DD's 1st birthday - any ideas?

owsaboutthatthen

Hi i'm after any ideas to celebrate DD's 1st birthday other than having a party at home or in a play centre/restaurant? Can anyone recommend any cheap(ish) days out like the zoo with attractions or anything like that - thinking about it maybe I should have posted this on the "Days out" forum. Sorry if that's the case and thanks in advance.

purplepurple

From my experience, one year olds don't take much notice of their birthday, so I wouldn't go spending a fortune.....
Where abouts in the country are you?

alanalea

As purplepurple say's- we found that our dd didn't take much notice of her birthday and It depends where you are in the country (and when her birthday is). The weather was lovely for my dd 1st, so we took her to feed some ducks and have a picnic in the park. We made little fairy cakes instead of having a full sized cake (so no need to take knives etc.) We took a helium balloon (Asda's £2.98) and tied it to her buggy.

We also used the Tesco's vouchers to take Tabitha to Bird World (Hampshire) a few days later, which was a great free day out.

owsaboutthatthen

Well the reason I ask is because when my DS was 1 three years ago all the family had a get together however for DD's birthday it will be different because hardly any of family speak and I know it will be a case of more than one party because they all want to make a fuss I wanted to do something different for her. I'm in the North West area. Thanks again for your thoughts.

sarymclary

From my experience, and I've had 4 1st birthdays with my lot, 1st birthdays are more what the grown ups want, than the child itself. I believe my eldest pretty much slept throughout his one, and it was only the fact that we wanted to announce my 2nd pregnancy at the same time that we had a big family affair.

All further 1st birthdays (and all those before school age really) were very small family affairs, sometimes just me, DH, and our kids, and if an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or neighbour wanted to pop round with a present that was fine, but nothing big was organised.

If weather permits, then a day out would be a treat for you all, and then leave it up to individual family members to visit around that.

It is very easy to feel pressurised into making it a 'big day' for everyone else, but what would your daughter appreciate, and what would YOU like to do for her? Family situations do indeed change over the years (none of my children's 4 grandparents see them now, and ex-DH's family have all disappeared too!) so I would suggest starting as you mean to go on for your own sanity, and for the benefit of your child, who, let's face it, should be the centre of attention only. Everyone else can fit in around your little girl's big day, whatever it is you decide to do for her.

Here's hoping she has a fabulous birthday.... don't they grow up fast?!

owsaboutthatthen

Thanks for that sarymclary sound advice I am always worrying about what other people want rather than what is most important - my children! And yes they do grow up very fast - I had the worst year of my life last year (apart from the birth of my daughter) and I do want to start as I mean to go on with what is most important in my life - my children and if it means her sleeping through her day, let her, if it means she wants to cry all day let her because after all it is her party and she can cry if she wants to lol!

Here's hoping the day will run smoothly whatever I decide to do with no anomisty from anybody.