Most parents will feel very proud to celebrate their baby’s first birthday. Even though this birthday has to be special, it doesn’t mean it has to be very big because chances are your child won’t remember this day. Here are some simple tips that will help you in planning a fun and stress-free birthday for your baby.
#1. Make a budget
How much you spend on your child’s birthday is really up to you and how much you can afford but bear in mind that it doesn’t have to be elaborate to be nice. A budget will help you to have an idea on how much you will spend and will aid you to not go overboard in your spending. Remember to stick to your budget no matter what and allocate some cash for unexpected expenses.
#2. Where and when
Throwing a party at your house can be a good option if you have enough space. It will help you save some cash and your baby will feel more secure and comfortable at home. All you have to do is add a few decorations like banners, balloons etc. and if it is an outdoor party, you can have a bouncy castle and other outdoor decorations. As for the time, you may want to do it during the weekend so that parents can bring their kids and avoid making it a whole day event. After a few hours your baby will be tired.
#3. Guest list
When making your guest list, you will need to decide if you want the party to be a family event or if you are inviting all your friends with kids. Remember the more people you have, the more food, beverages and space you’re going to need. Besides, having a crowd around your baby may not be the best idea for a first birthday.
#3.Plan the menu
Plan your menu and keep it simple. You don’t have to spend the entire day in the kitchen cooking. When planning the menu, take into consideration your guest list- that is if the party is going to be mostly adults or if there are going to be kids of all ages present. Obviously you can’t serve toddlers the same food you are serving adults. For adults, you can try sandwiches, wraps and veggies, steak etc. For kids, try serving different things in little portions. You can serve pizza, cakes, chocolates candy, etc. Remember kids are very attracted to colorful foods. For drinks, you can have water, fruit juices of different flavors and also have milk for the very young kids. Make sure to find out if anyone has eating restrictions or food allergies. Don’t forget the cake. It’s one of the most items of the day. You can choose to bake it yourself or get a caterer to do it. Just make sure its fancy!
#5. Activities
Loud music or anything too noisy may irritate and scare your child. Try having a subtle nursery rhyme CD in the background. Also there are simple games that kids can enjoy such as ‘two little black bird’, ‘The Hokey-Pokey’, unwrapping the gifts, dancing, singing etc. Make sure that whatever activities you decide to do, your child will be able to participate in them.
#6. Party favors
Giving kids party favors is not a must but it’s a nice way to wrap the party up. You can give away fancy bags with stickers, candies, toys etc.
At the end of the party the most important thing is that everyone has fun especially your baby. Remember to take a lot of pictures for remembrance. Relax and get prepared for small accidents.
Thanks for reading this article