Go, go, go, go, go, go…Go shawty, it’s ya 1st birthday. We gon’ party like its’ ya birthday. We gon’ sip Breastmilk like it’s ya birthday. Well at least shawty will, but I don’t know, maybe you’re into that kinda thing, shrugs!
So, you’re planning your child’s first birthday party? Congratulations, you’ve officially survived your first year of parenthood, whew chillay! Celebrate this milestone. That first year is A. Lot. Yes, it’s a birthday celebration for your precious little one, but low key it’s also a celebration for you. Get ready for a day full of the unexpected (like any other day, right): tears, smiles, tantrums, laughter, photos and cake, lots of cake. Now, let’s plan shawty’s first birthday.
Theme
First things first, choose a theme. You could go for something cute and classic like “circus” or “farm animals”, or you could do something fun like “Mr. ONEderful” or “Hit me baby, ONE more time” or you can really spice things up and go for something wild like a “toddler rager”. Just be warned, if you choose the latter, you might end up with a party that’s more lit than you imagined. I decided I wanted something I hadn’t seen. I thought I created the idea, but Etsy determined, that was a lie lol. It’s been used before but not a lot. A much loved game and a very literal explanation, UNO was our theme for Win’s 1st birthday. Shoutout to Win’s Godmommies, Phylicia and Monica for the balloon arch. They did a great job, but you gotta get your own Godmommies, cause these are taken. I mean, that is unless the pay is great, in which we may be open to sharing, know what I mean?!?
Venue
Next up, decide on a venue. Sure, you could host the party in your own home, but do you really want to spend the next three weeks deep-cleaning every nook and cranny just so your guests don’t judge you? I mean, I did cause I was not about to go pay for an extravegent venue for a 1st birthday party, but that’s just me. Baby boy is a Winter baby, so outside was not an option. We don’t do cold. I feel like if you keep a decently clean home on a regular basis, just make sure your kitchen and guest bathroom are spick and span and you’re good to go. Besides, for this party, you only want to invite your closest of close people so if there’s judgement, there’s a problem. They know you have a whole baby and things may not be perfect. If they have an issues, invite them to clean for you :).
Menu
Now onto the menu. So this can tricky. Are you inviting other babies? Does your kid have friends? Mine is not in daycare yet so mommy and daddy are his friends. That means, the menu for this 1st birthday focused on adult foods at our party. We did have children attend, but they were 7 and older, not babies. With that said, we made sure Win had his usual lunch options and the guests had a spread of delicious hors d’oeuvres and finger foods. If you will be having a house filled with toddlers, I’d suggest some kids favorites: goldfish crackers, chicken nuggets, apple slices and maybe some pizza if you’re feeling generous. Whatever you do, regardless of the guestlist, do not forget the cake(s). Get a smash cake for the birthday kid and a sheet cake for everyone else. You may not mind eating food after your kid’s little hands have played around in it, but do not subject your guests to that. Also, let’s normalize waving the candles on the cake and not blowing them out. Who wants cake after someone, kid or adult, have spit over it trying to blow out candles?!?
Details
It’s always in the details for me. I told my hubby I wasn’t going to do too much, but let’s be honest, he knows who he married. The details had to be on point, mmmmk. My baby will be 15 one day and want to see how much effort his mama put into his first birthday party, duh! Details are at your discretion. You can have one thing that lines up with your theme or you can be like me and need the whole house to be on theme. I basically wanted something related to UNO to be in every corner. I had a photo backdrop at the door, little signs for guests to use in their photos, customized confetti, a customized cake topper, a mantle sign for his monthly milestones, a customized high chair sign, customized balloons, extra large UNO cards for décor, signature drinks, matching shirts, YOU NAME IT! But remember, I’m a bit extra, FAMU taught me! I’m sure Win would have had a ball with just us, cake and a balloon. His mama just be doing too much sometimes, and she does not apologize for it.
Activities
Don’t forget to plan some activities for the kiddos. It’s a 1st birthday party afterall, so we need games. Pin the tail on the donkey? Boring. How about “find the hidden toy” or “musical chairs but with baby bouncers”? The possibilities are endless. Again, our party was mostly adults, but we did find common ground, thanks to my sister (the third member of the Godmommy gang). She scooped the kids from their electronic devices and they beat they beat her in a game of UNO. We had several board games and things available, but UNO prevailed which was great, since it was on theme.
Favors
Finally, party favors. This is where you can really let your creativity shine. You could go for the classic “goodie bag” filled with stickers and mini toys, or you could go the simple yet thoughtful route, like me, and package up some thank you cookies. Many of our guests came in from other states, so we wanted to give them something they could not get at home. We got these delicious cookies from a local favorite, packaged them individually and popped on a personalized thank you sticker. You can’t get any sweeter than that.
Takeaway
Planning your child’s first birthday party is a special and exciting time. Flights may be missed, details may be skipped, packages may not arrive on time, but at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is your baby’s happiness. He/she will not remember this day (so take all the photos), but as long as you know you did your absolute best for your love bug, all is well. Take a deep breath, laugh at the chaos and enjoy the moment. And don’t worry, there’s always next year to try out that “toddler rager” theme.
That’s It. That’s All Yall.
J. Bai
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