The first birthday
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The birth of your little explorer is coming up for the first time, and you're wondering how to best celebrate this occasion? In the following article, we give you tips on how to appropriately celebrate your baby's first birthday and answer the 7 most important questions about the first birthday celebration.
1. How many guests are appropriate for my baby?
For the number of guests at children's birthday parties, the rule of thumb "as many guests as the child's age in years" is often mentioned. But should you really invite only one guest for the first birthday? That may seem like little, but it actually makes sense. Many babies quickly become overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle with the entire family, who of course all want to admire and hold the birthday child. Therefore, it’s best to limit yourself to one or two guests or spread the visitors over several dates. When in doubt, prefer not to invite playmates from the crawling group, as too much noise from other children can also overwhelm your baby.
2. Which program is suitable for this day?
Of course, the day should be something very special for you and your baby. However, keep in mind when planning the birthday program that your little one may not yet be able to process too many new impressions. After all, one-year-olds do not yet understand why they are the focus of attention on this day. At the same time, it is a special day that many parents understandably want to celebrate. Because even if your baby cannot yet understand why they are being celebrated, they will notice and enjoy the special attention. So, if you want to celebrate the day with a special activity, for example, a Trip to the swimming pool , the botanical garden or a picnic in the park. To prevent stress and tears, it's best to plan according to your usual daily rhythm and not deviate too much from it. Your one-year-old explorer is more interested in their nap than unwrapping presents with Grandma and Grandpa ? Even though the guests have naturally looked forward to spending time together, your baby's needs come first. After all, for your one-year-old, it's primarily a day like any other. And you still have many more birthdays to celebrate with a big program.
3. Can I already introduce a birthday ritual now?
The first birthday is a wonderful occasion to introduce a ritual that you can celebrate together on every special day from now on. Because the festive atmosphere associated with it will already be realized by your baby. Such a ritual could be, for example, a birthday train or wreath with candles, which you add one element to each year together with the birthday child. A birthday serenade will also delight your baby and show them that today is a special day. A lovely idea is also to take a photo on each birthday (for example, with an instant camera) and hang it up, so that over time a great collection is created that documents your baby's growth.
4. What can I give the birthday child?
For most parents, gifts are just as much a part of their child's birthday as the birthday cake. No wonder – who doesn't enjoy looking into the shining eyes of children when they see the birthday table? But don't be disappointed if your baby finds the crinkling wrapping paper even more exciting than the actual gift on their first birthday. ;) With too many presents, your birthday child may also have trouble grasping the individual items, causing each gift to lose its significance. That would be a shame! Therefore, it's best to choose just one thing that will bring joy to your baby. To prevent relatives and friends from overwhelming your little one with numerous small gifts that they don't really need, it's best to coordinate with them. Maybe they can also chip in for a larger, practical gift? It doesn't always have to be toys – on your first birthday, feel free to wish for useful items for your little explorer, such as a , which will save you the hassle of diaper shopping and restocking supplies in the coming months.
Children's vehicles (for example, a tricycle)
Games that promote motor skills (for example, building blocks or a marble run)
Picture books
First toddler-friendly musical instruments (for example, a rattle or a glockenspiel)
Group outings
Or how about something homemade, for example a for the child's room or a playhouse made from our LILLYDOO boxes? Such a gift can be tailored completely to your birthday child and will surely bring them a lot of joy!
5. Is it okay for my baby to nibble on birthday cake?
It is generally recommended not to give babies artificially sweetened foods during their first year of life to prevent them from getting used to a sweet taste too early. While you should also try to keep your baby's sugar intake as low as possible afterwards, a small piece of cake on their first birthday is certainly okay to celebrate the occasion. Or you could bake a special sugar-free baby cake for your birthday child.
We have prepared for you an simple recipe for a delicious, vegan banana cake , for which you only need a few ingredients:
3 very ripe bananas
150 g applesauce without sugar
100 ml oat milk
1 pinch Bourbon vanilla
1 tbsp coconut oil
200 g spelt flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 pinch of salt
Preparation: Puree the bananas into a mush. Add applesauce, oat milk, coconut oil, and vanilla, and stir the mixture until smooth. Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, then gradually fold into the mixture. Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake the cake at 175°C with top/bottom heat for about 35 minutes. Finally, remove the finished cake from the pan and let it cool. Enjoy your meal!
6. What does age-appropriate decoration look like?
Balloon are basically the classic decoration for every children's birthday party. Even on the first birthday, they are a nice way to create a festive atmosphere. It’s best to hang the balloons out of reach of your little explorer, for example, on the ceiling. You can decorate the birthday table with a birthday train or wreath (see Tip 3) and the appropriate candles. A fabric bunting can also be brought out every year, giving you a pretty and sustainable birthday decoration. However, don’t overdo it with the decorations, as too many stimuli can quickly overwhelm your baby.
7. Photos
The first birthday is, on the one hand, a wonderful occasion to take memorable photos. But it can also be a special moment to pause and reflect on the first year with your little one by looking through old pictures. Isn't it incredible how much your little baby has already developed in this time? The , the first crawling attempts, and maybe even the first steps – all of these are milestones of the first year of life that you will always fondly remember.
How you shape the day naturally depends on the personality of your birthday child. While some one-year-olds can handle a bit more excitement, sensitive children quickly become overwhelmed. In this case, if in doubt, skip guests and ensure a calm environment and the usual daily routine. For your baby, your attention and affection are the most wonderful gifts anyway!