Not throwing a 1st birthday party

[dray9925]

So ds birthday is the 28th December it's his first birthday, me and my oh did talk about doing a party at a soft play or something but a few days ago we got given a council place which means now we are really tight on money and I'm not sure I can afford to hire somewhere. We have sorted his birthday and Christmas presents so that's not a worry it's just the party, I was thinking of just having immediate family over for a little while to celebrate.
I feel guilty because oh cousin had a baby a few weeks after us and has planned this huge celebration should I be doing that for my little boy as well?

[AmiU]

I only did parties with grandparents/ out siblings until my DD turned 4, she wasn't not interested in friends parties before then.

You'll feel better about yourself in the end knowing you were responsible and you can still have absolutely lovely, special memories with your DD.

[MissCalamity]

No way would I have bothered with a soft play party for my DC's first birthday.
DS (December birthday too) we had a little party at our house & for DD we just went to the pub for tea.
Honestly save your money for your new home, who gives two hoots what relatives do for their DC birthday, your DS certainly won't!

[Rooooooood]

1st birthday parties aren't for the kids they are for the parents. If you are ok with a cake and a few balloons then your D.C. will be.

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1]

Just wanted to join in with everyone else who says save your money and have tea and cake and family at home.

[LockedOutOfMN]

Cake at home with close family and a photo to remember the day is perfect for a first birthday party.

[yikesanotherbooboo]

Don't have a party for a one year old. If you have close family who live nearby , invite them for a cup of tea and a piece of cake. They can photograph your baby messing about with wrapping paper and cake.
We had DGPs for DC1 for tea and whatever... I even found that a bit unnecessary. I have no recollection at all of my other 2 DC's first birthdays

[silkpyjamasallday]

We didn't do a big thing, hosted at my parents as there was more space, just close family and two girls (sisters) a similar age that DD plays with and their mum and dad. Did a afternoon tea style spread with little finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and cupcakes plus a cake for the obligatory blowing out of the candles. Put up some bunting that my DM already had and some balloons and that was it. There is really no point in throwing a huge shindig for a one year old who won't be able to cope with hours on end of fuss and excitement. We didn't do a huge number of presents either, DDs favourite bit of the day was coming downstairs to our living room absolutely full of balloons I'd spent hours blowing up the night before. It cost less than £100 all in all and was a lovely day. Save a soft play type thing for when they are old enough to appreciate it.

[Figgygal]

Ds1 bday is 22nd December he's always had a bday party though clearly first bday he was oblivious

Ds2 was one in October we just did a family lunch and cake
L

[BackforGood]

Regardless of Christmas or you moving, it is completely pointless to have a softplay party for a one year old.
Having Grandparents and other family round is exactly the best thing to do for a 1 yr old.
I wouldn't get into having parties other than family until they start school.

[flingingmelon]

We had a big 1st birthday for DS.

But actually it was a 'we managed not to screw up parenting for a whole year!' party.

That's pretty much what we put in the invites, but DM wouldn't let me ice it on the cake too

[Farfromtheusual]

As PP said, really no point at 1! They don't understand at all. Just have a small get together with immediate family, that's all we did when DS turned one, thankfully the weather was good so we had a BBQ and a few drinks etc.

[PumpkinPie2016]

We had grandparents round for birthday tea party and cake when DS was one - he was happy as Larry in his own home with a few balloons!

His second birthday fell on the day my husband was having a hernia op so I just did presents and his cake with him at home (just me and him) as we had to drop off and collect DH.

Did a party for his 3rd and 4th birthdays!

[RestingGrinchFace]

We didn't have a party-he was too young to care and we are not party people so it was a win win.

[Doubletrouble42]

My twins were 1 last Friday. We had a pub lunch with all four grandparents. Didn't even occur to us to throw a party...

[PasstheStarmix]

I will be doing day out just me, dh and ds probably to zoo or aquarium and then home for cake and nibbles with maybe a couple close relatives over. At 1 they get really overwhelmed with too many people and overtired leading to melt downs. Parties end up being more for the adults than the baby. I'm saving the parties for when DS is in nursery and is better aware of his surroundings and in a position where he'd enjoy it.

[willstarttomorrow]

A birthday party for a one year old is not for the birthday boy or girl, it is for the parents and family. DD's first birthday was on the same day as my nan's 100th so we tagged her on. The next year we took her up for a little tea with the other side of the family. At 3 we started having a small 'proper party' with nursery friends. DD is now a party fiend and starts chittering about birthday arrangements months before (she is 11). At no point has she berated me for a lack of big party as a baby which she cannot remember and at the time would have made no sense of.