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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask how much you spent on your child's first birthday party?

67 replies

Twinklestar2 · 23/07/2015 19:56

And what did you do?

OP posts:
travertine · 23/07/2015 19:58

Family round for tea. Only a year old, is more a celebration for the parents really I think.

swallowed · 23/07/2015 19:59

We had a few friends round for coffee and cake.

How much did I spend? I suppose balloons, the cake, a plastic tablecloth..... a tenner? Fifteen quid?

Why do you ask?

LindyHemming · 23/07/2015 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pickingstrawberries · 23/07/2015 19:59

We've never done anything.

HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs · 23/07/2015 20:00

The cost of a cake and some paper plates. Baby didn't know anything about it. We just had a family tea party

HighwayDragon · 23/07/2015 20:01

About £150 hired a hall, put loads of food and beer out and most of the family came. A few of my friends kids came too so spent 99p on balloons for them to bat around and gnaw on.

andadietcoke · 23/07/2015 20:01

A fair amount, but it wasn't a party for their birthday (twins) it was a party to say thank you to everyone who had helped us survive the first year. We had a BBQ with tons of booze and cupcakes and presents for all the kids that came. It was lovely but I worry about the children's expectations for their party bags this year!!

bronya · 23/07/2015 20:02

Cake. Family round. £10 total? Will be the same for DC2.

HighOverTheFenceLeapsSunnyJim · 23/07/2015 20:02

Held a naming ceremony, all friends & family invited. Probably about £500 each time (food, booze, room hire).

Totality22 · 23/07/2015 20:03

Had a family tea party at my mums so probs spent £50 on cake and balloons and party bags for the kids of the family (5 of them). Mum and dad did all the food bless them.

HighwayDragon · 23/07/2015 20:03

Add I only did it because I was inundated with messages a month before asking what we were doing, she's the first baby in the family for 11 years!

Cheby · 23/07/2015 20:03

Probably around £500. But only because we combined it with a naming ceremony, hired a hall, catered for 70 people (ourselves, I baked for 2 days straight with DD on my back in a sling!) and paid for fizz for everyone for a toast after the naming thing. Cost of cake was in there too, bought a professional one as i couldnt manage catering and the cake.
We wanted to host a big family party to say thanks for all the help and support in her first year, it was a lovely day.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 23/07/2015 20:04

We had a BBQ and bought a paddling pool that we filled with plastic balls. It was a teddy bears picnic theme, so I bought all the kids a beanie baby. I think on food, drink, teddies, ball pool and cake I spent about £100, but the balls and pool were used time and time again.

Runningupthathill82 · 23/07/2015 20:05

£20 or so - party tea at my mum's house for family and close friends. Everyone brought a dish to add to the buffet we put on.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 23/07/2015 20:06

Should say we fed about 12 adults and 6 children.

PumpkinPie2013 · 23/07/2015 20:07

We had close family round at the house for cake and nibbles plus got ds a helium balloon.

So maybe £20 for everything - cake, balloons, nibbles and a cake.

His christening was more expensive than his first birthday (he was christened at 4 months old). More people came, we had a cake made and we bought him a special outfit so in total probably £100 altogether.

Planning to have the family tea party for his second birthday too and will probably go for a nice day trip.

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 23/07/2015 20:07

In the case of most of mine I took a cake to toddler group that was on that day or the closest day to the birthday. So 50p subs and the ingredients out of the cupboard for cake. Sorted! They're one, all they want to do is eat duplo and crash the biscuit plate :o

XiCi · 23/07/2015 20:07

Probably about £150. Family Bbq

CheeseAndBeans · 23/07/2015 20:08

We hired a hall, soft play, and all our friends from baby groups plus family and kids came. Was about 20 kids and 30 adults. All in with food and decorations etc it cost about £250.
It was a lovely day, I really wanted to do something special. But, in hindsight it was so stressful and she won't remember it at all. I think it was more for me really, a few of the other mums did similar and if I am totally honest it all got a bit secretly competitive!
I did homemade decorations, invites, over the top party bags, big cake.
I probably should have just done a tea party at home - that's what we will be doing this year and will do til school age!

Original poster
Twinklestar2 · 23/07/2015 20:09

I'm asking because I'm wondering if £500 is too extravagant. That includes hire of hall, soft play, bouncy castle and food. I've got 21 adults and 10 kids coming so far.

OP posts:
pickingstrawberries · 23/07/2015 20:10

I must admit I don't understand it - at all.

It's not really a party for the baby, is it? Just a party.

Wafflenose · 23/07/2015 20:15

I think that''s a lot for a 1 year old's party. We didn't do anything when ours were 1. When they were 2 and 3, we just had the neighbours' kids round for a play in the garden and a bit of party food. One time we borrowed a bouncy castle too (from a friend) so even at age 2/3 we probably spent about 40 quid.

mugglingalong · 23/07/2015 20:17

We just went to aquarium and had takeaway, however they had all had christening parties. The only thing that you need to consider is are you likely to be able to do similar for subsequent dc. It would be a bit sad if you look over photos in 10yrs and dc2 (if you plan to have more) asks what you did for their first birthday. You probably don't need bouncy castle and soft play if you want to cut costs somewhere.

Original poster
Twinklestar2 · 23/07/2015 20:17

My immediate family is 10 adults and 5 kids before I even invite anyone from my husband's side or any friends.

OP posts:
GreyBird84 · 23/07/2015 20:17

Well so far:

Private soft play with bouncy castle & football. Nibbles £130
Invites £20
Cake £50

Still have to get decorations & do party bags.

First grandchild & our house isnt big enough to hold all who we need to invite. This is a one off as next year we will be in a much bigger house with a large private garden so we don't mind too much.

Cake is my thing so that's why it's quite expensive. But it will all be ate & will be delicious!