| Is it possible that it's already been a year since | | | | rested, and jumping into cake-cutting mode when |
| your baby arrived? Your knees and your back | | | | baby is relaxed and happy - schedule be danged. |
| don't lie - your baby is almost one year old. And | | | | Great pictures are your reward for letting baby |
| you, naturally, want to throw a big celebration to | | | | take the lead.4) Gifts after cake, if at all.Bright |
| commemorate the day. But first birthday parties | | | | colors and noisy wrapping are so exciting for your |
| are notorious for producing more tears than | | | | child that he or she can come undone. Save the |
| smiles, and no one likes a crabby birthday boy (or | | | | gift-opening for after the cake event, if you have |
| girl). So here are five ideas for throwing a | | | | gifts at all. Lots of parents skip the gifts |
| tear-less first birthday party that everyone will | | | | altogether at a first birthday party, as they notice |
| enjoy.1) Think Photo Op.A baby's first birthday is | | | | how overwhelmed with plastic toys they are, |
| essentially an extended photo opportunity. The | | | | even BEFORE the big day.5) Celebrate |
| pivotal event is the moment when the baby | | | | generations.Like all family celebrations, a first |
| stares at the becandled cake, just before plunging | | | | birthday party is an observation of time passing. |
| his or her hand into it. The rest of the party is | | | | Take special photos of your baby with the oldest |
| just filler. So plan a brief (one hour - tops) | | | | family members and friends in attendance, as well |
| celebration with as few distractions as possible.2) | | | | as photos with older cousins or friends, and a |
| Minimize extra kids.If your baby has cousins close | | | | group shot with the whole party in the frame. |
| by that he or she already knows well, by all | | | | And don't forget your animals!You'll notice that a |
| means include them. But a first birthday party is | | | | successful first birthday party has none of the |
| not an occasion to introduce your baby to | | | | elements we associate with older kids' parties - |
| bunches of new people. Grandparents or close | | | | leave out the games, prizes, entertainment, |
| friends, other family members and maybe a | | | | pinatas and crafts. Most parents overdo it, thinking |
| neighbor or two - keeping the guest list short will | | | | that complexity in a child's party equals fun. |
| minimize the stress on the baby and on you. And | | | | Oftentimes, it's just the opposite - the simpler, |
| where kids are concerned, remember that the | | | | the better. And when the baby gets droopy, don't |
| noise level will affect everyone, so go shorter | | | | try to keep her up. After all, it's her birthday - if |
| rather than longer on the invitation list.3)Visuals | | | | she's sleepy, let her sleep.You can sleep well, too, |
| are key.Back to the photo op - a happy baby, | | | | knowing that you've celebrated a tear-free |
| smiling delightedly at her cake, dressed for | | | | birthday party and will have lovely memories to |
| posterity, surrounded by happy guests and | | | | cherish. See how easy that was?Liz Ryan is a |
| balloons, is the ideal takeaway from this | | | | workplace expert and mother of five children, and |
| celebration. So set up the party to go the right | | | | the leader of the online network WorldWIT ( She |
| way by scheduling it when baby will be well | | | | lives in Boulder, Colorado. |