First birthday advice

My daughter is 8 months old and I'm starting to (over)think about her first birthday. We live halfway across the country from all of our family and friends and don't really have a "village" where we live. I know my whole family would love to celebrate my daughter's birthday with us but it'll be the dead of winter and nobody's going to travel all the way to us for a birthday party. I would absolutely love to throw a party with a theme, decorations, lots of food, and have all of our favourite people there but as it nears I can only really picture it being our little family on the day of. I can fully imagine the perfect first birthday party for her and it makes me sad that there's no point in going "all out". I know she won't remember it, but I will, and it's a big deal for me. What would you do?

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I think it’s important to understand that your bubba is still young, they’re not going to remember it the same way you and your partner will. I’d do a bigger birthday at a later age where they will remember more. I have my family around me and still think I’ll be doing a small birthday for the bubba like a smash cake idea with balloons or something. A celebration but not a massive one. Hope this helps! 🥰

My son is 3 next month, this year is the first year he's really had an understanding of his birthday, so it's the first party we're doing

Also my family are a 4 hour drive away. I went up for one of my nieces parties years ago. It was pointless. She barely knew we were there. My sister didn't have time to talk she was so busy entertaining and feeding everyone.

I would take her someplace fun just your small family or include friends with kids if possible or do a trip.

Aww, why don't you think people would travel for her 1st birthday? Pick a date, put the feelers out and see if they would like to come, then go from there 😊 I know your little one won't remember it, but these family events are important. See it as an excuse to get together and for you to make memories, whatever you end up doing. I show my 4 year old pictures from her 1st birthday and she loves it x

@Aimee I think it's really sad you see it that way. Why do you think it was pointless? Did you not enjoy seeing and spending time with your family?

I live far way from my family too. My aunt has come every year to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. Could at least 1 person come to celebrate? Another option is to celebrate just your little family and video chat the rest so everyone can sing happy birthday together. Also you can choose to celebrate it whenever you’re with your family again. It doesn’t matter if it’s not her actual birthday.

@Katie my point was I didn't spend time with them

@Aimee maybe not your sister, but the rest of your family?

@Katie I think you're making some assumptions about the size of my family

@Aimee well not really. You yourself said "one of my nieces" and that your sister was busy feeding "everyone" so I've got to assume there was at least 2 nieces, maybe your parents? Not sure how many relatives were there makes it any more or less worth your time seeing them?

@Katie I don't want to argue with you. I have one niece. I meant "one of my nieces parties" in the sense of one of her parties one year. You have made incorrect assumptions It wasn't a family party. We're not a big family. I didn't know my sister's guests I don't know why this matters so much to you.

@Aimee ok, well if it wasn't a family party then it's not like the OP's situation. I'm not trying to argue with you at all. It sounded like a family party, and in that situation then yes I think it would be sad you thought it wasn't worth it. But with no family there, fair enough.

Can you travel to your family for her bday? That’s what we are planning to do

Throw your party. I had a good time at my baby’s first and I took pictures and videos so my kids can watch it when they’re older. Some family drove 7 hours. It was worth it for them (grandparents). They loved it.

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