Your little one is actually turning 1! This is cause for celebration, and not just for them. You’ve made it through their first year still standing, and that alone means a party is in order. So, what is a good theme for a 1st birthday party?
Every great birthday party needs a stellar theme, and since your one-year-old probably isn’t talking or sharing their opinion, it’s up to you to come up with one! If you’d like a little inspiration, we’ve rounded up our favorite 1st birthday party themes. We’ve got baby birthday party themes for boys, for girls, and some that work for both. Take your pick — and enjoy!
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1. Tropical Safari
A bitty baby? More like a wild child! If your 1-year-old loves animals, this baby party theme is for them. You’ll have no trouble finding animal-themed outfits in our baby boy sets and baby girl sets. Animal-themed balloons, decorations and birthday cakes for a safari party are also easy to find, as it’s one the more popular one-year-old birthday themes many parents pick.
2. Ocean
Maybe your “baby shark” is less interested in land animals and all about fish, whales, sharks and more. If that’s the case, a blue color scheme applied across balloons and decorations will add to the mood, and you can decorate the food table like the bottom of the ocean with starfish, shells and more. This baby birthday theme is especially perfect for summer babies! As a final touch, dress your little one in coordinating sea life-inspired baby girl rompers and baby boy rompers.
3. Mermaids
Let’s stay under the sea for a second to talk about another ocean 1st birthday theme — mermaids! You can have a lot of fun with this one, dressing your little one in mermaid-inspired baby girl dresses or baby girl swimwear sets and decorating with pink, teal and purple. Seashells, starfish and sequins are your main decor, of course!
4. Under Construction
At a year old, your baby is still under construction — and their party can be, too! One of the more popular one-year-old birthday themes with boys, it’s perfect for any baby who loves trucks. Decorate with caution tape, construction signs, garbage and dump trucks, and more!
5. Tea Party
Who doesn’t love a good tea party? This theme will give you a good excuse to set up a quirky tea party for your 1-year-old and his or her friends. Decorate your home with whimsical characters and hand out fun hats to your guests. You can even dress your baby girl in a floral tea party dress from our baby girl dresses that’s perfect for the get-together!
6. Monsters
If your little monster isn’t scared of things that go bump in the night, this will be a perfect fun baby birthday party theme. Create a party filled with silly monsters, googly eyes and more. This is an especially great theme to use around Halloween, especially if you dress your little babe in a themed baby boy short sets.
7. Circus
Do you ever feel like the ringleader of a circus? As parents, we can all feel that way sometimes! But for one day, that can actually be sort of true in the cutest way possible. Play with a red-and-white-striped theme with pops of yellow and blue, and don’t forget to include circus animals in your decor and in your baby’s circus-themed outfit with cute baby t-shirts.
8. Blast Into Space
We know you love your little one to the moon and back, so show them just that with an out-of-this-world party. You can decorate with shiny stars, planets and rockets, and dress your baby as a mini-astronaut.
9. Unicorns Galore
What’s not to love about a magical unicorn? You can see them popping up on kids’ TV shows, their clothes and now their birthday parties. Your unicorn-theme fête will be dreamy, decorated with rainbows, pastels and iridescent accents. Don’t forget to dress your child in unicorn-themed baby girl pants set to tie it all together!
10. Dinosaurs
Take your guests way, way back in time to celebrate in a prehistoric way. Lead them from the entrance into the party with dino footprints on the floor. Your dino decor can even double as
party gifts for your visitors. Finally, find an adorable outfit for your baby like dinosaur baby boy outfit set. Now that’s something to roar about!
11. My First Rodeo
It’s not your first rodeo, but it is your baby’s. Cowboy up for this theme by decking your little one out in baby girl jeans or baby boy jeans and a cowboy hat. As a bonus, you can hold this party outside and set up hay bales for seating.
12. Little Lumberjack
Is your little one the outdoorsy type? A lumberjack theme is a simple, charming way to incorporate the outdoors indoors with mini or fake trees, wooden stumps for tables or wood slices for plate chargers, and toy axe decorations. For a finishing touch, dress your baby in a charming plaid baby boy shirt & overalls set!
13. World Traveler
Chances are your baby hasn’t traveled the world yet. But if they’re big fans of planes, trains and automobiles, it’s just a matter of time. Little locomotive toys, plane-shaped cookies, hot air balloons and more — this 1st birthday theme is a fun one.
14. Fit for Royalty
You treat your baby like royalty every other day of the year, so why not continue that tradition on their first birthday? Whether you’ve got a prince or princess, you can decorate with crowns, jewels and perhaps even a little throne for the birthday baby.
At Carter’s, we’re honored to be with you from the start of your parenting journey, making your life easier through every milestone you experience while raising your kids. Whether we’re supporting you with the top-notch products you and your family need, giving you tips and tricks along the way or giving you ideas for a first birthday party theme, we’re proud to help!
