Party for one year old

[Sundancer77]

I’m a ftm and our dd turns one this summer. We’ll do a family only little garden tea party with a few decorations, balloons, fancy cake, party food and presents just for us and grandparents etc.
I’m thinking of then doing a separate, bigger one for all her little baby friends and their siblings etc..did you do anything for the first birthday? Also what are the best presents to buy for a one year old? 🎈

At 1 obviously the baby doesn't care so only have the other party if you want it otherwise save your energy fir when they're in school and will nag you for a party every year.

In terms of presents I'd wait and see what you're given. Again one year old's don't need much or care it's their birthday so I just bought whatever books i would have bought anyway. Maybe a ride along toy too. At that age they change quite quickly so it's probably best not to clutter up the house too much when they'll be moving on to different toys on a few months.

I had a bbq with family and friends- had a face painter for some of the older kids. Lots of people will say why bother when a 1 year old won’t remember but I see no harm!

For dds first birthday I got her an indigo jam ride on scooter, she's six now and still has it out in her room, every single visiting child has had a little scoot about on it even now. She did get plenty from other people so I only got her that one thing, it was about £50 so more than I would have spent on a toy for no reason.

We had a family party but it was mostly for me and my mum hosted it which was really nice and took the pressure off me. The first birthday is really about the parents and celebrating getting through the tiny baby stage I think.

My sister’s of the ‘Why bother when they won’t remember’ opinion 🙈🤣but I want to do it, I can’t imagine not marking it somehow, for our memories too and to celebrate her (we waited years to have her and I couldn’t have ever imagined planning my child’s bday party, so it’s pretty exciting for me-bit sad really!) Don’t want it to be ridiculously ott though and it make me look like a dick. I was thinking maybe face painter and/or bouncy castle for the older lot.
Definitely don’t want a load of junk filling up the house even more, but wondering if there should be any specific toys which are beneficial developmentally at that age? Or to just go with whatever 🤷‍♀️

We had a little family do and my dd loved it, we had her favourite foods and songs. We also played pass the parcel which she thought was brilliant. I think it's worth doing, I'm not sure I'd bother with a separate baby one though, but there's nothing wrong with it if you really want to. Her have present was a mini ball pool, she spends ages in it playing with the balls and hiding toys in it to find.

I would just have a family party personally they don't have friends at that age.

Present wise my youngest had a wrapped up cardboard box full of balloons. Loved taking them in and out then played with the box then it all went in the bin/recycling. She also had a keepsake present.

My daughter was 1 a couple of weeks ago. We went to the zoo a few days before with DPs family and on the day went to lunch and night garden live with my family.
Presents wise she got some night garden stuff, a little tykes horse rocker thingy, a zany zoo cube, bath toys and two fisher price little people sets - the zoo and the farm.
She spends all day playing with the farm and zoo sets, occasionally wandering to the horse rocker, then back again! So I'd definitely recommend the little people sets.

I saw my first baby's first birthday as much as a celebration of my own one year anniversary of becoming a mum. We invited a few of my friends over, opened a bottle of bubbly, had a cake and that was it really. He seemed to enjoy the attention, and I spent time with my husband and good friends. It really was lovely.

You've just got to do whatever you like - I don't think there are any expectations for a baby's first birthday. Happy Birthday to your little one!

Hahahha this has made me smile. I went all out for my DS 1st! We had ponies for pony rides and it was cowboy themed (he loved woody at the time) we had teepees and a local brewery brought a keg and pump. Everyone had a brilliant afternoon. DS napped through the majority of it. We saw it as an excuse to get everyone together more than anything

2nd birthday we did ceebebies land, 3rd we were on holiday, 4th Lego land and he's just had his 5th (first one with his school friends) and we had a similar "out there" party! We've said going forward we will alternate now so probably a weekend away for his 6th then party for his 7th.

