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How to Throw an Unforgettable First Birthday Party
How to Throw an Unforgettable First Birthday Party

How to Throw an Unforgettable First Birthday Party

It’s a big milestone—for both of you. From wishlists to decor, here’s how to celebrate your little one turning one.

author-Briana Engelbrecht
By Briana Engelbrecht
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Updated On
Updated On
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In This Article

How to Plan Your Baby’s First Birthday
What
Where
Who to Invite
First Birthday Party Themes
First Birthday Party Invitations
First Birthday Gift Wishlist
First Birthday Party Decor
Easy Food Ideas for Baby’s First Birthday
Kid-Friendly Crowd Pleasers
For Grown-Ups (but kids will love them too)
Build-Your-Own Stations
Keep It Super Simple
Don’t Forget the Cake 
First Birthday Party Games and Fun
Party Favors

Your baby’s turning one—congratulations! That means you’ve almost made it through your very first year of parenting. While they won't remember their first birthday, you certainly will, and it's a great time to celebrate all that both you and your baby have accomplished. 

Between the decor and cake, planning your baby's first birthday party can feel just as exciting as planning your baby shower. But you certainly don't need to go all out—hanging a few decorations and getting a little birthday cake just for your baby go a long way and provide a ton of cute photo opportunities for memory books. This milestone isn’t just for baby—it’s a celebration of how far you have come, too.

How to Plan Your Baby’s First Birthday

If you plan on throwing a first birthday party, we’ve got you covered. For the when, where and how to all of the fun details, here are some tips and ideas.

What

The first step is figuring out what kind of party you want to have. Do you want a casual get-together, like a backyard BBQ or a tight two-hour shindig? Will it be more kid-focused or adult-focused? (A lot of first birthday parties are usually for the parents to enjoy!) Deciding the “what” of the birthday celebration will help determine the next two factors when planning. 

Where

When considering where to host the festivities, think about how many guests you’ll be inviting. Having a party at home, whether inside or in your backyard, is often the easiest route. Baby will be in their own space, which is great for (loosely) sticking to their regular routine. Plus you’ll likely save some money. 

If you’re planning to host a larger crowd, a park with a playground and picnic tables also makes for a great party venue. (Pro tip: see if you can reserve tables, and if not, have someone go early to snag a few!) There are also many indoor play areas that make great, low-lift party locations. Renting out a hall or event space is another idea. 

Who to Invite

Next you’ll want to figure out who you want to invite. Also think about how many people you’re up for hosting. This of course depends on personal preferences, and everyone’s village is unique. Do you want an intimate gathering, or do you envision a huge birthday bash? 

When making your list, start with your closest friends and family, then consider any daycare and playgroup mates. Keep in mind: more guests means more food, drinks, seating and favors, so this is where a little budgeting can help you decide on who to include. 

First Birthday Party Themes

So you’ve got the who, what, when and where sorted out. Now to the exciting part! Choosing a theme and coordinating decor is the best part of party planning—and there are tons of fun themes that are perfect when you’re turning one. 

Here are a few creative first birthday party theme ideas:

If baby has a favorite book or toy, you can also use that as the party theme. And if you loved your baby shower theme, tying in that theme for baby’s first birthday is a really sweet touch.

First Birthday Party Invitations

While you can buy invitations from stores like Target or Walmart, a lot of people go the custom route for baby’s first birthday invites. 

Here are a few websites where you can order custom party invitations: 

Sending digital invitations is another option. It’s quick, convenient and often more affordable than paper invitations (most are actually free!). And an added bonus—most sites allow you to track RSVPs and link a birthday wishlist registry. 

And a few popular e-invitation sites include:

First Birthday Gift Wishlist

Creating a birthday wishlist might feel a little awkward at first—but it can actually be a big help to your guests when they’re shopping for the perfect first birthday gift (and you can actually create a special gift wishlist on Babylist!). 

First Birthday Party Decor

There are a ton of meaningful ways to celebrate baby’s first year when decorating. Here are some decor ideas we love.  

  • “One Year of Baby” photos. You worked so hard on your baby’s monthly photos, so now’s your chance to display them! Whether in a frame, on a custom “One Year of” wooden board, strung up on a banner, as table centerpieces or just posted around the party.

  • Balloon arch. A fun way to bring together your party decor, balloon arches also serve as the perfect photo backdrop. Prop your baby’s high chair in front of the arch when it’s time to sing “Happy Birthday.”

  • High chair decor. And speaking of high chairs, decorating it with a tassel garland or “ONE” banner is a special detail that adds to the festivities. 

  • Giant number one balloon. A must have for any first birthday party, a giant mylar number one balloon is both cute and a great photo prop. 

