Little ones love a party and it's never too early to celebrate your baby's first year!

First Birthday Party Planning
Popular Baby's First Birthday Themes
Make your Own Baby's 1st Birthday Theme

First Birthday Party Planning
• Keep It Small. 1- 1/12 hours is about the most a one year old can handle. Toddlers can be overwhelmed by a crowd of guests.

• At the Right Time. Schedule around nap times. Late morning, allows for a morning nap or late afternoon to allow for an afternoon nap. A morning gathering often works best at this age, as does a celebration that winds down after a game or two and some cake -- before little revelers deteriorate. Weekend parties usually work better for parents and other adults.

• Who Can Come? Most first birthday parties are for the adults in your child's life: family and friends. Keep it to a manageable number of guests for you and your space. Keep in mind, that you will be caring for your little one at the same time. If you intend to invite other babies or toddlers 1- 3 guests is ideal with a maximum of 5. Parents of little ones should be included as guests so they can assist their children and you if necessary.

• Safety Firts. Baby-proof the party space.

• Yummy Food. Finger foods are always nice. Especially with babies. Check with ALL parents regarding food allergies and safety. Keep packaging fun but safe.

• Set Up a Toddler Area. Create a space where the arriving guests can play: a foam floor full of toys.

• Get Help. Be flexible! All parents know that children and their behaviors are not predictable. Un-scheduled rests, tears, accidents etc. are to be expected at a baby's first birthday. Just relax and go with the flow. Consider hiring a teenager or two to assist you with the party. They can corral kids into games and activities, pour juice, and help with cleanup when the guests have all gone home. Or arrange for help from a reliable friend or family member who can watch your child or entertain while you change a diaper, pick up a spill etc.

This is a day to celebrate the birth of your child, keep the party simple so you can do just that. Plan some special quiet time at the end of the day just for Mom, Dad, and baby.

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Popular Baby's First Birthday Themes
After choosing a theme you can coordinate invitations, paper goods, favors, entertainment, a cake, and so forth.

Pooh 1st Birthday Theme
Elmo Birthday Theme
Mickey Birthday Theme
Backyardigans Birthday Theme
Barney Birthday Theme
Dora Birthday Theme
Diego Birthday Theme
Hello Kittie Birthday Theme
Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Theme
Princess Birthday Theme

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Make your Own Baby's 1st Birthday Theme
Be different, pick a non-common theme and make it your own!

Lil' Cupcake Party - Each guest can have it's own cupcake with it's name on a flag. Cut different color papers and sandwich two pieces of paper around a flat toothpick. Its like having presents for everyone at the birthday party. Set up a candy table, guest can self serve jelly beans on a cupcake-baking cup.

I love Puppies Party - If dogs are an important part of your family, invite a few special friends with their pet dog. Have a puppy dig: get two small sandboxes and buried small balls; kids race to dig them out; fill each ball with a small prize. Serve hot dogs, combos, cheese with cracker squares and don't forget a treat for your four legged friends.

Safari Babies Party - Everything goes wild, decorations, activities and more. Have your party at the local zoo and save yourself the trouble of serving and cleaning. Peanut Hunt: before the party starts hide unshelled peanuts; tell the kids that they need to help the elephants find their lost peanuts; send each child out trumpeting with a sand pail and a goody bag; give a small prize for the one with the most peanuts.

Fairy Princess Party - Make it a dress up party. As the guest arrive dress them up in
their fairy princess costume, hire a Face Painter to finish the look. A fairy princess party
is not complete without teatime. Tea sandwiches: cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into round shape; use a biscuit cutter. Tea table: set up a table with plastic teacups and saucers; serve apple or grape juice from a china or plastic tea kettle. Don not forget
the cookies.

E-I-E-I-O Farm Party - The little ones love a farm party! Petting Zoo, Ponies... Everyone can grab their cowboy hat, bandana and farm animal visors from a filled wheel barrel.
A BBQ cookout will go perfect with this party theme. Have some BBQ corn on the cob, corn bread, baked beans and chips with salsa. For drinks you can serve lemonade and
root beer.

Bears Party! - Everyone can stuff a build-a-bear and take it home as favor. Make your own cake with a 3-D bear cake pan. With some spread out blankets you can have each child sit with his new teddy to enjoy a picnic: serve peanut butter and honey sandwiches, cute little Teddy Grahams and juice. Fill the Honey Bear Sand Art: you can purchase empty honey bear bottles; place each sand color on a matching bucket with a shovel; each child can create their own unique sand art honey bear bottle.

Cars, Trucks... - Oh boy what fun! You can set up a Big Road Playmat and place cars,
dump trucks and trains. Let's have a race with wind-up cars: place masking tape on each car and write each child's name; start the race with a flag; the winners get a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place ribbons.

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