1st birthday parties

[Katielle13]

So my baby turns 1 in January, I know it’s a bit away but I’m starting to panic. So often I see people throwing huge parties for their child’s first birthday (masses of balloons, huge cakes, bouncy castle, entertainment etc) and although it looks fun I just am so conflicted on what to do. I love parties, but I just don’t want to waste all that money when my daughter won’t remember it and other children will probably enjoy it more than she will. But on the other hand, it’s such a special occasion I don’t want to under celebrate but I would love a low key celebration What did you do for your child’s first birthday & what are your opinions on this new trend of OTT parties?

 

[HoGi]

I don't have kids but a lot if my friends do.

Personally I hate the OTT themed parties for babies/kids. To me it is an excuse for parents to show off, guarantee presents and get pictures for Instagram.

I think a gathering with family and friends, but more low key is far more special.

 

[Katielle13]

That is my thought too, a lot of it is for the gram. I’m such a low key person, but all of this OTT stuff I see actually makes me feel bad for wanting a low key party for her, especially since some of these OTT parties I see have been family ones I worry they’ll think I’m not doing enough for her, but I do want to stay true to myself and not throw a huge party because other people are. I think it may be a small gathering at home.

 

[Notgonnalie]

Had a big party for my first baby it was nice to mark the occasion and family enjoyed seeing her on her special day but I didn’t do the same for my second because
1.Baby 1 was overwhelmed having so many faces around at once
2. The stress of throwing a party is too much
for my second baby we took him to the farm
It was just me my husband and my 2 kids. We had a cake when we got home but no big party! Much preferred his birthday!

 

[Web30]

We had a family bbq for our daugthers 1st bday, not as easy in winter. My nephews is next week amd my sisters just having family over for a little party, nothing major.

 

[monga]

We had family round for mines first birthdays nothing major, there's years of parties to follow lol .
If you were to do anything I'd take her to a photographer ( or do it yourself ) and have a cake smash to mark the occasion .

 

[LittleMy]

We didn’t bother with massive parties when our children turned one. Had something small and intimate with our families, at that age they really don’t care. My sons were more interested in playing with the wrapping paper than the actual presents and needed their naps during the day or they’d be cranky, so it would’ve been pointless anyway. It’s a lot of expense for one day, I’d sooner wait until they were old enough to appreciate it and enjoy it.

 

[Tublet83]

Honestly I wouldn’t babies are usually overwhelmed, especially babies of covid who have been isolated most of their lives!

Keep it simple and stress free

 

[watermelon sugar]

My son turned one during lockdown so we couldn't have a big party. At first I was gutted but then I realised that he didn't even need a big fancy party cos he wouldn't remember it anyway! I do agree big parties for 1 year olds seem to be just to show off for Instagram. I'll save his big parties for when he's older and can actually appreciate them don't worry about it

 

[CherryBakewell]

My son turned one in June and we just had immediate family around for a cuppy and cake. We aren’t into the massive extravagant parties. Personally I feel they’re just for show but to each their own. He’s not going to remember it and the the stress of organising a party is not for me we ended up having the perfect day!

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

My eldest has a June birthday so we had a nice garden tea party for him with lots of balloons and literally like 3 presents and not much else just friends and family (coming in and out all day - it felt like a rotisserie of people who wanted to see him and spend time with him on the actual day ). He was so overwhelmed all day, miserable as sin and basically only cheered up when everyone left (all people he knew well, too!) On top of that, I was stressed and unable to actually focus on spending time with my baby because everyone else wanted to while I was being host for that. My mum and dad (who do the most for us out of everyone) also only saw him for about 3 seconds as they were pushed out the way by in laws etc. I regret it really badly and wish I’d just kept it small and more spread out over the week/weekend. We do that now for his birthdays and tend to have a full weekend of it, but even that isn’t easy to navigate.

My youngest is a Feb baby, he had a fair few more presents (I think out of lockdown guilt!) and balloons but we only had my mum, dad, brother and his girlfriend there. He was happy as Larry all day, I think probably because we kept it small (due to restrictions) and not rushed or stressy and he was able to just play and be himself. I also felt like I saw my baby on his birthday and was able to just relax and take it easy. It also snowed and just felt like just an oddly magical day and I’ll remember it for all the good reasons, so go figure I guess.