  • Cake topper. Although your dedicated smash cake typically won’t have much decor, you’ll be able to decorate the larger cake for your guests with a cute cake topper. And if you’re serving cupcakes, we love these custom baby face toppers with pom pom hats.

  • First birthday party hat. Whether it’s a traditional cone hat or sparkly #1 crown, party hats sure make for great photos.

Some of our favorite places to shop for party decor are:

Easy Food Ideas for Baby’s First Birthday

What you serve depends on your guest list and how hands-on you want to be in the kitchen. A good rule of thumb: opt for finger-friendly, easy-to-prep options that keep guests of all ages happy (and your stress levels low).

Kid-Friendly Crowd Pleasers

Great for babies, toddlers and big kids:

  • Mini sandwiches (PB&J, turkey and cheese, cream cheese and cucumber)

  • Chicken fingers or nuggets

  • Mini grilled cheeses

  • Sliders and fries

  • Fresh fruit platters or fruit skewers

  • Smoothies or yogurt pouches

Low-effort win: Most of these are easy to prep ahead, so you’re not stuck reheating during the party.

For Grown-Ups (but kids will love them too)

  • Charcuterie or snack boards (think cheese, crackers, dried fruit and dips)

  • Veggie platters with hummus or ranch

  • Salad bar or pasta salad

  • Flatbreads or savory tarts

  • Cold noodle bowls (soba, pasta, sesame noodles)

Pro tip: Serving room-temp or cold foods minimizes last-minute prep.

Build-Your-Own Stations

Interactive and low-lift (once the ingredients are set up):

  • Bagel bar with spreads, smoked salmon and toppings

  • Pancake or waffle bar with fruit, whipped cream and syrup

  • Yogurt parfait station

  • Taco bar with meat, beans, toppings and tortillas

Just keep in mind that pancakes, waffles or tacos mean someone (maybe you) is manning the stove unless you prep ahead.

Keep It Super Simple

  • Order pizza (always a crowd-pleaser)

  • Grab takeout from a favorite local spot

  • Hire a caterer (more expensive, but a huge time-saver)

Don’t Forget the Cake 

Cake is a party essential—especially for birthdays and milestone celebrations. Whether you go all out with a bakery cake or DIY something simple, here’s what to think about:

  • Smash cakes are popular for first birthdays. These mini cakes are just for baby—ideal for messy photo ops.

  • Sheet cakes are great for serving a crowd with minimal fuss.

  • Cupcakes make serving and cleanup easier (no slicing required).

  • Fruit “cakes” (stacked melon or pineapple rounds) can be a fun lower-sugar option for younger guests.

The first birthday cake is a big moment, so make sure someone is ready to snap photos before baby dives in.

First Birthday Party Games and Fun

You don’t have to prepare a bunch of activities ahead of time, especially if you’re hosting the party at a park or kids’ venue. But if you're hosting at home and expecting lots of babies and toddlers then you’ll want to set up a baby-friendly space. Here are a couple of activities to give you some ideas:

Bubbles. Always a hit with toddlers, get an automatic bubble machine or have adults take turns blowing bubbles for little party goers to chase. 

Dance party. Log into your Apple Music or Spotify account, turn on some toddler tunes and have a dance party. 

Sensory art table. Set up an arts and crafts table with finger or foam paints (and a couple of smocks to protect clothing).

Sand & water table. You can also set up a sensory activity (that matches the party theme) in your little one’s sand or water table. 

Free play area. Bring out a playmat or picnic blanket and a few toys (such as blocks and balls, or climbing toys if you have them) for little guests to enjoy. 

Bounce house or ball pit. There are a bunch of companies out there that rent out bounce houses, ball pits and foam play equipment for parties (like Poppytots, which is based in the Bay Area)—check Google for something local to you). You can also buy your own mini bounce house, like these from Little Tikes and Smol—bonus: they also make great first birthday gifts!

Birthday guest book. In lieu of cards (which can be hard to part with and take up space to save), have adult guests sign a special book with sweet birthday messages for your baby. You can also have them sign a picture  book. We love Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss, When’s My Birthday by Julie Fogliano and Eat the Cake by M.H. Clark. 

Party Favors

Though totally optional, you can say thank you to your guests for coming by sending them off with party favors that tie in your party theme. You can order custom tags and treat bags (from many of the same invitation and decor sites) to give out stuff like:

  • Custom cookies or sweets

  • Bubbles

  • Crayons with a little drawing pad

  • Toddler sunglasses

  • Playdough

  • Hot Wheels

There are a ton of places to buy favors—Etsy and Amazon are great places to start.

When planning your baby’s first birthday, the options are truly endless. Use your imagination, flex your creativity and, most importantly, have fun with it! 

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