1st Birthday Party Ideas

We’ve put together a list of fun 1st birthday party themes you can use for your child’s first birthday party. We know that while the first birthday party is special you don’t have much time for planning. So we we kept the parties as simple as possible to make your life a little easier.

1st birthday party themes

Picking a theme for a kid’s party is fun and easy since there are so many options. We have written some unique parties for that first birthday.

If you want to make your lifer very easy check out our kid’s birthday planning ideas for many theme party ideas that have matching paper goods and party supplies. This will make decorating, and setting the table much easier.

1st birthday party invitations
Once you have your theme, pick a fun invitation. You can buy invitations that match your theme or personalize your kid’s party invitation. Another option is to pick up one at a local store or make your own!

Party411 has a lot of wonderful invitations for kid's birthdays that can be customized! I especially love our fully customized caricature invitations. They are perfect for a once in a lifetime event like a 1st birthday! Here are a few of our most popular designs... many of the photos on the samples are kids of Party411 event planners :)

Caricature invitations

See custom invitations for kids birthday parties

See All kid's Birthday Invitations and Party Favors

the location

When picking a location you really have three choices.
1. Home – Inside. That one year old needs nap time so we think travelling to a restaurant or park is a little too much. Have your party at home and if that little one closes their eyes, no problem. These are usually family parties so setting up in the same room you have most of your family parties will work fine.
2. Home – Outside. My favorite for a summer party. Your guests will enjoy the weather and the baby will like crawling in the grass. Make sure you have options if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

3. Restaurant/Party Room. Some 1st birthday parties just get a little too big for your home. My cousin had over 60 people at his daughter’s party so he used the party center in his complex. It worked great. Your headaches go away. If you use a restaurant you don’t have to clean up the inevitable mess. The big question is food. My cousin was able to bring in his own food. That won’t work with a restaurant so you have to ask if this kind of party will fit your budget.

decorating tips

For most young kid’s the decorations aren’t that big of a deal. The theme matching paper goods and party supplies should take care of most of it. Throw in some balloons of course. We have put together a birthday party planning checklist to help with your planning.

Personalized Banner - a great party welcome! You can hang it outside to let everyone know where the party is, or hang it inside for a perfect wall decoration. Add your own wording, and many designs even let you include a picture.
Balloons are a party staple! Make balloon bouquets from latex balloons in colors that coordinate with your theme. Add a Mylar balloon that matches the theme to each bunch if one is available. Always use an odd number of balloons to make the best looking bouquets. Don't forget the coordinating curling ribbon and the helium tank!
Crepe Paper - There is nothing that screams birthday party as much as crepe paper streamers hung around a party room. High impact for a low cost - perfect!

the menu – 1st birthday party food

The big question is will you let the little one put their face in the cake. I find this harmless and hilarious but others feel differently. One trend we love is the "smash cake". Get a small cake just for the birthday boy or girl and let them have a blast smashing it and eating the cake. It's a great photo op! Then everyone else gets to enjoy eating un-smashed cake.

Party food can be just cake and ice-cream or a full meal. Full meals are work but my family expects to get fed no matter what time of day we're hosting a party. If you are having family over I suggest going with the family traditions. Grandma and grandpa will appreciate it.

1st birthday party games & activities
You always have to have some games. Depending on how old the cousins are you might have a lot of children over. Kid’s love to run around so you might as well organize the mayhem. For a great selection of kid’s birthday party games.

kid’s birthday party favors

All guests, and especially my family, love to go home with a party favor - personalized candy bars are very popular. (Food always works in our house). Here are some other party favors that work perfectly for a first birthday party.

Personalized lollipops

Custom candy bars and wrappers

Personalized lollipops - These 4" lollipops can be customized with your child's photo
Candy Bars - Choose a wrapper to match the theme of your party

Ok, so all these ideas are centered around sweets, but this is a sweet occasion!

fun fact
If you think throwing a birthday party is work, did you realize you will do 7,300 diaper changes by baby's 2nd birthday. Of course, Dad’s are faster at diaper changing. Moms take 2 minutes, 5 seconds vs. 1 minute, 36 seconds for dads.