Let's all admit it-Baby's first birthday party is not for Baby... It's for Mom and Dad.  Baby won't remember it (though it will be exciting for her to look at photographs of the party later in life.)  Baby doesn't care who's there.  Mommy and Daddy would be enough company for her.  Baby can't eat mounds of ice cream and huge slices of double layer cake.  And most likely, Baby won't even be interested in opening the gifts.  She'll play all day with the paper and bow from the very first box.

So why even plan a party?  Besides maybe her twenty-first, a child's first birthday is the most monumental of her life... at least for Mom and Dad.  It represents 700 hours of lost sleep, 3000 diaper changes, and 2500 bottle or breastfeeds.  It represents the passing of one of the most challenging yet fulfilling years of your life.  It's the beginning of something wonderful.

But you don't have to stress out or spend a ton of money.  Here are some helpful hints, ideas, recipes, and Internet links to make Baby's first birthday easier, less stressful, and more affordable.

Planning:  It's never too early to start planning.  My husband and I began purchasing party items when our daughter turned 6 months old.  Our plan was to buy a little bit every time we got paid so that the party costs wouldn't hit us so hard.

Always keep a lookout for sales and clearance specials.  For example, we purchased pink umbrella straws for 50 cents a package at an end-of-summer sale at a local dollar store.  Umbrella straws probably won't even be available when our daughter's winter birthday rolls around.  Or if they are, they would be terribly expensive.

Hobby Lobby and Garden Ridge sometimes run their party tableware at 25-50% off in their sales weekly ads.  In fact, if you sign up to receive Hobby Lobby's weekly ad via email, you also receive a special coupon every week.  Sometimes the coupon is good for 40% off any item.  This would be good to use for a piñata or prefilled balloons, two of the more expensive items for a party.

And don't forget eBay.  I've found party "leftovers," new in package, for a big discount.  Also, if you shop at thrift stores, clearance stores, outlets, garage sales, and/or consignment shops, keep an eye out for party supplies and decorations.  I've found these items at all of these types of stores.

Theme:  Simple themes sometimes make the prettiest (and least expensive) tables.  Some nice themes for girls are flowers, hearts, or teddy bears.  For boys, you might chose from fish, cars, or smiley faces.  You would most likely be able to find decorations and tableware for all of these themes at good prices.  And you can mix designs.  You could use, say, Finding Nemo plates and Shark Tale cups without your table looking mismatched.  Additionally, just simple bright colors make a wonderfully cheery spread.  Or you may want to choose a theme that is familiar to your child, like characters from her favorite TV show or video, such as Sesame Street or Baby Einstein.

If you choose a theme that has a particular design on the dinnerware, such as the cartoon characters above, supplement the printed party supplies with solid colors.  We've purchased one package each of Hello Kitty plates, cups, and napkins, and then will fill in the remaining places with hot pink tableware.  The plain plates have three times as many in a package and cost almost half as much.  Instead of buying paper tablecloths, we are going to borrow some pink flat sheets from our niece.  No one will be able to tell they're sheets instead of tablecloths.

If you are trying to save money, never purchase a Party-n-in-a-Box or Party Pack (contains all tableware for a particular theme.)  I could buy the same Hello Kitty items offered in Birthday Express's Deluxe Party Pack for just over half the price if I bought them individually at a local department store.  However, if money is no object and you are looking for convenience, these Party Packs are for you.

If you are trying to locate one particular item, let your fingers do the walking instead of driving from store to store.  You can find the item and compare prices over the phone to save you time and money.  But take into consideration driving time and gas money.  If the item costs 10 cents less at a store across town, it wouldn't be smart to drive over there.  Buy it at the store just down the road where it costs 10 cents more.

If you don't mind washing them, use real plates, cups, and cutlery.  A few gallons of water costs a lot less than multiple of packages of plates, cups, and plasticware.  If you don't have enough real tableware for everyone, ask to borrow some from a family member or friend.

Guests:  Limiting your guest list is the easiest way to cut down on costs.  If your budget is tight, invite only close family and friends.  But if you can afford it, since it is such a special occasion, I say, "the more, the merrier."  However, you must also take into consideration your baby's temperament.  My daughter sometimes doesn't like the loudness of a large crowd, so inviting her entire daycare class is probably not a good idea.  I've heard a good number is 2-3 children plus any adults you'd like to invite.  Maximum number of children is 5 unless you have A LOT of help.  Include each child's parent(s) in the invitation so that they can take care of their child(ren) during the party.

If you own a computer, make your own invitations.  Plain paper and envelopes cost a lot less than preprinted invites.  In addition, you can personalize them and make them special.  It's also sometimes easier to find pictures of your theme on the Internet than it is to find it on invitations, especially if your theme is rare.  And it doesn't take any more time to make the invitations than it does to go to Wal-Mart to pick them up.

