Bit sad DS2s 1st birthday won't be as big a celebration as DS1.

[Anticyclone]

We didn't even do that much for DS1 when he turned one, but as it was a weekend and in the summer holidays we managed to get both sets of GPs and and an aunt and uncle, and it was just nice celebrating with extended family.

DS2 turns one soon, and this time it's mid week, so no one can make it, and not even the weekends before or after all together, so we'll have multiple visits with people bring gifts over a week or so. And it will just be the four of us on the actual day. Just doesn't seem quite as special.

Poor old DS2 is always getting a raw deal compared to his older brother... less attention, more stressed parents, a 3yo brother who refuses to share and constantly hits him.

We can't even give him a decent first birthday

Have it at the weekend! He won't know :)

Surely the situation is likely to even out over time. Meanwhile you can celebrate his bday midweek and he gets 2 other opportunities too.

In the nicest possible way...get a hold of yourself op! A one year olds party is mainly for the parents. Your little one won't understand it's their birthday or quite frankly care. Don't mean it in a harsh way but it's not worth getting upset about. You'll have many more birthdays to celebrate.

At that age he won't know a thing, please don't let your guilt over this spoil a lovely quiet family day. It'll be different but no less good and you love him exactly the same.

I used to take the day off work and just spend the day doing something nice with my DD (walk, playground, animals) when she was really tiny. No big celebration. A tiny little cake and a few presents with family.

Op we had a party for ds1 poor ds2 got a trip to soft play to meet a couple of friends I think it's quite normal to go smaller for the second.

My littlest is now almost 17 months and relations between them have much improved they love each other now and are always playing and laughing together, obviously the hitting needs to stop but don't stress to much about it it will pass.

I know I need to get a grip, but it does make me feel better that other people have ended up doing similar!

I know he won't care or even realise what's happening. Im just aware of how different his first year has been compared to his brothers!

We'll def try and make it a special day even if it's just the four of us.

I agree with formerbabe
In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. He has his lovely family around him and will enjoy his day regardless. And in 2 or 3 years time he will be having a weekend birthday while your eldest son will have a midweek birthday.

DD's first birthday was low key. It didn't even occur to me to have a party for her because I didn't know anyone to invite