Party checklist
First birthday party checklist
A first birthday is mostly a gathering of adults with a baby in the middle. Enter the date and the number of adult guests and the list dates each task and counts plates, cups and seats. Counts are estimates to plan with.
Five weeks out: date and guests
Four to two weeks out: invitations and orders
The baby corner
Tableware and decorations
Food and drink
On the day
Afterwards
Tips for a first birthday
- Plan the party for the adults and the timing for the baby. The guests want to talk and eat; the birthday child wants a normal day with more faces in it.
- If your baby is overwhelmed, take ten minutes in a quiet room. Nobody minds, and the party carries on without you.
- A smash cake is optional. If you skip it, switch the option off and the extra cake, outfit and floor mat leave the list.
- The tableware numbers are estimates worked out from the adult count. If several families bring older children, raise the adult number by one for every two of them.
- Open presents after the guests leave. A one-year-old loses interest after the second parcel.
Questions
How long should a first birthday party be?
One and a half to two hours is enough. The list has you fix the slot between naps first, because the timing decides everything else.
Why does the list ask for adults and babies separately?
Plates, cups and food are counted from the adults, while bibs, bowls, play mats and high chairs are counted from the little ones. Each count follows one of the two numbers.
Do I need activities or games?
No. At this age a clean floor space with a few toys is the activity. The baby corner section covers it.
When do we do the cake?
In the first hour. The on-the-day section puts the song and cake early, before your baby gets tired.