Babies grow so fast, one day you are bringing them home from the hospital, the next planning their first birthday party. This is an exciting time for any parent, it means they've made it through the first year and are proud to show off their little one. Of course babies don't care about the birthday party because they don't understand what is going on. But that doesn't stop parents from making the first one the one to remember and they go all out on 1st birthday party supplies.

You don't need a theme to have a great birthday, and at this age it is unlikely the baby has a particular favorite anyway. So in choosing how to plan the party, think of something that you like and go with that. The first place to start is with the invitations. Once everything is planned out and you have your guest list ready, get those invitations ready and sent out at least a month in advance.

Decorations - A party isn't a party without decorations and there is no reason not to go all out when decorating. Start with a Happy Birthday banner and decorate around that. Include lots of colorful balloons, bright streamers, and party hats to create a festive feeling. Don't forget that this is a baby's party so include some baby toys and stuffed animals; not just for decorative purposes but so the little guests can enjoy them too.

Food - A party isn't a party without food, even if it is for babies. Think about age appropriate food for the occasion. Some teddy bear graham crackers and goldfish crackers are great choices for toddlers and teething biscuits for the babies. Different types of dried cereal can be big hits also. For the parents consider making food easy for them to eat while holding their babies, like small sandwiches.

Choosing a cake is the exciting part and you'll want something that really stands out and is fun. Personal taste is important here since more adults will be eating it than children. After you know the number of people attending it will be easy to pick the appropriate size and shape for the celebration. A popular idea today is to buy a small cake for the birthday baby. That way he has his own cake to do whatever he wants to after he blows the candle out.

Games are always a fun part of a party. Taking into consideration the age of the children, it can be a bit difficult to know the right types. Bean bags are created for all ages, the younger ones can enjoy playing with them alone and the older children in playing a bean bag toss. A game of Leader of the Band is great for all ages; parents can hold their babies while everyone follows the leader around the room to music. To calm the kids down when they start to get a bit out of control, a birthday story time would be a good choice; this calms everyone down and brings some quiet time.

Sending off the little guests with party favors is a fun way to make them feel special and provide a memento of the day. You can choose a variety of things to send home with each child or purchase personalized favors. The best type for this age are finger puppets, bath toys, balls, stuffed animals, and books.

Going all out on baby's first birthday is completely normal and a great way to celebrate. Don't let the planning overwhelm you, these few 1st birthday party supplies tips will help keep you on track. All you'll need to do is make sure that everyone has fun and remember to video everything so you can enjoy it over and over again.