OP here. Thanks to everyone who left tips and encouragement pinwheel wraps fell through so we are now serving BBQ wings, meatballs, salad, chips, and rolls. Now I'm thinking I should have gotten a fruit tray too but there's too much to do before the party so I'll just hope that's enough to please everyone.

Cut the cake at the beginning. Don't wait until after the meal. Do it whenever the baby is in a good mood. They often cry or get tired.

Have fun! I love first birthday parties!

Another suggestion for the party: instead of doing all the gifts at once, do the gifts throughout the party so that DD can play with something for a little while then open the next thing, rather than getting overwhelmed all at once. That will also mean better “reactions” to each gift because she will actually be excited about the gifts.

Also, be prepared to take her away from the party and hide in her room for a few minutes if she seems like she starting to get overwhelmed with all the people and attention. If there anything like my family, everyone will be wanting to hold her and talk to her and play with her, but they won’t know her well enough to read her cues for when she starting to get overstimulated. Even a three minute break “To change her diaper“ can be enough to reset her stress level.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t fathom having such a strong opinion about a baby being given their own tiny cake. This is no more a “trend” than singing happy birthday. I assume PPs would never do such a “sheepish” thing and have a far more original song, right? Low class is wearing cheetah print tube tops or requesting cash gifts ON your wedding invitation. Giving a baby a damn cake is a first birthday party.

You’ll be fine OP! Enough food and a cute baby is all the people want at a birthday. Congrats on surviving your first year of parenthood!

Agree completely. Who are these people?