1 year old birthday party
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40261
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Topic: 1 year old birthday party
Posted By: snugglebug
Subject: 1 year old birthday party
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 3:01pm
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I am starting to think about DS' birthday party. My original plan was to have a party at home with family on both sides, friends etc it would end up being a reasonable amount of people (and cost).
I have been thinking though, my DS while very social is very much clingy to his inner circle of people he knows and he gets upset when new people are around sometimes. I think he would be really overwhelmed with a party with lots of people. Im wondering if it might be better to keep it small and simple like a lunch at home with just his closest family, so he wouldn't feel too overwhelmed and it would be a bit more intimate instead of him being passed around etc. What do you guys think/what did you do? I feel this on the one hand but also would like to give him a special birthday on the other hand and want to make it the best occasion I can :) and the idea of a party is exciting but Im not sure how it will work at this age. Any ideas/thoughts appreciated ------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: squoggs
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 3:43pm
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We just had family and friends who had put the effort into spending time with DD in her first year. I put on the invite from 12-4pm, and we had about 30 people over the afternoon. Just made a few bits and pieces for finger food, and threw a few things on the BBQ and some people bought a plate too. Was lovely, relaxed and easy and our 1 year old LOVED the attention & was a total little (albeit well behaved) diva for the arvo -she even missed her usual sleep, but still had morning sleep before it all started. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 5:19pm
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I believe first birthday's are as much for the parents as the child as they're not going to remember it.
Having said that we've won a Birthday Party at a Farm Park for DD the good part about it is the prize is limited to 8 children which means I have a good excuse for keeping the numbers down. Best part is I don't have to clean up. I will make a nice cake and provide party food and of course little party bags these seem to be standard for kids parties. Not sure what to put in them for a bunch of 1 year olds. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: ereynolds
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 5:32pm
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I have to admit that DS' party is going to be way bigger and more stress than I intended... I am really excited by it and do think its more of a celebration for us (and a 'yay we survived 1 year!') than for him as such.
Would a shared lunch be practical in your situation? It would be a cheap option and one I wish I had considered before planning DS' birthday (in 2 weeks). ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 5:36pm
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My opinion is that the kiddy is never going to remember their first birthday, so the party is as much for the parents as it is for them.
We just had a small family thing - I made a cake and invited DH's and my families. That suited us, and we had a lot of fun. But there's nothing wrong with a bigger party if that's what you feel like your'd prefer. It's really up to you. -------------   
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 6:20pm
I wouldn't call them standard. I don't think any of the parties we've been to in the last three years have featured party bags. First birthday is for the parents to celebrate surviving the first year. Do what is best for you and DS. If it's something small, awesome. If it's big, great, so long as it's not going to stress you both out. For DS's 2nd birthday, we just went to a playground with 1 wee friend cos DS was going through a hitting phase - the thought of having a birthday party with lots of kids for him to hit was too stressful; that way everyone enjoyed the day which is the most important thing. For his 1st and 3rd birthday, we had 3 kids + their parents + grandparents. Worked well. So the upshot of that ... do what works for you. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
caliandjack wrote:Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 6:24pm
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We just had family at DS's birthday and did a BBQ lunch, it was very relaxed. I think it was from around 11am - 2pm and we probably had about 20 people.
I wouldn't have wanted anything more. At that age DS had no idea what it was all about or anything, it was more an excuse to get all the family together again. I remember my SIL threw a huge affair for her sons 1st birthday, there must have been 20 children and their family, plus another 10 adult guests without children, it was huge and my nephew was just totally overwhelmed by it all and spent most of the day upset or in bed asleep. -------------  
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Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 21 August 2011 at 11:41pm
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If your baby is more comfortable with small groups,Id do that,otherwise you might be dealing with an ovewhelmed anxious baby the whole time and thats not how you want to spend their first birthday.
Personally from someone whos done 9 years worth of birthdays its when they are 3 and 4 that they seem to remember their parties and when their birthdays actually mean something to them ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ....
Date Posted: 22 August 2011 at 5:28pm
| Would a 1 year old enjoy the zoo, or am I being a bit naive in thinking my boy would enjoy a trip to Orana Park or Willowbank for his 1st birthday? |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 22 August 2011 at 5:46pm
I've got an annual pass for the zoo, and have been taking Jacob since he was weeny. He love sit now, I imagine most 1-year-olds would  -------------
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Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 22 August 2011 at 7:44pm
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I had about 6 babies and their parents, plus my nephew (4 at the time) and a couple of preschoolers plus my parents and a few of my childless friends for DD's first birthday. It was just an afternoon tea which worked well for us. I think I put 2 - 3.30pm on the invite which was a good length of time. DD was a clingy baby and doesn't like large groups normally but they were all people she had had a lot to do with and she enjoyed playing with her little friends so much she didn't really notice how many people were there. The only small issue I had was that she freaked when everyone sang happy birthday and clung to me. Mostly because everyone was looking at her I think. She did the same at her 2nd birthday party - she doesn't like everyone looking at her at once but is happy enough when they are in the same space as her.
Because it was afternoon tea and mostly for the kids it didn't cost me too much. I just kept it simple - chips, little cookies, sausage rolls cheerios, lollies etc plus the cake. I wouldn't do loot bags for a one year old. Of all the birthday parties we have been too, there has only been one where she has got a loot bag. You could just do a blown up balloon for each kid, they always go down well. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 23 August 2011 at 9:46am
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We had an afternoon/evening BBQ which was really more of a celebration with friends (all family are on the other hemisphere) that we'd managed to survive the first year of parent/twin hood.
I think there was one other baby there. For their second birthday we did similar. I've found it's not until they're 3 that they really get that it's a party for them. For their 3rd we had Fish n Chips at the park, which was the easiest party ever to prepare for. I hope they want to do this again 
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