We had a lot going on when my DS turned one (were about to move house, I just went back to work etc) so I had a small-ish party at my house. Just invited my parents, grandma, godparents and a couple of his little friends (and their mums!) so about 10 people came in all. We got a proper cake and snack food and the babies played in the living room. It was a lovely day! My DS can get a bit overwhelmed with lots of people around but this was manageable for him, I think it's the same for a lot of small children.

My DD is one in a few weeks and I'm planning on a small garden party with cake and drinks for friends and their children, nothing too elaborate. We'll then see family on her actual birthday and perhaps a trip to the sea life centre/a zoo.

We're not planning on getting her much because we've been very kindly given a lot of things she might like as she gets older (slide, Little Tikes car, swing, etc). My DH has refurbished a vintage wooden rocking horse for her but we've also got her some books, a paddling pool, a new Sophie the Giraffe (the original one has been lost) and I'm making her a sun hat and knitting a colourful blanket that will fit her cot bed when she's a bit older.

My sons about to turn1 and I've hired a cheap hall in case it rains!
Were doing finger painting, hungry catapillar themed crafts, dancing and a ball pit/bopper. I think the total costs is around 75 quid with hall hire.
It's cheap but we will have fun and my mom's making the cake!

Mostly older kids as he only has about three baby friends

We did family and friends combined. Around 50 people or so for bbq and plenty of pimms and prosecco. It was a really nice afternoon. I ordered lots of platters from M&S to make it slightly easier for me. It was expensive but I wanted to do it so that was that

At 1 the party would be for you more than her so I wouldn't bother inviting other babies because none of them would have a clue what's going on! 😂 Just do the party you had planned, the 1 years olds party will probably be a bit pointless

We had a tea party with family.

Family party sounds lovely. The other one sounds both pointless and hideous. There will be plenty of years to organise birthday parties for her friends when she's old enough to actually have friends.

We just had the grandparents round for both my children's 1st birthdays so can't advise on a party.

For presents as it's a summer birthday I'd second a ride on toy, or something for the garden like a slide, swing/climbing frame set, a play tent or one of those red cars (cozy coupe I think they're called).

Otherwise both my kids have loved Happy Land toys from Early Learning Centre, my Dd is nearly 5 and still plays with hers every day, we have a selection of buildings, people and vehicles and it's something your family can add to for each birthday/xmas.

Or the wooden play kitchen from IKEA, another item that gets played with every day and family bought different accessories like a pan set, play food, microwave etc.

I’m thinking of then doing a separate, bigger one for all her little baby friends

Not even the Kardashians had friends at that age

*Pointless and hideous

We just did the family one

We went to the pub. I was 8 weeks pregnant with our second and couldn't face cooking..or entertaining...or eating. We did get him some good presents though and a big boat for the bath is still going now he's 5 (toy company called 'B' I think).

My first comment was deleted.
Thanks for all the lovely ideas 💜 a perhaps am a little overexcited, for the reasons stated above 🙈
The people saying it’s pointless and hideous to have a party with friends and that they don’t even have friends at that age-have misunderstood I feel.
The party (just cake and decorations in the garden) on her actual birthday would just be us and her grandparents.
The normal, traditional party would be with friends with their tots who are pals of sorts with each other as they attend swimming lessons, play dates etc and one another’s parties. Just a little get together with everyone who loves her..is that pointless and hideous? Wow.

I used to think 'why bother'.. with my first ds I just made him a cake and it was just me, his dad and his Nan came over. We didn't live near any friends or family with DCs at the time though. With my second dd I think we just took her out to the local soft play centre and some friends with dcs came, it wasn't a party though, more of a birthday treat. But we had moved then and we knew a few more people with little ones. Those two are 12 and 10 now. I've got another dd who turned 1 in April and we did have a little party! Just a bit of food, and the weather was lovely so they could play in the garden and the sandpit. We did it because this Lo seems to know a few other babies the same age from toddler group and she had been invited to little parties when they turned one. Tbh it wasn't hassle atall, we didn't bother with games as they're a bit little for that, but she genuinely really enjoyed it and so did the older DCs! They were all really well behaved. We bought her a scuttle bug trike and some fisher price 'little people' play sets.