Time sure does fly when you are having fun! It’s been such a treasured year having your baby in your life, and it’s already time to host a celebration in his/her honor. I’m so happy you stopped by because we want to help you brainstorm some of the TOP TRENDING 1st birthday party ideas at home so that your little girl or boy will feel all the love on this special day. We will show you how you can make it packed with style, the latest trends, fun activities, knowing what to serve, and so much more.
This post is all about 1st birthday party ideas at home. It contains affiliate links, meaning, I might receive a small commission, but at no cost to you.
1st Birthday Party Theme
Hmm! Where should we start? I’ve learned from hosting three of my girl’s 1st birthday celebrations that a birthday theme is the best place to start the party planning. It can be as simple as a color or color-combo theme, or more elaborate with detailed topics such as Miss OneDeerful, and having the décor all about sweet little deer, or a First Bee Day birthday party centered around cute, fuzzy bumble bees.
It’s totally up to you which way you want to go and how much effort you want to put into it. Your baby will love anything you decide and your guests will, too. The common deciding factors in choosing the direction of the 1st birthday party theme are usually the amount of time that can be invested, and what the budget looks like.
If you are hoping to keep costs low and yet, still want to create the most magical birthday for your big boy or girl, you can choose a theme based on items you may already have in your home, or in particular, the nursery. You can also borrow supplies from friends and family or shop at discount stores such as Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Ollies for extra supplies you might need.
Here are some top-trending 1st birthday party themes you might want to consider.
- Princess
- Mermaid
- Lemons
- Boho
- Color-Combo Themes
- Food Themes- Such as the party wrapped around donuts with the phrase, “Donut miss the fun, our baby is ONE.”
- Unicorns
- Dinosaurs
- Sports
- Cars and Trucks
- Seasons- Such as, Winter ONEderland.
- Candy
- Animals- Bunnies, Deer, Bunnies, and other Woodland Animals
- Superhero
- Bumble Bee
- Little Sunshine
- Floral
- Happy Camper
- Pastel Rainbow
- Farm Animals
1st Birthday Invitations- It’s All about the Details
After you decide on your theme, you get to choose those super cute 1st birthday invitations. Do you want to know a secret? Well, maybe it’s not a true secret, but did you know that if you choose a theme first, it can be reflected in the invitations, decorations, outfits, cake, and more, which can therefore make your 1st birthday party at home look fully put together. Your guests will appreciate the details and notice your intentionality. My motto is, “It’s all about the details.”
1st Birthday Party Decorations
Next comes the party decorations. Eeee! This is probably my favorite part. This is where you can style and stage his/her party to fully embrace the theme that you choose. The sky is the limit as to what you can do. You can embellish your home with latex and Mylar balloons scattered here and there; create a beautiful balloon garland; incorporate tablescape décor where a thread of the theme continues; string a sweet high chair banner across the front of the tray; have his/her cute pictures clustered in frames and on banners, and so much more.
Something fun that I don’t think will ever go out of style is dressing for the party. If you can find sweet outfits that your little one can wear that coordinate with the decorations, and the rest of the family, too (think family photo outfits), you will bring the feel and look of the party to the next level. This is another one of those “detailed” moments where you can tie everything in.
1st Birthday Party Décor Girl
Need a little inspiration? Here are some 1st birthday party-themed décor ideas styled around the color combo of rose gold, gold, mauve, silver, and white.
- Sweet First Birthday Party Decoration Pack- https://amzn.to/3onjVO5
- 1st Birthday Photo Banner- https://amzn.to/41hwl8S
- 1st Birthday High Chair Banner- https://amzn.to/3UHHJbA
- Rose Gold and White High Chair Banner- https://amzn.to/43Hjdf6
- Polka Dot Wall Art Kit- https://amzn.to/3GQ3vEl
- 1st Birthday Romper Outfit- https://amzn.to/40bkqIl
- Tutu Skirt 1st Birthday Outfit- https://amzn.to/41hw2uI
- Cream Lace Romper Outfit- https://amzn.to/41raEmC
- 1st Birthday Paper Plates- https://amzn.to/3L4nVfw
- Cheesecloth Table Runner- https://amzn.to/3mLJ7NR
- 1st Birthday Crown- https://amzn.to/3mysjKs
- One Paper Plate Package- https://amzn.to/3MKFa6S
1st Birthday Party Decorations Boy
Hosting a first birthday party for your little man? Check out this darling mood board, also wrapped around a color theme.
