What did you forget or miss out on with your child's 1st birthday??

Question

My son is about to have his first birthday, I was wondering if moms with experience could tell me what they wish they would have done different or if they have something they regret not doing??

Answer 1

Almost missed my twins' first birthday because their older brother was ill the day before and we didn't know if he would be well enough for the party.  Thankfully my then upstairs neighbor told us to take the twins and go to the party and she would stay with him.  The twins had a blast and from what my neighbor said so did their brother.

Answer 2

We had a small family party at the park, nothing overwhelming. We held it after naptime, so they were bright eyed and happy. :)

Answer 3

I wish for my oldest we had kept it smaller. It is overwhelming to them and she did not enjoy it much. With my youngest (2nd) we had a little party at home and she had a lot of fun. Save the big parties for when they are older.

Another tradition we have started since then is that on our kids actual birthday it is only mom, dad, and sister. We have a special dinner of their choosing at home by candle light (did I mention they are girls LOL) and cake and ice cream and the presents from us, my husband and I cherish this time with just the 4 of us. We also have cake and ice cream another time for grandparents. If you make the cakes is not that expensive to have 3. And then we have a friend party usually at a place, we buy the cake for the kid party and make the other two. And have just a few decorations for actual b-day. They love it as much as we do, I suppose in time they may not want it, but for now we all love it.

Answer 4

Too much money spent!!  We did it big, frills, ballons, toys, etc!  Oh my lil one just wanted the candle and the pretty wrapping paper to stick in her mouth and was fascinated by the balloons and thats it. After an half hour of all the excitement our one year old was out cold sleeping in the high chair with cake everywhere and we just realized we wasted money for a day she will never remember. LOL

Answer 5

I missed this on my stepdaughter's first birthday, because I didn't know her until she was almost 6...  

But, what's really fun to do is to buy a cloth tablecloth on your child's first birthday.  Write their 'Happy Birthday <their name>' in the middle, with permanent marker.  

Then put it out on the cake table, along with more permanent markers.  Have everyone who attends sign the tablecloth.  

Then, wash it & put it away until next year, when you do the same.  

By the time your child is 18, it will be a wonderful memento for them to carry on into their adult life.

Answer 6

I missed out on savings.  Like most mom's I ent overboard on my baby's first birthdate.  After I had spent so much money on paper products, I realized I could have only bought one package of the Disney/ or chararacter plates, cups, napkins.  That which would have gone to decorate the cake table.  The other plates, cups, forks, table cloths could have come from the dollar store or walmart.  That would have saved a  bundle.  The otherthing, I should have skipped were the party hats.  For toddlers those things are only annoying to them as much as the parents.