I’m still having trouble wrapping my mind around this topic as I write this post…..
My baby is turning 1 next week!
Millions of Mamas around the world strive to make this milestone birthday one for the books, and I honestly am not an exception! After all, they only turn 1 once! However, our interpretations of what that might look like are varied, to say the least.
From balloon arches and themed decor, to food spreads, desserts, and of course choosing the perfect cake (what kind of smash cake do they actually want?), planning an exceptional 1st birthday party can be overwhelming! Will our babies even remember any of this?
These sweet babies have accomplished so many milestones in their first year, and it just seems to have flown by! They’re no longer infants, and are becoming more and more independent with each passing day!
When planning a celebration party, we tend to focus on the child, trying to choose just the right theme to define their personality, but let’s be real for a moment….these babies truly won’t even care or remember this day!
This day is more for our benefit as parents, as we are also celebrating an entire year of keeping our tiny human alive! We have made it through the long nights, the long days, the countless milestones, and raising this baby from infant to upcoming toddler, through all the rapid changes and growth. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating that! We are the ones who will remember this day, and so it’s just as important to make it special for Mama and Daddy, as it is for our special 1-year-old!
I’ve compiled some ideas and resources for making this day special for your precious little baby, and also for you as parents, to make this day memorable and capture all the sweet moments we won’t get back!
(This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to earn income, at no extra cost to you!)
- Guest Book
Have each of your guests sign a special book that your baby will be able to read once they are older! This makes such a special memory because you can look through the book and remember everyone who came to celebrate your special little one, and read their sweet words over and over. It’s an especially memorable keepsake regarding elderly relatives who may pass on over the years, and gives your baby a special bond with them through their birthday note!
Here are some of my favorite birthday books to use for this sweet tradition:
- Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss
This is such a beloved classic! I mean, who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss?! This bright and colorful book has tons of pages which leaves ample space for everyone to write their well-wishes to the birthday baby!
- Happy Birthday by Eric Carle
Well-known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this lovable children’s author continues the theme in his birthday book, full of colors and illustrations perfect for young children!
- The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
This New York Times bestseller has such beautiful illustrations and is perfect for a milestone celebration such as a first birthday! Celebrating the uniqueness of each person, this will quickly become one of your child’s favorites as they grow older!
- Birthday Time Capsule
These can be so fun, and a great way to include guests in the celebration! The concept is that you place momentos from their first year inside the capsule, to be opened again at a later time, years down the road as a way to reminisce on fond memories. Another idea is to have guests each bring something special, with a note, and fill the capsule, again to be opened at a later time.
This time capsule box is beautifully engraved, and large enough to store several items of different sizes.
This fully customizable capsule box comes in two different stain choices, and will be beautiful to display in the child’s bedroom or your living area until it’s opened!
- “Open When…” Letters
This idea is so very precious because it is a time for you as parents to impart your love, advice, and wisdom onto your child for years to come, in your own handwriting, that they can read over and over as they grow older! Be creative with these, as this is a special keepsake your child will cherish forever!
Some ideas for these letters might include:
- You start school
- You turn 10
- You are angry with me/us
- You become a big brother/sister
- You need to cry
- You start middle/high school
- You start your first job
- You graduate
- Begin a Birthday Tradition
We do some of these with our own kids, and they’re so special and fun, and we all love looking forward to them every year! Choosing something special to do with your child each year on their birthday can be as personal and creative as you make it! Of course, when they’re turning one, they won’t have much input so it’s important to put some thought into it, and make it meaningful!
Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:
- Take a photo in the same location each year
- Decorate their bedroom door
- Special birthday breakfast or dinner
- Add some of their favorite things to the time capsule box from their 1st birthday
- Make a treasure hunt to their birthday gifts
- Decorate a birthday tree (like a Christmas tree, but for birthdays, with decorations and ornaments that display their personality and interests, adding to it each year when you set it up)
- Make a Birthday Video
Using your phone or video recorder, document all the little and big moments of this special birthday, from the time they wake up til the moment their eyes close for bed! Be sure to include memories from their birthday party also, even if it’s on a separate day! You can make it extra special by including recordings from the guests who would like to share a memorable birthday message with your child.
(This would also be a special item to include in that time capsule box, for reminiscing later!)
No matter how you choose to celebrate, the most important thing is that your child is surrounded by love and affection, and celebrated for the beautiful, precious life that they are!
How else would you celebrate this momentous birthday? I’d love to hear your thoughts!! Comment below!