How to Throw a Successful First Birthday Party

Your baby's first birthday is the only year you get to make all the decisions! The theme is totally up to you. Have fun planning because you never know which year your child will request the presence of the annoying purple dinosaur!

Check out these tips to assure a successful first birthday party!

Keep the surroundings familiar.
There is so much for your baby to absorb: a yummy cake packed full of sugar, colorful decorations, and brightly decorated bags and boxes with toys inside! Don't make your baby uncomfortable by hosting the party in an unfamiliar setting. It's best to hold the party in your own home rather than a relatives. Tons of faces will be coming in and out of the party; at least your baby will have the security of his own home!

The cake!
What will baby wear for her famous smash cake? You have the option of keeping on her outfit or letting her wear just cake! If you purchased an expensive satin party dress especially for this occasion, you may want to fore go the dress. On the other hand, if the party dress is made out of cotton, the traces of cake will disappear in the wash! A 1st birthday bib is another option; it will look really cute in pictures.

Time of day.
Plan the party immediately following your baby's nap. Your baby will fully enjoy the experience if she is alert instead of sleepy!

Photos.
Make sure you take lots of them! I'm sure you already have her 1st birthday scrapbook page all planned out! Perhaps you already even purchased the stickers. Ask a friend or family member with a talent for photography to snap photos at the party. It will allow you to capture every single moment of your baby's special day. You can also hire a photographer; this way all the guests can relax and enjoy the birthday party.

Video.
Kids love to run the camera! Do you have a pre-teen in your family? As long as they capture the birthday and not the dirt on the ceiling, why not ask them to video? They will feel special because you're asking them to help. An adult can take the video too, but they aren't as creative as kids! Who knows how many presents your baby will receive; watching the video years later will be much more entertaining with a fun narrator!