Location:  Keep in mind that Baby will be most comfortable in a place that she is familiar with.  Home would be best, but that isn't always an option.  In our case, our house is too small even just to invite family.  Grandma and Grandpa live too far away.  So we've opted to use the dinner & fellowship hall at our church.  Our daughter has been there many times, so it's not likely she will be uncomfortable.  And it's free!

Restaurants and hotel meeting rooms have the convenience of not having to clean up afterward, but many charge fees and require booking the room months in advance.  In our case, since our daughter's birthday is December 29, we would have had to book our favorite restaurant 14 months prior to the needed date, due to Christmas and New Year's parties.  I'm sorry, but I wasn't thinking about a birthday party back when I was still 7 months pregnant!

Menu:  The most costly purchase for a party is the food.  Plan your party at a time of day that cake and drinks would be sufficient.  Mid-Saturday-afternoon is probably best for most of your guests.  If you want to have "real" food, plan a small dinner after the party that only close family members stay for.

If you insist on feeding the entire guest list, keep the menu simple.  Finger sandwiches are easy and not too costly, depending on the toppings.  Make them fancy by using cookie cutters to shape the bread.  Or use edible cookie & cake markers to add some colorful designs to the bread.  We are going to draw pink hearts on our sandwiches to match the cake.  Deviled eggs are also inexpensive and can be dressed up.  Add food coloring to the yolk mixture and press it through a cake decorating bag or cookie press when filling the whites.  Just make sure you cut up the egg white before you give it to your child so that she won't choke.

That brings me to my next point: keep food age appropriate.  Remember that toddlers can choke easily on large and/or hard foods.  This means no hot dogs, raw vegetables, hard candies, chips, or crumbly cookies.  No toothpicks in the appetizers.  Acidic fruits can give kids tummy aches, so no orange or pineapple juice in your punch.  Children under 2 should also not have nuts, peanut butter, honey, tuna, shellfish, undercooked meat or eggs, and non-pasteurized juice, milk, or cheese.  Consult with the children's parents beforehand to make sure there are no food allergies.  If there are, prepare the menu accordingly.

Timing:  As mentioned above, mid-afternoon on a weekend is probably best for your guests, but you also need to consider what's the best time for your baby.  Don't plan the party in the middle of her afternoon nap.  It's also a good idea to put a time limit on the party.  When filling out the invitations, on the time line, write 2:00 - 3:00 or 3:00 - 4:00.  That way, your guests will be expecting to leave at a particular time.  One hour is usually plenty of time for a first birthday party.  Your baby may tire quickly with all the excitement and become cranky.  Keeping the party short not only limits your stress, but hers also.

Decorations:  I'm a visual person, but strangely enough, I cannot remember the decorations from one birthday party I've ever gone to.  I remember some cakes, some guests, some food, and some gifts, but no decorations.  That being said, especially for a first birthday party, keep decorations simple and inexpensive.  Some streamers (33 cents per pkg. at Hobby Lobby) would most likely be enough.

If you use balloons, keep them out of children's reach.  Don't have them laying around where toddlers can chew on them.  I don't even recommend balloons for a first birthday.  If they pop, they will scare your young guests (and the older ones too).  And the busted latex can cause choking and suffocation if a child puts it in her mouth.

Absolutely no confetti at this young age, as it's another choking hazard.  Not mention that it's difficult to clean up.

The Cake:  The cake can be very expensive if you have it specially made to match your party theme.  I recommend making it yourself, asking a talented friend to make it, or purchasing a generic pre-decorated cake.  Most bakeries at grocery stores will write a special saying on a pre-made cake for free.  Then you can add your own decorations like candles and toys that match your plates and cups.

I recently called a local specialty bakery to get prices for a Hello Kitty cake.  A quarter sheet cake would cost me about $35.00 if decorated to my specifications.  However, if I purchase a pre-decorated cake at Wal-Mart and add a Hello Kitty figurine I bought at a toy store, the same size cake would cost about $18.00.

Better yet, I am going to make our cake.  Ingredients will cost about $5.00.  Add the toy figurine, and my cake will cost only ten bucks.  I taught myself how to make the "squiggly" icing decorations (shells) on the edges using Wilton's Cake Decorating Course1 that I bought used on eBay for 99 cents (it's about $4.00 at Wal-Mart.)  Or with candles and toys, the "squiggles" aren't even necessary.

Cupcakes can be the least expensive of all.  But for young children, don't use cupcake picks for decorations.  Instead, use a soft piece of candy or one-piece toy that is large enough not to cause choking.

If you have a large cake, you may want to also have a smaller version or a cupcake on hand just for Baby.  You will want lots of pictures of her diving into her cake.  If you let her take on the large one, there may not be much left of it for the guests!

