Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

So, as you have guessed from recent posts, I am in planning mode for Sasha's birthday. While I am still trying to get over the shock of it-- I need help!!

I have some questions-- feel free to help with one, or all:

1. Do you think it's better to have it at a place, with "built-in" entertainment, that has staff set up, clean up, etc., OR a raw space where you need to do everything, OR a restaurant and just pay PP and bring in entertainment? I like having the flexibility in which entertainment to choose, but it's nice to have something all in one. I cannot decide!! My home is not an option, and both our parents live on LI and I am not schlepping and stressing about traffic for her party.

2. What kind of food do you serve for the babies? I honestly cannot imagine feeding Sasha a slice of pizza in 2 months. I am sure it's fine for older kids though. I know I can also "cater", but with the cost of everything I have looked at so far-- some good pizza seems to be the food I choose for the masses.

3. What kind of favors are good for a party with this age range of kids? I'll have 9+ months to about 3/4.

4. What is a good time for the party?

5. How far in advance do you send out invites?

6. Any other words of wisdom?

eta 7. Has anyone done their own cake smash shoot? Is this a death wish?

eta 8. If you did a "play date party" (informal during the week/daytime)-- what did you do for that?

A clueless mommy thanks you!

Message edited 12/2/2009 9:21:48 PM.

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

bumping for Randi (and me)!

Can you believe they're going to be ONE?

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

We actually had our party at home, but ds's birthday is in sept so the yard was an easy venue...

we did not do entertainment since there were two other children then, and so we didnt do favors either


we started at 1:30 based on ds's sleep schedule

i mailed out invites 4 weeks in advance since i am married to a complete cop family so they needed to get the day off

since we had the party at home we bbq and then i made a big platter of back mac'n'cheese which everyone ate including the children

i did give ds his own piece of cake but he was so excited to have cake that it really didnt go vary far....

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

At 1 I think it is too young for a all in one type place. I would have it at a hall and then have the option for any type of entertainemnt you want.

I like afternoon parties on either day Sunday or Saturday. 2-6 would be an ideal time for my family but you get the idea

I didn't worry about for the babies. I just had chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for the kids and then a hero with some sides for the adults.

For Alexa I am again getting a hero and maybe some baked ziti. Not going crazy in the food department.

We didn't do entertainment. They all entertained themselves and wouldn't change a thing.

For favors we had Joenick make them. They got these boxes with Sesame Street painted on them and their names and inside I just put crayons and that type of stuff. I still use that container and so do the other kids For the adults I had little boxes made up sort of oragami looking and filled it with gummi bears.

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

I wanted to add that with Alexa we are going the same informal route except we can't have it outside like we did with Andrew. I should have thought about having a winter baby a little more

We are going to have a lot less people and again in our house which is really small. I know it is not an option for you but I am just letting you know what we are doing

We are going to do 2-6 with a hero shaped like a "1" because I must do the same for both kids. And I will make baked ziti, get a bag of chicken nuggets and call it a day. People are not coming to a 1st Birthday for the food. KWIM.

I am saving the $$ and all in one place for when she gets older. For Andrew we did his first all in one place, Bouncers and Slydos for his 3rd Birthday.

For favors I am doing these pails that I found at the dollar store and adding in misc things.

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

I wouldn't worry about food for Sasha. Just give her whatever she'd be eating right then, even if it's still just baby food.

Since I'm still rounding up ideas for Shane's 1st bday I can only tell you about my friend's recent 1st birthdays for their kids. They were all at diff types of places depending on their home situation and guest list size, but, the ones who had it at raw spaces and catered also got a wait staff/cleanup person which in hindsight is a great idea. They were so busy taking care of their babies and being hosts it was nice for them to not have to worry about putting the food out and cleaning up.

As far as favors, DH's cousin just did something I thought was cute. All the "babies" got sippy cups filled with puffs and all the "kids" got travel straw cups filled with gummy snacks. They were a hit. If she didn't just do that I'd steal the idea for myself. No favors for the adults and they weren't expected or missed at all.

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

1. Do you think it's better to have it at a place, with "built-in" entertainment, that has staff set up, clean up, etc., OR a raw space where you need to do everything, OR a restaurant and just pay PP and bring in entertainment?

I was in an apt in the city for DS 1st birthday and I found it MUCh easier to have it in a place that did everything. We did Gymboree.

