A baby’s first birthday is such a bittersweet event. I actually cried when my firstborn’s first birthday arrived. I felt like he was officially not a baby anymore. Since the first birthday is usually the milestone that marks the first taste of cake for baby, the realization that my little one was entering non-baby land hit me hard as he smashed the pieces of cake across his face. And while I was so excited to celebrate his first year, I wished it would have slowed down afterward. (It doesn’t. It just gets worse.)
One way to handle the sadness that can come with your child’s first birthday is to throw a party with a really cute theme. There are tons of great ideas out there, but these are so fitting for baby’s first birthday celebration.
source: Brio Photography via Catch My Party
1. Winter ONEderland
A popular theme for winter babies on their first birthday is “Winter ONEderland.” You can have lots of fun with this theme, doing snowflake shaped foods, incorporating snowballs and using light, wintry colors for your decor.
Head over to Catch My Party for some great Winter ONEderland birthday decorating and menu item ideas.
source: Clay Williams/Alex Nirenberg via Spaceships and Laser Beams
2. Wild ONE
Is your rugrat a wild little thing? A zoo animal or safari theme party would be so adorable! You could get some animal shaped cookie cutters to make cookies or other animal shaped treats, and serve “jungle juice.” If your baby does a smash cake, you could make a banner or decorate a party hat to say “Wild ONE.”
Find more animal party inspiration over at Spaceships and Laser Beams.
source: The Chickabug Blog
3. ONEderful Waves
There are many ways you could roll (no pun intended) with this theme. Really, anything associated with water would work. Beach elements, nautical decor or sea creatures could all tie into a “ONEderful Waves” party. Some parents like to do an “Under The Sea” theme, which is always fun for kids. Whichever angle you go with, it’s sure to be ONEderful!
Stop by The Chickabug Blog for some super cool H20 birthday party ideas.
source: White Spark Photography via Little Big Company
4. How The West Was ONE
Yeehaw! Got a little cowboy or cowgirl? Take this twist on a classic movie theme and turn it into a rootin’, tootin’ good time! Dress your birthday kid up in a cowboy hat, boots and a bandana, and serve classic western foods. Barbecue sandwiches, baked beans, and bread rolls are sure to please, and a wildly western cake design can be the icing (literally) on top.
Take a look at Little Big Company for more ways to celebrate like a gun totin’ outlaw.
source: Make it Cozee
5. ONE Fish, Two Fish
While this theme could be used for a single child, I think it would be super cute for twins celebrating their first birthday. You could expand on the whole Dr. Seuss idea, and dress the two kids up as Thing 1 and Thing 2. I mean, how adorable would that be? If you wanted to stay in the “ONE Fish, Two Fish zone, you could serve goldfish crackers and use food coloring to make red and blue foods to represent the red fish and the blue fish.
Find more ways to throw a Dr. Seuss inspired party at Make it Cozee.
source: Girl About Columbus
6. Home ONE
Not only is “Home ONE” a cute little play on words, it’s also what little kids often sound like when they say “home run.” If you’re a baseball fan or have a tot who you hope will grow to be interested in baseball someday, this theme knocks it out of the park. Use baseballs for table centerpieces, serve chips or dip out of a baseball glove and serve peanuts and cracker jacks as snacks.
See more baseball birthday party fun at Girl About Columbus.