Who's turning 1?
Once upon a time, first birthday parties were a small family affair, where the child in question was fawned over, and might be lucky enough to sample their very first bit of chocolate cake.
These days, they have turned into major undertakings but the good news is, you can have a memorable first birthday for your cherub without breaking the bank.
Let's face it, first birthday parties are more for the parents (“Look what we did! We survived the first year! Yay us!”) than for the infant, who is likely to either spend the party a/ sleeping or b/ screaming (or c/ alternating between the two).
Here are some things to consider when planning a first birthday party.
1. Timing: try to work around bub's normal sleep time, and keep the party short. As all parents of infants know, over-stimulation can be a nightmare when it comes to baby being able to settle to sleep.
2. Keep it simple: No need to go overboard with food or games. Basic, allergy-free snacks for the kids and maybe a cheese plate (and wine!) for the grown-ups.
3. Watch the budget: It's so easy to fall in to the trap of hiring jumpy castles, or getting a clown to entertain the guests. Trust me, this is the first of many parties for your child, there will be plenty of time to go big as your kid grows
4. Scale back the guest list: Keep it to close family and friends – see above re infants and over-stimulation.
And once you have all the above sorted, why not try these simple but fun ideas:
1. Balloons galore: Babies and children love balloons, so make sure you have plenty around for them to play with.
2. A time capsule: Ask your guests to bring something to pop in a small container for the guest of honour to open when they are 18 – a poem, a special note or their memory of the first time they met the infant.
3. Cake smash: These are all the rage these days, but you don't have to go all out and hire a photographer. Just put the cake in front of the child and see what happens – you can even take the photos on your smart phone. This is great fun for everyone (except maybe the person who has to clean the bub afterwards.
4. Make a DVD: Ask the guests to record their wishes for child's future.
Would love you to share your stories of memorable fist birthday parties, and remember, Discount Party Supplies has all the goodies you need to make any party a success.