2. What kind of food do you serve for the babies? We did pizza and Nate did OK with it at that age. I think I actually gave him some other food at home afterwards.

3. What kind of favors are good for a party with this age range of kids? Gymboree did that favors which I was happy about because I didnt have the first clue what to do for them.

4. What is a good time for the party? After her nap time (for both of DS parties I've done 3:30 bc he sleeps until 3)

5. How far in advance do you send out invites?
One month

6. Any other words of wisdom?
For me, I made it as easy as possible and was happy I did. He loved it and it was totally geared towards him not adults.

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

I'll try my best to answer all your questions, since DS's party was less than 2 months ago.

1. Do you think it's better to have it at a place, with "built-in" entertainment, that has staff set up, clean up, etc., OR a raw space where you need to do everything, OR a restaurant and just pay PP and bring in entertainment?

I liked having a raw space. Although it was a pain in the arse at times to figure out quantities, I liked planning it all myself. To deal with clean up, we hired servers (we used the Silver Spoon- vendors on here). It made all the difference.

2. What kind of food do you serve for the babies?

We served chicken fingers for the smaller kids. I honestly think that if there are children smaller than one attending, the parent will bring food for the child to eat. I know I've done this for parties we attended when DS was still eating baby food. You could also try to have some rolls or bread for the kids to eat.

3. What kind of favors are good for a party with this age range of kids?

I made personalized party bags for all of the kids and tailored it to each child. I had some kids that were 3 months old and some that were 7. I got a lot of stuff at Target in the dollar section- play dough, notepads, hair clips, etc. For the small ones, I put puffs, books, etc.

4. What is a good time for the party?

Our party was from 1-4. I found that 1 was good for us since it didn't interfere with DS's nap.

5. How far in advance do you send out invites?

I sent them out about 5 weeks ahead. I would have preferred sooner but I couldn't get it in gear.

I have to say that I was stressed about the party but in the end, I am so glad I did it. I had it catered and hired servers. Rosemary (from the Silver Spoon) was amazing. She did all of the setup, serving and cleanup which allowed me to just enjoy the day.

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

I'm not a BTDT mom but I'm planning Adriano's 1st Party too. My home was not a choice either. I am very limited where to have it because we don't want to spend a whole lot of money (so nay on the having it at a restaurant and paying pp) We're going to have it at a party place close to my house. It is from 2-4pm and they serve pizza too. I chose the theme Wonder Pets and I am bringing all the stuff with me. (plates, cups, napkins, baloons, etc..)
I ahve 2 kinds of favor boxes 1 for the "big" kids and one for the "babies" The favor boxes have playdoh, a little mask, stickers and I can't remember what else lol
The babies favor box will have a teethign ring, some teethign buiscuits and I am still figuring out what else...
I am hoping to send out invites in 2 weeks (party is Jan 16) so 1 month in advance is plenty of notice I think.
I will not be doing my own cake smash that's crazy lol My babysitter is my photographer so she will be doing it at her house! lol
Can't believe our babies will be 1 soon!!!! Seems like yesterday we were posting on the PG board!!!!

Re: Advice needed from BTDT moms.. The First Birthday

I am now planning DD's second birthday which I have found to be SO MUCH LESS STRESSFUL than her first. But I feel the first birthday is really for you and not for them and that's what makes it so tough.

1. I think that 1 year old is probably too young for them to really appreciate an all in one place - we're doing that this year. We had DD's party at a restaurant and brought entertainment in - I had a face painter and balloon maker. It was just enough, but I could have eliminated it all together and I don't think it would have been missed. It was a nice touch though.

2. What kind of food do you serve for the babies? I didn't worry about serving the babies anything. The kids had the standard chicken fingers or whatever other option the restaurant offered and the parents of the younger kids brought food with them because that's what most parents of babies would normally do.

3. What kind of favors are good for a party with this age range of kids? I'll have 9+ months to about 3/4. I had stupid little favors that I bought in the party store that were listed as "safe" for all ages. But I had a bunch of older kids and only a handful that were 1 like DD. DD got a teether as a favor from her cousin's birthday party when she was under a year old. She had no clue but I thought it was nice.

4. What is a good time for the party?
I think I may have had my party at 12 or 1:00. I don't remember now.

5. How far in advance do you send out invites? 4 weeks.

6. Any other words of wisdom? Try not to stress too much!