The Big First Birthday Party Debate – What To Do When Your Kids Turns One

And who's the party really for? πŸ·πŸ€”

You’ve survived nearly 12 months of parenting and your baby’s first birthday is creeping up on you. So how do you celebrate? And who’s the party really for?

It’s a topic mums are currently debating on Mumsnet, where one parent said that a woman at her baby group is throwing an β€œoverpriced soft play” for her nearly one-year-old. β€œShe went as far to say I shouldn’t have a party at all if it isn’t focused fully on the baby,” wrote the mum, who pondered if paying Β£15 per baby for soft play, as well as the cost of balloons and food, was really worth it.

β€œIs the first birthday for family, or mum and dad, or the baby?” she asked. β€œI thought we could go for food with our 20 close family members, and have some drinks so they can celebrate his birthday with us!”

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Responses seem to be divided. Many argued that a baby wouldn’t notice (or care) what happens on their first birthday and advised the mum to put the money in a savings account rather than trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Another parent agreed: β€œI honestly don’t get the idea of having a big birthday party for a one-year-old. They have no clue what’s going on, and at one I went to, the kid was so overwhelmed by it all he clung to his mum the whole time!”

But another mum went the other way. Her family are having three celebrations for her son’s first birthday: a bus to see Fenwick’s Christmas window and an afternoon at Build-A-Bear; a family buffet; and a sensory room experience with eight of his β€œbaby friends”. This way, she said, everyone is happy.

When we asked parents on HuffPost UK, opinions were similarly split. Some parents said they had a small do, agreeing it was mainly for the grown-ups.

Just a family tea party with both of mine; it's more for the family than the baby as they obviously won't remember it, but it's lovely to mark it in any way you'd like. If someone wants to throw a lavish party for their one-year-old, then why not, their kid, their choice.

β€” Rebecca Cheung (@Bistro_Becs) November 13, 2018

Yes we did - she didn’t have a clue what was going on but it was more of a celebration that we kept a small human alive for a year and were still married! My cake making skills have certainly improved since then too!

β€” Hester Grainger (@HesterGrainger) November 13, 2018

While others went all out for the kids...

Yes, we had a lovely 1st birthday party for the twins. A garden party with a tent, pinata, face painting for adults and children, vegan cakes and food and lots of bubbles. For their 2nd we had an art party with 15 toddlers! Mayhem. :) pic.twitter.com/ghbSnkyMjF

β€” Dr Pragya Agarwal (@hedgehogprints) November 13, 2018

We had a big party for my eldest at our local village hall. My little girl is one in January and we’re holding a party at a local baby cafe/soft play. Less hassle, everything is done for us, all we need to do is turn up!

β€” The Aspiring Yummy Mummy (@EmmaRoberts22) November 13, 2018

And others said they’ve learned their lesson second time round...

Yes! Absolutely. We had 3. 😬 All for the first child. None for the second. He just got a pub lunch. πŸ˜…

β€” Happity (@happityBaby) November 13, 2018

Yes! Ridiculously big one for my first which resulted in me having a break down when everyone went home 😒
I have a smallish one arrange for my 9 month old in January. I'll be blogging about it. Wish me luck .....

β€” amysboarderlineworld (@amysboarderline) November 13, 2018

Yes had it at home with friends and family and vowed never to do at home again. Just too much mess with lots of little people around. Have since held away from home.

β€” Lou (@WomanReadyBlog) November 13, 2018

We did. Went completely overboard! Β£700 later we had an entertainer running a baby sensory class, a friend dressed in a rabbit suit and enough food and alcohol for 30 adults! Number two child had a much simpler affair. πŸ˜‚

β€” Rambling Dad (@RamblingDadUK) November 13, 2018

β€œNo question, the parties are for adults – not the children,” says Chris McGuire, 39, from Devon, whose son is now two-and-a-half. β€œAlthough to be honest, they’re not for the parents either. Parents are so knackered they’d rather just go and sleep somewhere if they had the chance.”

He believes parents get leant on (mainly) by grandparents to put on a show. β€œThe child has no idea what’s going on – it’s just another day for them,” he adds. β€œGrandparents love it, mainly as an excuse to play oneupmanship with each other of who bought the biggest present.”

Stuart Hood, 38, from London, whose son turns three in January, agrees that a first birthday party is about the grown-ups. His son’s first birthday was attended almost solely by his friends, only some of whom happened to have kids. The food and drink was aimed at the parents, too.

However, the guest list (and catering) at his son’s second birthday party was much more skewed to the under-twos, he reveals. Those friends of his? Not so many of them turned up and Hood predicts his third party will be even more so

So, to throw a first birthday party or not to throw one? Cathy Ranson, editor of ChannelMum.com, sums it up well: ”Celebrating a child’s birthday is never pointless but don’t feel under pressure to lay on a bigger bash than you can afford. Instead, do what makes you happy. A baby’s first birthday is about the memories you’ll create and the photos you’ll look back on in years to come.”

She adds: β€œYou made it, that first tough year of parenting. And whether you want to celebrate with family and friends or other babies is entirely your choice.”

Advice on first birthdays, from those who’ve been there:

** Avoid them like the plague, says McGuire, they’re a very stressful way of remembering what was probably the most stressful day of the parents’ life so far.

** If you must have one, make it a small affair. And remember, don’t over-stock on the salad. Nobody ever eats it.

** Pick a venue that your child has been to before and is unlikely to get freaked out by.

** Don’t spend too much on his or her outfit (as there is a 50/50 chance of them pooping on it)

** Select a start time that fits with your child’s routine – and naps. We all know how exhausting partying can be!

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