How to choose a party theme your child will love
Ask the child, then narrow it down: a simple way to turn a favourite thing into a party.
Planning a first birthday without the stress
A one-year-old will not remember it, so plan the day for the people who will: you, and the grandparents.
A first birthday is really a party for the family. The child will nap, cry, eat cake with both hands and remember none of it. That is fine. Plan the day so the adults can enjoy it, and so the baby is not overwhelmed.
Start with the timing. Fix the party around the baby’s sleep, not the other way round. Most one-year-olds nap late morning or after lunch, so a 4.30 pm start often works. Keep it to two hours. After that, tired babies and tired grandparents both start to fade.
Keep the guest list to people the baby knows by face. Twenty-five is plenty in a flat. Choose soft colours rather than loud ones, keep music low and avoid bubble machines near the cake table, where little hands go everywhere. A photo corner with a simple backdrop gives everyone a reason to take turns holding the baby.
Cut the cake early, around forty minutes in, while the baby is still in a good mood. Have a smash cake ready if you want the messy photos, and a second cake for guests. Pack a spare outfit. Finally, ask one person you trust to watch the baby so that you can greet people without worrying. That is what our planners do for most first birthdays: we run the party so the parents can be in it.
