Plan a birthday celebration for your baby boy’s first birthday that you will always cherish. Use colors, a theme, decorations and activities that will keep your child, friends and family occupied as well as create lifelong memories. He won’t remember this milestone birthday directly, but the pictures and your stories will relay just how special the day was for years to come.
Location
Hosting your baby’s 1st birthday party at home makes the most sense as that is likely where your baby will be most comfortable. If your home isn’t large enough, consider the home of a friend or relative where you visit often. Another option is an outdoor party at a park, lake or other place where your baby frequently plays. Unfamiliar places can work if your baby is even-tempered, although every baby can have an “off” day.
Themes
The theme you choose for your son’s 1st birthday party should be something you think is cute as well as something that makes your little boy happy. For example, don’t use a clown theme if he’s even mildly afraid of clowns. Use a transportation theme–as in cars, planes, trains and ships–if his favorite toys are cars and planes. Jungle themes allow for cute monkeys, giraffes, lions and hippos if he is fascinated by animals. Or, you could just keep it simple with a colors or numbers theme.
Activities
Include activities that will occupy your baby, other children and the adults present at the baby’s birthday party. Set out some toys, such as stuffed animals, blocks and bubbles, and books in a corner for young children to play with freely. Put on a parade using wagons, instruments or costumes. Blow bubbles or play music and encourage the little ones to dance. Adults can help and enjoy watching the babies play, as well as play their own games. For example, ask each adult to put a piece of paper on their heads and draw your baby. The results will likely be humorous and the portraits will make a great keepsake for your son.
The Menu
Offer a few different choices for your guests, including easy finger foods for the toddlers. It’s not necessary to serve a full meal, as first birthday parties typically only last an hour or two. Light snacks are fine. Fruits, vegetables, crackers and bite-sized sandwiches work for both adults and children. Serve your son’s favorite food if feasible. Fruit juice, water, milk, tea or lemonade are all acceptable drinks. Cupcakes will cut down on the time you have to spend cutting, serving and cleaning up after a traditional cake. It’s possible to serve cupcakes and still give your son his own little “smash” cake.
Keepsakes
Make a personalized banner or put together a collage of your favorite photos of your son inside a large mat. Ask guests to sign it with a special wish or message for your son that you can both treasure later in life. Another idea is to ask guests to write their messages on decorative paper and seal the birthday wishes inside a jar or container. Open them with your son on his 18th birthday or another predetermined date.
Considerations
Schedule your son’s birthday party after his nap or during the time of day when he’s the happiest. Keep the party short to avoid making him or the other babies cranky. Limit the number of guests you invite, particularly those with small children, unless they are all familiar to your son. Being around too many strangers all at once might stress him out.
Photo Credit
- the small cute boy sit in chair image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com
