10 Tips on Planning Your Baby’s First Birthday

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Looking at the adorable cutie smiling happily in front of you while playing with his toys, your heart flutters. “It’s almost 12 months already? Wow!” you proudly say to yourself. So, how do you plan a first birthday that’s fun and special without putting strains on your pocket? Find useful tips below.

1. Have a budget & keep your guest list short. Stick to a budget that’s truly affordable and keep the guest list short. You could limit it to just close friends and family, keeping an eye the ratio of adults to kids.

2. Save on Invitations. How thankful are we for advancing technology? Instead of spending so much on printing invites (which will eventually get tossed away) and sending them out, invitations could be sent out digitally to the e-mail addresses of invitees and on the plus side, it would be more beautiful and attractive using a live invite with the picture of the smiling baby digitally inviting them to come celebrate with him.

3. Venue. More often than not, the home of the host or celebrant is often used as the venue provided there’s space. If not, you will probably need to rent a space. Don’t try to get expensive halls or event centres. A close friend or family’s home with bigger space could be used.

4. Time. The time of the party should be fixed such that it doesn’t clash with a major meal. Preferably, settle for a cool evening; start from 4 p.m. and wrap up by 6 p.m. Another pertinent point to note about timing is that children this age like their beauty sleep. So, try as much as possible to keep the party brief and sweet so you don’t end up exerting your baby and the other children.

5. Choose a theme. A lovely theme makes birthday parties come alive. You could opt for a colour as theme. Better still, the party could be centred around your baby’s beloved cartoon character, so invitees dress in that costume. Have colourful decorations and balloons too as these appeal to children a lot. In addition to the stickers and other décor, the baby’s pictures could also be used to decorate the venue.

6. Menu. Cup cakes, ice cream, small chops, sauced turkey/chicken/beef/snail, nibbles, chips, barbeque and drinks may be served in addition to regular meals. However, make sure these do not upset the budget by opting for what’s truly affordable.

7. Birthday Cake. If you can bake or have a close friend or family member who can for free, it can help you save cost. If none of these options are available, order a theme cake or two which your budget can accommodate.

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8. Games. Be sure to have some fun games so the kids can enjoy themselves and be entertained. Egg-on-spoon race, sack race and treasure hunts are a few fun options. If affordable, clowns may be hired for added entertainment.

9. Pictures & Videos. Make sure lots of pictures and videos capture the moments so your baby gets a chance to relive the memories in the future. Apart from print copies, ensure you request for copies stored on CDs or DVDs.

10. Party Favours. Make sure all the kids invited get a token of appreciation after the party. The gifts do not have to be expensive but ensure they are items the kids will appreciate.

Overall, don’t try to outshine what obtained at your friend or neigbour’s baby’s party. Remember, life continues after the party. Stick to what’s truly affordable.

Photo credit: mumstastic.com.au