Games:  Unless you have a lot of older children at the party, games aren't needed.  We are going to have a piñata that has a pull string.  Beating a piñata is below the children's level and possibly dangerous at this age.  The piñata will contain medium-sized one-piece toys and soft candy.  Then we are going to do the Hokie-Pokie.  Even if the children aren't old enough to do the right moves, it will be fun just to dance.

If your party is all adults, games would be more acceptable.  Games such as BINGO, treasure hunts, and baby bottle bowling are always a hit.  Another idea: Give each adult a blank greeting card numbered 1-18.  Have them write a birthday wish on the card and sign it.  Give your child one card every year.  This year give her the one with the 1 on it; next year give her #2, and so on.  Or attach a picture of your baby to a piece of poster board.  Have each guest sign his/her name and write a birthday wish.

Party Favors:  Most party favors are not age-appropriate for toddlers.  As aforementioned, balloons are a no-no, as are party poppers, whistles and other small toys, chewing gum, and bouncy balls.  So we've chosen foam sunglasses, Take-n-Toss sippy cups, and toddler toothbrushes.  Other great ideas are bath toys, edible bubbles, and teething cookies.

A neat way to spruce up candy (soft or quick-melting only) is personalized wrappers.  Purchase plain white or colored prepasted labels in rectangles and/or dots.  Make the labels on your computer, draw/write them by hand, or place commercial stickers on them.  They can just have pictures to match your theme or say things like "Happy Birthday, Kayla."  The rectangles are for miniature candy bars, and the dots are for Hershey's Kisses and taffy.  If you don't want to make them yourself, I know of at least three eBay sellers that make them.  Simply search for "personalized candy wrappers," or see the links below.

Gifts:  If you are running low on cash after buying all the party supplies, don't worry about getting your baby a gift.   She will have no idea that you didn't get her one.  And she will get plenty of others from guests.  Or, instead, plan a special day with her.  Take her to the zoo or aquarium.  Or watch a video together.  Time with Mommy and Daddy is the best gift she can receive.

Miscellaneous:  Be flexible.  When dealing with children, especially this young, anything can happen.  Toddlers generally don't understand rules.  They have very short attention spans and love to run around.  So...  don't freak out when something doesn't go the way it was planned.

Ask grandma or other close family member or friend who your baby is comfortable with to help out with her, ie changing her diaper.  This will limit your stress.

Baby proof the party area.

Have plenty of toys on hand in case one or more of your young guests wants to play on his own or needs some additional entertainment.  A blanket pallet in the corner of the room is also a good idea in case someone needs to take a nap.

Take lots of pictures.  You probably will be too busy, so have Daddy, Grandma, or Grandpa take care of it for you.

Plan some alone time for you and your child after the party.  It will help both of you unwind.

Recipes:
Edible Play Dough
1 part flour
2 parts oatmeal
1 part water

Mix ingredients well.  Store in refrigerator wrapped tightly in plastic wrap until ready to use.  The items made from this play dough recipe can be painted when they are dry.

No-Stain Punches:
    Simple Punch
    1 quart white grape juice or white cranberry juice
    1 liter chilled Sprite or ginger ale

    Pour juice in punch bowl.  Pour in Sprite right before serving.

    Sweet Pink Lemonade Punch
    2 quarts prepared pink lemonade drink mix (we use Country Time; do not use real lemonade)
    2 liters chilled Sprite or ginger ale
    1 cup lemon sherbet
    2 cups vanilla ice cream

    Pour lemonade in punch bowl.  Add ice cream, sherbet, and Sprite right before serving.

    Vanilla Punch
    1 quart vanilla flavored soy milk or vanilla flavored Coffee Mate
    1 liter chilled Sprite or ginger ale
    Vanilla ice cream

    Pour milk into punch bowl.  Add Sprite and ice cream just before serving.

Easy Decorating Icing
1 1/2 cups shortening
2 lb. Powdered sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. Vanilla or other desired extract

Cream shortening; sift sugar over the shortening; add scant 1/2 cup of water and flavoring. Mix on low speed to prevent air bubbles from forming. Cover bowl with damp towel and use as desired. To thin icing for piping, letters, etc, add small amounts of water until desired consistency.  To thicken for roses, etc, add small amounts of powdered sugar until stiff.  Because powdered, liquid, and paste food coloring can alter the stiffness of icing, tint your frosting BEFORE thickening/thinning to needed consistency.

Links:
eBay Stores:
Party Supplies:
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Paper-Factory (free shipping on order of $50 or more)
http://stores.ebay.com/PARTY-TIME-SUPPLY (each additional item shipped for free)
http://stores.ebay.com/Party-Planning-Paradise (large selection of licensed party supplies and each additional item shipped for free)

Candy Wrappers:
http://stores.ebay.com/Londys-Creations
http://stores.ebay.com/LABELS-LABELS-LABELS

Cake & Candy Supplies:

http://stores.ebay.com/Mothergoose-Collectibles-and-More