https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:46:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285450 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 09:17:47 +0000 Alivoo01 2285450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We get invited to a lot of birthday parties in general, but I think the 1st year one is HUGE. Some parents are crafty and enjoying planning/throwing parties. We never thought of it as gift grabby, but more of just they want us to help celebrate another year/milestone in their child's life. I'm always down for good food and cake so hey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285272 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 00:03:23 +0000 MrsRcCar 2285272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had parties when both my boys turned one. Nothing huge but 3 seperate parties. 1 for my hometown family and friends, 1 for DH's family and our friends, and 1 small home party. We live a distance from my hometown and a distance for DH's family. For us it was about celebrate making it a year still standing and to celebrate my boys and their accomplishments in the first year. Weird as that sounds. 😜 My family isn't gift centered, we like food too much. DH jokes that we would have a party just to have cake, no other reason or oh look a flower bloomed in Gram's flower bed let's have cake. 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285263 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 23:22:36 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2285263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say 90% of my and DH's friends have kids so we've been to lots of birthday parties. I think they are fun. I've never been to any party that I'd consider over the top. I think first birthdays are a celebration for the parents and the child. I'll definitely be having one for my LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285257 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 23:14:48 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2285257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't gone to one in a long time, but we don't live by a lot of the babies we know, so not surprising. Where I'm from it's the cultural norm to have a HUGE first birthday party. A lot of people do it bigger for their kids first bday than their weddings. It's just a "thing." We aren't really doing bday parties until it can be her friends, we just do close family. We didn't do one and my family felt we/dd missed out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285242 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 22:20:03 +0000 Corduroy 2285242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to a lot when our DD was one. All of our friends had babies the same year. We had one too and invited our friends with babies. They were all casual.</p> <p>My mother's club was really practical about it and threw one play date party for all the babies. My friends' playgroups did not and some of my friends ended up going to 4 huge birthday parties per weekend for several weeks. It seemed nuts (based on my attendance at my friend's kid's party). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285229 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 21:26:08 +0000 mrsjyw 2285229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cultural for us, I'm Korean and my parents would've been sad if we didn't throw a traditional "dohl" party. I also wanted to partake in the tradition. We didn't have a party for his second though because I didn't want to plan another big party! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285209 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 21:02:44 +0000 Mae 2285209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everyone I know who has had a baby in the last 5 years has thrown a big 1st birthday party, myself included (by big I mean... our family + local friends at our house and we grilled out). It definitely is for the parents! I told people that we want to celebrate surviving a year of parenthood lol. It wasn't about the gifts at all. I contemplated making it a "no gifts" party but since I knew our family wouldn't abide and didn't want our friends to feel awkward I didn't. I figured they could go get her some $15 thing at target NBD. It was sort of important event to me because we had a ROUGH 1st year and I felt like the clouds were finally parting and I wanted to celebrate the return of enjoying life lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285122 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:07:19 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2285122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of my friends and family members throw very large first birthday parties--myself included. It's not about the gifts--it's just a big milestone and a chance to celebrate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285114 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:54:14 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2285114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not many. In fact, I was a little turned off when I didn't receive invites for first bdays of babes that I had gone to their baby showers. TBH, I don't know how big or small those actual parties were I just know they happened b/c of FB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285098 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:38:11 +0000 ShootingStar 2285098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my experience most people seem to have a fairly big first birthday party. We had a big one, which wasn't really my preference, but with DH's family if you invite one you have to invite 30. Add some of my family, our friends and their kids, and we were at about 50. We had also just purchased a larger house a few months before and most people hadn't seen it, so we figured that was a good way to have people over.</p> <p>But we definitely didn't do it for the gifts. I was honestly a little overwhelmed with what to do with things and how to appropriately space them out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285089 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:28:58 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2285089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to them for our cousins kids and friends kids fairly regularly. In both our friend and family circles first birthdays are bashes then the other birthdays are smaller. We rented a space and invited around 100 people. We will probably never do that again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285082 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:23:11 +0000 autumnlove 2285082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We get them a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285061 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:05:55 +0000 Peasinapod 2285061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm planning to do a party for my lo first birthday. Both my husband and I are very laid back about all events, but we want to make it a habit to make an effort for our daughter so she never feels like she missed out. As for gifts my suggestions to anyone who's asked is puzzles or books, so I'm not asking anyone to break the bank. And I have just been mentioning it in a relaxed way to close friends and family so I'm not even expecting everyone to bring a gift! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285057 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:59:10 +0000 PixieStix 2285057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Yup. Also tradition in Hawaii. We're talking huge luau type parties with family, friends, church friends, etc. Tons of food, loads of gifts... I guess I'm used to it because of growing up there! But I can see how it can be perceived as over the top. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285053 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:52:52 +0000 autumnleaves 2285053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician told DH and I to go on a date night when LO turns one to celebrate the first year. We liked that idea but haven't had a chance to do that yet. We had some family over the day before LO's birthday and then on Monday we celebrated with LO (just the 3 of us) but I videotaped it and shared it with friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285050 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:50:39 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 2285050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We threw a decently sized one for DD when she turned 1. It wasn't for the gifts and, honest it was more for us than her but it was because we were so excited and proud. We have been invited to a bunch as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285047 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:47:51 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2285047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it's cultural for koreans since a lot of babies didn't live until 1 year old in olden times, but the tradition still continues to have a huge 1st birthday party.</p> <p>the party invites increase from 3+ when the kids are in school though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285045 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:45:11 +0000 TiredmommaMD 2285045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a big one, but our goal was certainly not gifts. Our goal was to throw an awesome party for our friends who had hardly seen during the first year.☺️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285023 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:57:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 2285023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did find them a little over the top, until my LO turned one and I realized what a big deal it is for the parents- like, we made it a whole year and everyone is still standing! So while we didn't do a big party or anything, I finally understand why others do. I agree that a small gift is fine, especially when you know it's a bigger party. And you can always say no if your weekends are getting eaten up with parties all the time. </p> <p>Then again we have only been invited to a few- a consequence of most of our friends living in apartments without space for a big party probably! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285008 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:14:28 +0000 youboots 2285008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh, I go to them a lot. We will have a big 1st birthday for dd but likely won't have a big party again till shes 5. I got 10 Pantone board books for about $7 each for gifts, no need to get something too fancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-get-invited-to-birthday-parties-for-1-year-old#post-2285007 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:11:49 +0000 winter_wonder 2285007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I've been getting sooo many invites to birthday parties for one year olds lately. We just got 2 in the mail from dh's cousins kids who we rarely see.</p> <p>Is it just me or does anyone else find elaborate parties for one year olds to be over the top? It also seems kind of gift grabby and more for the parents?</p> <p>Am I just being a party pooper?! :happy: </p>