Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

What did you do for your baby's first birthday?

40 replies

Mylittlebirdie02 · 30/04/2023 21:58

Our DD is 1 in June and we are wanting to throw her a party. Altogether there will be 40-50 people, with only a few of those being children (we don't have many friends/family with kids). The ages of the children will range from 8 months-10 years.
But we're struggling to know what to do. We've looked at hiring a bigger function room with indoor and outdoor space, however the prices are extortionate. Alternatively, a family member of ours owns a pub with a function room and will only charge us £30 for the day - but this will just comfortably fit our number of guests, meaning there's not much space for entertaining kids.
We're feeling a bit stuck now about what is best. I know our daughter and the younger children will be easy to entertain, but I'm conscious of the older ones that will be there.
Just looking for any ideas of what we can do. Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 30/04/2023 22:00

We just had a small gathering of family where people just dropped in for an hour or two. I had a lovely cake ordered, drinks and delicious food people helped themselves to from platters.
40-50 seems excessive to me.

Kiddies birthday parties are usually two hours long max.

rockpoolingtogether · 30/04/2023 22:03

Nothing! He had some cake at home and unwrapped a present. I'm in the camp that a party for a one year old is unfair. They don't appreciate it and want routine at that age. It's for the parents and the photo opps

MyBloodyMaryneedsmoreTabasco · 30/04/2023 22:05

Took her to feed the ducks then drank champagne and toasted is getting through the year. Her grandparents were obviously interested, but noone really cares less about a child's birthday.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Events & celebrations Families General parenting
yikesanotherbooboo · 30/04/2023 22:10

Grandparents visited for DC1's first birthday , I have no recollection of DC2 or 3's first birthdays at all.

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/04/2023 22:10

It was cancelled by lockdown but we’d planned a gathering at home with close friends and family including a handful of kids of different ages.

As it was we were all in shock and ended up going to the park and telling my step kids the schools were closing. It was shit. She didn’t get a second birthday either but we’ve made up for it since.

I’d go with the pub option and keep it short given the numbers you’re inviting. Too many babies end up sobbing through their first party as it’s too overwhelming.

Mumof1andacat · 30/04/2023 22:12

Went to the sealife centre and had lunch. It was a nice day. I couldn't face a party.

UsingChangeofName · 30/04/2023 22:16

What did you do for your baby's first birthday?

Invited our parents (and dh still had grandparents) and siblings that lived locally round to tea.

In your case, if you feel you want to invite so many people, the room in the pub sounds ideal. I am not sure what the issue is re the older children ?

mummabubs · 30/04/2023 22:18

In all honesty we didn't do anything for either of our kid's first birthdays. A couple of presents, cake and a nice trip out of the house. We saw it as a bit of a waste of money for us to do anything bigger as we'd be doing for us and not our kids (who had no concept of birthdays at that point). We took a similar stance to Christmas!

botheritsgone · 30/04/2023 22:19

First child, we had two days of parties, antenatal chums on the Saturday and family on the Sunday. It was a nice idea after a particularly horrible time, losing my mum and DD being born early and having lots of issues due to prematurity. We were just delighted to make the milestone.
However, it was a nightmare getting the house spotless for the parties and rearranged so we could fit lots of people in. Never again was I doing that!
Second child, we took advantage of me being on maternity leave and able to go on a term time holiday for their birthday! I'm a teacher so this won't happen again until I retire! However, DD1 unintentionally, scuppered our lovely holiday plans by getting chicken pox on the first day.

Stephhh87 · 30/04/2023 22:20

we are getting our little one christened for first birthday. Family would want to come to both , and we are keeping it just family, but we both have such big close families so thought it would be easier to celebrate both at the same time. Also given the fact that his side have to travel.
we are having it in function room, with a buffet.

there is a small soft play area in the middle. My neice has offered to pint faces and help them decorate their own party bags. Then there will be a piñata and they can fill their own bags lol. Mayeb some bubbles for outside if the weather is nice.

