You can't believe how much your baby has grown: once a wrinkly, wriggling, wailing little infant of absolute dependence to a tot who is touring his little world on his feet, trying out a couple of words, making music with the discordant noises he makes, all on his own. How fast time has flown, and now he's almost one and you're raring to throw a big party for him.
There are gazillions of resources that you can look into on the internet when planning your baby's first birthday party, from tips for themes and activities, to suggestions about gifts and cakes. You can also purchase party supplies and other things you might need on the internet. Some people say that the first birthday party is really for the benefit of the adults. But, with an eye on tips that go beyond the usual events planning dos and don'ts, you can ensure a party that is as pleasurable for your baby and his guests as it is for you. This article will show you how to do that.
Vie for Time
As in any undertaking, it is always wise to plan early. In the case of birthday parties, you can start planning as early as eight weeks before the party date. This will give you the luxury of arranging the party at a leisurely pace and won't take you away too much from your baby. Some things you need to settle or arrange for are the venue, date and time of the party, theme and decorations, guest list and invitations, games and activities, food, party favors, and cake.
Short and Simple
Your baby may indeed be the life of the party but, be warned, he cannot yet play that role for long periods of time. So, keep his first birthday party short. One to 1 ½ hours is ideal. Anything that's longer may over stimulate your baby and make him feel tired and sleepy or, worse, cranky. You wouldn't want to be pacifying your baby while entertaining party guests, would you?
Impeccable Timing
In addition to the previous tip, you should also make it a point to schedule your baby's first birthday party around his naptimes. Choose a time in the day when your baby is usually at his best and then make sure that the party ends before the pre-bedtime fussiness begins. Doing this will ensure that your baby will be an eager participant in his birthday party.
The Place to Be
It is wisest to hold the party in a place where your baby is most comfortable in and familiar with. First in the list of these venues is your house. Holding the party in your house has both benefits and drawbacks. It can afford you more time to set up and will ensure that all the party supplies you need are close at hand. On the other hand, the amount of preparation required and the thorough cleaning up needed after the party is definitely its biggest drawback.
An option is to look for a venue other than your house: a park, a restaurant, a hotel, etc. Some of the most common considerations when looking for a place are whether it can accommodate all your invited guests, whether it has enough parking spaces, whether it provides the ideal ambiance for your chosen theme, and even whether a washroom is near enough. Aside from these, however, you should also consider whether the venue is safe for little children.
Your baby and his young guests will probably want to play, run around, and generally have fun during the party, so make sure that the venue does not pose any danger to them. Stay away from venues that have pools, high windows, stairs, glass doors, balconies, or busy streets. It will probably be even safer if you keep the party indoors but, even then, you will have to make sure to childproof the party area.
Who's Who?
Your baby can't yet take too many people fussing over him, patting his cheeks, giving him kisses and carrying him around. With this in mind, you may want to opt for as small number of guests as possible. Invite only close family members, best friends and the children your baby loves to play with. It is said that the rule of thumb is to invite one baby guest per year of age. Thus, if your baby is one year old, invite only one baby guest. If he's two, invite two baby guests, and so on. This may or may not work for you. To be sure, keep the number manageable and invite a maximum of five baby guests.
Culinary Choices
A seven-course meal is not yet appropriate for your baby. So, even if you're a skilled chef, you may want to save your culinary expertise for another occasion. Babies can't tell the difference between a bouillabaisse and a consommé, thus, keep the food simple. Finger foods are usually best for babies and even adults. They are less messy than other dishes such as spaghetti or ice cream. Make sure though that the food pieces aren't too small so that your baby and his baby guests won't choke on them. On the same note, keep the food fun AND in safe packaging. Most importantly, check with your baby guests' parents for food allergies.
It's Party Time!
One other important thing to remember is for you to have fun during your baby's first birthday party. So, after you've taken important steps to make sure your baby and all his guests will be safe and sound, relax, grab a party hat and announce: “It's party time!”
