Planning Your Baby's First Birthday Party - Ideas

We recently celebrated our grandson Jason's first birthday and can suggest some ideas and tips for you to consider as you plan for your baby's first birthday party. My daughter and son in law did the planning for the birthday party and chose to share the celebration with friends and family. Our house is larger so we agreed to have the party there to accommodate the 70+ guests invited to the party. Having a party in your home is more comfortable, casual and gives the guests some flexibility in the time to attend. The party was a success, all the children had fun and there was a good mix of adults for casual socializing. I am sure it is hard for you to believe that one year has already passed since you brought your newborn home from the hospital. You have experienced the rapid pace of your child's growth and development through this first year as your baby may even be walking or talking. Sharing this day with your guests will let them see for themselves how much your baby has grown.

Most parents believe their baby's first birthday is the most important one, but in reality it is a milestone of the parents who have gone thru the first year of parenthood and feel they the need to celebrate their accomplishments. There are different thoughts of how to celebrate the baby's first birthday. Some parents want a large party and others choose a small party. Do what you are comfortable with and invite people that you want to share this day's memory with.

If you are planning a larger party, start making the plans 2-3 months in advance as you will need this much time to make all of the arrangements. Usually it will be a party for adults and the children of friends and family. The first step is to make a list as you would for any party or get together, here are some ideas and tips for planning your baby's first birthday party.

1. Budget- Decide how much you will spend on the party and stay within your means. For a first birthday celebration your guests will be satisfied with what is affordable for you.