Arxx · 30/04/2023 22:22

We just had immediate family round for some food instead of a party as I felt like it was all or nothing. I either had to invite every friend both of us have and anyone I went to baby classes with etc, which would amount to a house full of people that don’t really know each other or I just save myself the hassle and don’t bother. I went to my friend’s child’s 1st birthday the other day and it was exactly that. My friend was so stressed out trying to sort the buffet and running round after people that she didn’t enjoy it one bit and it probably cost her a fortune. Her child had no idea it was their birthday party either. I’ve been to other ones in community centers where it’s just everyone and anyone the parent’s know who have a child so it’s a very random mix and no one really speaks to each other. The most awkward one I’ve been to was pre-baby my husband’s friend’s little girl turned 1 and it was the community centre style party, bouncy castles etc but my husband was away for the weekend. I said I’d go with the present. A few other childless friends were going but they had a niece or nephew to take. I went without a child and it was the most awkward hour and a bit of my life! I was just stood staring at a bouncy castle doing a fake smile. The parents were so stressed out when I arrived, I went to hand them the present and they said they were in the middle of cleaning something up so went off in the other direction. I just abandoned the present under a nearby table in the end up and was a bit miffed that we didn’t get any sort of thanks for it. Now I have kids I understand how chaotic it probably was for them but I’d now avoid putting someone else without children in the position of having to attend something like that when realistically no one bar your own family actually care what age your child is 🙈

TheBirdintheCave · 30/04/2023 22:23

We went to an aquarium with his aunt and uncle then had a meal (and cake) at TGI Fridays.

WandaWonder · 30/04/2023 22:23

Small family gathering, a few presents, dinner

JenniferBarkley · 30/04/2023 22:26

Until they hit school we did the same for the first few years for each of ours (when allowed by covid restrictions) - out to the local farm or aquarium on the day itself, grandparents over for cake at the weekend.

AuntieMarys · 30/04/2023 22:30

Nothing

Original poster
Mylittlebirdie02 · 30/04/2023 22:30

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and ideas!
We both come from rather large families, so 40-50 people is surprisingly just important family and friends!
I understand it may seem excessive to some, however it's a very big deal for us as our first child passed away before he reached his first birthday. So this is more than just a 'normal' first birthday for us, but a huge celebration (hence the invitation of all our family and friends), and although she may not remember it, we all most definitely will.
Thank you all!

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 30/04/2023 22:39

I’m so very sorry you lost your first child 💐

Hope you have a really wonderful celebration!

Dyrne · 30/04/2023 22:50

Older kids are surprisingly good at entertaining themselves at stuff like this, especially if there’s a few of them to run around with. So I wouldn’t necessarily stress about them. Is there any outside space?

The pub sounds lovely, and I’m sure you’ll have a fab day celebrating your little one.

I’ve never understood the “nobody but you cares about your baby/birthday/wedding” type attitude - I’m still childless and am thrilled to celebrate my friends and family’s milestones with them.

Taxitaxiforever · 30/04/2023 22:58

I was going to reply and suggest you have cake ,tea and a few balloons. Can now see it is a massive milestone for you so I would suggest even a local pub that has a room you can hire with maybe a garden for the children to play in .

Hummusanddipdip · 01/05/2023 00:48

Celebrated my mums 50th as he was born on her birthday.
We've done day trips every birthday since, he wants to go to a "dinosaur zoo" this year of they exist.

If it hadn't been my mum's 50th, I don't think we'd have done much, maybe an open house with buffet so people could come and go as they please?

Hummusanddipdip · 01/05/2023 00:51

Sorry I missed your update, I'm sorry for your loss.

As it is a special milestone for you, I'd go for the pub, maybe get some board games, consoles? Older children tend to be able to entertain themselves when there's a few of them, so they should be OK with not a lot of provision.

Have a wonderful celebration whatever you do.

Fandabedodgy · 01/05/2023 01:52

We went out for lunch with GPs.

IMO a party is pointless at that age.

We didn't start birthday parties till age 4 and then the guests were children from nursery.

CoalCraft · 01/05/2023 05:42

I had no intention of doing anything but mil organised a small get together at her parents' house and we did presents, singing and cake. It was lovely and not overwhelming for shy DD. We did similar for her second.

Stephhh87 · 01/05/2023 06:30

Hummusanddipdip · 01/05/2023 00:48

Celebrated my mums 50th as he was born on her birthday.
We've done day trips every birthday since, he wants to go to a "dinosaur zoo" this year of they exist.

If it hadn't been my mum's 50th, I don't think we'd have done much, maybe an open house with buffet so people could come and go as they please?

If you’re anywhere near dynamic earth in Edinburgh I think they have a dinosaur bit? I remember it being such a cool place. You could call and ask it’s been a while!!!

RedTulipsSpring · 01/05/2023 06:32

We had a little cake at home with immediate family. Sounds totally OTT and unnecessary.