first birthday stuff

[NaeNae]

Dd first birthday is comming up, honestly I think I am the least motivated I have ever been about such a milestone celebration ... but thats a whole other thread.

We have decided to just do a sausage sizzle, I have brought a pop up marquee and will decorate that with a few balloons but thats about it. We are having mainly family, godparents and just a couple of close friends and their kids so nothing huge.

I feel a bit bad about doing a low key thing but figured she won't remember it, she won't care on the day and if I invited EVERYONE well it would be huge to say the least.

anyhoo, I am debating what to do about the good old fashioned loot bags. There won't be any games or anything like that, we have been to a couple of other first birthdays and there have been loot bags with bits and bobs in but the parties have been a lot bigger than what we are doing for DD and more "partyish" itms??

If we decide to do them what should we put in them? there were always lollies in ours as kids and we really don't have the money to do little gifts.

How essential are they for a 1st birthday? I guess for older kids where the party is really a party they are essential but DD's is just a low key thing??

I dunno ....

HELP

Nae x x

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

DD1's 1st birthday was a little different cos we have LOTS of family BUT we did goody bags, had the usual a few lollies etc but if you want to do something without spending a small fortune you can get little books at the cheap shops for like $2 or $3, you can write in the front of it:

Thank you for coming to my 1st birthday.

If you wanted get a small choclaye and a couple of frogs or snakes and wrap it all in cellophane.

They are not a must but there are cheap ways around them.. i'm all for cheap shops & bargains

[~Hestia~]

Your party sounds perfect! In regards to loot bags, I've been to heaps of parties this year and only a few gave them out, we didn't do them either.
I think they're nice to do though. The best one we got was a little handmade canvas bag (toddler sized so cute!) with a book with a thank you message from the birthday boy written on the inside, some hand and face wipes, mini packets of sultanas and apricots, bag of apple crisps plus a few lollies. Everything was Disney branded as that was the theme. I loved the book idea!

[ShootingStar]

I just did lolly bags for the kids.. and they were exactly that. Lolly bags. And ive been only doing that each party for the kids because they dont come to the party to recieve a present. Its just a little token to say thanks for coming. And kids are always happy with just lollies. The ones who arent, well too bad! lol.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I just did lolly bags for the kids.. and they were exactly that. Lolly bags. And ive been only doing that each party for the kids because they dont come to the party to recieve a present. Its just a little token to say thanks for coming. And kids are always happy with just lollies. The ones who arent, well too bad! lol.

Hehe i love lolly bags but i look at it from the opposite point of view, my girls don't get many lollies and i'm not a fan of sending kids home with tons of sugar their parents might not let them eat... hehe

Another good idea is a tiny bag with a couple of lollies, a balloon and a thing of bubbles.

[Mum2Romone]

For ds's first birthday I did the whole thing, lollys and balloons and trinkets for about 15 bags although there were heapsmof people I was expecting only 7 kids and would give the res t to family etc. Most of them got left, and we ate them ourselves. When it came time to leave, people just rushes off and we didn't realize.

I depends on the ages of most of the guests too

We are doing them this year but I'm not gong to go nuts, I might do the book thing and a couple of lollies and a balloon, there still wont be many kids and books are a great idea !!! I will do bubbles etc as prizes for a few games we will have and pass the parcel is always a hit with everyone

[toomanyshoes]

Nothing wrong with a little get together, I can't believe the extent some people go to for their littlies b'days.

I think it would be easy enough to skip the lolly bags if you want, our kids have been to heaps of parties that didn't have them, but if you really want to, keep an eye out for the bigger bags of lollies when they are on sale and divvy them up, but honestly I wouldn't be worrying about it!

[sloane]

we just had family around for DS' birthday so we didn't do anything like that. we've been to 3 other 1st birthdays where there were loot bags. one had a mini choc bar & a bib with a "1" on it & the other one had a couple of lindt balls (for the parents) & a couple of little wooden animals. i thought both of those were great. the 3rd was a traditional lolly bag & as DS was only 8 months old, DP & i ate them!!

i don't think they're essential though - i didn't really expect them at a 1st birthday

[briggsy's girl]

loot bags are personal choice - we did them for E's birthday cos so many people travelled a long way - it was kinda my way to say thank you to them. each one was different cos i made them age appropriate. you don't need to do them hun. if you WANT to do them, look at the kids gonna be there, and the parents - if you think they're ok with just lollies, go for it.

[Snacks]

TBH, I wouldn't (and haven't ever!) bother with loot bags for 1st birthdays. We had a big party for DD1 that was rained out and wasn't much fun. For DD2 we just had immediate family around for a finger-food dinner and that was lovely.
I think 1st birthdays are more of a parent's celebration anyway. It's not like your 1yo has any concept of age, and if they're anything like mine they even get bored of opening presents, LOL!

[Miss E]

I didn't bother with DSs first birthday... I'm sure in years to come I will, but I guess I didn't see the need iykwim? His was more of a celebration with family and only a couple of kids... I think if you feel it's necessary then go for it, but otherwise don't bother. I did like the book idea (saving it for years to come).