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Original poster

What did you do for baby's 1st birthday?

18 replies

henrysmama2012 · 25/02/2013 17:36

Hi all, I was thinking about a visit to a zoo, to the London Aquarium, or to the Rainforest Cafe for our LO's first birthday (probably just family and maybe a couple of little friends), and wondered what other people have done? Given his age, and the dodgy weather, its hard to know the best thing to do....I am a FTM too so I am a rookie at baby birthdays! We aren't making a cake as he still hasn't moved to solids yet (although he is a big lover of anything pureed) so he gets his 1st taste of chocolate pudding instead (-; We could do a little party at our house but wanted to mark the occasion with something a bit more unusual. But then maybe that'd be the best thing?-balloons, a few little friends around...?

Any thoughts very gratefully received!

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MrBloomsCherry · 25/02/2013 17:38

Tea party with a big table of party food and drinks.

Birthday cake.
Balloons.

Just close family.

We let ds run riot with the cake-he loved it

MrBloomsCherry · 25/02/2013 17:49

My friend took her ds to the zoo for his first birthday. They enjoyed the day but baby was a bit oblivious to it all iyswim

Do what you thinks best.

We went the the tea party so everyone could get together and see ds and celebrate together. He was knackered after that anyway. It was bath and bed straight after.

PixelAteMyFace · 25/02/2013 18:21

We did a family party. DGS loved tearing off the wrapping paper from his presents (preferred it to the presents in fact ) and generally loved being the centre of attention.

He was wildly excited and stayed up 2 hours later than his normal bedtime before falling happily asleep.

At that age they don`t need anything fancy, and are too young to appreciate outings - they prefer being free to run/crawl around with the people who love them most

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Cbell · 25/02/2013 20:02

For her first my DH took the day off work and we spent the day together. We just did nice family things. Took her to a soft play, gave her lots of attention and had afternoon tea at a fancy patisserie. She had a raspberry tart and look a little shocked!

W decided that rather than have other people around that we would focus on each other and celebrate the anniversary of our relationship.

On her second I made a 'birthday tent' in the sitting room (fabric and Christmas lights) and put her presents in there for her to find. Made her a massive cake, took her to the zoo and saw family. This felt just right.

Next year will be party time

Original poster

henrysmama2012 · 25/02/2013 20:29

Ahhh lovely ideas everyone and thanks so much for your posts-food for thought

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fairylightsinthesnow · 25/02/2013 20:54

we didn't christen our two so on their 1st birthdays we had big family and friends parties - one in the pub garden next door and the other at home. Just normal party food and cake and lots of toys in the garden (both summer). They don't really have "friends" at that age so don;t worry about party bags or anything like that x

Mononoke · 25/02/2013 20:57

We had a picnic in a park with close family and friends. Nothing big dt's just sat under a tree rubbing cake in to their hair while everyone made a fuss of them.

RugBugs · 25/02/2013 21:06

We went out for a curry! DD was loving mango chutney at the time and she had a pot all to herself.
We did get her an awesome cake though, I'm from Brighton living in the NW so my Dad brought up a choccywoccydoodah cake. Her face was an absolute picture.

We took her to London for her second birthday and the rainforest cafe was a bit of a mistake. She was terrified of the animatronic gorillas and refused to let us put her down.

Wishiwasanheiress · 25/02/2013 21:16

Tbh I felt this birthday was for us not dd in so much as I knew we could give her a special time easily. I wanted the memory. So we had a small party with the mums/babies that meant most over past year. My way to say thanks to them for being part of it all too.

livealoha · 25/02/2013 21:25

We took ds to the zoo on his 1st birthday - more for us to be honest!
Then shared a party with two other little boys, we had a picnic in the park. There were tons of us and it was a scorcher (summer baby) he had pineapple cake with frosting

For my dd who is a Christmas baby we had a party on Christmas Eve.
It was lovely friends just dropped in during a two hour window for pink cake and bubbles after Christmas shopping, before church or whatever?! Very low key but it worked.

At the end of the day it's your memories not theirs at this stage.

notcitrus · 25/02/2013 21:30

Had a cake for taking pictures with baby. For dd, because older brother insisted on cake! One cuddly toy , new clothes, and a few friends round to watch child try standing/walking and take photos.

Age 2, had 3 other toddlers and parents round, and a bubble.machine. And.cake!

JerryLeadbetter · 26/02/2013 09:03

We went to London Aquarium and it was great, DS really enjoyed looking at all the fish, would definitely recommend but do it on a weekday, much quieter!

redwellybluewelly · 26/02/2013 19:28

We had a small gathering of our friends around the time of the 1st birthday with me, dh and baby spending the actual birthday at a farm with picnic etc

2nd birthday we both took the day off work and we did a toddler's perfect day, anything they wanted to eat (jam sandwich for breakfast, fishfingers for lunch and for tea) and went to the park twice. Just the three of us all day. Was low key and fun.

3rd birthday will be a small party with maybe her best friends.

Geekster · 26/02/2013 21:18

Our DD will turn one on Friday. We are just having some family and a couple of friends round. I'm going to bake her a cake on Thursday as she likes cake.

MiaowTheCat · 27/02/2013 10:42

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gourd · 27/02/2013 11:37

We went to LOs cousins christenings. Everyone at the church sabg Happy Birthday to her which was nice as she was delighted to recognise it having had it sung at various playgroups and CMs already that week. That was about it. The day before i made butterfly cake using silicone mould and decorated with dried fruit. Think she recognised it as a butterfly. She had a lot of birthday presents but no celebration other than the cake and presents with her parents. Was bit dissapointed about cousins christenings being on her birthday meaning we couldnt have a party or friends round etc but at a year old any celebration would have been for us not her so really it didnt matter. I have phots of candle blowing and present opening and that is all shed remember anyway if anything.

mrsyattering · 27/02/2013 11:40

A tea party with close family and a couple of friends, balloons, cake, wine (for the adults )
Don't think you have to go overboard, that will happen once they are at school! (dd has had a birthday party every week since Christmas!)

TwelveLeggedWalk · 27/02/2013 11:42

We did a naming ceremony, about 25 people, lunch and champagne! Was quite a lot of work, but we felt we deserved a celebration, the dts will have more plenty of tea parties and trips to the zoo once they're old enough to remember, or at least stay awake through them!

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