Goody Bags for 1St Birthday - Do or Don't?

We only had 3 very young kids at my sons 1st birthday. I bought balloons to use as decorations and let the kids take them home with them. They loved it but I think the oldest was 2 so they were still really into balloons.

I didn't do goody bags for ANY of my child's parties - waste of time and money, imo.
I also didn't go all out for her first birthday because SHE had no clue what a birthday was.
I had a small cake and ice cream gathering of immediate family, and I fed her cake from a spoon, not smashed all over the place.

I would not. It isn't necessary, though for a while it has been common. Seems like, from what I have read here in previous posts on this subject, that they are beginning to fall out of favor. Generally, the parents of the guests HATE them.

For decades, the cake/ice cream, games, and fun and honor of being invited was what kids received when they went to a birthday party. Why them being "gifted" as they departed became a "thing" I have never really understood.
It's just a one-up-manship game by moms who scour Pinterest for ways to be the most ingenious and throw the best party. Who cares?

Sorry.. rant over.

But no, I wouldn't. Have some fun games. More traditional parties (balloons, games, cake/ice cream, etc) have always been hits with my kids.

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ETA oohh.. just realized your child is turning 1. Who are the invitees to this party? Adults aren't going to want/need/expect a goodie bag. Are the other guests also 1? They won't have a clue nor care.

Nope. I would not do them or expect them as a guest.

My opinion is that the goody bag thing has gotten out of hand. When I was a kid, we never received them.

A few years ago, I couldn't think of what cheap things to put in a goody bag for eight or nine-year-old boys and a light bulb went off. Why the heck am I bothering? The bags we receive are usually junk that I throw out or candy that I don't really want our kids to have. We didn't pass any out at that party and no one even noticed!

Since then we have skipped the goody bags entirely. It's definitely not a must-do.

Goody bags are on their way out. Nobody wants a bag of junk to take home. Furthermore, toddlers are on varying levels with rules of possession, so unless you're handing those bags directly to parents, I wouldn't even bother or you'll have a lot of meltdowns on your hands.

The first birthday is not about the child because the child has no idea what is going on. It is all about the parents and watching the birthday child dig in to that first baby cake!

I am not a fan of a goody bag full of junk and I did not give those out when we had parties for our daughter.

I did, however, give things such as a gift card to ice cream shoppe, art set with sketchbook, puzzle books, books, sidewalk chalk, .... you get the gist... I chose 1 item for a goody that was anywhere from $5-$10.

Happy Birthday to your little one!!

Books from dollar store. No balloons. Choking hazard.

We kids ranging from 2-13 at my DS's first birthday and their parents. It was a monster party. Kids went home with the stuffed monsters they made, a monster beanbag and a monster lolipop.

Do what you want in terms of the goodie bags.

F. B.

I would not do this for a one year old. He doesn't know what is going on and why have more expense. Usually the party is more for the parents and family members than the child. I recall my grandson's first birthday party and all he did was destroy his cake and have it all over the floor. (There was plastic placed on the floor before he had the sit of honor and a bath afterwards.)

If you must do goody bags save them for later ages like 5 or 6. But as one person stated, they are on the way out. I don't recall giving bags out when my kids were little.

the other S.

I had an May 1st bday party and sent the kiddies home with a beach toy. Something small or useful or nothing. I like the idea of handing each kid a balloon.

If you would like to do something, go for it! If not, don't worry about it, no one will mind in the least.

I personally love doing party favors!! I try to do 1-2 larger things rather than a ton of little stuff, and I try to make it something the kids will really enjoy. Examples- Zoo party- monkey picture frame craft, Disney party- small plastic storage bin covered in Mikey stickers and the kid's name with Disney coloring books and crayons inside, superhero party- kids made their own capes and got prizes for carnival-type games, zoo party again- beach balls with zoo animal heads/legs, zoo bubbles, zoo animal lollipop, Batman party- Batman tie dyed shirts wrapped up with a batman wrist band, Zoo Lights party- light up necklaces and big bouncy balls, Slugterra party- Slugterra t-shirt and "pet slug" water wiggly. Love, love, love. I don't do it to one up anyone, I just honestly enjoy shopping for something fun and watching my kiddo giving presents to his friends while he thanks them for coming. I want our guests to feel special! But it never bothers me if someone doesn't give favors.

don't. If you have to, do cookies.

I didn't do goody bags or anything for our son's first birthday. For his 2nd birthday, we had just family and close friends over. My son's theme was John Deere tractors, so I bought little John Deere gift boxes and made cupcakes, decorated the top with tractor stuff and sent those home with everyone.

I like it if there are multiple littles. I give them to the kids when the birthday girl is opening presents, because I've seen at other parties all the kids get right up in the birthday kid's grill and no one can see them open. If they have their own little goody bag of presents they're usually occupied.

We also don't have lots of kids at our parties, usually 2-3 other than the birthday kid, so I can customize it to the kiddos. This year was frozen themed and both little girls were really into it so we did temp tattoos, princess rings, olaf bracelets and a little bit of candy. Not a ton of stuff, but enough to keep them occupied and happy.

don't.
khairete
S.

Who is coming to the party and what are the ages? What is the relationship to your son (day care families, cousins, neighbors?)

When I do just a party with close family , like the handful of cousins of various ages, I don't send my nieces and nephews home with anything. If it is a bigger crowd and kids who are not related to me...definitely.

As a parent, I prefer one cute item rather than bag'o'junk. Not that I haven't given out the bag'o' junk myself... but I like it when the 'goody bag' is a book, or sand bucket (in summer) or cute water bottle or something. And below pre-school age I wouldn't bother, since it is the kids who enjoy it, not the grown-ups (a baby/toddler has no clue to expect anything).

I have a Trevor too! He will be one on the 21st! cool.

Who are you inviting to the party? Mostly family? Definitely then you don't need goody bags. Will there be a bunch of kids or varying ages? If you want to do anything, I would stick with one giveaway to the kids, something Mickey Mouse themed. Small plastic bags filled with junk are disliked by a lot of parents. I'd only consider doing gift bags for an older child, if the birthday child wanted to do them for his/her friends. Otherwise, no.

If you have kids attending over age 3 and you find something you really want to buy or make, I say go for it.

I handed out balloons at the end of my child's first b-day. They were used for decoration during the party.

For the most part, the goody-bags are a waste and get tossed by the parent within a few hours.

Anything you do is acceptable.

If you are having family, then don't do bags. If you are having a bunch of kids (and please tell me you are keeping it very small), then you can do something small like stickers for kids 4 and up. Below that, they don't understand it anyway. And families get tired of endless piles of junk toys from parties (especially party venues) and take out happy meals and so on. Kids love them but parents hate them! Once kids start going to a bunch of parties, it gets insane.

I used to do a little craft and send them home with what they made, or I'd have them stick a few things on a cupcake or scoop of ice cream and then eat their own creation. But if you are having 1 and 2 year olds, they don't understand crafts anyway, so just throw some toys on the family room floor, serve cake, and send them home happy!

I think parties and goody bags are way out of hand. There's no need to offer payment to guests for attending and bringing a present. Make it small and age appropriate if you do anything at all.

Please don't start a trend you'll be expected to keep up. Goody bags are tossed before they even leave the party. Parents don't really like them and the kids love to eat all the candy in them then throw them away. Worthless.