Why is a baby’s first birthday so important? It marks a whole year of growth, love, and discovery!
We have made a list of the top 6 first birthday party ideas for you. Start with a fun theme that your baby loves. Now build the decorations and food arrangements around it!
Don’t choose loud entertainment, as babies are sensitive. Instead, go for easy activities like bubble machines. Keep reading for more unique ideas!
Confused about how to arrange the best birthday party for your one-year-old? We have some exciting ideas!
Choosing the right theme is the most important task! It will set the tone for the entire celebration.
A fun theme will make the invitations and decorations more special.
For example, does your baby love music? Then do an old theme with ‘60s memorable musicians. Even the adults will love it!
Here are some adorable and popular first-birthday themes -
Does your child love animals and birds? Then this jungle or safari-themed party is perfect!
Decorate with animals like lions, elephants, and monkeys. You can also use greenery to create a wild and fun atmosphere!
Decorations: Get animal-shaped balloons, jungle vines, and a cake topped with safari animals.
Entertainment: You can set up a small petting zoo or offer animal-themed activities. Go crazy with face painting! Kids love tiger stripes or zebra patterns.
Want to dive into an oceanic adventure with your child? Check out this “Under the Sea” party!
This theme looks amazing with blue, turquoise, and sea-green decorations. Get fish, mermaids, and sea creatures!
Decorations: Use seaweed streamers and fish-shaped balloons. Looking for cake ideas? An underwater treasure chest is a great design!
Entertainment: Set up water-related games for older kids. Let your child have some sensory water-play areas with rubber fish toys!
Celebrate your shining star’s first birthday with a starry night-themed party! Gold, silver, and deep blue are the best colours for this.
Decorations: You need star-shaped balloons and twinkling fairy lights. Don’t forget a glittery cake with a “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” topper!
Entertainment: Set up a star-gazing area indoors or outdoors. Use soft cushions and glow-in-the-dark stars!
Transform the party into a mini carnival with this exciting theme! Think big top tents, clowns, popcorn, and carnival games.
Decorations: Buy red and white striped banners and carnival booth setups. For a cake, you can go with a circus tent shape!
Entertainment: Hire a balloon artist, clown, or face painter to entertain the kids. You can also make a small ball pit for babies.
Have you picked a theme? Now it’s time to send out invitations and plan the decorations!
Here are some tips for both:
Keep it simple: Don’t make your themes too overwhelming! The invitation should be welcoming to all.
Digital or physical: You can either send physical invitations or create digital invites. Digital invitations are eco-friendly and easy to manage!
Include all necessary details: Make sure to include the date, time, and location. You can also keep special requests like wearing costumes for themed parties!
Matching your theme: Stick to the colours and motifs of your theme for the venue. What if you’re doing an “Under the Sea” theme?
Use blue streamers, fish-shaped balloons, and bubble machines! This will create an underwater feel.
High chair decorations: Don’t forget to decorate your baby’s high chair! This is where they’ll enjoy their smash cake.
Use a themed banner or attach balloons. Make their seating extra special for photos!
Banners and signs: Everyone loves personalised banners. You can also keep milestone boards that list fun facts about your baby!
Most first birthday parties include both babies and older children. So, it’s important to have entertainment for different age groups.
Here are some ideas for keeping everyone entertained:
Soft Play Area: Create a soft play zone for your little one! Use foam mats, baby-safe toys, and crawl-through tunnels.
This is a great space for babies and toddlers to explore safely.
Bubble Machines: Babies are fascinated by bubbles. So, setting up a bubble machine is a fantastic way to entertain them!
It will also create a magical atmosphere.
Sensory Play: Set up a sensory play table with items like rice, water, or sand. Keep them in sealed containers for safety!
Include baby-safe toys like rubber ducks or toy animals for exploration.
Craft Station: Create a craft station for older children! They can make party hats, decorate cupcakes, or colour in activity sheets!
Bounce House: Want something unique? A small inflatable bounce house is a big hit at any kid’s party!
Make sure it’s appropriately sized for the number of children attending.
Balloon Artist/Face Painter: Hire a balloon artist to make fun animal shapes. You can also get a face painter to create colourful designs that kids will love!
Puppet Show: A short puppet show featuring colourful and interactive puppets is great! This will keep babies and toddlers engaged.
Musical Guest: Hire a children’s musician to perform nursery rhymes or sing-alongs. It will captivate your young audience.
Tribute acts are also a great way of entertaining the guests!
The cake is one of the highlights of any birthday celebration. This is more true for the first birthday!
Many parents get a traditional birthday cake and a smaller smash cake just for the birthday baby.
Theme-Related Cakes: Whether it’s the“Wild One” or “Under the Sea” theme, the cake that matches it!
You can go for fun fondant designs or keep it simple with colourful buttercream.
Allergy-Friendly Options: Don’t forget to ask your guests if anyone has food allergies!
People often offer a gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free option. This makes sure that everyone can enjoy the cake!
The smash cake tradition is all about your baby. They can dig into their own personal mini-cake!
Now you can capture adorable and often hilarious photos. Choose a simple, small cake made with soft icing.
Your child should be able to play with the cake easily. Make sure the area is ready for mess, as things can get quite sticky!
Are you planning the menu for a first birthday party? Keep in mind that you’ll need a mix of baby-friendly and adult-friendly foods!
Here are some options:
Mini Sandwiches: Use soft bread and mild fillings. Go for cream cheese or mashed avocado.
Make mini sandwiches for little hands!
Fruit Skewers: Serve bite-sized pieces of fruit like strawberries, bananas, and grapes. You can cut the fruits in half for safety.
Make sure to use colourful skewers!
Veggie Sticks: Offer baby-friendly veggies like cucumber sticks, soft carrots, and cherry tomatoes.
Always cut them into small and easy-to-eat pieces!
Finger Foods: Think bite-sized appetisers like mini sliders, chicken skewers, or bruschetta.
Salad Bar: Set up a salad bar with various toppings and dressings. This will allow the guests to create their own custom salads!
Dessert Table: Besides the cake, provide a dessert table! You can keep options like cupcakes, cookies, and cake pops.
Make sure that these desserts match the party’s theme!
Kid-Friendly Drinks: Have juice boxes or sippy cups filled with water. You can also try diluted juice for the little ones!
Adult Beverages: Hosting an outdoor party? Consider setting up a drink station with iced tea, lemonade, or even a signature cocktail!
Party favours aren’t a requirement. But they’re a nice way to thank guests for celebrating with you!
Here are some ideas:
Bubbles: Small bottles of bubbles are fun for babies and toddlers to take home.
Board Books: Give each child a small board book related to the theme. For example, a jungle animal book for a “Wild One” theme!
Stuffed Animals: Mini plush toys make sweet and cuddly favours for younger guests!
DIY Craft Kits: Send older kids home with a craft kit or a set of crayons and a colouring book.
Personalised Goodie Bags: Fill goodie bags with small toys, stickers, or themed trinkets.
Planning your baby’s birthday party is an exciting experience. Follow our first birthday party ideas for the best celebration!
Choose a theme that everyone can participate in, both your child and the guests. Don’t forget to keep baby-friendly foods and cakes! You can also arrange engaging activities for everyone, like puppet shows.
Remember, your baby’s smile will be the best part of the celebration!
