sunshines event seems to be low key.

why are u threatened by people who have money and a big family, who wish to have huge celebrations? are your family so estranged and you are so broke that you need to make sunshine feel bad?

if she wants to invite 100 people, or 1000...if she wants dancing llamas and swams...if she wants then whole cast of Glee at her son's party then good for her- hope she has a great day and remembers the beautiful occasion forever.

[Octaviapink]

I'm not threatened - why do you assume that? Don't be so defensive! I just think it's bonkers to blow that much on a first birthday party. What about university fees or a deposit on a house!

[TheHouseofMirth]

Gosh, I think you're all being rather mean in deliberately misconstruing the OP's comments and also oblivious to the difference in the OP's culture and your own.

OP, how many guests will you be inviting? How many adults and how many children? What will the age range of the children be? What kind of venue are you using and what is the timing of the party? If you can give me a bit more info I can give you some ideas.