1 year old - birthday party .... help ! not sure what to do

[muminko]

My DS's birthday party is coming up at the end of September therefore its likely to be held indoors.I think I am ok with the theme as not planning anything spectacular but not sure what to put in party bags. Most babies will be around 1 year old with couple of 2-3 years old.I am also bit worried about huge amount of icing and colouring that seems to be used on birthday cakes and cupcakes. I would still like him to have a nice birthday cake though. Any ideas? thanks

[Thinkstoomuch]

The answer on the cake is surely to make your own, then you can control what goes in it. On the party bags I did less things, but better quality than I do for older kids. e.g. a wooden toy like a mini musical shaker, a squishy ball and a plastic farm animal, plus chocolate buttons or something like that.

[BornToFolk]

Or if you buy a cake, just pick the icing off before giving it to your DS. That's what we did. DS was so happy to have a whole slice of cake to himself that he really didn't care about the icing.
Other parents will do the same if it bothers them.

[MrsBadger]

I made dd a plain victoria sponge with buttercream and jam in - any cake is special so long as you call it 'birthday' cake.
This year I put in a bit more work and made a big oblong victoria sponge filled with jam, cut it into the shape of a 2 and iced it with plain glacé icing.

Save your effort till they are 7 and demanding an army football cowboy Ben10 pirate cake.

I didn't bother with party bags at 1yo, and when dd was 2 they just had a balloon and a party hat each to take home

[muminko]

Thanks for all your advice. DP is quite handy at baking cupcakes, I am sure he could bake a yummy cake. I am not good at baking cakes at all but understand will have to learn to bake soon as it seems to be desirable skill when one's child will go to a small village school. I like the party bags ideas I was thinking of making animals out of conkers but dp being a legal eagle poo pooed the idea saying that he would have to type some sort of small parts choking hazard disclaimer to go with it.

[MrsBadger]

oh cupcakes will do fine

line them up on a tray put one letter of her name on each one