- High Chair Banner- https://amzn.to/3mHwbIY
- Boy’s Blue Romper- https://amzn.to/3KHlcqZ
- Boy’s Bow Tie and Jeans Romper- https://amzn.to/3A6MF0n
- Boy’s First Birthday Paper Plate Set- https://amzn.to/41BeIkd
- Boy’s First Birthday Hat- https://amzn.to/43HXTWu
- Boy’s First Birthday Onsie- https://amzn.to/3A51AIf
- Blue and White Striped Tablecloth- https://amzn.to/41yzYXY
- Blue One Candle- https://amzn.to/3L78fbn
- Boy’s First Birthday Photo Banner- https://amzn.to/3MRUE99
Memorable First Birthday Activities
Since your little one is turning the big ONE, it’s very normal for him/her to only be able to handle one or two activities before needing a nap or wanting to go off to play somewhere else. Keeping things sweet and simple is key.
There are so many options to consider, but no need to overthink what to do. We are here to help give you some inspiration on what is hot in the 1st birthday activity department.
Here are some fun first birthday party activities you might want to consider.
- Free Play
- Bubbles- Check out this super fun bubble making machine. The bubbles just keep on coming.
- Finger Painting a Fabulous 1st Design (such a sweet picture to frame)
- Toss Balls in the Ball Pit
- Jump and Bounce in the Bounce House
- Splash in a Kiddie Pool
- Run through the Sprinkler
- Splash on the Splash Pad
- Having a Special Guest Appearance from a Superhero, Favorite Character, Etc.
- Water Table
- Sand Table
- Baby Bikes and Wagon Rides
- Do a Little Dance to those Favorite Tunes
Capture Birthday Moments with Photos and Videos
Make sure your phone is charged and ready to take a lot of pictures of your baby’s big day. They turn ONE only once, so you want to make sure you capture every sweet moment of the festivities.
You can hire a professional photographer to join the party, that way you don’t miss anything, or go the free route and have your friends and family take pictures and send them to you. This works so well for our birthday celebrations, and we always get captions that we would have never noticed.
Cameras on our phones these days take great quality photos, so you are sure to get some amazing snapshots and you don’t have to be a photographer. Just a little reminder, though, to savor the moment, in the moment.
I have to be intentional when I’m at a special party so that I don’t just rely on my phone for capturing the enjoyment. I want my heart and soul to be present to soak in all the memories.
Foods You Might Want to Serve
There are so many different directions you can go with food options at your baby’s first birthday party. If you are asking yourself, “What is the easiest food for a first birthday party” think along the lines of pizza, sub sandwiches, chicken strips, mostaccioli, mac and cheese, and salad. Traditional “catering food” works well.
No matter what you serve, choose what fits into your budget, is well enjoyed by the birthday boy/girl, and works best for you and your guests. The sky is the limit for the options, so feel free to let your creative juices flow and serve all the yummy goodies you love.
Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when making your food choices.
- Ask if there are any food allergies and provide alternative options.
- Have hors d’oeuvres available for when guests arrive. Charcuterie board food platters are VERY trendy hors d’oeuvre ideas.
- Serve the food about 30 minutes after the first guest arrives. That way, if anyone is running late, they won’t miss out on the yummy goodness.
- Keep hot foods hot with chafing dishes and warming plates.
- Keep cold foods cold with cooler packs and ice bowls.
- If serving food outside, use mesh food covers over the food to keep the bugs away. Also, having a fan nearby can help deter insects.
The Biggest Part of the Party- 1st Birthday Cake Time
The birthday cake is sort of a big deal at so many 1st birthday parties. Especially for the guest of honor. He or she usually gets a mini version of the cake, which is called a smash cake. This is about the one and only time that you and everyone else will LOVE seeing your little one dig in and make a huge frosting mess.
The smash cake idea usually works best for at-home parties. It would be difficult having your little one covered in icing at a restaurant and then needing a clean-up crew to come in afterward. We want to make sure all the helpers remain happy at the party.
My oldest daughter, Avery, who did not want to get dirty, left her smash cake very much intact when she was finished. I think it was just her fingertips that got frosting on them. LOL!
Whether your little girl or guy digs in or not, make sure you have the camera ready for the festivities. These are some special moments you will cherish forever.
1st Birthday Cake Ideas
As for the design of the cake that you choose, it would be so fun to have the cake’s color scheme and theme match the birthday party decorations. Thinking about those sweet details again.
To make things super simple and less of a mess to clean up, feel free to offer cupcakes instead of a traditional birthday cake. You can save a special cupcake for the birthday girl or boy to eat, and then clean up will be with a few wet wipes rather than a hose. Just kidding! LOL!
What to Put in 1st Birthday Party Bags
It is so fun to find gift bags that coincide with the colors and theme of a party. You can find super cute goodie bags and boxes at Dollar Tree, Five Below, and Target at very reasonable prices. Wondering what to put in those cute goodie bags?
