Child’s first birthday

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Thoughts on having a ‘party’ for Childs first birthday at a social club.

would be both our family’s (1 set live close, 1 set 2.5 hours away so would need hotels which is close by to venue) and friends (there’s about 6/7 baby under 2)

Thinking pies & curry from local bakery & maybe soft play setup for the kids.

Not costed up but recon:
room hire £75
soft play £150
pies/curry £100
ballon’s and decs £150
maybe missing things, if I have let me know

Partner thinks its pointless as baby is 1, clingy to mum/dad & grandparents & doesn’t have a clue what’s going on so reckons we go on holiday instead with the money (last one before maternity ends)
Or invest the money in child’s ISA (we’re trying to set our child up so put child benefit in his ISA)

thoughts?

YABU - 1st birthday party
YANBU - Holiday/invest

Well it will absolutely be very overwhelming for the baby who may spend a decent chunk of it crying, or decide that their nap schedule has changed and they are cranky AF. I'd say you also need to factor in drinks and I think you're under budgeting for pies if you're buying them in. I wouldn't bother personally, we just went on a family day out to a farm for my little ones 1st birthday which was nice.

Your partner is right that the baby won't know or care or remember. A first birthday celebration is very much for the parents, a celebration of keeping them alive for a whole year!

If you want a party, then have one. It's not a waste of money if it'll make you really happy. If you're doing it for the baby's sake, then it's a complete and utter waste of money.

If I were you I'd have a smaller party at home with a MUCH smaller budget and then have a holiday.

The first birthday party (and a lot of Christenings) are a chance to celebrate getting through the year. If you’d like to do that, crack on. If a holiday would be more enjoyable, do that. I wouldn’t spend £150 on decorations.

No one is going to pay for hotels for a 1 year old's birthday, also curry in a social club sounds like an adult party. Have a simple sandwiches and cake at home let people drop in as and when they want. Save the budget for a hall bouncy castle party their reception year. IME that's when the biggest parties happen because friendships are not solidly formed for smaller group choices

Think a balloon arch is £150 these days

It’d be family, they would as they’re well off & do it for other parties. Big family dotted over the country. A few have motorhomes so could stay nearby too

We just had grandparents round for a cup of tea and a piece of birthday cake. That seemed plenty as dd didn't have a clue that it was her 1st birthday.

I ordered one off Amazon - was about £6. Took me a good hour or so though. Looked amazing but you’d need a pump (£10 from Home Bargains).

Unless you have money to burn. The holiday and or isa.

You are probably the only person that cares. And if you have a big do I guess it’s likely you might be posting here about being upset that people didn’t brings gifts, or weren’t suitably excited, or similar. So I’d go for the holiday.

Having said this, I understand the need to mark it somehow. And I did enjoy a 1st birthday where clearly it was a nice opportunity for friends to get together and not just worship at the altar of the precious first born.

It is an each to there own. I do agree baby wont remember it, the baby also wont remember the holiday. Does it matter?
We love a good family party, and have had many different ages snd celebrations in local hall with us all there.

If you can afford it and family are happy to travel, go for it make memories with the wider family, get pictures have fun 👍

I think it’s a nice excuse to get family together and celebrate

Local bakery does these huge pies for about £16-20

need to go price them tomorrow to be sure

You won't be feeding people just a slice of pie though, will you???

We’d ask for no gifts at all, we don’t mind about that.

less stuff in the house the better.
grandparents went crazy over Xmas & we said 1 each next year

we only got him 2 books a bath toy and a bike/scooter thing

TBH first birthday just grandparents at house or baby friendly outside park type place. 2nd birthday similar just a couple of friends though they do start to play a bit at soft play. At 3 they begin to join in more though.

Unless you’re rolling in it this is a complete waste of money. I wouldn’t spend this amount on a child’s birthday party at any age let alone a baby.

Save yourself the stress and hassle and put the money you would have spent in a savings account for your child’s future.

Not a chance would I be having a first birthday party in a venue.

Food and cake at home for grandparents.

Parties can wait until school friends.

Unless your looking for and excuse for a piss up, then just do that.

No when I say ‘huge’ they’re like the size of an oven tray

Anybody in north of England would know what I mean

Spot on, get family together and celebrate your lovely baby x

£475 for a first birthday party in a social club sounds a bit much. The baby doesn’t need a balloon arch. But if that sort of money isn’t a big deal to you then fair enough

We did immediate family round for a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
We got a platter of costco sandwiches, a £10 balloon arch from amazon and a party hat for baby.

cash went into SIPP and JISA.

But if you LOVE getting family together go for it!

Partner thinks the same (£475 is too much). currently I’m not being paid due to maternity leave.

We travelled Europe for 3 months during maternity so paying off that ‘debt’. £3600 left to pay, interest free on credit card

But do have savings in stocks we could pay off tomorrow so no money issue really

We may balloon arch, but would need decorations somewhere and maybe cake and party bags for kids

I'd do a smaller party at home, probably just close family with cake and do the balloons myself. Then you can do both.

Well then it's ridiculous to do that party. You can't sensibly afford it.