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