Here are some simple and sweet 1st birthday goodie bag ideas for inspiration.
- Applesauce Pouch
- Puffs
- Animal Crackers Box
- Small Stuffed Animal
- Framed Picture of the Birthday Girl or Boy
- Ornament or Key Chain with a Picture of the Guest of Honor
- Theme-Coordinating Sugar Cookies
- Cake Pops
- Teething Rings
- Books
- Coloring Books
- Socks
- Seasonal-Coinciding Goodies such as Watering Cans, Bug Catchers, Squirt Guns, Mittens, Christmas Ornaments, and more.
- Bath Toys
- Bubbles
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Playdough
- Stickers
- Washable Markers
- Rubber Duck
Party Favor Ideas for Adults
The little sweeties at the party will very much enjoy taking home a treat bag, but what about the grown-ups? Although not a requirement, feel free to offer your adult friends and family members a sweet gesture that shows love and thankfulness for coming to the celebration.
Here are some cost-effective party favor ideas for the adults attending the 1st birthday party.
- Mini Candles (Dollar Tree can have cute candles and votives depending on the stock and season)
- Mini Hand Sanitizers
- Mini Hand Lotions
- Mini Flower Pots with Succulents Inside (Dollar Tree carries these in the spring)
- Tiny Boxes of Chocolates or Color Coordinating Candy
- Extra Large Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Individually Wrapped in Cute Paper or Cellophane Bags (tie with coordinating ribbon or secure with a birthday sticker) Click here for our FAVORITE chocolate chip cookie recipe.
- Mini Occasion Bottles with Color Matching M&Ms Inside
- Chocolate Bars (Amazon has cute bars with a #1 printed on the wrapper)
Other Common Questions People are Asking
What Time of Day is Best for a 1 Year Old Birthday Party?
Your little one’s schedule can, many times, determine the time frame of the birthday party. Usually, 1st birthday parties are held in the morning or early afternoon, after his/her nap. Most babies tend to be more active and happy in the morning hours.
In light of our three girls all having 1st birthday parties at one point or another, we decided to host our parties around 11AM. That seemed to be the perfect timing; right around lunch and right after her morning nap. It might be something worth considering for your party.
How Long Should a First Birthday Party Be?
You want your little one to enjoy his/her special day, so having the party short and sweet, so they don’t get too overwhelmed by the festivities, is important. Plus, if you have other little kiddos attending, you want them to be happy as well.
Although there is no set rule, a typical first birthday party lasts between 1 and 2 hours. Sometimes the adults like to wrap the party around the baby’s second nap, so they can not only participate in the funsies with the birthday boy/girl, but continue mingling once he/she goes down for their next siesta. Do what works best for you and your family.
1st Birthday Party Ideas on a Budget
If you want to throw a budget-friendly first birthday party, you are in good company. There are SO many people who go the simple and sweet route. Here are a few easy steps and frugal tips to keep in mind.
- Create a small guest list to keep things easy and cost-effective.
- Send out text or email invitations announcing the date of your baby’s special day.
- You can choose a timeframe that is not around lunch or dinner. That way, the food focus is just cake and maybe some ice cream.
- Serve water bottles and coffee to go along with the cake.
- Pull out the birthday girl/boy’s favorite toys and let him/her enjoy playing with some of the buddies who came to the celebration.
- Open presents
- Give your guests warm hugs and compliments for coming to this special occasion.
Thank You So Much!
A HUGE thank you to my sweet friend, Laura, who let me use some of her daughter’s first birthday party pictures. They are darling! Laura is a super-talented lifestyle blogger who gives amazing advice, tips, pictures, products, and so much more about how to be a mom and thrive in life with a little one on her hip. Feel free to click here to check out her gorgeous website. 🤍
Other Posts You Might Want to Check Out
Simple Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe
5 Super Easy and Super Colorful Birthday Ideas
The Best Disney-Like Princess Party Ideas at Home
Conclusion
Thank you so much for joining me as we looked at some super fun and trendy first-birthday ideas at home. I hope you were inspired with some new ideas that you can incorporate into planning your baby’s sweet celebration. Feel free to let me know what you think about the post in the comments. I love hearing from you!
P.S. Note of Encouragement
Savor the moments in life. Truly live, and look at those pleasures that are happening right in front of you. It’s great to have a phone to capture the moments so you can revisit them later. But allow yourself to feel and see with your own eyes the beauty of what is in front of you right now. You won’t regret it!
Blessings! 🤍
Lydia says
The party ideas are so beautiful, helpful and inspiring!