Gift & Party ideas for 1st Birthday

[GuavaGirl]

My little guy's first birthday is only 2 months away and I don't want it to sneak up on me. (like most events)  I've been wondering about creative party and gift ideas and thought I'd post here so we could bounce ideas around.

His first birthday has also become a catch all good excuse to come visit for the out of town friends and family. (like 1 1/2 to 14 hrs away)  ...so I at least want it to seem like I planned a little.  :)

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For gift ideas so far I've thought of a set of play silks and/or a little bongo drum....maybe some sort of educational toy?

I HATE the whole "give your kid a mini cake and watch them gorge themselves" thing.   I don't even really want him to eat cake and sugar...so I'm on the hunt for a fun and healthy dessert.  ....that won't disappoint all of the other little kids that are going to be there.

I'm also trying to think of a meal that most kids will like and that most adults won't find too kiddish.

Also, we got a ton of annoying plastic light up talking singing toys for christmas.   I'm trying to think of a way to avoid getting those without coming across as rude.  I wish registry's were cool for all gift giving events.  :)

[NevadaMama]

My DD's first birthday is next week (eek!), and we are going to have a very small get-together with just us and a couple of DH's coworkers and their families. We don't have any family here which is a total bummer in itself, but we still wanted to do something to celebrate, even if it is small.

We are getting DD a wooden play kitchen from Nova Natural for her gift, and are doing kind of a "cooking" theme I guess - the kids that are coming are a little older, so we are going to make little pizzas and let each kid choose and arrange their own toppings. I'm making more "sophisticated" pizzas for the grown-ups, like goat cheese, basil & tomato, etc. Then we are just having cupcakes - homemade, all organic ingredients, that sort of thing. I like the idea of letting DD destroy her own little cupcake, at least I know exactly what's in it! She's never had any sweets before so this will be a first too.

As for gifts, we specifically said not to bring any. It is right after Christmas and we are super minimalistic when it comes to toys anyway. However, I asked that if the guests really insist on bringing a gift, that board books are welcome. DD loves books and I figured that would be a gift that is easy to find and inexpensive.

I'm not sure what I'm doing for party favors yet - since there are only 3 other kids coming and I'm handy with a sewing machine I was thinking about making them little aprons, but we'll see what I have time for!

Edited by NevadaMama - 12/28/10 at 8:23pm

[Knitting Mama]

For my Cecilia, we're avoiding all sorts of "goodies" that are in the usual cakes and stuff, so I found a recipe for an almond meal based carrot cake that I will test drive before her first birthday to make sure it's good. That way I can avoid the grains as well as the sugar. I don't mind making a small cake of that for her and a batch of regular cupcakes for the rest of the party goers, I think that's sort of the best of both worlds.

[NevadaMama]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

For my Cecilia, we're avoiding all sorts of "goodies" that are in the usual cakes and stuff, so I found a recipe for an almond meal based carrot cake that I will test drive before her first birthday to make sure it's good. That way I can avoid the grains as well as the sugar. I don't mind making a small cake of that for her and a batch of regular cupcakes for the rest of the party goers, I think that's sort of the best of both worlds.

That is actually really similar to the carrot cake that I make DH for his birthday every year - he's very gluten sensitive and lactose intolerant but he LOVES carrot cake. It's a great recipe and is delicious! I actually thought of making it for DD's birthday but carrots are the one food that she really doesn't care for Lilly loves cinnamon though, so this weekend I'm going to test drive a GF coffee cake - I am thinking about making that into little cupcakes with an agave nectar "sugar" drizzle on top. Now I just have to figure out how to make it all come together at high altitude!

[Knitting Mama]

Hmmm, do you think she'd notice the carrots in carrot cake? I know that my brother doesn't like carrots as well but he loves carrot cake! It's like how some people don't like bananas but like banana bread.

[tzs]

riding toy! riding toy!!!

we got ada a riding toy for her first birthday and it's the best. she has loved it from day one and it's the only toy that is always out. she was even a little to short for it at first and not walking but would still find ways to get on it or she would use it as a walker. it's really going to last her at least a couple more years. you could even drop a hint to a family member and a group could get together to buy it (i did this with my parents.) i think people really DO want to get something that will be used and loved.

this radio flyer one is pretty cute

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2650924&moduleName=Brand+Name+Secondary

and i love the wheely bug things!

http://www.target.com/Prince-Lionheart-Wheely-Bug-Bee/dp/B000GWYCPQ/ref=br_1_72?ie=UTF8&id=Prince%20Lionheart%20Wheely%20Bug%20Bee&node=373767011&searchView=grid3&searchSize=90&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=373767011&sr=1-72&searchRank=pmrank&frombrowse=1&qid=1293639614

honestly, i'm thinking about getting her a wheely bug in addition to her bike....i can totally see her riding around liek crazy on that thing!

[lrgs]

Thanks for the recipe link Cecilia's Mama.........my mom doesn't tolerate gluten very well but loves carrot cake and sometimes breaks the rules to have it (and then pays for it). I might try this one for her one of these days........I hope it's good.

I've also got this recipe bookmarked but haven't had the chance to try it:

http://integrativemom.com/recipes/healthy-birthday-cake/

[Knitting Mama]

I've had that wheely bug on my registry since I was still pregnant! I really hope Cecilia gets it for her birthday in April!

[NevadaMama]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

It's like how some people don't like bananas but like banana bread.

Haha I am one of those people! Honestly, I don't know about the carrots thing, she is such a stinker when it comes to them! I've tried to sneak them to her a few times and she ALWAYS spits them out. Maybe I will try a test run this weekend with the cake and see if she'll eat it - I'm sure DH won't mind a carrot cake lying around

Omg that wheelie bug thing is too cute!! We got this for DD for Christmas, it is ADORABLE - she's not walking with it yet but just pushes it around on the floor for now. It's great because it's made of sustainable rubberwood and is painted with all nontoxic paints, and it's sooooo cute! She loves the bunnies, she keeps pulling them off and hugging them

http://www.amazon.com/Wonderworld-SW-1217-Hopping-Bunny-Walker/dp/B001GO12CE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1293645863&sr=1-1

[GuavaGirl]

Am I right in thinking that it would be seen as rude to set up a birthday registry?  

What if I phrased it like, "Since I figured you'd all want to know, I set up this registry with gift ideas for his age and current clothing sizes."

I don't know.  What would you think if you got an invite like that?  It seems wrong.  Especially since I was planning on sending an invite to far away relatives, just so they can have one.  I don't want it to be perceived that I'm sending them an invite to ask for stuff.  But I don't want a repeat of Christmas fisher price land either.

What do you think?

[tzs]

i think with family it's great to be upfront and honest.....even about gifts. people that care about your kid probably want to know what he'd like the best...at least i would. i might think it was tacky if aquaintence sent it but not a family member.

i might say something like, "since some of you have asked for ideas, we've set up a registry at blah blah blah...."

[Knitting Mama]

I agree that if you phrase it as, "A few people have asked for gift ideas so I've put a few items on a registry, to give you an idea of the kind of toys he's interested in..." etc, then you might have some success and it also doesn't come across as rude. Or, you could set up an Amazon Wish List for him if you think the wish list phrasing would go over better than a registry. I also think it's a great idea to include clothing and shoe sizes, which I have seen on a lot of invitations.