Wow, there's no WAY my DD could have coped with a "party" on her 1st birthday. She was still such a babybaby kwim?

We had a little gathering of grown-ups who were important (some family, godparents and friends) at a local cafe where the staff know and adore Smee. It was very low key but she just couldn't cope with "excitement" in those days - even now, if there are more than 5 or 6 other kids at toddler group she's going mental!

I like the decorating tables ideas but to be honest DD could barely scribble at 12 months and still now would rather eat the crayon than draw with it....

If i were you i'd organise a lot of toys, a lot of non-choking fingerfoods (sandwiches cut up with cookie-cutters into shapes are popular with smee - elephant ones especially ) and just let them run about a bit. Do you have a largish room you can make safe enough that a babygate can go on the door and you grown-ups can just lounge about in there while the kiddies play round your feet without having to be watched like hawks? Or a garden? BIt cold just now though, middle of winter.

I guess my POV (very individual thing though) was that DD wouldn't remember her 1st birthday and aged one what made a good day for her were people she likes, a few small surprises, and her familiar routine, so that's what we went with.

Bec