Celebrating your little one’s 1st birthday is a truly special milestone, so making the day unforgettable is a given. This momentous occasion deserves all the magic and fun thrown at it. It’s also the perfect excuse to catch up with your mum/dad crew!
We’ve put together a playful collection of ideas to make your 1st birthday party planning easy and exciting — from themed décor, to fun activities, easy cake hacks, and everything in-between! Whether you’re looking for classic inspiration, or out-of-the-box 1st birthday party ideas, these suggestions will ensure your baby turning one is as magical as you’ve always pictured.
But wait, before we dive into the party planning, why not check out our adorable range of 1st birthday cards? We stock THE cutest designs to commemorate your little legend’s big day, and they’ll also double up as cherished keepsakes for years to come.
Jungle safari
A jungle safari 1st birthday party theme is one of the easiest (and most fun!) party ideas to pull off — chances are, you already have half the decorations in your house! Grab some Duplo animals, plastic creatures, soft animals, or whatever form of jungle mammals you own, and dot them around your party setting – whether in corners, on tables, or peeking out from the window sill.
For a true rainforest feel, invest in some inflatable or cardboard-cut out palm trees. A metallic green rainforest-like door curtain will also spark little imaginations as they toddle through the ‘jungle leaves’. And, of course, don’t forget the tigers and monkeys — no jungle adventure is complete without them!
For a playful twist, set up an indoor ‘safari tepee’ filled with plush soft animals, as well as a few pillows or blankets. This will provide a comfy spot for your child and their fellow baby pals to crawl into and explore.
Add in some toy binoculars or safari hats to really get the adventure going. Bonus: the tepee can also double up as a nap zone for those little explorers in need of a rest from all of the excitement. As for the cake, place plastic jungle animals on top of a buttercream-frosted cake, and voila, cake sorted! Add a safari-themed cake topper for the perfect finishing touch.
‘Out-of-this-world’ space theme
Create the perfect space-themed party for your little astronaut! This is your chance to get creative — hang stars, moons, planets, and astronaut cut-outs from the ceiling or windows to set the scene.
Cut sandwiches and tasty snacks into fun rocket and star silhouettes, giving the birthday boy/girl some out-of-this-world cosmic treats to enjoy. A night sky projector will take the atmosphere to the next level, creating a magical sensory experience that will mesmerise your little party guests. Don’t have a projector? No problem, glow-in-the-dark stick-on stars will work wonders. Just turn the lights off, and, ta-da, mission accomplished!
Woodland fantastical fairy tale
A woodland fairy tale theme is a cute party theme for kids of all ages, but especially one-year-olds! Set the scene with a rustic log cake stand, accompanied with a woodland-themed cake and scattered leaves surrounding the base. Drape faux moss across the party buffet table and team with some fake red mushroom decorations for a magical forest effect.
For an extra touch of whimsy, craft fairy-tale headbands by attaching flowers and ribbons to paper crowns, or make animal-themed eye masks – perfect for the little ones to toddle around in as woodland creatures. They’ll also look absolutely adorable in the photos! If the weather is nice, hosting the party outdoors surrounded by nature will make the magical woodland theme feel even more authentic.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A “Very Hungry Caterpillar” theme for a first birthday party is a classic favourite that is not only easy to execute, but also fun to incorporate into your party spread. Recreate the story by serving the foods featured in the book, like watermelon, cupcakes, apples, and sausages — basically, if the caterpillar ate it, so should your little one and their party guests.
Add a creative touch by placing small cardboard caterpillar cut-outs on toothpicks, making it look as though the caterpillar is munching its way through the treats. Make sure to have the book on hand, just in case anyone needs a refresher on the menu! And of course, no Very Hungry Caterpillar party would be complete without a caterpillar cake!
Under-the-sea 1st birthday party
An under-the-sea party is the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning 1. A balloon arch adorned with varying shades of blue balloons will help to conjure up the colourful depths of the ocean, and serve as the perfect focal point for your under-the-sea theme. Be sure to bring in some aquatic friends — crabs, shellfish, seaweed, mermaids — the list goes on. These could be in the form of toys, stickers, or cardboard cut-outs.
Want to really make a splash with this 1st birthday party theme? Deck out the buffet table with a blue iridescent table runner and scatter plastic (or real, if you’re feeling fancy) shells and starfish on top. As for the cake, channel your inner baking boss and sculpt a fondant octopus for the top. If that feels like a bit too much, an ocean-themed cake topper will do the trick — thankfully, one-year-olds are pretty forgiving party critics!
Teddy bear picnic party
If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure to see… babies having a blast! If your soon-to-be one-year-old is teddy bear mad, throw them a 1st birthday bash to remember with a teddy bear picnic themed party. Start by decorating the buffet table with a classic red and white checked picnic cloth — a teddy bear picnic just isn’t the same without one!
Add a wicker picnic basket as your centrepiece and top it off with a bunch of teddy bears sporting their finest party hats. For snacks, use fake log stands and load them up with picnic staples like fruit, juice cartons, mini sausage rolls, and of course, sandwiches. If the weather is good, take the picnic outdoors. If not, no worries! Lay down a cosy picnic blanket in the middle of the room so the tiny guests can enjoy their treats in true picnic style.
String up some bunting for an outdoorsy feel, and make sure teddy bears are everywhere — left, right, and centre. You can never have too many teddy bear buddies at a party like this!
Rainbow-themed birthday
Throwing a rainbow-themed party will create a magical atmosphere that will light up your 1-year-old’s face and look dreamy in the precious photos. Begin by hanging paper lanterns in every colour of the rainbow to create a playful scene for your little party guests.
To really capture the essence of the theme, arrange the party food in colourful sections to resemble a rainbow. Fruit is perfect for this: think chopped up strawberries, pineapple, apples, kiwis, grapes, oranges, and blueberries – anything bright and tasty will do!
Don’t forget a rainbow prop to make the theme pop – it will also serve as the perfect backdrop for those all-important party pics when you get a moment to capture your little one’s special day.
When it comes to the cake, go for a rainbow sponge with buttercream frosting, finished with multicoloured sprinkles. Top it with a rainbow cake topper, and you’ve got yourself a showstopper that’s almost too pretty to eat.
And that’s it for our round-up of ideas for a 1st birthday party. For more party inspiration, take a look at our blog on how to host the perfect superhero party and how to host the perfect children’s pirate party. And, you need a hand with what to write on your invites, our blog on birthday invitation messages can help.
