Year one of a baby’s life is full of firsts (first smile, first word, first food, first step…), and all those firsts culminate on the one-year anniversary of their birth—their first birthday! For babies, that first birthday is their first time experiencing a party all about them, and for parents, that first birthday is the day to set a precedent for how birthdays will be celebrated in the years to come. It can be nerve-wracking to be faced with planning someone’s very first party, but the end result can be so rewarding for both parent and child. Planning anything around children can be wildly unpredictable, but there are a few things you take into consideration to set the day up for success.

Plan your timing wisely

Timing is everything when it comes to young children as most babies and toddlers thrive on routine. When deciding on a time to begin your child’s party, take into account any existing schedules and routines that your child is used to. Does your child have a nap schedule that has proven to bring out their best moods? Are there certain places and activities your child expects to encounter at certain points in the day? Choosing a starting time that fits within your existing schedule will ensure the least amount of disruption to your child’s routine, thereby setting them up to be in a great mood and on their best behavior. Beyond this, it may also be helpful to determine a time for the party to come to an end. Young children can be quickly tired and easily overstimulated, so keeping the party short and sweet and designating a specific ending time can help ensure your baby’s battery doesn’t run dry.

Limit the guest list

Deciding who to invite to your baby’s birthday party is ultimately up to personal choice, but there are some things to take into consideration. Babies can be easily overwhelmed, especially when surrounded by the constant attention of people they don’t know. This is where it is important to consider the unique personality of your own baby. Are they more quiet and reserved, are they a social butterfly who never met a stranger, or do they fall somewhere in between? If your baby is more on the shy side, consider limiting the guest list to a few close friends and family members. On the other hand, if your baby is particularly gregarious, feel free to extend the guest list as you see fit. 

Choose a comfortable venue

When choosing a venue for your child’s birthday party, you’ll want to consider the size of your guest list and your overall theme, but you also want to take into account what makes your child and you as a parent the most comfortable. For a lot of young children, their own home is the place in which they are most comfortable, so hosting the party at home is often a great option for smaller guest lists. However, if your guest list is on the larger size, or if the thought of hosting several people (and possibly several children) in your home stresses you out, then an external venue may be the better choice. However, that doesn’t mean you need to spend lots of money on an event space. Many local public facilities like parks and libraries have spaces you can reserve or rent at little to no cost (and some of these come with built-in entertainment for young guests. Win-win!). Whatever you decide, just make sure the space you choose is child-friendly so your fast-moving little tyke can safely move around and play.

Set the menu and order cake

There are a lot of foods that could be appropriate for a child’s first birthday party, but what you choose should largely depend on who you’re inviting. If you expect several other small children (siblings, cousins, friends, etc.) to attend, consider sticking to finger foods and kiddy-favorites like pizza, chicken fingers, sliced fruit, and veggie sticks. If you expect a more adult-dominant crowd, feel free to cater the menu to a more grown-up palette and include some of your child’s personal favorites on the side. When it comes to cake, a smaller crowd of close family may not mind sharing a cake with tiny handprints and little fist-sized chunks taken out, but a larger crowd would probably prefer to watch your baby delight in a smash cake while eating slices of a separate cake, matching cupcakes, or even themed sugar cookies.

Decide what to do with presents

To help avoid any chaos or confusion day-of, it is best to decide how you will handle gifts before the party begins and communicate this decision with guests so they know what to expect. Some parents choose to include the opening of gifts in the party itself as guests enjoy seeing their gift get opened, acknowledged, and appreciated. This could be a great option for smaller parties, but a large pile of new gifts can be overwhelming to some children, and the opening process itself can take a while if the child has never opened gifts before. As an alternative, some parents are choosing to take the unopened gifts home to open slowly throughout the next couple of days so the child has the time to appreciate each new gift without becoming overwhelmed. Like in many things, the option you decide on will largely depend on your child’s individual personality and what you think will result in the most positive outcome.

Give the camera to someone else

It may seem like a small thing, but designating someone other than mom or dad to take photos and videos is a great way to allow the parents to just enjoy the moment while also ensuring every precious memory is captured. While this day is ultimately about celebrating the child and their first year of life, it is also in part about celebrating with the parents their monumental achievement of making it through the first year of raising that child. They deserve to be in the photos and videos with their child, not hidden behind the camera. 

Start new traditions

Your child’s first birthday presents a unique opportunity to solidify birthday traditions that they will carry with them throughout their lives. This could be a continuation of the traditions you are accustomed to, or it could mean the start of something entirely new. You could start a new birthday routine, make a special birthday breakfast, since a special birthday song… the possibilities are endless! Take this opportunity to create a little extra magic on your child’s day that will remind them year after year just how much they mean to you.