Your Child's First Birthday Party

This is a guest post from Alan Murray of Baby Names TV.

A child’s first birthday party.

Before you know it, a year will have just about passed and your child will be fast approaching their first birthday. This is a momentous occasion and should be marked accordingly with lots of friends and family around.

It is common place to throw a large party in order to celebrate the happy event but remember to keep aside time for you the parent to enjoy your child that day too!

A child’s first birthday ranks with other important dates such as their 21^st and so it is important that time and preparation is spent in order to get the details correct. There are so many things to consider such as the style of the invitation through to what type of food to prepare as well as what to buy and these things will be looked at and the options available explained.

Who to Invite

It is important to remember all those family and friends that have helped you throughout the year and invite these people. They will be looking forward to celebrate your child’s birthday as much as you will!

You may not get on with your partners family but it is important that they are invited too. Remember the party is to celebrate your child not you! If you invite them that leaves the onus onto them if they wish to turn up or not. If they do, be as friendly as possible as a child recognizes tension and it is important they are not upset on their special day.

If you have only a small house stagger the time people will be coming at. Perhaps have friends with children earlier on during the day and closer friends and family at night time or later on. Plan the party around your child’s sleeping pattern and don’t have the main party going on during your child’s sleep time as there in no point in the birthday boy or girl being irritable.

Tell people who are unable to make it that they can pop in at a specific time after or prior to the party.

Do not see it as a slight if people can’t make it. The people most important to you and your child will make every effort. Circumstances happen though out with a persons control and am sure they will make it up to you in other ways.

Invitations

The big question here is do I make my own or do I purchase shop bought ones?

This is entirely up to you and is of personal taste. If you have a lot to organize then there is nothing wrong with shop bought ones. They convey exactly the information required and can follow a particular theme. They can be purchased at most major stores and newsagents and are usually packaged in eights.

Invitations made by you do have the personal touch and can convey a special moment worth sharing. There are many templates available for you to use. However if you intend using a photograph and thereafter printing them, they can be expensive and can look quite amateurish.

It is best to send invitations using the tried and tested method of posting them as this again conveys something special and tangible than having an attachment on a computer which you probably would not print off.

Remember and place RSVP at the bottom of the invitations and have a date on them when a reply should be made. This lets you gauge numbers for catering and seating purposes.

Presents

Don’t be afraid to ask for specific presents. This lets people know what to buy and saves them time in looking for a present they may already have. If your child has a bank account then put the details on the invitation and this gives the guests another option instead of buying an unwanted present. Put the receipt in with the present as this lets the parent exchange it for something else rather than have it lying unused in a box.

Food and Drink

If holding your party during the afternoon then simple refreshments such as sandwiches, cakes, soft drinks and tea and coffee should suffice.

Try and not put out too much as this can be expensive and may be a waste of money as people will usually have had lunch and will not want to waste their dinner.

If having the party late in the afternoon then a light buffet of sandwiches, party snacks, sausage rolls should suffice. A glass of wine can be offered as well as having soft drinks, teas and coffee.

If having two lots of guests then buy one cake and blow out the candles twice! Offer the first lot of guests a slice of another cake and explain they you will keep them a piece of cake once it has been cut later on that day.

Timings

Be well prepared and have the food ready prior to guests arriving. If possible delegate for a close friend to be in charge of food and another for photographs thus ensuring that you do not miss out. Make sure there is someone present whom your child is familiar with and can look after them when you are seeing to your guests.

Things can go wrong but by planning and preparing for this can ensure the free flow of your party.

Last of all ensure you and your child has a good time. You want to set a good example to your child and by throwing a well organized party then this will be something for your child to thank you for in years to come.