Planning a first birthday party for your little one can be a lot of fun but many parents may also feel overwhelmed! From the guest list to deciding what to make, there is a lot of thought that goes into planning this momentous occasion. But don’t worry we are here to help and trust me we have a lot of experience! Below you will find ideas on themes, games, decorations, and so much more!
Set a budget
The very first thing you should do when planning your child’s first birthday is set your budget. When it comes to birthday parties there is a lot of cute things and it can be easy to get carried away when planning the party, so setting a budget can help you stick to what you can afford. This will also help you decide if you should host the party at home, how many guests to invite, and what kind of food you will be serving.
From our experience, a home party typically costs us $200-350 and a party outside the home typically costs $300-$450 and we are in the Dayton, Ohio area.
Pick a theme
A first birthday party can be exciting with a fun theme and there are so many to choose from!
Gender Neutral Birthday Party Themes
- Circus
- Up based on the movie
- Bumble Bee
- Space
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Cat in the Hat
Boy Birthday Party Themes
- Octonauts
- Rookie of the Year (Baseball Theme)
- Construction
- Race Car
- Football
- Jungle
- Cowboy
Girl Birthday Party Themes
- Tea Party
- Onederful
- Coachella
- Unicorn
- Mermaid
No matter which theme you choose, I’m sure your little one will have a memorable first birthday party!
Choose a location
Finding a great location for your party can be a fun and exciting experience. When finding a place outside your home to have the party, you should not only look at the number of guests but also their age. Most first birthday parties consist of adults, so you can pick something like a restaurant to have it. But if you have a lot of children that need to be entertained you may want to have it at a park or recreational center.
First Birthday Party Location Ideas
- Park
- Rec center
- movie theater
- zoo
- museum
- pizza place
- restaurant
Invite guests.
Send out invitations or use an online party planning website to manage your guest list.
Plan the menu
If you’re looking for something to serve at a kid’s birthday party, why not consider some fun, colorful snacks that can be made ahead of time? Some easy ideas might include a rainbow fruit platter, yogurt parfaits, mini pizzas, veggie platters, and popcorn. For drinks, you could serve juice boxes, flavored seltzers, or even make a fun punch. Whatever you decide, the important thing is to make sure that the snacks are fun and tasty for the kids!
What To Serve At Your Child’s First Birthday
- pizza
- veggies
- chicken nuggets
- grilled cheese
Decorate
From streamers to balloon garlands, make sure to include decorations that match your theme. Some things we enjoy doing is taking streamers and hanging them in the doorway to the room that the party is in, so it feels like they are entering a special party area.
First Birthday Balloon Garlands
Balloon garlands make a big impact, are easy to put together, and they stay in one area so they are easy to take down. They also create a great backdrop for pictures and can be assembled a few days before the party.
Serve cake
Birthday cake is the best cake and one o fthe first things youc hild will remember about their big day. Some of the best include classic vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, lemon, coconut, and red velvet. For something a bit more unique, try a salted caramel, cookie dough, raspberry cheesecake, banana split, pumpkin spice, or peanut butter cup cake. No matter what flavor you choose, it’s sure to be delicious!
Have fun!
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures and enjoy some quality time with your little one on their special day.
