We just celebrated it with our own family with party hats, singing and some gifts. With my youngest we went out for lunch celebrating her BD and mine combined.

A big bash at home. BBQ with family and friends.

I have a large family and small house so we had a park party, we had an area at a pub/bistro as backup. Really depends how much you want to spend, it I thought about a petting zoo or at a wildlife/animal park but it was far too expensive

Ours will be a gathering of family and friends, kit baby themed because he is our first and it’s not really for the kids. I might make a fun cake. Our friends did a jungle theme and had cool decorations and a giraffe cake. Picking a theme was a fun idea for invitations and decorations. Just for fun we might to pass the parcel (for the grown ups). There’s no rules for first birthday parties!

Low key family party is a winner when they are little; adults and some other little kids. It is mainly about unwrapping a present and playing with the box and ribbon!

When each of my boys turned one we had a party in a hall (we live in a tiny unit) with family and friends. I made sure the parties were about the kids by hiring toys from a toy library, having play dough, craft (for the older kids) and having bubba friendly finger foods. My boys were most interested in the balloons & ball pit . We had a Charley Bear theme for one and Mickey Mouse for the other. It doesn’t have to be big, just bright and fun.

We did a lunch with friends. Its more about the adults at that age.

Theme parties are really fun and there are so many ideas out there. I decided on my theme by seeing what was available at my local party stores, nothing worse then picking a theme and then not being able to get everything you want within budget. We also did a DIY cake smash, very messy but lots of fun (except for the cleaning).

A little family party at the child’s home. Have an ice cream cake as the birthday cake.

For our first son we had a bbq and the second I went a bit overboard and ordered an expensive cake and hired a bouncy castle!

If your bub has a favourite theme, eg thomas the tank, the hungry catterpillar and make it all about that genre for the day.

We kept it very simple so our 1 year old could relax and have fun without getting too overwhelmed. We made a cake modelled on her favourite toy, had balloons, her favourite music, and the people she’s most comfortable with. While we went for the low-kep option though, I know plenty of people who have celebrated at the other end of the scale, with jumping castles and petting zoos and large numbers of guests! I reckon think about what your little one would most enjoy. Have fun!

I had a blow up theme party. I got a whole range of blow up toys and a kiddies pool I filled with coloured soft plastic balls (No water). All the kids had heaps of fun. Also being blow up, no one gets hurt if anyone hit each other.

For our son he had a Super Hero theme. All the kids invited dressed up as their favourite super hero. We even had some parents wanting to dress up too. It was at my parents house and our son only just started walking two weeks before. It was a great time. He was so tired by the end of the day. But, even now, our friends comment on what a good day it was, and how their kids enjoyed it. For our daughter, we’re going to a local park. So, I’m thinking Enchanted Forest themed. There’s heaps of things for kids to do and parents can have a good time too. Yes, it’s more of a party for parents, but, it’s about creating memories, and sharing their first birthday with everyone. Check out Pinterest. There’s always good ideas on there. Good Luck

The thing I learned about the first Birthday Party, is that it’s more about the parents than about the bub. That might sound mean, but I mean it in the nicest possible way. Bubby will have a great time being fussed over no matter what you decide to do. The main thing is to make sure you get lots of photos of them enjoying their day and digging in their cake to show them later.

We had a BBQ lunch at my In-Law’s house with our family and friends around us for our eldest. Everyone had lots of fun and he looked bewildered and loved the whole time! Our second little man go sick the night before his first birthday and he and I ended up spending the night in hospital where they administered fluids. So we didn’t really have a party for him. Just some photos of a red eyed, tired little man eating cake!

Whatever you decide – enjoy it!