1st birthday: what did you do / gift?

[OnNaturesCourse]

For your own child?

Our LO birthday is coming up and we are looking to start getting organised.

So far I think we'll keep it at home, have some visitors round for tea and nibbles. As for a gift we are stumped.

Teddy bears picnic outside and a pushalong walker with little bricks in!

Thank you.

I like the walker idea, love the block ones - sure I had one when I was little!

We went to the zoo then to my parents for dinner afterwards. We don't have big families and I didn't want too much of a fuss when they wouldn't know what was going on.

We got them a few toys as I knew they would need more stuff through the year when they develop.

Don't put pressure on yourself to go big, as long as they are happy they won't mind what you do and give.

We went to the zoo and then had family over for a tea party

We are from huge families on both sides so I know it's going to be a busy day and while I'm not keen on my house being overrun with visitors it means everyone can see LO and it shouldn't be as overwhelming for LO.

I'd like to buy a personal gift that can be kept as a momento, and a few toys to last the year so ones that will go away and come out as LO develops. I just don't know what toys are good and lasting?

I had a look at what I bought and I got a personalised nursery rhymes book to read together.
Shake and stack blocks and an electronic phone.

We had a picnic in the park with a few friends.

DD's main present was an ELC walker that doubles as a workshop. She loved the walker at the time and 2 years later still plays with the workshop.

So no crazy amount of presents from parents then? I'm glad it's not just me that thinks they don't need it at that age.

Would it be rude to only ask close family? Maybe have others over the day or so after. Think LO might get a bit overwhelmed.

I was going to have a party at our house but my daughter is not a massive crowd fan & I decided as it was her day I wouldn't do it (saved me some effort to) we went to the park with just her grandparents her 2 aunts & her uncle & she was still a little over whelmed at first (quite shy) we had a cake, took a number 1 balloon & got some lovely photos we got her lots of toys, too many tbh & everyone else got far more than expected my living room looked like toys r us 🤦🏼‍♀️ One toy I really recommend though is this one... my daughter really likes it she pops the balls out then placing them back in & we say 'well done!' It's taught her something & she really enjoys it. Also a shape sorter, my 1 year old loves that to.

We've actually looked at that toy, Beautiful. It looks interesting, our LO loves things that are 'cause and effect' toys.

We had close family around for a tea party.
We bought each of ours Premium Bonds. No point in getting toys for your own LO if you have loads of family - they will get them all they need and they prefer the boxes at that age anyway.

I had bonds as a child, and they were SUCH a hassle to get access to once I was a adult. But the idea is good, I suppose I could put money in a savings account for them. I have decided to get some toys second hand so have saved a few pennies that way.

We are having a family bbq just grand parents , aunties and uncles. I have got decorations and balloons etc. I am having a cake made, although that's more for me as it has sugar in, so a no no for DS, will have to get a non sugar one made for him. I bought him/me a smart trike folding 700, then a slide , a beatbo, a pirate ship thingy for the bath and then just bits n bobs.
He won't remember any of it, but mummy will be armed with the camcorder recording EVERYTHING to show him what happened when he gets a bit older. I love watching the videos from when I was a baby . So long as he has cuddles and laughs , that's all they really needs, the rest is irrelevant really. Hope you have a lovely day x