To put this in perspective also, my friend recently just celebrated her daughters 1st birthday - they had a few presents in the morning, went on a nice sculpture walk in the afternoon and then in the evening had a takeaway. She said it was lovely. Do what feels best for you and duck anyone else. Your daughter will feel loved whatever you do, and the fact you care so much will shine through to her bouncy castle or not.

 

[Cereal Killer]

For my son’s 1st birthday (winter baby) we went to the in laws for a family roast with a little cake and balloons the Sunday before.
Then on his actual birthday we went to softplay with my family and our baby friends. We went back to ours after for his special cake and little party games for the older kids but nothing crazy.

 

[Katielle13]

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas for what to do! Will definitely be sticking with my gut with something low key for close family and friends, she is shy lockdown baby so I definitely think something too big would overwhelm her!

 

[Holidaybobs]

My SIL did the whole works for her first as she got caught up in it all. It ended up becoming a full boozing session with people leaving at 3am!! She massively regrets it so for her second she is going extra low-key. My goddaughter recently turned one and I hosted an Alice in Wonderland tea party at my house so her parents don’t have the stress of cleaning etc and could leave when they wanted to with the baby when she’d had enough. It was great, really nice and low key and the baby wasn’t too overwhelmed.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

So my baby turns 1 in January, I know it’s a bit away but I’m starting to panic. So often I see people throwing huge parties for their child’s first birthday (masses of balloons, huge cakes, bouncy castle, entertainment etc) and although it looks fun I just am so conflicted on what to do. I love parties, but I just don’t want to waste all that money when my daughter won’t remember it and other children will probably enjoy it more than she will. But on the other hand, it’s such a special occasion I don’t want to under celebrate but I would love a low key celebration What did you do for your child’s first birthday & what are your opinions on this new trend of OTT parties?

OTT parties are a ridiculous waste of money. Your child wont remember the birthday or the party. It’s nonsense.
celebrate the day with a little cake, let your child blow out a candle and enjoy playing with a few balloons and some nice new toys with close family - that’s more than enough.

 

[Apple In My Pie]

When my little brother turned one years ago we had vol au vents and party food in the kitchen, he watched Peppa Pig and fell asleep so the rest of the family used it as an excuse to chat. At one, I’m not sure they’d care either way and it’s easier to do something low-key before they get a bit more aware of it all

 

[bubbadabut]

Small family party all the way. These massive parties for 1 year old's are ridiculously OTT but we are made to feel it's the norm thanks to social media. (It's really not the norm!). The person whose birthday it is will be the only one who wont remember any of it.

 

[NP]

For our eldest we just did a small party at home. And by party I mean we had cake and a few nibbles and family and a couple of friends popped in with presents. There was only one other kid and about 6 guests in total. For our second the four of us went out for lunch then came back for cake. With our third we’ll probably do the same or have another little thing at home. I hate big parties anyway TBH. We did one for our eldest once with school friends and I felt stressed AF the entire time! Never again

 

[LennyBriscoe]

Please go to Katie Hayes threads and look at the ridiculousness of what she threw for her daughter - all for the gram, paid next to nothing for it and her daughter still won’t remember it! The comments are from people disgusted with the display.

We had a tea party with family when my son turned 1 and it was lovely. All our favourite people were there and he had a great time. This is one of the uglier sides of SM for me, I hate to see people upset that they’re not good enough because they can’t do what others have been gifted.

You can’t undercelebrate a birthday lovely, even if it was the two of you. She’s got a caring thoughtful mummy who loves and cherishes her every day - and that pisses all over a balloon arch in my opinion

 

[Katielle13]

Please go to Katie Hayes threads and look at the ridiculousness of what she threw for her daughter - all for the gram, paid next to nothing for it and her daughter still won’t remember it! The comments are from people disgusted with the display.

We had a tea party with family when my son turned 1 and it was lovely. All our favourite people were there and he had a great time. This is one of the uglier sides of SM for me, I hate to see people upset that they’re not good enough because they can’t do what others have been gifted.

You can’t undercelebrate a birthday lovely, even if it was the two of you. She’s got a caring thoughtful mummy who loves and cherishes her every day - and that pisses all over a balloon arch in my opinion

The end of this message has me tearing up, I needed to hear that so thank you I am so glad to read everyone’s opinions and reading about your intimate parties for your babies. I’ve been surrounded by so many OTT parties within my family and friend circle so it’s refreshing to hear other experiences. I just couldn’t imagine paying all that money out for my own child not to remember it and have other peoples older children enjoy it and remember it more than my daughter. Can not wait to celebrate with something intimate now!