First birthday parties
Your baby’s first birthday party
is a special day, but be careful not to overwhelm her. She has no idea it is
her birthday and might become frightened if her house is suddenly filled with
babies, parents and relatives all wanting her to open their gifts.
Here are
our top tips for celebrating number ONE:
It's probably best to go small
if you can. A few close friends and babies is enough for a party and will not
overwhelm your child.
- Remember that babies need to
nap, so try to schedule the party at a time when your baby or other babies
don’t nap (set up a portable crib in your bedroom for any babies that do need
to nap).
- Don’t go crazy with party food
unless there are older siblings and friends who need feeding. Pieces of cut up
fruit and yogurt to dip them in, small sandwiches and jello are good.
- Birthday cakes are great fun
and loved by all ages but be careful your one year old doesn't get too much
sugar and ends up spending the day wired! Try a carrot or banana cake for a
healthy alternative.
- A one year old’s party is also
about the adults! All birthday parties from this point onwards will be focused
on the kids, but for this party you can enjoy being with all the parents you
have met through having a baby. (If you've invited 'grownups' don't forget they
will probably be hungry and thirsty too – try buying four or five pizzas and
cutting them up for guests.)
- Don’t splash out on kids
entertainment, as one year olds won’t appreciate it and will probably be
scared. Laying rugs down on the floor or garden and putting a box of toys down
for babies to rummage through will keep them better occupied. Bubble machines
can also be a lot of fun to use outside. Electing someone animated to read a
story to the babies will also entertain them, as will a nursery rhyme CD and
some willing mommies to sing along.
- Be careful with balloons and
party poppers which might be overwhelming to babies and can also present a
choking hazard.
- If you are running around
trying to be the perfect host, remember to allocate a relative to keep an eye
on your baby so she doesn’t get neglected or start helping herself to birthday
cake.
- Try not to overwhelm your baby
with birthday presents. She will probably fling them aside if she gets too
many, which may upset relatives who agonized for hours about what to buy her.
Put some presents away and give them to her over the next week when things have
calmed down and she can appreciate and play with them individually.
- The birthday party needn’t be
long – babies can probably only handle a few hours before it all becomes too
much.
- Allocate someone to make a
list of which presents your baby receives and from whom – that way you can
write thank-you cards easily.
Post a comment on our chat
forum and get ideas on first birthday parties from parents who have been there
and experienced it already!
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 11/07/2007
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