Did you have a party for your child on their first birthday?

I usually have a party for both of my kids' birthdays but they are both in May, only three days apart so I throw both of them together. This year we had their birthday party at a bowling alley and it costs about $150.00 for two games of bowling, shoes and the tables. I made the cakes and bought pizza, chips and soda for snacks. I don't like to do this type of party every year because of the cost but I do like to have a party for them whether it is just at the house with a few family members or at a specific outing place. Last year we just had a party at my mom who has twelve acres of land so we had it there and then camped out on the land for the night. When my kids were one we had a party for the both of them although they are two years apart..I think even if you can't do a huge party each year even something small is good...they like the parties.

Birthday celebrations are for everybody. It doesn't have to be expensive or grandiose. What matter is that family and friends gather together to celebrate another year of life. When my niece celebrated her first birthday, it was very memorable. It was simple yet fun and full of memories. The food was cooked by my aunt. The house was presentable at it is so no need for decors.You may search for other simple ideas on the net. I suggest looking at this site for more ideas http://www.gifti.us

I didn't had one for my eldest, just a very simple party at home, Because i was thinking the same thing, that she just wouldn't remember it and it's just the adults whose going to enjoy it. but when my second baby arrived, I had to throw a big one, my daughter was kind of jealous, because she knew that she only had a simple one on her first birthday. but i explained her and it was ok. The reason why i had to do it was because my husband thought that we had some money and why not throw a party. It's not always that we had more than enough. So i agreed.

I had little parties for all my childrens first birthdays, just little ones. I think they were more for me than for the child as like you say they wont remember it. For me it was just a nice little celebration for my child reaching that first birthday and it is a bit special. I think that you have to do what you want to do it does not matter how you celebrate it as long as you are all together!!!

For my daghter's first birthday, we got a little cake and celebrated privately, just me, my husband and our daughter. She was happy. For my son, a few family members came over and we had cake and celebrated privately. He was fine with that. I've gone to kids' parties where the baby beig celebrated is overwhelmed and cranky from all the commotion. It's really a personal choice though, some babies had a tough entry into the world and to mark that first year really seems like a monumental cause for celebration. You do what you feel is right for your child, small party, big party or no party, you're the parent, you get to make that choice.

you're entirely right that the child wouldn't remember the party that is why experts say that giving party for a 1 year old isn't advisable. in my case my husband cannot be swayed against giving a party for our onlie. since my husband would shoulder the expenses and i've told him what i think against it i cannot do anything anymore. fortunately our child fell asleep after and not during the party.

We just had a normal size birthday party. Family and a few friends showed up, a total of maybe 15 people. I loved making a big deal out of it as it's their very first birthday. I took tons of pictures and made everything a big deal. Both of my daughters enjoyed their first birthdays. It is more less for the adults but it is a memorable time as it's the very first birthday.

For my grand daughter's first birthday party we just had a quiet little party for her. I invited my ex-husband who was her grand dad and his mother, my grand daughter's great grand mother but they did not show up. That worked best for us.

I didn't have a huge party. It was just us and a small group of family with dinner, cake and presents.

When children are that young,yes the party is for the parents. BUT, it's for the parents because they will remember it and it's a milestone for you as well as for them. Most children don't actually remember their birthday parties or anything significant for that matter, until they are five. You have birthday parties for sentimental reasons and your child will eventually ask about the birthday parties he or she doesn't remember so have pictures or explanations handy.

It is really up to you. The first birthday is really more for adults. He wont remember it but he will have fun opening his presents, or atleast the first one then you will have to convince him to stop playing with the paper to open the second. I am actually going to a first birthday on Saturday. It is more of a family get together. We will sing the song and eat cake, and he will open his presents but I seriously doubt he even cares. He is after all only 1. I will sugest that you do something even if it is just very small so that you can have pictures of the event.

Yes, I had a birthday party for my children on their first birthday. I have 3 children. We only had family at their first birthday party. It is true that your child will not remember his first birthday but it is a big deal to me to celebrate your child's first birthday with everyone that loves him.

my daughter turned 1 on apr 21, we just had a small party for her i made a cake a we blew bubbles and some presents along with the food and she was just fine, she ran all over the yard trying to catch the bubbles. when it was time to light the candles she was all smiles we helped her blow them out and let her go with her own small cake. i really didn't see any reason to spend a whole lot of money on something she will not remember later in life.

Yes I did have parties for both my kids when they turned 1, but honestly it is very overhelming for them and they do not remember a thing. If you want to throw them a party make sure you take pictures!

I don't have a child, but I do have parents. :) When I was a year old, they had a party for my birthday. I know this, because I have the pictures in my photo album. They had a cake for me, and they invited the family over. There was my older sister and parents, and they invited both sets of grandparents, and my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

We had parties for all of our kids first birthdays. We decided to have parties every year till they turned 5 and then after that spread them out a bit. We invited a few more to the first birthdays. After that it was just close family and friends. It's true they won't remember it, but they will see the pictures and how everyone came out to celebrate their first year of life.

For all of my kids birthdays I invite the same people. Whether it be their first birthday or their 20th birthday. I invite my family and my husbands family members. There are usually about 20 of us now~ kids have grown and now are married with more kids. Everyone brings a dish to pass and I always have a cake and drinks. First birthdays make great memories for the parents. Just invite who you feel is appropriate. There is no right or wrong in this. Take lots of pictures because when your child gets older they love to look back at the pictures.

Hello deejean. When my son reached one year old, we invited some of our neighbors and friends to have a birthday dinner in my own house. We did not invite our family members because we used to work and live in another place far away from our hometown and our own families from both my side and my wife's as well. We had a lot of fun at the dinner party because other teachers' kids were invited and they were the source of happiness. I still remember every scene in the room for the nice and wonderful dinner.

I think everyone who has a kid has a big party on their fisrt birthday...it's clearly not for the kids because they aren't going to rememebre it or understand what's going on! I think it's dumb personally. My best friend hyad a one year party for her daughter that was more extragagant than anything I've ever had! I say don't waste the time ro teh eneergy. There will be plenty more hopefully that they will remember. Plus people get annoyed having to attend a party for someone who doesn't even know why the people are here. and they have to bring a present. I refuse. I will not do this when I have kids. There is no need to waste money and time and other people's who really could care less honestly.

We had a quiet get together for immediate family only. I did not see a point in spending a small fourtune on their first birthday and well i am a germ nazi and it was still winter in Chicago. I did not want a bunch of sick people touching my babies. The best thing we did to celebrate, the weekend after their birthday my mom came and keep the kids, my husband and I left the house that Saturday morning and went away for the weekend. The first birthday after all was more about us, we had accomplished so much, they had survived their first year, they were healthy and doing great. I felt we deserved it after the year we had, after all we gave to them. ( I have triplets so it was a ton of work) So we had them a small party then dh and I had our own party.