How to create a special 1st birthday party for your little one

Who to invite:

When deciding on your guest list take your babies needs and temperament into account. Do they love lots of attention and happy in large groups? Or would they prefer a smaller, more family oriented party? 

Also consider who has experience with kids and will roll with the punches when the unexpected happens - like your baby deciding a nap right before the cake is cut is a great idea!

What time to have the party:

When you decide on a time for your babies party it's important to take their nap time into account. 

Most people prefer a morning event, usually 10 or 11am. Keep it fairly short - 2 hours is good for small kids.

All the sensory stimulation and social interaction should tire your little one out fairly quickly. Then pop them down for a long nap while you clean up!

What to dress my baby in:

If you are doing a cake smash (and I highly recommend you do - it makes for the best photos!) then having two outfits is best.

Choose one main outfit that will be worn for the majority of the day - this can be as fancy or as simple as you like. 

Have a second outfit on hand for the cake smash. I recommend a neutral colour, so the cake design stands out and is the focus of the photos (along with your gorgeous baby!)

Also adding on one of our gorgeous number 1 party hats makes your photos super adorable and memorable.

Where to have the party:

I personally find first birthday parties easiest to host at home. You can plan in advance, have everything your baby needs on hand and everything is already baby-proofed for other young guests. 

Alternatively you could plan it for a local park or playground area, depending on the age of other guests. If lots of other crawling/just walking babies are coming, then home is probably best. If older kids are attending, a park could be great for entertaining them. 

Theme/Decorations:

You could choose a specific theme - think dinosaurs, mermaids, safari, princess, sprinkles, rainbow - the options are endless!

Alternatively you could keep decorations simple and just celebrate with balloons and a gorgeous cake topper for the cake.

Birthday balloons are always a hit with kids - get a large number 1 to take photos with a few bunches with weights to prop around the space. I also usually blow up some loose ones to scatter around as kids love playing and chasing them!

Food & Drink:

With kids around, it’s smart to steer clear of anything too fancy or messy. Instead, opt for finger foods and light-coloured drinks (to avoid stains!).

 Be wary of allergies too; ask in advance if certain foods should be avoided altogether.

Fruit platters are great for young kids, along with crust-free sandwich bites and mini cookies. 

Don't forget a cake too - one for the rest of the guests and one for the cake smash!

Cake Smash Tips:

• Keep your backdrop nice and simple. Choose a plain wall, with good lighting. Outside is best, or beside a large window inside. Use a neutral coloured rug underneath. 
• Have everything set up before adding baby into the photo. Sometimes they dig straight in - and you want to capture those first moments!
• If you can afford it - hire a photographer. They will capture the best images of your little ones special day.
• Make sure they are wearing their adorable party hat!

Presents:

For a first birthday it's great to get a mix of both practical and fun presents.

Think of things you will need to use - like dinnerware, bath products, new outfits.

Also make sure to get a few fun toys - there are so many available that help spark curiosity and assist with hand eye coordination.