Baby's First Birthday: How to Plan a Simple, Happy Party

A year ago, you held your baby in your arms for the very first time. Today they pull themselves up on the sofa, wave bye-bye and ask for "more". A first birthday party makes you want to go all out: a decorated hall, a huge buffet, the whole family. But the star of the day has their own rhythm: a calm day, familiar faces and things to play with often suit them far better than a big reception.

The review of their first year, including development and the paediatrician's check-up, is covered in our page on your baby at 12 months, step by step. Here, we focus on the party: the right time, decorations, activities, the cake and gifts.

Plan the party around your baby's rhythm

From 12 months, a baby sleeps roughly 11 to 14 hours in 24 hours, naps included, according to Naître et grandir. Most still take two naps, morning and afternoon, each lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours, until around 18 months. The same guide recommends a set wake-up time and a regular bedtime routine: that is what makes days predictable.

For the party, that gives three simple rules:

1. Start right after a nap, in late morning or mid-afternoon.
2. Keep it short: an hour and a half to two hours.
3. Have a quiet room ready, where they can retreat in a parent's arms if the noise gets too much.

In the evening, stick to the usual bedtime and routine, even if family is still around. Our guide to nap schedules by age will help you pick the right slot.

How many guests, and what for?

At this age, children mostly play side by side. The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) explains that between 12 and 18 months, play is still "parallel", and that real interaction between toddlers tends to start around 18 months. For toddler get-togethers, it suggests about an hour, one friend at a time, when the child is in a good mood, such as in the morning or after a nap, with favourite toys put away and an adult supervising.

For a first birthday, that argues for a small, human-sized party: parents, grandparents, siblings and a few close friends. If you have a big family, stagger visits throughout the day rather than bringing everyone together at once. And choose one adult to keep an eye on the baby at all times while the others chat.

Pretty, safe decorations

A one-year-old puts everything in their mouth. Quebec's public health institute (INSPQ) lists latex balloons, whether inflated, deflated or burst, among choking hazards for young children, and asks parents to keep all small objects out of reach. A few ideas that look great without the risk:

• a photo garland, one picture for each month since birth, hung up high;
• paper decorations hung out of reach, rather than confetti and glitter on the floor;
• a guest book where everyone writes a wish for their second year;
• a play corner on the floor, with a mat, cushions and a few toys;
• a favourite colour or animal as a theme, without piling on accessories.

Ribbons and cords within reach should be no longer than 20 cm, according to the INSPQ, which also advises tying plastic bags in a knot before storing them out of reach: remember this when the presents are being unwrapped.

Activities a one-year-old genuinely enjoys

No need for an entertainer. The CPS lists simple, inexpensive toys that delight 12 to 24-month-olds: blocks, pots and pans, plastic containers to fill and empty, push and pull toys, big soft balls, musical instruments such as drums or maracas, and soap bubbles. It also stresses music: clapping, dancing and singing with adults. A few ideas for the party:

• a pouring tub with big balls and cups;
• soap bubbles in the garden or on the terrace;
• a circle of nursery rhymes, taken from our nursery rhymes in French and Darija;
• unwrapping presents, where the paper is often more fun than what is inside;
• a board book read aloud by several voices.

Let your baby lead: the CPS advises resisting the urge to direct their play. And keep screens switched off, which it recommends avoiding as much as possible at this age.

A first birthday cake suited to their age

Honey is allowed after age 1, the UK's NHS points out, but that is no reason to add more sweetness: the same body advises avoiding added sugar, including honey and syrups, until age 4. Fruit, on the other hand, is fine. For the cake and the buffet:

These guidelines come from the NHS: no whole nuts before age 5, small round foods cut into quarters, stones and hard pips removed, no raw-milk cheese, little salt for their kidneys, and well-cooked eggs, as the NHS only accepts raw eggs carrying a UK-specific safety mark. Manger Bouger, France's public nutrition programme, also suggests serving a fruit salad alongside the birthday cake.

The NHS advises staying close to your baby while they eat, sitting upright. If they have never tried egg or nuts, do not use the party to introduce them: our advice on introducing allergens at home explains how. For the rest of their meals, see our guide to toddler meals from 1 to 3 years.

What to give a one-year-old? Gift ideas by budget

The right gift follows what they are learning: stacking, fitting shapes, pushing, pulling, listening, turning pages. The toys suggested by the CPS for 12 to 24-month-olds fit right in, from pull-along toys to stacking games. A few ideas, at the prices in our catalogue in October 2026:

From the shop

First birthday gifts at every price

From stacking rings to ride-on toys, simple toys that keep pace with your baby's progress. Always check the manufacturer's age guidance, and choose to suit your budget.

• −48 %EurekakidsStacking rings, 5 pieces – Eurekakids78 DHinstead of 150 DHView product
• −48 %WinFunSpin N Pull pull-along snail – WinFun99 DHinstead of 190 DHView product
• −48 %Chicco2-in-1 Build-a-Ball activity toy, from 1 year – Chicco135 DHinstead of 260 DHView product
• −50 %Kids MelodyBaby musical activity toy set – Kids Melody208 DHinstead of 420 DHView product
• Tiny LoveFarmers Funday wooden sound puzzle – Tiny Love250 DHView product
• −48 %ChiccoVespa Primavera scooter ride-on, pink – Chicco463 DHinstead of 890 DHView product
• −41 %ChiccoMiss Baby Rodeo & Friends ride-on, girl – Chicco524 DHinstead of 895 DHView product
• The whole aisle · Baby ride-ons11 products online, delivered anywhere in Morocco.Open the aisle

Products sold by La Maison du Bébé, publisher of this magazine. Prices as of 12 October 2026; please check the product page.

Before giving a toy, check the manufacturer's age guidance and do the empty toilet roll test, recommended by the CPS and the INSPQ: anything that fits through it can choke a child. The CPS also advises watching for parts and buttons that come loose from dolls and soft toys. A ride-on toy supports their first steps, at their own pace, as long as it stays on a flat surface.

For more ideas, our guide to developmental and Montessori toys by age has plenty of suggestions. And think about gifts that never wear out: a photo album of their first year, a letter to open on their 18th birthday, or baby activities to share with the grandparents.