1 year old birthday party

[tacocat]

I'm trying to figure out what time of the day to have DS's birthday party. His birthday is 12/27 and we're probably going to have his party the following Saturday which is 1/2. I know it's early to plan, but I need to fill out the form to reserve the room at church.

Right now he still naps 3 times a day. About 10/10:30, 1:30/2, and 5/5:30 for anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Is 3-5 an awkward time for a party? I'm trying to avoid feeding people an actual meal, but I will if that's the best time. Is 2 hours too long for a 1st birthday?

[Deleted]

Do the awkward time if that fits your kid's nap. Things may move a bit by then (likely down to 2 naps). 3-5 on a Saturday is pretty awkward, though. It kind of kills the whole afternoon, but still doesn't feed me.

[kdubs923]

It's tough to know what schedule he could be on in December, but I know my DS dropped a the 3rd nap before his birthday. I think that's normal for around 10 months.

If I had to guess, he'll keep a morning (9:30-10 ish) and mid afternoon nap (2:30-3ish?), so brunch/lunch/early afternoon would be your prime time.

*disclaimer to say each child is different, so who the hell knows.

ETA: Annddd I missed the part where you don't want to serve food. Reading fail.

[smock]

I was thinking 3-5 (or 3-4:30) would be your best bet, especially if you want to avoid serving a meal. He will probably drop to 2 naps by his first birthday, but most one year olds are awake during those hours!

[mrshandy]

I think 3-5 is a fine time. I think that's when we had DD's and DS's 1st birthday. Although I think they were both asleep for the beginning of theirs. You probably can get away with no meal, just light hor d'oeuvres (tea sandwiches, chips, fruit and veggie tray, etc.)

[6fsn]

3-5 on a Saturday feels awkward, but I can't fully pinpoint why. It's hard to guess when naps will be so I might just book it for noon and feed people.

[jeaniebueller]

I am guessing that he will probably drop the 5-5:30 nap by then. 2 hours is fine and you should be able to get away with apps.

[jewel]

We just had my kid's 1st birthday, which I planned around his nap schedule. He is pretty reliable with 2 naps, 9:30 - 11am and 2:30 - 4pm, which basically left us with a lunch or dinner time party. We opted for 11:30 - 1pm for lunch, with optional swimming afterwards.

I spent way too much on everything, but I could have done it much cheaper with food from Costco - sandwich trays, fruit, chips, etc.

[dizzycooks]

I've always done the girls parties 3-5. They sleep until 3 most days and are back in bed by 6:30 which means they are ugly by 6 and I don't want guests. I've always served a light meal or lots of snacks. I'd totally do that time or maybe 11-1, but then you're committed to a real meal.

[tacocat]

Sept 28, 2015 13:54:58 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Do the awkward time if that fits your kid's nap. Things may move a bit by then (likely down to 2 naps). 3-5 on a Saturday is pretty awkward, though. It kind of kills the whole afternoon, but still doesn't feed me.

Sept 28, 2015 13:59:16 GMT -5 6fsn said:

3-5 on a Saturday feels awkward, but I can't fully pinpoint why. It's hard to guess when naps will be so I might just book it for noon and feed people.

The time does feel so awkward. I guess because it's so close to dinner. I might just suck it up and do it at noon and feed people lunch.

[Deleted]

11-1 and serve lunch

[curbsideprophet]

We just did first birthdays at home (well at my mom's house) and said when the birthday kid woke up from afternoon nap.

If that time works best for your child, I say go for it.

[Deleted]

Sept 28, 2015 14:04:35 GMT -5 tacocat said:

Sept 28, 2015 13:54:58 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Do the awkward time if that fits your kid's nap. Things may move a bit by then (likely down to 2 naps). 3-5 on a Saturday is pretty awkward, though. It kind of kills the whole afternoon, but still doesn't feed me.

Sept 28, 2015 13:59:16 GMT -5 6fsn said:

3-5 on a Saturday feels awkward, but I can't fully pinpoint why. It's hard to guess when naps will be so I might just book it for noon and feed people.

The time does feel so awkward. I guess because it's so close to dinner. I might just suck it up and do it at noon and feed people lunch.

I posted in another thread that we fed 20 people with zero effort this weekend. Went to Costco and bought: hot dogs for the kids, mild italian sausages for the adults (come in trays of 9 in the fresh meats section, about $10/tray), buns, veggie tray, 2 big bags of chips, 1 big bag of popcorn. Plus cupcakes, that was the whole menu. People seemed happy. Lunch doesn't have to be a big deal. 

[6fsn]

After all of the festivities you can probably do something simple for lunch- soup, sandwich, chips, veggies.

[mrssandro]

I think 1-2 hours is fine.

Maybe do brunch appetizer style after the first nap.

[tacocat]

Y'all definitely have me leaning toward lunch now. Costco and Sams are like 45 minutes away, but we can get most of the stuff there, so we should be able do it relatively cheap.

I've never thrown a party before, so I have no idea what I'm doing.

[obladi]

Sept 28, 2015 14:01:23 GMT -5 jewel said:

We just had my kid's 1st birthday, which I planned around his nap schedule. He is pretty reliable with 2 naps, 9:30 - 11am and 2:30 - 4pm, which basically left us with a lunch or dinner time party. We opted for 11:30 - 1pm for lunch, with optional swimming afterwards.

I spent way too much on everything, but I could have done it much cheaper with food from Costco - sandwich trays, fruit, chips, etc.

This is exactly what we did for food for her first. Also, I was a moron and did not even take into consideration her nap times when I planned her party. Her party was 1-4 and fortunately for me she took a 2.5 hour nap that morning and somehow got through the party with no nap. But I was (very) lucky. Rookie mistake because I am a first time mom.

[jewel]

Sept 28, 2015 14:12:40 GMT -5 tacocat said:

Y'all definitely have me leaning toward lunch now. Costco and Sams are like 45 minutes away, but we can get most of the stuff there, so we should be able do it relatively cheap.

I've never thrown a party before, so I have no idea what I'm doing.

Seriously, you can get almost everything at Costco! For the main food - sandwich trays, roll-ups, or even pizza and hot dogs from the food court. Get chips/popcorn, fruit and/or veggie trays, mini water bottles, soda or something flavored, and a big ass cake. Maybe get a box of pouches if you'll have a lot of little kids there. Plates and a variety pack of utensils. Done. As long as there is enough food for people to eat well, they won't care about much else.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Except for maybe 7am, there is no longer any time that feels weird to me for a kid birthday party. We've had parties that start at 9am (because it was outside and after that it's too hot), at lunch time, and in the middle of the afternoon.

Back when DD1 would nap, I wasn't a fan of afternoon parties because she napped later than most other kids (like, 2pm to 5pm). But I just sucked it up and gave her a shorter nap on those days.

Do what works for you guys! You want the birthday boy to be well rested and in a good mood :-)

As for his nap schedule, I doubt he'd be taking 3 naps at 12 months. Most kids are on 2 naps, maybe even 1. I tried to time DD1's birthday party to be in between her two naps when she turned 1. For DD2 I just had it in the evening and put her to bed way after her bedtime (but it was only family).