Birthday Parties Ideas for Home Parties for Babies and Toddlers

If I sat down I could add up the number of birthday parties I have held. So how many have I hosted for my kids?

Since I have hosted birthday parties since the mid 90s, sometimes it is hard to remember each party in detail. But suffice it to say, I’ve held well over 30 birthday parties. More at home than not.

The birthday parties fall in to two categories those held at a party location and birthday parties held at home. Though the parties held at party locations are more memorable. My son had a party at a bouncy castle place with Nerf Dart Tag. My eldest daughter had a party at an indoor splash center and pool. My younger daughter had several summer birthday parties at the swim club we belong to. My son and one of my daughters had a couple of gymnastics parties. A party outside the home is a fun option. Parties held at home are perhaps a little harder to remember than parties outside the home, largely because my central memory is of hosting guests in my home. After the first memory I remember every other detail, of course.

At-home birthday parties are more work for sure. You have too not only do a thorough cleanup of your home, but also prepare for the party. But, don’t let the prep work put you off as at-home parties can be so much fun.

Home Birthday Party Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

Theme — For the first birthday parties for each of my babies, the theme centered around the paper goods. That’s sounds odd doesn’t it? But if you had seen the cute Teddy Bear paper plates and banner you would have squeed too.

Party Favors — Small picture frames. Small Sesame Street stuffed toy. Board book. Look carefully since you don’t want to give out a party favor that is a choking hazard.

Guest List — The guest list for the baby’s first birthday and the second and third included both sets of grandparents, our college friends and their little ones, my work friends-come-playgroup friends and their little ones, and godparents and close friends.

Party Logistics — Little ones need their naptime so we set the party time for lunchtime. The length of the party was two hours. We knew that friends who had trveled a great distance would stay longer and that local friends with sleepy littles one would leave early. The party was the best of both worlds…fun playtime with friends for my birthday child and fun together time with our friends once the birthday child was down for a nap.

Menu — Food was simple…pizza for everyone. Cheese sticks, yogurts, and small sandwiches for little ones. No juice bags needed as everyone brought a sippy cup, but I made sure I had extra milk on hand so that bottles and cups could be filled for the ride home.

Gifts — Since the party was short, I opted not to have the birthday child open his gifts. My oldest child’s little friends were upset to see my daughter open gifts from them at her first birthday party. And of course I have to mention a few gift ideas for babies and toddlers: Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny, Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Love to Play Puppy, Sassy Developmental Wonder Wheel Suction Toy, and Kidoozie Peek N Peep Eggs, and more.

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